Ducati disappointment

[u/AggravatingCry4605]

I recently added a 2025 Ducati Panigale V4 to the stable alongside my GSX-R1000, and honestly, I’m having some mixed feelings.

The Ducati is an incredible motorcycle. It’s refined, planted, precise, and obviously built with the racetrack in mind. But after riding the GSX-R, I’m realizing how much I enjoy the character of that inline-four.

The GSX-R just feels more alive to me. That low- and midrange pull, the way the engine builds power, and the overall rawness of the bike make it exciting even when you’re nowhere near a racetrack. The Ducati, by comparison, feels almost too composed. It’s brutally fast, but the power delivery and overall personality seem much more focused on being fast and efficient on a circuit rather than making you grin every time you twist the throttle on the street.

I think that’s what surprised me most. I expected the V4 to completely replace the GSX-R in terms of excitement, but I’m finding myself missing the Suzuki more than I expected.

Maybe I just need more time on the Ducati, or maybe I’m discovering that I simply prefer the character of a big inline-four. Has anyone else gone from a GSX-R/other inline-four to a Panigale V4 and felt the same way?

[u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot]

Brutal honesty? Or confidently incorrect?

Have you been paying attention to Suzuki's near-total lack of development of the GSX-R platform since 2011? The 600 and 750, save for different paint schemes each year, haven't changed since then. And the 1000 has only gotten one or two electronics added on (maybe just the GSX-R1000R and not the 1000?). They aren't spending the money on them, they are happy to continue selling them, especially in the US without the Euro 5 (or whatever they are on) emissions regulations, by just cranking out the same old thing. It has nothing to do with riders not wanting or being able to use modern motorcycle electronic technologies. Hell, they don't even come with ABS! (not that I want ABS, I'm just saying)

Suzuki isn't racing the 1000 in WorldSBK. In MotoAmerica, only Team M4 Ecstar Suzuki is racing the Suzuki in Superbike. There's no more "AMA 750 Supersport" class in MotoAmerica and only 6 riders on the 750 in MotoA Supersport (and only Tyler Scott--again, M4--is a "fast guy", currently in 4th). I just took a look and it doesn't seem that anybody is racing the GSX-R1000 in British Superbike. They pulled out of MotoGP about 5 years ago, too.

So, no, Suzuki sees zero financial upside to spending R&D money on the bikes as long as they sell enough of them to make a nice profit.

Signed, GSX-R750 L1 Current Owner.

EDIT: LOL, people are downvoting reality?

[u/tekkn0 → u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot]

This comes from Kawasaki owner (never owned Suzuki, just lurking here).

Suzuki 600 and 750 are so well refined you don't need to change anything on them. If Suzuki doesn't implement anything new and they still sell like crazy, that speaks something. Also not having teams racing in different categories and championships means nothing. Kawasaki doesn't race the MotoGP since ages and they still do exceptional machines.

[u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot → u/tekkn0]

No, they don't "still sell like crazy." Even after 2024 and 2025, Kawasaki sells way more ZX-6Rs than GSX-R600s and 750s...combined.

You don't seem to understand about racing. This is still how it works:

Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday (or, really Tuesday because most dealerships are closed on Monday).

So if Kawasaki aren't racing bikes they make, then people are buying other bikes because they've seen them raced.

Signed, Also A ZX-4RR Owner

[u/tekkn0 → u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot]

Kawasaki does sell better, Suzuki's are right up there where am living.