DUCATI STREETFIGHTER V2 S On the road...

Sometimes you jump on a bike and just know straight away it's going to be good.

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It's impossible to quantify or explain just where that feeling comes from, but as soon as you get on the new V2, there isn't anything that stands out as needing adapting to or requiring an understanding of why it's like that. I'm talking about things like handlebar positions, seat height, profile, and even firmness. Then, when you pull away, it reacts and feels just right, so you can start diving into the bike's fundamental DNA and what Ducati has delivered in terms of concept, which is a massive departure from the previous Streetfighter V2.

At the heart of the latest V2 is a new 890cc engine which signals Ducati's willingness to do whatever it takes as long as it produces success. Gone is the signature Desmodromic valve train, replaced with a conventional setup to not only keep cost and weight down, but also to respect the brief of the bike. A desmodromic valve setup is mainly useful when you want to open and close large valves at high RPM. However, if you're not using large valves because you're not using a large capacity V-twin engine and not chasing big power from it, and instead placing big torque as your priority, a Desmo valve train is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist for you. Better to take the torque, save the weight, and save the cost.

Ducati has done a very KTM thing and placed torque as the main priority for the new engine, which is the single best thing you can do if you are trying to make a bike which has to be fun. At 68.5lb.ft peak torque, the V2 has the same peak number as a BMW F900 while delivering 70% of it at just 3000rpm, which should tell you all you need to know about the engine.