With the title in mind, let’s understand the key constituents that make Ducati’s flagship sports bike–the Panigale V4–what it is. First, there’s the V4 engine with around 1,100cc displacement. Then, you have the angular design with MotoGP-derived aero. Next, a sea of riding aids, all of which want to make you faster on the track and safer on the road. Lest we forget, a key element is also its Italian nature, which has its pros, but can result in occasional reliability with a side of an expensive bill.
So these are the prerequisites for a superbike that feels like a Ducati, and we also need it to be a lot cheaper than Team Red’s creation to fit the title. A quick scan in the segment reveals there’s only one liter-class bike that well and truly fits the bill, offering an experience almost similar to the Ducati on paper. All that, plus even more power and a considerably lower MSRP!
The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Is The Sports Bike That Feels Like A Ducati Without The Price Tag
MSRP: $19,499
The Ducati Panigale V4 faces three primary competitors in today’s superbike market. While the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, Suzuki GSX-R1000, and Yamaha YZF-R1 remain in the segment, their significantly lower power output and lack of recent updates effectively remove them from direct comparison. This leaves the BMW S 1000 RR, Honda CBR1000RR-R, and Aprilia RSV4 1100 as the Ducati’s main challengers.
The BMW S 1000 RR presents a formidable alternative to the Panigale V4, though its sub-liter inline-four engine delivers a fundamentally different character than Ducati’s V4 experience. Honda’s CBR1000RR-R faces the same inline-four limitation, and matters are complicated by Honda exclusively offering the higher-spec ‘SP’ variant in the U.S. market. With its premium Öhlins suspension, this model competes directly with the Panigale V4 S rather than the standard version, commanding a roughly $3,000 premium over the base Ducati.
This makes the Aprilia RSV4 1100 the standout choice. As the only other Italian superbike in the class, it shares the Ducati’s V4 engine configuration with displacement just four cubic centimeters below the Panigale’s Desmosedici Stradale powerplant. The Aprilia brings MotoGP-inspired aerodynamics and electronics, along with the characteristic Italian quirks regarding reliability. Most compelling is its $19,499 price point—nearly $6,500 less than the Ducati—making the RSV4 1100 the machine that delivers authentic Ducati-like thrills without the premium price tag for 2025.
The RSV4 Produces More Power Than The Panigale V4
Peak Power: 220 HP
Only a select group of motorcycles can claim superiority over the Ducati Panigale V4’s 213 horsepower output, and the Aprilia RSV4 stands proudly among them. Its 65-degree V4 engine, breathing through 52mm throttle bodies, generates an impressive 220 horsepower and 93.7 pound-feet of torque in street-legal form. Both numbers surpass the Panigale’s specifications, with the torque advantage arriving lower in the rev range for improved accessibility.
The power gap widens further in the American market, where the Panigale V4 arrives detuned to 209 horsepower for regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, Aprilia delivers the RSV4 with its full 220-horsepower output intact on U.S. shores. This disparity means Ducati buyers must invest additional money just to access their bike’s complete performance potential. When calculating horsepower per dollar spent, the Aprilia’s value proposition becomes particularly compelling.
Aprilia RSV4 Engine Specifications
|
Engine |
65-degree, V4 |
|
Capacity |
1,099cc |
|
Power |
220 HP @ 13,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
93.7 LB-FT @ 10,800 RPM |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed |
Racing-Derived Underpinnings Make The RSV4 A Track Weapon
Chassis: Aluminum Perimeter
The Panigale V4 was one of the only single-swingarm-equipped bikes in the liter-class segment. Emphasis on ‘was’ as that’s no longer the case. Ducati has joined the norm and switched to a racing-derived asymmetrical double-sided setup. Sounds game-changing, right? Well, Aprilia has been doing it since forever, as the RSV4’s swingarm has always been asymmetrical and upside-down. That remains the case in 2025, too.
The aluminum swingarm is attached to an aluminum perimeter chassis and joins hands with fully adjustable Sachs suspension (43 mm forks and monoshock). Interestingly, the Panigale’s rear shock also comes from Sachs. There’s even a high chance it’s exactly the same unit. Similarly, both bikes also have the same calipers up front (Brembo Hypure monoblocs).
An Aggressive Design And High-Tech Electronics Elevate The RSV4’s Package
Adaptive Wheelie Control Is New For 2025
*RSV4 factory shown
Aprilia has armed the RSV4 with all the electronics you’d expect for a premium Italian machine. All of them receive refinements for 2025, so you can chase tenths around a track. Our favorite is an intelligent wheelie control, which not only has predictive settings but also adaptive settings. So it can learn from your riding style just how much wheelie you like. Meanwhile, the list of standard bits includes:
- Eight-level traction control with integrated slide control
- Three ride modes
- Three-level adaptive wheelie control
- Three engine maps
- Three-level engine brake control
- Two-way quickshifter
Topping these things is a refreshed design. Unlike the overhauled Panigale that has drawn some controversy, Aprilia has kept much of the bike the same as before. Yet, look closer, and you will see new MotoGP-like aerodynamic wings up front, a revised tail section, and reworked fairings. These ensure a 6 percent decrease in the drag coefficient and 8 percent less wheelie tendency. Finally, you can pick between two colors, which are explained below.
Sources: Aprilia, Ducati