After months of teasers, Ducati has finally dropped the cover on the all-new Multistrada V4 — the fourth generation of the popular Italian Adventure Tourer. The next-gen Multistrada is packed with new features including a completely new V4 engine, revised chassis, more ground clearance, bigger front wheel-size and significantly-longer maintenance intervals. The Multistrada V4 also marks the launch of the first production motorcycle with front and rear radar technology.

At the heart of the new machine is the 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo power plant, pumping out 170 horsepower and 92 ft-lbs of torque. Built with latest-generation technology, the new engine stands out for its record-breaking maintenance intervals for a motorcycle engine. It also distinguishes itself from the outgoing V2 power plant for being a more compact, lightweight (66.7 kg), high-performance, torque-rich engine.

According to Ducati, the new power plant has a lot of punch but proves to be exceptionally smooth and fluid at low revs, “with a lot of backbone in the mid-range and exciting at high revs.” In addition, adopting this engine allows for a significant lengthening of maintenance intervals, extending the oil change schedule to every 15,000 km (9,000 miles), while valve clearance check and eventual adjustment is required every 60,000 km (36,000 miles). 

With the new Multistrada V4, the Italian marque says they wanted to boost the versatility of the machine in all riding conditions while improving comfort and performance. “Sport, Travel, Enduro and Urban: four perfectly balanced souls to make the new Multistrada V4 effective and fun in all riding conditions,” states Ducati. 

The new machine now features more suspension travel in the rear, additional ground clearance, a 19″ front wheel, and a lower first gear that helps improve its off-road capability compared to the outgoing 1260 Multistrada. The smoothness of the engine, longer maintenance intervals, improved ergos, an adaptive Radar system, MotoGP aids and cornering lights give it long-range touring comfort as well.

The electronic package of the Multistrada V4 is state-of-the-art in the motorcycle sector for safety, comfort, performance, and connectivity. The inertial platform (IMU) manages the operation of ABS Cornering, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), here in “cornering” version and, on the Multistrada V4 S, the Cornering Lights (DCL).

Also standard on the Multistrada V4 S is Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), which makes it easy to restart on sloping roads. On the Multistrada V4 S, the inertial platform also communicates continuously with the semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) control system with Autoleveling function.

With the Multistrada V4, Ducati also introduces their innovative front and rear radar system, which allows the use of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD). The radar is an advanced auxiliary system that Ducati has developed together with Bosch, capable of supporting and making riding more comfortable thanks to the ability to sense objects surrounding the motorcycle. Controlled braking and acceleration maintains a steady distance to vehicles in front of you, while the system also notifies you when a vehicle enters the mirror’s blind spot from the rear. Each radar has compact dimensions (70 x 60 x 28 mm, similar to a modern action camera) and integrates seamlessly into the bike, weighing only 190 grams (0.4 pounds).

As for the chassis, the Multistrada V4 is equipped with an aluminum monocoque frame, 19-inch front wheel and double-sided swingarm, capable of accommodating spoked wheels (optional equipment). It has a limited wheelbase (1,567 mm), a sporty front end, suspension with large travel (6.7 inch front wheel and  7.1 inch rear wheel), ground clearance of 8.7 inch (220 mm) and a wet weight of 529 pounds (240 kg) for the standard model. 

With the aim of making long motorway journeys more comfortable, Ducati engineers paid great attention during the design and development phase to what in the automotive world is called Noise, Vibration, Harshness (NVH), or rather the measure of the general level of comfort of the vehicle.

In this sense, a careful aerodynamic study – also in the wind tunnel – was carried out to obtain the best possible protection for the rider and passenger from the air, reduce hissing noises and divert the heat coming from the engine away from the rider’s legs. The result is a Plexiglas screen with a new shape, adjustable in height with a single finger, associated with two side deflectors. The shapes of the handguards and the parts most exposed to the air have been studied in detail, as well as the “sound” of the engine, which is refined but always present and with the Ducati tone. The V4 Granturismo engine also adopts the strategy of deactivating the rear bank at idle. In this way, when the bike is stopped at the traffic lights, the rear bank is deactivated (there is no combustion in the cylinders), thus improving the thermal comfort of the rider and passenger thanks to a lowering of the temperature and reducing the fuel consumption.

The Multistrada V4 has many different configuration possibilities to meet the needs of diverse customers. The standard V4 model is available in red and the central model of the range, the V4 S, is available in “Aviator Grey” color as well as in red. The Ducati Multistrada V4 S can be ordered with both alloy wheels and spoked wheels, plus a new package of configurations can be ordered directly from the factory (Essential, Travel, Radar, Performance, Full). The range of configuration options can be viewed in the dedicated section of the Ducati website.

The third version is the Multistrada V4 S Sport, which offers a particularly bold dedicated livery and the standard Performance package with Akrapovič exhaust and carbon front fender.

The new Ducati Multistrada V4 will be available in Ducati dealerships starting January 2021. For more information go to Ducati.com

Ducati Multistrada V4 Specs