Ducati Multistrada 1100 2007 — Specifications

We all remember its appearance. When the first Multistrada was released in 2003, it divided groups like few Italian motorcycles had done before. Too bizarre, too angular, too… everything. But in 2007, Ducati didn't let up and struck a significant blow, literally, with this Multistrada 1100. The idea? To graft a large heart into this atypical silhouette and see what happens. The result is not a simple update, it's a statement. Bologna surpasses one liter of displacement for the first time in series production, and it chooses this urban trail bike to do so. A real middle finger.

Under this 20-liter fuel tank that always seems ready to overflow, the Desmodue V2 gains 86 cc to reach 1078. The bore is widened, but the soul remains pure: air/oil cooling, two valves, and that unmistakable deep sound. The real revolution is in the hands. The hydraulic clutch, borrowed from the ST3, transforms the in-city experience. Farewell to the clutch lever that cramps your forearm in traffic jams, hello to suppleness. We lose a bit of mechanical character, it’s true, but we gain daily comfort. Power climbs to 95 horsepower, but it's mainly the torque, this pulling force of 102.9 Nm available low down, that redefines the motorcycle. It now pulls from low RPMs, making acceleration much less ceremonial. For those looking for a used Ducati Multistrada 1100 today, it’s this progress that makes the difference.

The chassis, a robust trellis frame, and the adjustable Marzocchi/Sachs suspension remain unchanged, and that’s very good as it is. They offer that unique blend of high-speed stability and agility in curves that has always been the hallmark of the model. The powerful brakes don’t need assistance. The real change is felt on the handlebars: newly installed silent-blocks dampen the vibrations of the twin-cylinder, allowing for longer journeys without numbness. The dashboard also gains a proper fuel gauge, a small victory for long-distance travelers. With a wet weight of 221 kg and a seat height of 85 cm, it remains accessible, even if its size commands respect.

So, who rides this Italian motorcycle? Clearly not the purist of the old-school V2, who will prefer a more raw Monster. The Multistrada 1100, especially in its S version with its gold Öhlins, targets the demanding globetrotter who refuses banality. It's a motorcycle with character, which swallows the highway at 220 km/h without a murmur but also weaves through the city with surprising ease. Its flaw? This still-sharp aesthetics, which you either love or hate. Its strength? A versatility tinged with Ducati madness, made more user-friendly by this boosted engine. A Ducati Multistrada 1100 test ride will confirm it: it may not have the clinical perfection of a Japanese trail bike, but it has a soul. And sometimes, that’s all that matters.

If the reliability of the DS models of the time is now well known and generally solid, buying a used Ducati Multistrada 1100 DS still requires careful checking of maintenance records. But for a little over 11,000 euros at the time, it offered an immense playground. It paved the way for today's turbocharged Multistradas, proving that you could be bizarre, comfortable, and terribly effective. A UFO that has become cult.