Ducati 1000 ds MULTISTRADA S 2006 — Specifications

When Ducati decides to graft Öhlins suspension onto its do-it-all machine, the question isn't whether it's justified, but to understand what it concretely changes on the asphalt. The Multistrada 1000 DS S of 2006 is precisely this answer: an unclassifiable hybrid, neither pure trail, nor roadster, nor sportbike, which here receives favored treatment with a 43 mm Öhlins inverted fork at the front and a single Öhlins shock absorber at the rear. The carbon front fender and the aluminum Magura handlebar complete a picture that is not short on ambition for a machine displayed at 13,295 euros.

What strikes you first is the way these suspension systems transform your relationship with the road. The 90° L-twin of 992 cc develops 92 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 86.3 Nm of torque at 5,750 rpm, but that’s almost secondary when the Öhlins absorb road imperfections with that particular tact that you don't find on the standard version. Degraded surfaces, bitumen joints, poorly dosed speed bumps: everything passes with a fluidity that surprises on a Ducati. The Italian firmness is still there, it reminds you on sharp impacts, but the filter is noticeably finer. You adjust it to your convenience, comfort or sport, and even in sport mode the S retains a margin of civility that the base Multistrada does not offer.

The engine itself requires a bit of method. Below 2,500 to 3,000 rpm, the twin double ignition is reluctant, you have to give it room to express that generous torque. Above, the mechanics pull with that brassy sound typical of the Borgo Panigale house, and the 196 kg dry weight are forgotten in the chain of maneuvers. The seat height at 850 mm naturally selects its rider, and the 20 liters of tank for a top speed announced at 215 km/h provide correct autonomy on the road.

The positioning of this S version versus the competition is somewhat singular. At this price, you also find serious road trails and well-bred sportbikes. The 749 of the same brand cost about the same in 2006, a figure that says a lot about what Ducati thinks of its product. But the Multistrada S does not target the same use: it serves in the city without too much reluctance, it becomes versatile on winding roads, and with the raised bubble and the reworked saddle, it begins to look towards light grand touring. It is not a GT in the classic sense of the term, but it is a machine that you can want to take far away.

For 1,500 euros more than the standard version, the Öhlins represent a coherent investment on a motorcycle whose daily use and versatility are the reason for being. The rider who seeks above all circuit performance will pass his way. The one who wants a Ducati capable of swallowing varied kilometers with a minimum of compromise, on roads that are not always tender, will find in this S a difficult-to-avoid proposition.