Ducati Multistrada 1200 S 2016 — Specifications

For years, Ducati purists have regarded the Multistrada with a polite condescension, as one observes a distant cousin who has gone astray. A trail bike signed Ducati, really? The Bologna-based manufacturer had nevertheless sensed something that many had not seen coming: the need for a machine capable of doing everything well, without sacrificing its soul. This third generation of the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S, 2016 model year, pushes the idea to its limits, and the results are seriously thought-provoking.

Visually, the lineage is immediate. But where a BMW R 1200 GS presents a benign and functional snout, the Ducati growls. The front fairing evokes more a hawk on the lookout than a benevolent explorer. The stretched headlights, the sculpted flanks, the revised engine guard: nothing is innocent in this silhouette. One is facing a machine that assumes its 235 kg wet weight without seeking to camouflage it under reassuring curves. The tubular steel trellis, now painted in red, is displayed as a signature rather than a technical concession.

What fundamentally distinguishes this version is the DVT system, Desmodromic Variable Timing, a very rare technology in motorcycles. Honda plays with the number of active valves, Kawasaki attempted something on the intake of its GTR 1400: Ducati does both at once, independently phasing the intake and exhaust camshafts thanks to hydraulically piloted phasers controlled by the ECU. The result is directly reflected in the torque curve: 80 Nm available from 3,500 rpm, a plateau of over 100 Nm between 5,750 and 9,000 rpm, and a peak of 136 Nm at 7,500 rpm. Maximum power reaches 160 hp at 9,500 rpm. Ducati also claims 8% less fuel consumption, which the technical specifications confirm with 4.9 liters per 100 km. Maintenance intervals increase to 15,000 km for routine servicing, and 30,000 km for valve timing. In this segment, this is a significant commercial argument against the Austrian and German competition.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S price is €17,890, positioning the machine well above the standard version. For this sum, one obtains the Skyhook suspension in its new iteration: an inverted 48 mm fork and a mono-shock, both with electronic damping management in compression and rebound, with electronic preload. The system reads the road in real time and adapts the behavior of the whole. In practice, the result on open roads is striking; the bike swallows road imperfections without ever disturbing the trajectory. Four-piston Brembo calipers mounted radially on 320 mm floating discs complete a package that has nothing to envy to the sportbikes in the range. The ABS coupled with the IMU inertial unit becomes active in corners, modulating braking based on the bike's actual lean angle. You squeeze the levers, the machine arbitrates.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S technical specifications reveal a wheelbase of 1,529 mm and a seat height adjustable to 825 or 845 mm, making it accessible to a wide range of heights. The 20-liter tank and the range allowed by these 4.9 L/100 km make it a true long-distance companion. The onboard equipment is not disappointing: keyless start, cruise control, backlit switches, a readable LCD screen. The Sport, Urban, Touring, and Enduro riding modes simultaneously adjust engine mapping, traction control, and rear wheel slip control. Ducati has also eliminated the Granturismo and Touring versions in favor of an optional pack system: Touring with luggage, Sport with a Termignoni exhaust, Urban for the city, Enduro with collaboration from Touratech for degraded surfaces.

It must be mentioned, however, the point that is a bit disappointing: compared to the previous generation, the weight has increased. 235 kg wet weight, this is the price of denser electronics and more generous equipment. This is not a dealbreaker for the globetrotter looking for a do-it-all machine, but the rider who hopes to find the agility of a mid-size trail bike may be surprised by slow maneuvers. Those looking for a Ducati Multistrada 1200 S used from the 2010 to 2015 model years will find lighter and cheaper machines, but they will miss out on the DVT and this version of the Skyhook. For those who ride a lot, vary contexts, and do not want to choose between comfort, performance, and equipment, the balance clearly leans towards this generation.