Ducati 2026 Premiere
Joe Rascal Ducati – Port Melbourne
Images by RbMotoLens
Joe Rascal Ducati in Port Melbourne hosted one of Ducati Australia’s 2026 Premiere events recently, giving around 60 local Ducatisti a close look at several key incoming models, including the Panigale V4 R, Diavel V4 RS, Multistrada V4 Rally, DesertX, Hypermotard V2 SP and Monster V2.
Some of the bikes on display were pre-production examples, making the evening a useful early look at where Ducati’s 2026 model range is heading as the Bologna brand moves into its centenary year.
It was a smart way for Ducati to showcase the new metal locally, and a useful chance for Australian buyers to see several of the incoming models before they start landing in dealerships.
Ducati Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Sergi Canovas was also on hand, with Ducati Product Specialist Nick Selleck running guests through the models and the thinking behind them.
Canovas was understandably bullish about the line-up, from the new Panigale V4 R to the updated DesertX and the lighter, sharper Hypermotard V2 SP.
When asked about the mood around the brand, Canovas pointed to strong demand for Ducati’s most exclusive machinery as one indicator of where the brand sits with its customer base. The limited Superleggera V4 Centenario has already underlined that appetite at the very top end of the Ducati range.
Selleck then talked guests through the bikes on display. The Port Melbourne line-up included:
| Model | Key details |
|---|---|
| Panigale V4 R | 218 hp 114.5 Nm 186.5 kg wet, no fuel From $75,225 ride away |
| Diavel V4 RS | 182 hp 120 Nm 220 kg wet, no fuel From $60,825 ride away |
| Multistrada V4 Rally | 170 hp 123.8 Nm 240 kg wet, no fuel From $43,825 ride away |
| DesertX | 110 hp 92 Nm 209 kg wet, no fuel From $28,125 ride away |
| Hypermotard V2 SP | 120.4 hp 94 Nm 177 kg wet, no fuel From $32,925 ride away |
| Monster V2 | 111 hp 91.1 Nm 175 kg wet, no fuel From $20,725 ride away |
2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R
Putting the ultra-exclusive Superleggera aside, the Panigale V4 R is Ducati’s latest road-going superbike designed with WorldSBK homologation firmly in mind.
It is the bike that forms the foundation for Ducati’s production-based racing program, and the spec sheet makes that fairly obvious.
It uses the 998 cc Desmosedici Stradale R engine, which Ducati lists at 218 hp and 114.5 Nm in standard trim. Fit the full titanium racing exhaust and output rises to 235.3 hp, with a 6.6 kg saving over the standard system. Ducati says the racing configuration can exceed 330 km/h.
One of the more interesting details is the Ducati Racing Gearbox, with neutral positioned below first rather than between first and second. A lockout button helps prevent the rider from selecting neutral once underway.
The corner sidepods are hard to miss, too. Ducati says the ground-effect aero is designed to work when the bike is leaned over, helping the Panigale V4 R hold a tighter line and pick up the throttle earlier at the apex.
Price starts from $75,225 ride away, before adding the optional racing exhaust.
2026 Ducati Diavel V4 RS
To the untrained eye it might not immediately look like Ducati’s fastest-accelerating model, but the Diavel V4 RS is claimed to run from 0-100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds.
The 1103 cc Desmosedici Stradale engine produces 182 hp and 120 Nm in this application, while the long wheelbase and fat rear tyre help get that performance to the ground.
Ducati lists the Diavel V4 RS at 182 hp, 120 Nm, 220 kg wet with no fuel and $60,825 ride away locally.
It is not all about acceleration, though. The RS treatment suits the Diavel particularly well, and the low 790 mm seat height makes it far less intimidating to sit on than the numbers might suggest.
Price starts from $60,825 ride away.
2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally
When I reviewed the previous Multistrada V4 Rally, I called it the best bike I’d ever ridden. It remains one of the rare full-size adventure tourers that can hide its weight and still feel genuinely playful. Feel free to give the video another look here (link). It’s a bike that hides its weight and is playful like no other full-size adventure bike.
