Ducati Multistrada 1200 S 2015 — Specifications

Imagine a motorcycle capable of devouring 500 kilometers of highway in the morning, stringing together alpine passes at a brisk pace in the afternoon, and swallowing a few forest trails without complaint on the return. That is precisely the promise that the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S has kept since its inception, and the 2015 version undoubtedly represents the most convincing culmination of this philosophy. Whereas other manufacturers like BMW with its GS or KTM with the 1190 Adventure offer more versatile than sporty trails, Bologna has always chosen a different positioning: to put the engine at the center of everything, and to build the rest around it.

This engine, precisely, deserves attention. The Testastretta 1198 cc receives, for this generation, a variable distribution called DVT, Desmodromic Variable Timing. The principle is well known in the automotive world for a long time, but very rare in motorcycles. The Honda VFR 800 has been playing with its cylinders since 2002, the Kawasaki GTR 1400 shifted the intake alone. The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S 2015 goes further by acting simultaneously on the intake and exhaust camshafts, via hydraulic phasers controlled by the engine electronics. Specifically, this means that at 3,500 rpm, you already have 80 Nm at your right hand, that the torque exceeds 100 Nm between 5,750 and 9,000 rpm, and that the peak of 136 Nm falls at 7,500 rpm. Maximum power reaches 160 horsepower at 9,500 rpm. For 235 kg when fully fueled, this is a muscle ratio that leaves few rivals without a response. Ducati announces an 8% reduction in consumption compared to the previous generation, which, with a 20-liter tank, offers a range consistent with grand touring use.

The chassis follows the same logic of climbing upwards. The steel trellis frame, redesigned and painted red, gains rigidity and offers 180 mm of ground clearance, enough to exit perfect asphalt without getting lost. On the S version, the 48 mm inverted forks and the single rear shock receive Ducati Skyhook Suspension semi-active management, which adjusts compression and rebound settings in real time. This is where the extra cost over the standard version is justified: on a winding road, the difference in behavior is noticeable. Brembo radial-mount calipers bite down on 320 mm floating discs with surgical precision, and the ABS coupled with the IMU inertial sensor remains active in corners, modulating braking according to the tilt angle. You can pinch hard in corners without unpleasant consequences.

The onboard electronics largely define what the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S, priced at 17,590 euros, offers differently from the competition. Four riding modes, Sport, Touring, Urban, and Enduro, redistribute power, dose traction control and ABS according to use. It is relevant and well-calibrated, even if the Enduro mode remains an option for paved trails rather than a true off-road passport. The adjustable seat at 825 or 845 mm, keyless start, cruise control, 12V sockets, and the readable LCD screen make the machine a thoughtful travel companion. The target audience is clearly the experienced motorcyclist who wants a single motorcycle to do everything, without too painful compromises.

The drawback exists, and it must be named. The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S 2015 weighs 235 kg on the scale, which is noticeably more than a KTM 1190 Adventure that plays in the same price category. This weight reminds you in slow maneuvers, in the parking lot, in tight corners at low speed. The seat height of 825 mm does not simplify the life of short-legged riders. These are the limits of a machine that has grown with its ambitions. Those looking for a viable opportunity to discover the range will also look at the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S 2011, 2012 or 2013, less expensive and technically robust, even if they lack the DVT and IMU. The 2015 version remains the technical hinge of the line, the one where the hypersport trail from Borgo Panigale has definitively ceased to be a concept to become a segment reference.