In the past, if you were looking at buying a middleweight sports bike, you would most likely be looking at one of the 600cc inline-4 screamers from Japan. Over the course of the last decade or so, the landscape has changed rather dramatically, and so has the definition of what a middleweight is. While the screamers are still around, they all hold their value remarkably well. If you are after a little more bang for your buck, there is an altogether more exotic option.
An all-new version of the Ducati Panigale V2 has just launched, and as much as that bike offers a lot of value, it also had a pretty real effect on the used market. With that bike actually costing a good deal less than the outgoing model, the value for a 5-year-old Panigale V2 dipped a fair bit this year. Some might balk at the thought of a used Italian V-twin, but this bike is different.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various authoritative sources, including KBB. Whereas, the opinions are our own. Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research, and proceed with caution.
The Ducati Panigale V2 Is The 5-Year-Old Middleweight Sports Bike You Should Buy In 2025
Price Range: $8,000 – $12,000
Generally speaking, Italian bikes don’t hold their value particularly well. In the past, long-term reliability was a big issue, but that just isn’t the case with modern Ducati motorcycles. Ever since the VW Group took over, the brand has steadily improved in this space. Like any brand, there are recalls and minor issues here and there, but the Panigale V2 was largely based on the proven 959 platform, and already had all its kinks worked out.
Up until very recently, it was holding its value pretty well, selling for around $14k, but with the latest V2’s price dropping to just under $16k, the used market took a hit. The retail value has now dipped below $12k and the trade value is sitting at $8,370, around half the new list price in 2020. No motorcycle is immune to depreciation, but it is fair to say the V2 is looking like a pretty good buy at the moment.
2020 Panigale V2 Pricing
- Trade Value: $8,370
- Poor Condition: $9,000
- Good Condition: $11,000
- Great Condition: $12,000
The 2020 Panigale V2 Has A Powerful V-Twin
Power: 155 Horsepower
155 horsepower is technically more power than most superbikes from the 00s. It is, quite frankly, an overpowered supersport that actually didn’t really have a class for much of its production life. Other brands have since moved into this 800ish class, but none make quite as much power. Euro5+ emissions regulations finally brought an end to this generation of the midsize desmo.
These engines have proven to be mechanically reliable, if maintenance-heavy. The only problem is shared with just about any large displacement V-twin, and that is heat dissipation. It isn’t like the old twins that will overheat, but rather, it is a little too efficient in removing the heat from the engine and blasting it onto the rider. This is not helped at all by the fact that the exhaust also curls up under the seat. Suffice to say, this is not a bike you can ride for extended periods, but that is not what it is designed for.
Engine Specifications
|
Engine Type |
L-Twin, liquid-cooled |
|
Displacement |
955cc |
|
Max Power |
155 HP |
|
Transmission |
6-speed |
The 2020 Panigale V2 Is One Of The Best Modern Middleweights
Balancing Superbike Power And Supersport Agility
“If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.” The Panigale V2 is a ferocious little motorcycle, designed very purposefully to be fast. While it will do well as a weekend corner carver, Ducati designed it to go round a track faster than anything else in its class and look great while doing that. Suffice to say, things like comfort never entered the conversation, so while it may not scream supersport with its larger than usual engine, it is a classic supersport by just about any other measure.
Its aluminum monocoque frame is razor sharp, but the single-sided swingarm is very much a design choice rather than something that enhances performance. The base model offers highly capable, fully adjustable suspension, while the more expensive S model has an Öhlins rear shock. A great upgrade, but it is not expressly necessary unless you want to use the bike for club racing. Even though it is 5-years-old, it still has a host of modern features, including cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, a quickshifter, and a big TFT dash where you can select your ride mode and adjust almost every conceivable parameter.
Chassis, Suspension And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Aluminum monocoque |
|
Front Suspension |
43mm Showa BPF, fully adjustable (4.7-in travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Sachs monoshock, fully adjustable (5.1-in travel) |
|
Front Brakes |
Dual 320mm discs |
|
Rear Brakes |
245mm disc |
|
Weight |
441 lbs |
The 2020 Panigale V2 Competes With A Couple Of Legends
While this bike was new, it was not competing with the Japanese supersports, but rather the base model liter bikes. It was never really a fair fight when compared to those bikes, but depreciation has now worked its magic and is suddenly cheaper than a YZF-R6!
2020 Yamaha YZF-R6
That’s right, the much-loved R6 is now technically worth more than the Panigale V2. It is fair to say that while the old R6 was an impressive supersport – and we sure miss it – but we don’t miss it enough to buy it instead of the Ducati. The R6 is currently overpriced because of how demand has outpaced supply, but this will eventually normalize, we think…
2020 MV Agusta F3
The “other” exotic Italian makes a good argument in terms of value, as depreciation has also worked its magic here. You can now find an F3 for about as much as the V2, but while the V2 has proven mechanically reliable, the F3 has not. It is a classic highly strung Italian bike that has a nasty habit of dropping valves. Nonetheless, worth the gamble to some.
As much as we love the R6, it is even more track-oriented than the Ducati. The Ducati might be uncomfortable, but it is still a more competent street bike, which makes it a little more versatile. The F3, on the other hand, is the Ducati’s equal in every respect bar reliability, which is a rather surprising edge for a Ducati V-twin to have.