By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Ducati Panigale V2 (MY2025-S) vs Panigale V2 (MY2020)
Tip the 2025 Ducati Panigale V2 into a corner and it's diving for the apex before you've finished asking. The 2020 Ducati Panigale V2 settles where you aimed it.
What makes each one tick
2025 Panigale V2
A nudge on the bar flips the 2025 Panigale V2 from side to side, and its 407 lb (185 kg) wet weight and short trail don't argue. Its twin piles on torque so low in the revs that there's no need to wring it toward the redline. A bump runs up the upside-down fork while the high clip-ons don't put weight on your wrists. It drives hard off every exit.
2020 Panigale V2
There's no flat spot when the throttle comes off its stop, and the twin answers at once. With the wrong gear into a turn, it's short of drive on the way out. The seat's got room to move.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2025 Panigale V2 has the lower wet weight: 407 lb (185 kg) vs 441 lb (200 kg).
- The 2020 Panigale V2 makes more peak power: 155 hp (114 kW) vs 120 hp (88 kW).
- The 2020 Panigale V2 makes more peak torque: 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) vs 69 lb-ft (94 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
Don't look for a gap on track days, commuting, twisty roads, and running costs: there isn't one. Go by how each one fits you.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2025 Panigale V2
What owners say
Strengths
- Accessible, torque‑rich power delivery
- Extraordinary chassis agility
- Full superbike‑spec electronics
- Surprisingly comfortable ergonomics
- Improved power‑to‑weight ratio
Trade-offs
- Softer top‑end than expected from a Panigale
2020 Panigale V2
Strengths
- Corner Entry Is Its Best Trick
- Suspension Punches Above Its Spec
- Flagship-Level Electronics Package
- Honest Off Closed Throttle
- Smooth, powerful Superquadro engine
Trade-offs
- It Notices Clumsy Inputs
- No Hit At The Top End
- Brake Feel Drifts Late In The Day
- High heat in traffic
Known problems to check before you buy
2025 Panigale V2
- ABS fuse reversal (recall 25V838) Recall 25V838000 A supplier wiring error can reverse the ABS pump’s 25A and 10A fuses, causing the pump fuse to blow during prolonged ABS activation. This may lead to wheel lock‑up and loss of control. An ‘ABS error’ warning appears on the dashboard. 1,016 units affected in the US, ~1.2% defect rate.
2020 Panigale V2
- Headlight software recall Recall 23V377000 In 2023, Ducati recalled certain 2020-2023 Panigale V2 motorcycles (NHTSA campaign 23V377000) due to a software error in the dashboard that could cause the headlight to stop functioning, posing a safety risk.
What they share
- Engine
- 90° V-twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 10,750 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 2025 Panigale V2 | 2020 Panigale V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.9 in (835 mm) | 33.1 in (840 mm) |
| Wet weight | 407 lb (185 kg) | 441 lb (200 kg) |
| 2025 Panigale V2 | 2020 Panigale V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 890 cc | 955 cc |
| Power | 120 hp (88 kW) | 155 hp (114 kW) |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (94 Nm) | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,250 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| 2025 Panigale V2 | 2020 Panigale V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 US gal (15.1 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| 2025 Panigale V2 | 2020 Panigale V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 180/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.7 in (1465 mm) | 56.6 in (1438 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2025 Panigale V2 | 2020 Panigale V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Steering Damper | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
