2021 Ducati Panigale V4 vs BMW S 1000 RR: Photo Comparison

Has the arrival of the new Panigale V4 taken away the charm of the BMW S 1000 RR?

Ducati has launched its flagship superbike, the 2021 Panigale V4, in India. Before its arrival, the BS6 BMW S 1000 RR was the go-to option for Indians looking for European litre-class bikes. So, is the new Panigale V4 enough to shake off the S 1000 RR’s fan following and more importantly, is it a more viable option between the two? We compare both superbikes via a series of images to help you decide:

Design

Both bikes look nothing short of impressive. The sharp lines, aerodynamic bodywork, and premium hardware make them hard to miss in the crowd.

From the front, the Ducati Panigale V4 seems more aggressive than the S 1000 RR, even though both come with split full-LED headlights. 

The Panigale also looks more track-focused thanks to its taller visor, gill-like fairings, and winglets. The BMW does not get any winglets.

As we move to the rear, the Ducati Panigale V4, once again, reigns supreme due to its broad, stand out tail, while the S 1000 RR features an integrated tail light also serving as indicators which isn’t too practical in our opinion. Had BMW retained its previous razor-sharp tail unit, it would’ve surely excelled over the Panigale.

Even the S 1000 RR’s exhaust seems unfinished and not nearly as premium as the well-integrated underbelly one of the Panigale V4.

In typical Ducati fashion, the Panigale V4 is available only in red, whereas the S 1000 RR comes in three colourways: a tri-colour option that blends Light White/Racing Blue Metallic/Racing Red, a Black Storm Metallic finish, and a Hockenheim Silver Metallic finish. 

Features

As the most technologically advanced production bikes in the world, both come with a roughly similar set of impressive electronics. So you have a TFT instrument cluster along with electronic aids such as cornering ABS, engine braking control, riding modes, traction control, and a quickshifter. However, Ducati offers slide control and self-cancelling indicators as standard which are missing on the S 1000 RR.

Meanwhile, the BMW has a bigger 6.5-inch display and better switchgear controls (joystick) as compared to the Panigale’s 5-inch display which is controlled via buttons. 

Engine

The Ducati Panigale V4 draws power from a 1,103cc V4 engine and puts out 217PS and 124Nm, 8PS and 11Nm more than what the 999cc inline-four motor manages on the BMW S 1000 RR. Both bikes employ 6-speed gearboxes shod with bi-directional quickshifters. 

What gives the Panigale V4 an upper hand is its engine characteristic. You see, the Panigale’s peak torque comes in at 9,500rpm while in the S 1000 RR, it comes in at 11,000rpm. So the former should be punchier and more tractable, especially when blasting out of corners. 

Underpinnings

Suspension duties on both bikes are performed by a fully adjustable USD fork and a monoshock. That said, the BMW has a beefier 45mm fork in comparison to the 43mm unit on the Ducati. 

The main difference between the two comes down to their braking setups. While BMW has employed twin 320mm discs, coupled to in-house built calipers, the Panigale V4 uses trusted, top-of-the-line Brembo Stylema calipers with bigger 330mm discs. 

Indians should find the BMW more accessible than the Panigale thanks to its 824mm seat height, 11mm lower than the Panigale V4.

Pricing

The BS6 BMW S 1000 RR is priced from Rs 19.50 lakh, while the 2021 Ducati Panigale V4 comes in at Rs 23.50 lakh (both ex-showroom). At Rs 4 lakh less than the Panigale, the BMW S 1000 RR surely makes for a better value-for-money offering. Having said that, there’s no denying the Panigale V4 offers better equipment, looks, and features, making it the more premium offering here. 

There’s a third litre-class bike in the mix too, which is almost at par with these bikes in terms of kit while costing significantly lower than both. Do let us know in the comments below if you want us to compare it with one of these next.