Harley-Davidson Sportster S vs Ducati Panigale V4 Comparison

The Harley-Davidson Sportster S certainly has a lot going for it. Great looks, a punchy engine, and all the latest electronics and chassis components that you may seek in a thoroughly modern motorcycle. But the lack of suspension travel, and the feet forward riding position robs the Sportster S of comfort and practicality. Limited fuel tank capacity, and ergonomics aren’t suitable to take the Sportster S out for a long-ish ride. As a motorcycle, the new Sportster S makes a solid case as a modern-day Harley-Davidson. The design may have polarising opinions, particularly from the ‘classic’ Harley faithful. Despite its negatives, it does make for an attractive proposition, if it’s a quintessential Harley-Davidson one is looking for, in a more modern, performance-oriented avatar.

The new Ducati Panigale V4 S has that innate quality that makes a 200-plus bhp superbike very accessible and safe around a racetrack. Sure, it's not made for less experienced riders new to litre-class superbikes, and despite the state-of-the-art electronics package, one wrong twist of the wrist can make things go wrong very quickly; after all, all that power and torque over a wide rev range is not to be fooled with, or taken lightly, by any standard.