Panigale V4 will be best of all if you like your sports bikes and track days. Sadly age catching up with some of us stops them being the best option.
A track shoot-out is a litmus test for handling. Lighter & stronger wheels make a huge difference in handling. Not just a bit. Then add to that the better suspension. The 1260 PP handles like a 600cc. There's a reason for the price difference. Have we forgotten this:
Eh? If you read the test in Bike magazine it talks about having to narrow the rear tyre to work with the front. Without wanting to sound off.....yours is a strange statement, as after your suspension, wheels are the next biggest contributor to how the bike handles. If you don’t believe me, go and buy some lightweight ones.
A nice smooth racetrack with no white lines, potholes, or dodgy tarmac. Exactly like British roads. I'm old-fashioned, and would prefer a bike road test to be on real roads that I would ride and not on a race track. I'm sure that most GP500 bikes have brilliant handling around Silverstone but would feel like sheet around the roads of Gloucestershire.
Of course! I'm being unrealistic! You go to nice warm Spain and find a race track. That's how you work out which bike is best. Just like the UK in January! We have such a useful press!
Not what it’s been designed for though is it. though I am still prepared to bet the V4 would be quicker. It will be more agile I reckon which would suit the IOM.
Bingo! That's exactly our point. Glad you're finally coming around to recognizing what we've been saying all along. "The new Multi V4 is no longer a Sport Touring bike. It's now a dual purpose Adventure bike." Moreover, it's much heavier with a thinner rear tire and a larger rotational mass front wheel. If there was ever a shoot-out race wager between the Multi V4 and the Multi 1260PP, I say "bring it on".
Is that why all the TT bikes will be running 170 rears and 19” fronts next time it’s run The 1260 would muller the v4 round the TT, all the v4 has to offer is a tiny amount of extra bhp at its peak. It certainly won’t be more agile, heavier, less torque and higher fuel load with a smaller contact patch and if anyone thinks that a 19”front and 170 rear can compete then why not go for a 21”front and 150 rear it’s a ridiculous argument. The v4 has moved a step away from sport to tour. It’s not wrong or bad just is what it is. Happy New Year all and keep watching for Ducati’s leak of the v4 2022 Multisport as soon as their order book slows, (closely followed with heavy discounts and plummeting values on first v4 versions)... Now that would sell.... (and I’d bet that this survey’s results would be reversed.
I’d love to see a full comparison test ride video of the new V4 vs the 1260– one that takes into account all the “use cases” for what the Multistrada was designed for: touring, urban riding, sport riding, and off-road. I’d assume the V4 would be stronger than the 1260 in off-road composure, but it’d be very interesting to see how experienced riders would compare the two in long-distance touring and sport riding through mountain twisties. Personally I don’t care how they perform on the track, but it’s still be interesting to see that comparison as it should push the performance envelope of each bike. Hell, even do a 1260 Pikes Peak vs V4 S Sport to truly see the apples-to-apples comparison. Maybe 44Teeth or Visordown could do a full comparo to see how the old vs new model stack up against each other. That’d be a top viewed video I’m sure.
They’re unlikely to do it.. when the V4 shows lacking they’d be risking future all expenses lockdown exemption trips to Italy Needs an independent, and journalists aren’t
No one knows if it lacks anything, in fact every review so far says the complete opposite. Either they are all in the pay of Ducati, which some seem to think is the case, or the bike is that good.
Well we’re going to know fairly soon, real world test rides rather than fixed route showcases should be so.
I am quite content that Simon Hargreaves knows what he is talking about and always gives a fair write up of any bike.
In all fairness tor those seeking an all-rounder, the Multi V4 should prove to be excellent. However, those that have no intentions of riding off the tarmac will consider buying something else.
So be it. Have some Youtubers do it. I wanna see an honest comparo between old & new by knowledgeable riders.
exactly! Simon Hargreaves like the majority of journalists have to keep the manufactures happy. Without test rides they have no job so it’s in their interest to find all the good and politely walk past the poor. I for one will test ride it, turning up on my 2020 PP, so that gives me a great comparison, if I like it I may have one. If I’m super impressed but can’t see it replacing my PP I might have one as well. Which is exactly what I did recently, going for a test drive in an electric car just to see what the fuss was about. I had one delivered New Year’s Eve.
