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2024 · Supersport · A variant of the Panigale V4
Differences between the standard Panigale V4 and the S
Italian Fire, Actually Rideable
This generation of the Panigale V4 is Ducati's flagship, built around the 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 that makes 216 hp at 13,000 rpm and 91 lb-ft. On the S you get semi-active Öhlins suspension and an aluminum twin-spar frame, wrapped in a rider-aid suite with a six-axis IMU underpinning the cornering-aware electronics. What sets it apart isn't just the number — it's how cleanly that performance is packaged into something you can actually lean on. This is the benchmark the rest of the supersport class measures itself against, and it earns the position on hardware, not badge.
It rides like a focused tool. The 33.5 in seat puts you high and forward, and a 4.5 gal tank returning about 36 mpg leaves you roughly 160 mi before you're hunting for fuel — this is a machine for canyon runs and track days, not commutes and tours. It rewards a rider who already has skill and wants more precision, and it ages on engineering that holds value because it's genuine. The honest caveat: there's an open recall on the rear brake hose, so confirm the campaign work is done before you sign anything.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 216 hp (159 kW) @ 13,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) @ 9,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 1103 cc |
| Engine | V4 |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 330 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 200/60-17 |
| Seat height | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Dry weight | 386 lb (175 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal (17 L) |
| Fuel economy | 36 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
The Panigale V4 S (DA-3-S) builds on the standard Panigale V4: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
This part isn't my ride. It's what I've picked up over the years from owners in the paddock, at club nights, in long chats at fuel stops, and in the emails and messages riders send me once they've lived with the bike. On this Panigale V4 the pattern is unusually clear. Owners rave about the engine, the chassis and the electronics, and the complaints gather around comfort: heat, posture and long highway miles.
The praise starts with the motor, and it rarely varies. Owners describe a huge rush at the top of the rev range, paired with torque that builds in a linear, predictable way. Riders who take it to the track say it keeps pace with full-blown race machines, and that's the point they come back to most often.
Riders talk just as often about how the bike lets them attack corners. They describe sharp, precise handling, strong stability and clear feedback, with fast corners feeling easy rather than like hard work. Several owners call its accuracy on a line surgical. The electronics come up almost as often. Riders credit the traction control, slide control, wheelie control, cornering ABS and launch control with working quietly in the background. Owners say the aids build confidence on road and track without taking the edge off the experience.
The complaints are just as steady. Heat comes up most often. Owners feel it on their thighs, the tank, the seat and especially the right leg when traffic slows or stops, and many say it's still there after the heat-shield revisions. Posture is the other recurring complaint. Riders report sore wrists and fatigue on longer trips, and less flexible owners call it punishing even with the improved seat padding. A smaller group misses cruise control on highway stretches. It isn't part of the standard kit, but it's available as an option.
Rear brake hose thermal damage
The rear brake hose can be damaged by heat from the exhaust manifolds due to insufficient thermal shielding, leading to brake fluid loss and sudden rear brake failure. Ducati issued recall campaigns 25V-013 (initial fix) and 26V050 (expanded fix replacing the thermal shield with a longer, more protective version).
Where this Ducati Panigale V4 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Panigale V4 is actually built for.
This is exactly your tool. The chassis precision and adaptive suspension let you chase apexes and brake points all day, and the electronics are there to catch you when you push past your own skill.
Made for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Barber Motorsports Park · Circuit of The Americas
Built for your Sunday on the Crest. Sharp handling and endless lean make it sing through tight canyon runs — just keep the short fuel range in mind when you plan the loop.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail Scenic Byway · Big Sur Coast Highway
On the Dragon's tight, repeating corners it's precise and composed, ideal for skill work over outright speed. The committed riding position is the price you pay for that focus.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Ducati Panigale V4. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2019
Technology You Can Actually Use
Roughly $10,400 cheaper used than this bike at 1 yr
Same Platform · 2025
Superbike Soul, No Fairing
~$1,500 cheaper used than this bike at 1 yr
Similar Character · 2021–2023
The V4 That Bites Back
