Ducati 1200 Multistrada DVT Pikes Peak 2016 — Specifications

Four category victories on the wildest mountain in America — that's a track record that builds a reputation. Ducati makes no secret of it, logically spinning off its Multistrada into a special edition bearing the name of that mythical hillclimb, where asphalt gives way to gravel above 13,000 feet. The message is clear at first glance: Ducati Corse red, white flanks, carbon wherever the eye lands. The front mudguard, the tank shrouds, the fairing around the fork head, the Termignoni exhaust. Details that leave no doubt about the machine's intentions.

What this Pikes Peak version claims above all is an unabashedly sport-oriented character that breaks from the Multistrada's usual all-rounder positioning. The short carbon windscreen sacrifices a little wind protection for the sake of the line. The seat with its red stitching, adjustable in height, maintains a tenuous link with adventure-touring use. The Pirelli Scorpion Trail IIs do the rest to keep the illusion alive. But beneath that adventurous exterior, a sport machine is hiding. The 50 mm inverted Öhlins fork and the TTX36 rear shock, both fully mechanically adjustable, confirm it. No electronic suspension management here: Ducati is targeting riders who know how to handle an adjustment tool and understand the difference between preload and rebound. It's a bold choice, consistent with the edition's positioning, but one that will put off riders who appreciate adapting their suspension from the handlebar on the fly.

The onboard electronics remain generously equipped in every other respect. The Pikes Peak inherits the TFT color instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity, the IMU inertial measurement unit, full LED headlights with cornering function, and Brembo M50 calipers on 320 mm front discs. Four riding modes — Urban, Touring, Sport and Enduro — cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, and hill start assist round out the package. In 2016, few machines of this size offered such a level of active electronics.

At the heart of it all sits the 1,198 cc L-twin, fitted with DVT variable valve timing — a technology that allows the engine to adjust camshaft timing according to engine speed. In practice, this translates to an engine that pulls strongly from mid-revs and delivers its 160 horsepower at 9,500 rpm without harshness. Peak torque of 136.3 Nm arrives at 7,500 rpm. On 235 kg fully fuelled, the sensations are immediate. The Multistrada Pikes Peak is not a beginner's motorcycle, nor a machine for the weekend rider who simply wants to turn heads outside a café. It's a sport-adventure bike for the experienced rider who accepts paying the price of their ambitions. And that price, for its part, gives pause for thought: €24,290 on the list. That's the cost of top-tier equipment, a sophisticated engine, and genuine competitive heritage. But at that figure, comparisons with a KTM 1290 Super Adventure or a BMW S 1000 XR become a legitimate debate depending on intended use.