Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro 2020 — Specifications

Imagine a man in a three-piece suit who decides one morning to cross the Atlas Mountains by motorcycle. That’s roughly the philosophy that governs the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro: a machine built for adventure, but one that refuses to forgo the refinements its owners are accustomed to. Born from a lineage that has always sought to fuse Italian sportiness with the versatility of an adventure bike, this Enduro version represents the most accomplished evolution of this contradictory ambition. With a price tag of €21,990, Ducati isn’t pretending to target Sunday walkers.

At the heart of the matter is the Testastretta DVT 1,262 cm³ engine borrowed from the XDiavel, a V-twin developing 158 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 128 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. Six horsepower more than the previous generation, which may seem anecdotal on paper, but the real gain lies elsewhere. The extended stroke of 71.5 mm versus a bore of 106 mm gives a noticeably thicker engine in the midrange, where an adventure bike battles daily to extract 254 kilograms of metal from a poorly negotiated corner or from a low-rev situation in off-road conditions. Facing the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, a direct rival and absolute benchmark in the segment, the Ducati plays the card of mechanical sensuality rather than Teutonic practicality. The Munich flat-twin convinces with its sluggish and communicative boxer; the Bolognese V2 responds with a more linear power delivery than before, but still capable of a volcanic temperament past 6,000 rpm.

The Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro’s technical specifications reveal a chassis consistent with the stated ambitions. The steel trellis frame receives 19- and 17-inch spoked wheels, the 48 mm inverted fork debates 185 mm of travel with the Skyhook Evo semi-active system, 15 mm less than on the previous 1200 Enduro, which raises questions about the calibration choices. The 30-liter tank, combined with a consumption figure of 5.5 liters per hundred kilometers, opens up serious autonomy horizons, around 450 kilometers, which radically changes the psychology of a long journey. The 840 mm seat remains high, as on any machine of this size, and the 254 kilograms when fully fueled reminds any aspiring adventurer that rocks are earned.

The onboard electronics reach a level of sophistication that almost justifies a dedicated training course. Four riding modes, Sport, Touring, Urban, and Enduro, modulate power, cornering ABS, traction control DTC, engine braking, and semi-active suspension in a consistent manner according to the mood of the day. The Bosch six-axis IMU monitors all of this with the rigor of a test engineer. The up-and-down bidirectional quickshifter comes standard, the Ducati Link app connects the smartphone to the machine for remote configuration of modes and itinerary tracking. The five-inch TFT screen displays everything you want to know, and even a little more. The interface has been revised compared to the previous generation, and that was necessary given how the previous version could discourage with its navigation complexity.

The overall verdict on the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro is that of a fundamentally paradoxical motorcycle. It possesses the equipment and technical capability to venture onto unpaved roads, but its weight and price are destined primarily for demanding road riders who want to be able to occasionally leave the asphalt without sacrificing the comfort of a large touring bike. This is not a criticism, but a statement of positioning. The target audience is clearly the enthusiast of long-distance travel with a strong sporting tone, the one who wants to ride the Alpine passes during the week and venture onto a few mountain trails on the weekend. For great explorers of rocks, there are lighter, more maneuverable machines, and above all much less expensive to overturn in an Afghan ravine.