The Granturismo V4 remains one of my favourite engines. Ducati lists it at 170 hp in the Rally, with 60,000-kilometre valve clearance intervals and a four-year warranty.
The latest specification also brings a taller and wider screen, linked braking, and Ducati’s Vehicle Observer system, which underpins the latest traction and wheelie control strategies that impressed me so much on the Panigale V4 S I tested at Buriram.
Pricing starts at $43,825 ride-away. Realistically, a well-optioned example will land closer to the $50K mark.
2026 Ducati DesertX
One of the bikes I was most interested to see in the metal was the updated DesertX. Ducati’s first version was already a solid entry into the middleweight adventure market, but the 2026 model brings a substantial redesign rather than a light facelift.
Ducati appears to have taken plenty of rider feedback on board. The new DesertX uses the lighter Ducati V2 engine, producing 110.3 hp and 92 Nm, while the claimed wet weight without fuel drops to 209 kg.
The rear suspension now uses a linkage, aimed at improving bump absorption, control, grip and comfort. I’ll be particularly interested to see how that changes the feel off-road, as the front end of the original model could occasionally feel a little vague.
That might sound counterintuitive, but a lot of front-end feel starts with what the rear of the bike is doing. Ducati has also changed the fork specification, with full adjustability now available in both legs of the 46 mm forks.
The airbox is now more easily accessible above the tank, while the tank itself is plastic and fitted with replaceable protection panels. Both are useful wins for anyone planning to take the DesertX properly off-road.
There are also new electronics, additional riding modes and broader chassis updates. Hopefully I get to put the whole package to the test soon.
Australian pricing starts from $28,125 ride away.
2026 Ducati Hypermotard V2 SP
As interested as I am in the new DesertX, it was the Hypermotard V2 SP that stole the show for me. Some recent Hypermotard variants have not quite captured the raw dynamism of the original, but this one looks and feels much closer to the brief.
It is the lightest and most powerful Hypermotard yet. The new V2 engine helps the SP drop 14 kg compared with its predecessor, while output rises to 120.4 hp and 94 Nm. Ducati says 70 per cent of that torque is available from 3000 rpm.
Ducati lists the Hypermotard V2 SP at 177 kg wet with no fuel, with fully adjustable Öhlins suspension, while the standard V2 is listed at 180 kg.
The styling works, too, particularly the small trellis section in the rear subframe. The electronics package has also been comprehensively updated, including wheelie control and braking control. My biggest issue would probably be self-control. Front tyre wear should be minimal.
The base Hypermotard V2 uses Kayaba suspension, while the SP gets fully adjustable Öhlins suspension and lighter forged wheels.
Pricing starts at $32,925 ride-away for the SP, while the standard Hypermotard V2 starts at $26,825. My wallet is under threat here.
2026 Ducati Monster V2
Last in the line-up was the new Monster V2. It is hard to overstate the role the Monster has played in Ducati’s modern success, particularly through the first generations after its 1992 debut.
The latest Monster now uses Ducati’s new 890 cc V2 engine, producing 111 hp and 91.1 Nm. Claimed wet weight without fuel is 175 kg, while seat height is listed at 815 mm.
At $20,725 ride away, the Monster V2 should remain one of Ducati’s more accessible entry points into the performance nakedbike market.
Wayne’s picks from Ducati’s 2026 Premiere
For me, I kept coming back to the DesertX and Hypermotard V2 SP. The DesertX looks to have taken meaningful steps forward, particularly in areas that should matter to riders who actually use these bikes off the bitumen. The Hypermotard V2 SP, meanwhile, looks like a faithful evolution of the original Hypermotard idea.
I cannot wait to put both of those through their paces. Could 2026 finally be the year a bike from Bologna gets a spot in my shed?
A dangerous time to be my bank account, I reckon…
Port Melbourne Joe Rascal Ducati Premiere Images
