The Good:
* Authentic realistic details
* Enjoyable build
* Looks awesome!
The Not So Good (all very minor!)
* Rear of bike looks unfinished
* No seat
* Flimsy windscreen
Lego and Ducati. Two brand names everyone knows, although I do not believe many people associate one with the other. Well, that’s going to change now: Lego has teamed up with Ducati to release a model of the awesome Ducati Panigale V4 R, the most powerful street-legal production bike in the world.
Lego released the new set under the Technic series (set 42107). It has 646 pieces which create a stunning looking model of this beautiful motorcycle.
We took the Lego Ducati Panigale V4 R for a test ride (ok, test build…)
Lego Motorcycles
The Panigale V4 R is not the first Lego motorcycle released by the Danish company. Over the years they released a number of motorcycle sets, including the 2013 Moto Cross Bike (set 42007) and the 2015 Street Motorcycle (set 42036).
The first licensed Lego motorcycle was an adventure bike released in 2017: the Lego Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure (set 42063). The 603 piece set created a beautiful scaled model of the iconic bike.
Two years later Lego released their second licensed motorcycle model: the Lego Creator Expert Harley Davidson Fat Boy (set 10269), a 1023 piece set of yet another iconic motorcycle.
The Ducati Panigale V4 R is Lego’s third licensed scaled motorcycle, and once again the company chose an iconic model. This time a sports bike.
Construction
The box of the new set contains 7 bags of Lego bricks/components, 2 sets of wheels+tyres, a sheet of stickers, a small plastic sheet for the windscreen and an instructions booklet.
The bags are not numbered – just dump the entire contents of the bags into one big pile and search through pieces as you go.
The 128 page instructions booklet is a typical Lego instructions booklet. It is clear and easy to follow. As with all Lego sets it is available to download from the company’s website.
The build itself was great fun. It’s been a long while since I last built a Lego set and building the Panigale V4 R took me right back to the fun of Lego building.
The build starts with the centre of the frame, then the gears assembly, the engine, the rear swing-arm, the front wheel + fork, the fairing, the rear wheel, the paddock stand, the chain, the tail, and finally the front with the windscreen.
As mentioned, the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. I did, however, make a couple of mistakes during the build due to my “rustiness” and had to back-track. This extended the build time a bit, however, it was part of the fun.
Here is a speed build video of the entire build process:
Design and Functions
The design and look of the real-life Ducati Panigale V4 R have been captured quite accurately in this Lego set. It has plenty of authentic details and is quite faithful to the original. The overall look of the bike is a realistic scaled model of the original. From the front fork and disc brake, through the engine replica, to the classic red colour scheme, Lego have done a great job capturing the look of the original.
Ducati fans will no doubt find inaccuracies. The front headlights are missing, the rear looks a bit unfinished and the seat is missing. However, These are really minor shortcomings. We must keep in mind this is not a one-to-one replica. This is a Lego set and it’s as true to the original as Lego can achieve with their plastic bricks.
All in all the bike looks great and well thought out. The attention to detail is obvious. It has moving handlebars / front wheel, aerodynamic wings, a working front and rear suspension, two-gear gearbox (first of its kind for Lego), moving pistons, working chain and a paddock stand. The windshield is a bit flimsy though. I would have liked to see it made of hard plastic rather than the soft sheet used. In addition, I don’t like the way it’s attached to the front. But again, these are small insignificant shortcomings.
The dimensions of the built bike are 32cm x 16cm x 8cm.
Verdict
The Lego Technic Ducati Panigale V4 R is a stunning looking bike. Lego have captured the design and details of the real Ducati Panigale V4 R and created an authentic looking replica. There are some cosmetic inaccuracies, however, these are minor and do not detract from what is otherwise a beautiful and impressive model that would look fantastic as a display piece.
The build process, which takes a few hours, is an enjoyable experience and great fun.
Lego Technic 42107 Ducati Panigale V4 R is available for AU$89.99
Gallery
Good review, I am not a big Tehnic fan and in early covid built the Land Rover and hated it, not least to quality moulding issues. This set grabbed my attention however and in the absence of a decent Architecture set I bought one. Thoroughly enjoyed the build, 3 sessions, 5 plus hours total. Finished model looks great but agree mud things and a saddle plus foot rests would finish it off. Minor mould quality issues and the windshield plastic awful….8.5/10 overall
Thank you for your comments. Re-built mine quite a few times and still enjoy building it…