Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS 2004 — Specifications

Imagine the year 2004. Someone tells you "Ducati trail." What do you think? Nothing, or a joke. Yet, the Bolognese brand has just launched a machine that will stir up trouble and, it must be said, divide opinions as rarely before. The Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS arrives with its futuristic, large wasp-like look, its exposed tubular trellis frame, and its large 90-degree V-twin engine. It looks like nothing known, and that's precisely its gamble. Not really a trail bike, not really a road bike, not really a sportbike. A motorized UFO at 11,795 euros, a significant sum for the time, claiming to do everything. The concept of the Allround takes shape, or attempts to.

Under the 20-liter fuel tank beats the heart of the beast, a 992 cc V2 from the Desmodromic valve actuation family. It delivers 84 horsepower at 8000 rpm and a solid torque of 84 Nm from 5000 rpm. Figures that seem modest today, but which, at the time, gave it a very distinct personality. The power is linear, the torque present without being brutal, a mechanical unit that requires being revved to express itself, unlike its more docile Japanese competitors. The trellis frame and the fully adjustable 43 mm Showa inverted fork set the tone: it’s a seriously hooked-up motorcycle. The fully adjustable Showa rear monoshock is paired with a single-sided swingarm, a Ducati signature that adds a touch of technical flair. With 200 kg fully fueled and a seat height of 850 mm, it imposes a certain size, but proves surprisingly agile once in motion.

So, for whom? The rider seeking a unique motorcycle, capable of devouring national roads with the same pleasure as winding mountain passes. The radical aesthetics, between a steroid-enhanced café racer and a 2000 scrambler, are an argument in themselves for those who want to stand out. Searches for used Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS 2004 or 2005 models prove it, it has created a cult. However, addressing the reliability of the Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS without caution would be dishonest. Like many Ducati of this era, it can be capricious. Voltage regulator, starter, or sensor problems are classics that must be anticipated when purchasing. A good technical specification and a scrupulous maintenance history are essential. It's the price to pay for characterful mechanics and a lack of compromise.

Facing the competition, like a more routine but indestructible BMW R 1150 GS, the Multistrada plays the card of pure emotion. It doesn't cut corners. Long-distance seat comfort is acceptable without being exceptional, and the wind can become heavy at speeds above 160 km/h, although the speedometer may indicate 215. It's a motorcycle with a mood, which rewards the invested rider but can annoy those seeking ease. Today, it is experiencing a second life thanks to modification enthusiasts. Transforming a Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS into an aggressive café racer or a stripped-down scrambler is a common project, its trellis frame lending itself beautifully to the exercise. It's an ideal customization platform.

Opinions on this motorcycle cannot be mixed. Either you love its whole character, its inimitable style, and the unique sensation of its V2, or you hate its somewhat bizarre ergonomics, its possible mechanical issues, and its blurred positioning. The Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS 2004 is not a motorcycle, it’s a statement. It opened a path that Ducati has followed with increasingly refined models, such as the 1100 that succeeded it. Finding one in good condition today is acquiring a piece of history, imperfect, exasperating at times, but terribly alive. A pure object of passion, far from current standardization.