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Braving the heat part two: Return of the Ducati

Much like the scene from Jaws where Chief Brody flaps down Amity Island beach shouting "get out of the water" and all the bathers run for their lives from the shoreline, so with equal fervour - come summer - UAE residents scramble inside for the sanctuary cooler interiors provide. There we transform into curtain-twitchers for a few months, occasionally peeping out for signs it's 'safe to go back in the weather'. In regards to our motoring exploits during this season, the biking equipment is always safely stored away until let's say early September. Then, a few days ago, the phone rang. It was a similar call to one that came through near-on exactly 12 months previous offering a motorcycle review. If you were reading then you'll be aware there's only one brand of bike, which has the ability to pique our fancy to the extent we'll convince ourselves riding in 46 degrees centigrade isn't so tough. That marque is Ducati. "We have a Panigale V4 R in this time," went the voice on the end of the line. "Uh huh," we replied, switching to hands-free in an instant to simultaneously order 40 gallons of sunscreen off Amazon. Resistance was futile. Once again the climate could go hang. We couldn't pass up a return to the road on one of our choice sports machines and let's face it, in these barren weeks for socialising, we were in need of a bigger anecdote!
Just how hot was it?
The temperature or the bike's looks? Both pretty toasty. Although when you have said Panigale V4 R at your disposal and open tarmac ahead, all other considerations really do pale into insignificance. You may think that hyperbole, but we're only reporting the feeling. Despite the visible humidity, the haze didn't become an issue until idling at a red light which in Dubai, thankfully, rarely occurs. The natural breeze accompanying this type of cycle's velocity and carefully picking your hours to avoid traffic and the midday roast mean you can easily bear a good sprint a few times a week until picking up the frequency later in the year.
What was that sprint like?
Majestic. There are no other words. The Panigale V4 R's primary purpose is track domination. Just running your eye over the cutting-edge aerodynamic design and short-stroke 998cc engine will tell you that. A World Superbike Championship contender, 221hp at 15,250rpm combined with 112Nm of torque, are figures over which the most casual of observers will drool. A dry weight of only 172kg also dictates you're going to go rather quick. Navigate through the comprehensive menus on the LED screen, stick it in Sport Mode, which alters elements such as the traction control, and take off. Just be careful not to launch with a wheelie on public highways. Our bike was also fitted with a sports exhaust rendering the usual high pitch that bit more delicious.
Our most important aspect: cornering
Even though it's a racer, the Panigale V4 R is built with all enthusiasts in mind. Not everybody can be Carl Fogarty, thus components such as a STM EVO-SBK dry clutch made from billet aluminium contributes to performance and an ease of handling from the absence of resistance from engine oil and greater fluidity during off-throttle stages. The Bosch Cornering ABS as standard, stopping your wheels ceasing up even in full tilt, also gives you the confidence to begin diving into the short bends after only a few trial runs. Actually it was when approaching tighter corners that the efficiency of the dry clutch could really be felt. The faintest of dabs on the rear break after coming off the throttle was sufficient to bring the bike down from hyper speed and into a natural bank. The superior clutch then enables a smoother than usual shift down on the turn and back up again a second later so you can hammer through with next to no fuss and maximum enjoyment.
Anything we didn't like?
We need to pad this section out, because a mere 'no' won't cut it. It's a bike that wants to go fast, so will quite vocally demand to be taken out of first gear to the point where we really did start attempting to reason with it. "The truck in front is going over a speed bump," we'd plead. The V4 R would always get its way.
Specs
Engine: 998cc
Power: 221hp
Torque: 112Nm
Weight: 172kg
david@khaleejtimes.com