2025 Ducati Panigale V2 is the Lightest But Least Powerful Pani Ever
Ducati’s new V-twin has arrived in the Panigale, sporting a much lower power output than its predecessor
We’re used to motorcycles getting more and more powerful with each generation, which makes the 2025 Ducati Panigale V2 a significant departure from what we’re used to. That’s because it’s not just less powerful than the model it replaces - it’s a lot less powerful.
The new V2 engine, which Ducati revealed recently on its own, produces 118bhp. A healthy output, but one that’s eclipsed by the outgoing Superquadro V-twin and its mighty 148bhp. That said, the peak torque output isn’t as far behind, dropping from 77lb ft to 69lb ft, and it should be a much more useable engine on the road, producing 70 per cent of that figure from just 3,000rpm.
It’s also a very light engine, tipping the scales at 54.5kg. That represents a 9.4kg weight loss over the old V-twin (or ‘L-twin’ as Ducati insists on calling it), contributing to an overall fat trimming of -17kg in the Panigale V2 S. That makes for a weight figure of 176kg, making this the lightest bike ever to wear the Panigale name on its fairings.
The power deficit doesn’t seem to have slowed the bike down all that much on the circuit, either. With Ducati test rider Davide Stirpe astride a 2025 Pani V2 S and sent around Vallelunga Circuit, it was a mere two-tenths of a second slower than the old one over a lap.
The chassis setup depends on the version you buy. The entry-level Panigale V2 uses a Marzocchi upside-down fork and a KYB monoshock, both fully adjustable, while the Panigale V2 S switches these to an Öhlins front and rear arrangement while also switching the lead acid battery to a lighter lithium-ion part.
Whichever you go for, you get a double-sided swingarm borrowed from the Panigale V4, featuring a hollow, symmetrical design, which replaces the old single-sided design, a decision which is sure to thrill people in social media comments sections. There are also new Marchesini-inspired six-spoke cast wheels, wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres. Slowing things down is a Brembo setup with 320mm discs and M50 monobloc callipers.
As you'd expect, there's a comprehensive suite of rider aids, all working from a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU). These include traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS and engine brake control. There are four riding modes - Race, Sport, Road and Wet - plus launch control and a pit lane speed limiter bundled in the optional electronic pack. You can navigate the various setup choices through a new five-inch TFT display.
In terms of looks, there’s a very clear link to the new Panigale V4 launched a few months ago, although there are a few subtle differences and one not-so-subtle point of divergence - a lack of winglets. Another big deviation is in the riding position, with the V2 gaining higher clip-ons than both the V4 and the old V2, and repositioned pegs.
While Ducati is giving you less power in the latest bike, the Italian brand is also charging you less. The entry-level V2 used to be £17,195, but the new bike starts from £14,995, rising to £16,995 for the Panigale V2 S.
Matt has a background in motoring journalism of the four-wheeled variety but has long had a passion for motorbikes, taking his first steps into riding in 2010.
