There are several high-end motorcycle manufacturers, including big-name brands like BMW, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Harley Davidson.
And while all of these manufacturers are considered elite marques, none boast the legendary status that Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati has held over the last half-century or so.
Ducati has a long history of producing some of the best and fastest motorcycles.
Not only are they fast, but they also have all the style that has become synonymous with the Italian brand.
From their all-time classic 750 Imola Desmo to the iconic Desmosedici RR and the later 1198cc Panigale.
Whether on the road or racetrack, the Ducati motorcycle’s performance has always stood out, and their most recent models are no different.
Given their title as a hardcore sportbike manufacturer and one of the most famed motorcycle brands in the world, you may be wondering: How fast are Ducati motorcycles?
The fastest Ducati reaches speeds of 200mph with the Ducati racing kit installed.
To put into perspective how fast these motorcycles are and how they achieve insanely high top speeds, here’s everything you need to know about Ducati motorcycles.
The History of Ducati Motorcycles
Owning a Ducati is often touted as the pinnacle of motorcycling, as these bikes have always been the class of the field in terms of horsepower and top speed.
Ducati’s long legacy stems back almost a century to the company’s founding in 1926.
However, they only saw the production of their first motorcycle in 1945.
This motorcycle, called the Cucciolo (Italian for “puppy,” in reference to the distinctive exhaust sound), was designed by Aldo Farinelli during the Second World War.
The first Cucciolos were available alone, to be mounted on standard bicycles, by the buyer.
Soon, the company Farinelli worked with, SIATA, couldn’t handle the demand for the bike.
This is when Ducati stepped in as the manufacturer and released the bike in 1946, which saw great success.
Three years later, in 1949, Ducati produced their first complete motorcycle, the Ducati 60.
In 1953, the name was changed to 65 Sport, and it was followed by the 65T, 65TL, and 65TS series.
This bike featured an updated, improved 60cc version of the Cucciolo engine that could hit a top speed of 40mph.
It was during the 1960s when Ducati truly earned its place in motorcycle history by producing the fastest 250cc road bike, the Mach 1, available at the time.
In the 1970s, Ducati started to produce motorcycles with large-displacement V-twin engines, which they branded as “L-twin,” and introduced their trademark desmodromic valve design.
Entering 1986, we witness the birth of the model from which all modern Ducati models are derived, the Pantah.
This model marked the transition from bevel engines to engines with belt timing – a solution that is still in use in most of the Ducati line-up today.
Today, Ducati continues to dominate the motorcycle industry with its ground-breaking designs.
Their 2022 line-up – as well as their offerings in recent years – have once again confirmed why Ducati unfalteringly blazes through both the streets and the tracks.
The Fastest Ducati Motorcycles
Ducati is a manufacturer that equips their motorcycles with engines of more than 200 horsepower, which can reach speeds of more than 200mph, and produces them for both road and track use.
Here are the fastest motorcycles produced by Ducati:
Ducati Superleggera V4
The Ducati Superleggera V4 is an exclusively Italian marque, of which only 500 units have been manufactured.
According to the brand, this is the most technologically advanced and fastest motorcycle from Ducati that’s designed to give its rider the full Ducati experience.
This model takes the Ducati Panigale V4 framework, strips it back, and makes it lighter, with Ducati giving it the name “Superleggera,” which means “Superlight” in Italian.
To achieve its super lightweight, a carbon fiber chassis and titanium magnesium components have been used.
It has a wheelbase of 58 inches and weighs 335 pounds.
This powerful machine features a 998cc engine with 224 horsepower and a torque of 85 lb-ft (pound-foot), producing an insane top speed of up to 200mph.
To exploit even more out of the engine, you can add on a racing kit.
Ducati Panigale V4 R
The Panigale V4 R is Ducati’s fastest regular series bike and is indeed one of the most extreme conventionally powered motorsports bikes available on the market today.
This 2022 model sports a 998cc V4 engine that produces a powerful 220 horsepower and churns up to 83 lb-ft of torque.
With Ducati’s racing kit installed, that power output soars to 234 horsepower.
For the 2023 model, install a full titanium Akrapovič racing exhaust to unlock 237 horsepower; use special racing oil to get it up to 240.5 horsepower.
This brings the motorcycle’s weight down to 365 pounds, giving the bike a power-to-weight ratio of 1.41.
The Ducati Panigale V4 R is designed for optimal racing use and includes Ducati’s full suite of electronic rider aids, aerodynamics package, fully mechanical Öhlins suspension and steering damper, and a new pressurized front fork and swinging arm with a four-way adjustable pin.
Although this model is for track-only use, Ducati also produces a similar street-legal version: the Ducati Superleggera V4.
Ducati Streetfighter V4
As a bike that sets new performance benchmarks in the super sports naked segment, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 is considered one of Ducati’s fastest motorcycles.
The Ducati Streetfighter V4 is a result of the “Fight Formula”: the Panigale V4 stripped of its fairings and with high, wide handlebars.
It shares the same engine that produces an impressive 208 horsepower and 90 lb-ft of torque to hit an incredibly impressive top speed of 180mph.
There are three versions of the Ducati Streetfighter V4, including the basic Streetfighter V4, Streetfighter V4 S, and Streetfighter V4 SP2.
Ducati Diavel 1260
As one of the most exciting models in Ducati’s line-up, the Diavel 1260 combines the ergonomics of a muscle cruiser with the performance of a maxi-naked.
It features all the classic hallmarks of a genuine Ducati motorcycle.
