There’s extra alternative than ever when you’re after an journey bike that’ll dominate the roads. In an ever-crowded market, can the most recent era of Ducati’s pioneering Multistrada – with its Panigale-derived motor and raft of electronics – retain its fame as one of many quickest, most surefooted and thrilling methods to cross continents?
WORDS: Ross Mowbray PHOTOGRAPHY: Gary Chapman
With nicely over 100,000 bikes bought worldwide within the 20-odd years since its introduction, the Multistrada is a vital bike that’s come a great distance because it first arrived on the scene in 2003.
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The motorcycling panorama was fairly totally different again then. Sportbikes and sport tourers have been in vogue, and journey bikes have been by and enormous the protect of correct explorers who needed big-mile consolation and affordable off-road efficiency.
So when Ducati launched its first era Multistrada, it didn’t fairly slot in. Regardless of its daring adventure-tourer-cum-sportbike bundle being formidable sufficient to impress, its 999-inspired seems to be proved a bit too Marmite for a lot of.
The Italian agency caught at it although, and by the point 2010 rolled round issues have been markedly totally different. Journey bikes have been huge enterprise – and lengthy journey suspension, huge bars and correct all-day consolation have been the order of the day. There was room for selection, too; journey didn’t simply must imply getting up on the pegs and exploring off-the-beaten-path. The Multistrada was beginning to make sense.
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The second era, tech-laden 150bhp, 1198cc Testastretta V-twin-powered Multistrada 1200 had broader attraction. Sleeker, sharper and able to delivering huge smiles for riders after a long-legged journey bike for the highway (and even the racetrack). The manufacturing unit had discovered a successful formulation.
And so they rolled with it; releasing a bunch of variants, including semi-active suspension in 2013 and VVT in 2015, earlier than finally releasing the subtly-overhauled and improved Multistrada 1260 in 2018, powered by the 156bhp longer stroke motor from the X-Diavel. The 1260 is a motorcycle I do know nicely. I’ve ridden to Scotland on the S, tackled trails on the Enduro and spent an excellent couple of weeks restraining my interior hooligan on the Pikes Peak. I used to be (and am) a fan.
However not content material to relaxation on its laurels, Ducati took to the drafting board and got here up with one thing much more spectacular for 2021 – taking the V4 motor from the Panigale; becoming a bigger 19-inch entrance wheel (rather than the outdated 17-incher); including radar-assisted cruise management up entrance; a blind spot detection radar on the again; and a few critically intelligent anti-weave management tech. After which in 2022, the manufacturing unit made just a few extra tweaks, updating the digital suspension, enhancing the infotainment system, and broadening the equipment catalogue.
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And right here we’re in 2024, with a whopping six critically subtle huge Multistradas to select from, to go well with riders of all shapes, sizes and inclinations. There’s the usual V4, the V4S, the V4 S Grand Tour, the V4 Rally, the V4 Pikes Peak, and the V4 RS (and there’s the V2 and V2 S, too). We’ve by no means had a lot alternative.
To see what the most recent era’s actually fabricated from we swiped a V4S for a month in an try to get beneath its pores and skin and discover out whether or not it’s simply nearly as good carving corners all through a darkish, dismal British winter as it’s being thrown round on the pristine, sticky Tarmac of its homeland.
The V4S sits simply above the usual Multistrada V4 in Ducati’s ever-growing journey bike vary. At £20,495, it’s three-and-a-half grand dearer than the usual £16,995 V4. Whereas the 2 do share most of the similar core options and elements, the extra money will get you a full suite of rider aids (moderately than only a few), higher brakes, extra subtle suspension, an even bigger TFT sprint, and the possibility to entry the intelligent radar expertise.
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The one we have been testing additionally had just a few extra goodies. Along with the ‘Full’ pack which incorporates onerous panniers, a centre stand, heated grips, a heated seat, the radar system, Akrapovic muffler and carbon entrance mudguard (and takes the worth as much as £24,345), we had some spoked wheels and the Iceberg White paint job (for an extra £1000). That takes the whole price as much as a fairly hefty £25,345.
Within the flesh, it seems to be each inch the premium bike. It’s remarkably good-looking, critically nicely put-together, and dripping with high expertise. You couldn’t, shouldn’t and wouldn’t anticipate the rest from a contemporary Ducati.
When you’ve seen or spent any time on the outgoing 1260, it can all feel and appear very acquainted. But, the V4 is a deceptively totally different proposition. The brand new 19-inch entrance wheel and decrease redline assist make that fairly clear proper from the off.
