Just when you thought the Streetfighter V4 couldn’t get any more crackers, Ducati drop this bombshell. It’s the Ducati Streetfighter V4 SP, it’s their top-of-the-range Streetfighter, and it sounds like it’s going to be a right weapon.
Because let’s face it, the current top-of-the-range Streetfighter, the ‘S’, is already a hell of a thing. It’s 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine already makes 208bhp and 123Nm of torque; is that not enough?
Well, perhaps it is, because the SP doesn’t actually have any more power or torque. But, it does have an even more impressive power to weight ratio; that’s thanks to being 3kg lighter than the Streetfighter V4 S.
A big chunk of that weight saving, (1.4kg of it) comes thanks to the carbon fibre 5-spoke wheels. And that might not sound like a massive amount, but it is when you loose it from your wheels, and it’s bound to make a marked difference.
‘Fighter
The brakes on the ‘Fighter V4 S have been made even better thanks to the exclusive Brembo Stylema R calipers. I think it gives the impression that Ducati like the idea of people taking the Streetfighter V4 SP on track. I certainly like the idea of it!
The footpegs are adjustable, the mudguard is carbon fibre and the battery is a lightweight lithium ion jobby. And (you’re going to like this… or maybe you’re not) it’s got an STM-EVO SBK dry clutch. If that doesn’t whet the whistle of Ducatisti the world over, I don’t know what will.
Spurt
Like the ‘S’, the SP (which stands for ‘Sport Production’, don’t you know?) has Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 electronic suspension, and the same biplane wings, to help you keep the front wheel down; if that’s really what you want to do?
And to make sure everyone knows how rich you are and that you’re riding something a bit special, the SP comes in a special matt black ‘Winter Test’ livery. A lovely getup, made famous by Ducati’s MotoGP and WSBK teams, as well as a numbered headstock.
If that sounds like a little bit of you, and you’ve got £20,000-odd (that’s a stab in the dark; we haven’t been given prices yet), get yourself to a Ducati dealership in the new year and put your name down for one. If you haven’t got £20,000-odd, why not pop to the Ducati dealership anyway, they might let you have a look at one. But no touching.
Ducatis marketing really lost their way with this one. First off – when MV introduced the Superveloce they had a promo video featuring a hot naked chick on their bike. It was awesome. Take that PC establishment. For the Streetfighter, Ducati has uncomfortably long video about a dude working out and a dude taking shower. Uh….. Is this thing called ‘Streetfighter’ or ‘Street Dance Fighter’? The next flub – or maybe it’s a win, IDK – but their configurator is worse than Porsche for having a hippocampus melting gazillion option list of optional parts that probably should have been included in the first place. Mirrors are an option now? C’mon man. And there’s a whole section called ‘outfits’ for God’s sake and it’s exactly what you think it is. One of them is even called ‘Summer Breeze’ ffs. “Hey fellas, just got this new outfit from Ducati, does it make my butt look big?”
I briefly got excited about the 2022 Streetfighter and after about 90 seconds of research I did the Dean Winchester closing his laptop. Call me whatever you like but if this is what people are going to associate me with when I roll up on a Duc, uh, hard pass.
£28.5k holy mother of Moses