2025 Ducati Panigale V2 Preview

Nothing delivers on the “wow” factor quite like a top-to-bottom redesign of a Ducati sportbike. By looks alone, the Borgo Panigale firm’s new Panigale V2 certainly checks that box, but the details hidden under its acres of sleek bodywork are more impressive still.

Editor’s note: We operated the previous version of this product during the 2022 Ducati Panigale V2 Review.

Related: 2025 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Preview

To set the tone here: Ducati is describing the 2025 Panigale V2 as “the most fun Ducati sportsbike ever created” on the street. Ducati says where previous middleweights like the 748, 848, and 959 were uncompromising racebikes that largely lacked street manners, the new 2025 Panigale V2 is tailor-made for a more enjoyable riding experience out on the road.

So how have they done it? It all starts with Ducati’s new V2 engine.

The 2025 Panigale V2 is the first of two models (alongside the Streetfighter V2) to inherit Ducati’s new V-twin, which is impressively light at just 120 pounds (that’s a whopping 21-pound improvement over the previous Superquadro 955, FYI). This new V2 breaks with tradition by using spring valve timing rather than Ducati’s traditional desmo, which Ducati says pushes valve clearance intervals out to 18,000 miles.

The new tech also allows Ducati to implement the same variable valve timing system found on the current V4 Granturismo engine, and that’s where the magic happens. Unlike the high-strung desmo racing V-twins of old, the new V2 produces over 70 percent of its maximum torque from as low as 3,000 rpm, and that number never drops below 80 percent all the way to 11,000 revs.

Related: What to Expect From EICMA 2024

As for the chassis, the Panigale V2 retains the monocoque construction of previous models, using the engine as a stressed member for as compact a package as possible. It also gets its own version of the dual-sided swingarm introduced on the new V4 model, which Ducati says improves stability on corner exits.

Ergonomics are another area where the new V2 differs significantly from its superbike stablemate. Ducati says the new rider triangle is designed with comfort and support in mind to maximize enjoyment and reduce the physical effort required to maneuver the motorcycle.

The V2 still employs clip-on handlebars, mind you, but their height and angle are less committed to limit strain on the wrists. The same rings true for the Panigale’s footpegs, which sit a bit lower and further forward to give the rider’s knees a break for casual riding. Ducati has even gone so far as to suggest that the passenger accommodations are reasonably comfortable, with an above-average distance between the rear footrests and passenger seat.

As for the electronics, Ducati didn’t skimp on the trackworthy goodies. All 2025 Panigale V2 motorcycles come standard with a six-axis IMU that enables cornering ABS, traction control, and wheelie control. Adjustable engine-braking is also thrown into the mix, as is the latest Ducati Quick Shift 2.0 found on the Panigale V4.

Four riding modes will be offered (Race, Sport, Road, and Wet), which can each be customized to suit the rider’s preferences. A 5-inch TFT display also comes standard, granting owners access to three separate versions of the info display (Road, Road Pro, and Track), with each focusing on the most relevant information for the type of riding in question.

The Panigale V2 will come in two distinct models, the base V2 and the V2 S. The former comes from the factory with a 43mm Marzocchi fork and KYB rear shock (both of which are fully adjustable), while the V2 S upgrades to Öhlins gold with a NIX 30 fork and matching shock.

The V2 S weighs roughly 6 pounds less than the standard model, the majority of which comes from a lithium battery rather than the standard lead-acid unit found on the base model. V2 S owners will also get the Ducati Power Launch and Ducati Pit Limiter features included in their electronics package, while standard V2 owners can add both as accessories at the dealer.

In true Ducati fashion, a full factory Termignoni racing exhaust system will also be offered (for track use only), which increases peak output to 126 ponies and adds roughly 4 lb.-ft. of torque. The system also cuts nearly 10 pounds off the total weight of the bike, firmly cementing the 2025 Panigale V2 as the lightest Panigale ever produced by Ducati.