The centrepiece of the bike is its Panigale-derived 1158cc V4 Granturismo motor. It’s been bored out from 1103cc to 1158cc and retuned to make 170bhp at 10,500rpm and 92lb-ft of torque at 8750rpm. It’s 1.5kg lighter than the outdated one, and it’s smaller, too. It’s a genuinely great factor; remarkably {smooth}, extremely versatile, and super-tractable from proper down low within the revs. It sounds nice, too, with a joyous bark emanating from the Akrapovic exhaust each time you crack the throttle.
With 170bhp to play with, it’s no slouch, and also you’ll end up topping a ton within the blink of a watch. The extremely slick quickshifter makes that each one too simple. It’s top-of-the-line methods I’ve ever used – correctly gentle and seemingly infallible.
Fortunately, the considerable suite of electronics makes it comparatively simple to both reign in or unleash the V4. Flicking via the a number of rider modes which alter the engine mapping, energy output, traction management settings, wheelie management stage and digital suspension arrange, you possibly can shortly and simply rework the bike from docile motorway cruiser to thrilling twisty-road weapon. They’re customisable, too, so you possibly can finetune your preferences and create a rider mode that works for you and your driving model. It’s all fairly easy to navigate, too; just a few faucets on the easy-to-operate multi-switch controller and also you’ll be away.
I discovered most of what I wanted in both Sport or Touring. Sport does precisely what it says on the tin, firming up the suspension and sharpening the throttle response, to assist rework the V4S right into a critically speedy highway bike that’d seemingly maintain its personal with far more clearly ‘centered’ machines. Touring was a bit extra forgiving; with a barely much less potent throttle response and plusher suspension, good for bounding throughout tough pothole-strewn roads and pottering via cities and villages.
The digital goodies proceed within the type of an infinite array of rider aids to assist hold you and the bike in examine. All of it works seamlessly, with no apparent interference – except for one little reminder from the ABS to remain smart on some dirty, moist, leaf-laden roads.
There’s adaptive cruise management, too. It’s a useful addition when you’re going to be doing huge miles on motorways. Stick it on and the radar will work to maintain a constant distance between you and the automobile in entrance. There’s a blind spot detector, too, which flashes a warning when automobiles are getting a bit too shut.
It stops lots nicely. The Brembo Stylemas and touring-spec pads have a tough job on their arms hauling up the 231kg lump, however they handle the job nicely. There’s luggage of engine braking, too. I do know that’s not for everybody, however for the sort of nadgery back-lane on-off throttle driving I actually take pleasure in, it’s nearly good.
The dealing with’s wonderful. It’s a huge bike and you already know it whenever you’re throwing it round, however a lighter and stiffer monocoque body coupled with the most recent era semi-active suspension implies that the V4 in some way feels far more steady than the outdated 1260, regardless of the change in entrance wheel measurement.
The selection obtained a little bit of criticism – with Multistrada homeowners of outdated questioning why you’d mess with a successful formulation and compromise highway dealing with by following the gang and becoming an even bigger wheel up entrance. The excellent news is that it doesn’t do something of the kind. It’s nonetheless suitably sporty, providing all-round agility and loads of poise, thanks partially to the ever-brilliant commonplace match Pirelli Scorpion Path II tyres – and it’ll waft over the roughest of surfaces with out fuss, too.
The brand new entrance wheel and tyre mixture additionally assist to enhance the Multistrada’s off-road viability. It’s nonetheless a highway bike at the start, however it’s far simpler to take up lanes than ever earlier than (offering you’ve flicked it into Enduro mode and opted for these spoked wheels from the aftermarket equipment catalogue). The standing place’s respectable; good, impartial and straightforward to get on with, although I might roll the bars ahead and match a few of Ducati’s off-road footpegs to get it excellent. I do query what number of riders will actually wish to danger throwing a brand-spanking new £25,000, 243kg bike on the surroundings – however credit score the place credit score’s as a result of whoever does.
It’s comfy whenever you’re settled in for lengthy rides, too. The seat’s the appropriate steadiness of soppy and agency; there’s luggage of house for my 6ft 1inch body; and it’s surprisingly quiet due to a brand new easily-adjustable display screen and massive entrance fairing mixture.
And large miles are the secret, in spite of everything. That’s why Ducati’s elevated the distances you are able to do between servicing. It wants an oil change each 9000 miles, however will handle 37,000 miles earlier than you must do any valve clearance work. They’ve additionally made the bike simpler to work on, which ought to assist scale back labour prices when it does finally must make a journey to your native vendor for a onceover.
