2020 Ducati 1,103cc Panigale V4

• Two owners from new
• Present ownership since February 2023
• Custom paintwork (applied 2023)

By the dawn of the 21st Century, Ducati had been keeping faith with the v-twin engine for its sports roadsters for some 30 years, so it was more a question of 'when' rather 'if' they would move on from this type of power plant, despite its having formed the bedrock of the Italian firm's model range for so long. And it can have surprised nobody when that replacement turned out to be a 90-degree desmodromic V4, as that engine configuration had been used by Ducati's MotoGP bikes since the coming of the premier class's four-stroke era in 2002.

Introduced in 2018, the Panigale V4 took its name from the Borgo Panigale district of Bologna, home to the Ducati factory. The Panigale was launched in two engine capacities: 1,103cc and 1,000cc, the latter being necessary to comply with Superbike racing regulations. The engine's architecture was closely based on that of the racer, even going so far as to retain the MotoGP bike's backwards-rotating crankshaft, while, unlike the preceding Panigale v-twins which employed the engine as a stressed chassis member, there was a partial aluminium perimeter frame. Ducati being Ducati, the electronics were, of course, state of the art.

This Panigale V4 had only one owner before our vendor purchased it on 2nd February 2023. The machine was serviced by Moto Rapido before the first owner traded it in for a new Ducati (date and mileage in service book). The vendor rode the Ducati for only 4 miles before he decided to treat it to some custom paintwork in the Italian national colours of red, white and green, which was carried out by Carisma Custom Paint in Colchester. The repainted parts were ready in early June and the Panigale shows a total of 24,660 miles at the time of cataloguing/photography.

The standard control levers, clear screen, pillion seat tail section, and footrests are included in the sale, and the machine also comes with a single-sided paddock stand. The engine has been started and run up to full operating temperature every 14 days, and the battery kept on a trickle charger at all times. However, at 69 years of age and having been riding for over 54 years, he finds the Panigale too much for him. There is also a video of the machine running, available to view on the Bonhams website.
Accompanying documentation includes a V5C Registration Certificate; current MoT (expires 14.02.2024); original 2023 Moto Rapido Ltd sales invoice; motorcycle service sheets; and the black leather Ducati wallet containing the service booklet (last service stamp 3.10.22), owner's manual, and roadside assistance program. Two keys present.