Get Your Cheque Books Out For The Panigale V2

Unlike its other big bike competitors, Ducati is yet to kick start its BS6 operations in India. The plan was to bring the likes of the Panigale V2 and the Multistrada 950 earlier this year but it had to be pushed ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a few Ducati dealers across the country have begun accepting bookings for the Panigale V2 to begin with. We think Ducati will slap on a price tag of around Rs 16 lakh for the new bike, which is around Rs 1.50 lakh more than the old 959 Panigale.

The Panigale V2 is the successor to the 959 Panigale. It is the entry-level sports bike from Bologna (technically Thailand but designed in Italy). Part of the updates to the baby Panigale was in the styling department with Ducati opting to make it look like a sized-down Panigale V4. It does look exotic in red but there’s a new White Rosso livery that makes the bike look absolutely stunning! Will we get the white shade? Maybe not right off the bat but surely it will follow the standard red colour in a few months, bearing a slight price premium.

It gets the same engine and chassis bits as the old 959 Panigale. Now, Ducati has managed to squeeze out 5PS and 2Nm more from the 955cc L-twin motor, taking the output figure up to 155PS and 104Nm. Even the 959's monocoque chassis sees a small change in steering geometry which Ducati claims makes the Panigale V2 lighter and easier to handle. Just how much of a change is it? We got a chance to put that claim to test at the Circuito de Jerez late last year.