Sadly, it’s not fairly so good on gas because the earlier 1260 mannequin. The manufacturing unit reckons it’ll be good for 43mpg (the place the 1260 achieved 54mpg). The excellent news is that the V4 has a barely greater 22-litre tank to assist compensate, giving the bike a claimed vary of simply over 200 miles when brimmed. Even when that’s a real-world 150 miles, most riders shall be after a fast pitstop after a few hours doing these types of distances.
There may be an terrible lot of competitors on the market although, with adventurous choices to contemplate from each main producer. On the time of its launch, Ducati did earmark the BMW’s R1250GS because the bike it had in its sights (which implies you’ve then acquired to consider the brand new R1300GS, Triumph’s Tiger 1200 and KTM’s 1290 Tremendous Journey). However when you’re completely going to be driving on the highway, you’d seemingly even have your eye on one thing like BMW’s S1000XR, and even Suzuki’s recently-introduced GSX-S1000GX.
Ducati’s Multistrada V4S is an distinctive journey bike. Whereas BMW’s much-loved GS will get the headlines and gross sales, the Italian manufacturing unit’s newest providing is simply nearly as good (and in some methods higher), in barely alternative ways. It’s a super-refined, imminently succesful journey bike that’s very simple to fall in love with. Blisteringly quick and thrilling to journey, it nonetheless manages to supply loads of practicality for correct big-distance riders, all bundled collectively in a cultured, subtle and super-stylish bundle. It’s correctly expensive, however when you’ve acquired 25 grand to splash out on a brand new bike, I reckon this is among the greatest methods you may put it to good use.
EXTRAS
The ‘Full’ pack provides near £4000 on high of the bottom £20,495 price ticket, and contains the onerous panniers, a centre stand, heated grips, a heated seat, the radar system, Akrapovic muffler, and carbon entrance mudguard.
COMFORT
The plush seat stands at a manageable (for me) 860mm as commonplace, combining with the low pegs and huge bars to supply correct all-day consolation. The display screen offers loads of safety; and the heated grips and seats make driving all-year spherical a extra nice risk.
TECH
Loaded with the most recent goodies, its radars are in all probability probably the most thrilling addition. There’s a super-effective and surprisingly easy to make use of radar-assisted cruise management on the entrance to make it simple to relaxation your weary arms on huge journeys, and there’s a rear radar which’ll let you already know if different site visitors’s getting a bit too shut. Intelligent stuff.
SUSPENSION
As ever, the ‘strada’s suspension system is critically good, offering a silky-smooth journey that swallows up potholes whereas having simple adjustability to get it set simply so if you wish to agency issues up and press on.
MOTOR
A Panigale-derived V4 engine in an journey bike. You possibly can’t go far incorrect. It’s a pleasure to make use of, and whereas it clearly enjoys being labored, a fast flick between rider modes will flip it from rev-hungry beast to docile city potterer.
WHEELS
The brand new 19-inch entrance wheel didn’t get a lot love when it was first revealed. But it surely works nicely on the highway, and it means you may package out your ‘commonplace’ Multi for off-road adventures, as a substitute of splashing the money on a devoted Enduro mannequin.
Specification
Ducati Multistrada V4 S
Worth: From £20,495 (£25,345 as examined)
Engine: 1158cc V4 Granturismo, V4 – 90°, 4 valves per cylinder, counter-rotating crankshaft, Twin Pulse firing order, liquid cooled
Energy: 170hp (125 kW) @ 10,500rpm
Torque: 92lb-ft (125Nm) @ 8750rpm
Body: Aluminium monocoque body
Suspension: (F) 50mm absolutely adjustable USD fork, digital compression & rebound damping adjustment with Ducati Skyhook Suspension, (R) absolutely adjustable monoshock, digital adjustment with Ducati Skyhook Suspension, aluminium double-sided swingarm
Wheels/Tyres: (F) Spoked 3” x 19” / Pirelli Scorpion Path II 120/70 ZR 19 (R) Spoked 4.5” x 17” / Pirelli Scorpion Path II 170/60 ZR 17
Brakes: (F) 2 x 330mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo M50 Stylema monobloc 4-piston 2-pad calipers, radial grasp cylinder, Cornering ABS, (R) 265mm disc, Brembo 2-piston floating caliper, Cornering ABS
Weight: 243kg (kerb)
Top: 840 mm-860 mm
Gas tank: 22 litres
Guarantee: 24 months / limitless mileage
