Talk of a v-twin middleweight Ducati Streetfighter V2 have been percolating ever since the Italian brand debuted its V4 motorcycle with a similar name.
With the Ducati Streetfighter V4 a hit. with the Ducati-loyal and sport bike enthusiasts alike, clearly the folks in Bologna can sense the moment approaching for an encore at a lower price point.
This is where the rumors of a Ducati Streetfighter V2 come into play, and the basics are fairly easy to guess: take the Ducati Panigale V2 sport bike, and strip away the fairings for the classic streetfighter look.
Alleged photos of the Ducati Streetfighter V2 show the bike testing in Italy, though virtually no details about the motorcycle can be discerned from them…including the bike’s power plant and design.
Still, using some logic and understanding of the Italian brand means that we can expect a motorcycle with Ducati’s 955cc v-twin Superquadro engine, which makes 153hp (114 kW) and 77 lbs•ft (104 Nm) in its Panigale V2 form.
The aluminum frame will be built off the engine, with Ducati’s monocoque design. This should mean a very lower wet weight, likely under the claimed weight of the Ducati Panigale V2, which is 441 lbs.
Cost will be a key concern for the Ducati Streetfighter V2, as the bike will serve as a cheaper entry point to sport naked fun from Bologna, which starts at $20,000.
With the Panigale V2 hitting the wallet with a $17,200 MSRP, we would expect the Ducati Streetfighter V2 to come in just under the $17,000 mark, though not straying too far from the full-fairing bike’s price tag.
Keeping cost down with be the use of Showa suspension, Brembo M4.32 front calipers, and more than a few pieces from the common parts bin. We would not expect an up-spec “S” model from Ducati on this front.
Helping keep costs down is the longevity already seen in the mid-sized Superquadro motor, which won’t need too much work to make a good street bike motor.
We would expect Ducati to retune the Streetfighter V2 power band a little for its more street-focused usage, with power over 140hp in exchange for more mid-range torque.
This is considerably more “umpf” than Borgo Panigale’s previous attempt in this space with the Ducati Streetfighter 848 (132hp in that instance), and should keep the new Streetfighter V2 ahead of bikes like the KTM 890 Duke R (120hp), MV Agusta Brutale 800 (140hp), and Triumph Street Triple RS (121hp) on the spec sheet comparisons.
Expect an electronics system with an IMU at its core, which will power the traction control and wheelie control options, as well as the cornering ABS. A TFT dash and LED lights are also surely to be standard.
With the question not being “if” but instead “when” – our speculation is that we could see the Ducati Streetfighter V2 as early as this year’s EICMA show, though we wouldn’t be surprised too if we had to wait another year as well. Stay tuned!
Source: GPone
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