This first-class muscle cruiser is powered by a 1,262 Testastretta DVT twin-cylinder engine that produces 159 horsepower and 95 lb-ft of torque.
The result is a decent top speed of around 111mph.
In terms of this cruiser’s performance, it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in around 3 seconds.
The Ducati Diavel range expands with the Diavel 1260 S, a sportier version that doesn’t sacrifice the style that distinguishes it.
Ducati Panigale V2
Ducati continues its line-up of midsize-plus sportbikes with the Panigale V2, a machine that’s all fun on the road yet powerful performance on the track.
The Panigale V2 produces a claimed 155 horsepower and 77 lb-ft of torque, which has a top speed of around 176mph.
The V2’s acceleration clocks at 0-60mph in 3 seconds, 0-100mph in 6 seconds, and 0-140mph in 9.7 seconds – all very impressive numbers!
Ducati put together the whole nine yards when they built the Panigale V2’s electronics suite.
It comes with Ducati’s own traction control, which has onboard wheelie control, as well as various riding and power modes.
The V2 is considered a more approachable machine than its big sibling, the Panigale V4.
The Slowest Ducati Model Made
When looking at the Ducati model line-up, there’s one offering for which acceleration comes as the last criterion.
The bike in question is the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2, one of the smallest Ducati motorcycles to come from the Bologna factory in recent years.
The Sixty2 is part of Ducati’s Scrambler line and is the smallest displacement Scrambler sold by Ducati.
This bike is aimed at entry-level riders who want a taste of what an Italian-made motorcycle can be without the intimidating displacement and equally intimidating price tag.
The Scrambler Sixty2 is powered by a humble 399cc L-twin engine with only a mere 40 horsepower and 25 lb-ft of torque.
The bike’s 6-Speed wet clutch gearbox helps it hit 0-60mph in around 6-7 seconds and has a top speed of only 100mph.
Despite not being as fast and adrenaline-pumping as other Ducati offerings, the Scrambler Sixty2 utilizes its slow nature.
It’s a piece of eye candy that Ducati has pitched as the perfect urban getaway vehicle and bike for new riders looking to build their experience.
As such a popular machine that promises an exciting riding experience, you’d forget the Scrambler Sixty2 is the smallest and slowest of the current Ducati line-up.
What Is The World’s Fastest Motorcycle?
With a whopping 274mph, the MTT 420 RR takes the title as the world’s fastest motorcycle.
Followed by the Kawasaki Ninja H2R, which boasts a top speed of 249mph.
MTT 420 RR
The MTT 420 RR is unequaled in the motorcycle industry, produced as the first turbine-powered street-legal bike and the most powerful production bike in the world: the MTT Y2K Superbike.
The “RR” part of this bike’s name stands for “Race Ready,” which this bike certainly is, producing a top speed of over 250mph.
Powered by a Rolls-Royce Allison gas turbine engine, this speed demon produces a stupendous 420 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque.
With production limited to five bikes per year, each with a mammoth-sized price tag of $250,000, getting your hands on the world’s fastest bike is not easy.
Kawasaki Ninja H2R
The 2020 Ninja H2R is, thus far, the most powerful production motorcycle ever to come out of the Kawasaki factory.
This machine continues to make news as a one-of-a-kind motorcycle.
The Ninja H2R represents the highest level of Kawasaki engineering, with mind-boggling top speed and impressive acceleration.
Due to these specs, this Kawasaki superbike is not a road bike, suitable only for closed courses.
It’s an untameable beast featuring a 1,000cc engine that produces 310 horsepower and a peak torque of 122 lb-ft.
This bike can be best defined as a hybrid of Kawasaki’s top car design and Formula One’s specifications, aided by aviation technology.
To help riders put down quick lap times, the H2R comes with cornering management, engine brake control, traction control system, launch control, and quick shifter.
An Honorable Mention – Suzuki Hayabusa
When it comes to listing legendary sportbikes, one can’t forget the Suzuki Hayabusa.
Since its introduction in 1999, it has left a major impression on the motorcycle world.
The Hayabusa successfully took the crown of the fastest production motorcycle from the Honda Super Blackbird in 1999.
It was and still is an achievement worth celebrating as, for many years afterward, the bike became almost synonymous with the term “fastest bike.”
The 2022 Hayabusa maintains its legendary status while also being significantly revamped with multiple tweaks to its 1,340cc engine.
The result is 188 horsepower and 111 lb-ft of torque.
FAQS
What is the fastest street-legal motorcycle?
The MTT 420 RR is the fastest turbine-powered street-legal bike, as well as the fastest production bike in the world.
What is the fastest electric motorcycle in the world?
The Lightning LS-218 is the fastest electric motorbike in the world that can reach a top speed of 219mph and has an output of 200 horsepower.
Are motorcycles faster than cars?
On average, motorcycles are faster than cars because of their power-to-weight ratio.
Due to their small structure, motorcycles are light and have less wind resistance and drag.
The Takeaway
Ducati has been a staple of the motorcycle world for a very long time now.
From the release of their first complete motorcycle, the Ducati 60, in 1949 to their new generation models today.
The speed and performance of Ducati motorcycles remain unfaltering both on the road and on the racetrack.
Italian craftsmanship, innovative design, and a speed-focused agenda make up Ducati’s recipe for success.
With motorcycles equipped with engines of more than 200 horsepower, which can reach speeds of more than 200mph, Ducati has produced some of the fastest motorcycles in the world.
And it looks like they’re not slowing down any time soon.
So the answer to your question: How fast doDucati motorcycles go? Very fast.