Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak 2018 — Specifications

Pikes Peak. Two words that, in the world of motorcycling, immediately evoke the wildest ascent of America, a race where the slightest mistake comes at a high price. Ducati did not choose this name by chance for its most sporting Multistrada, and the 1262 cm3 version launched in 2018 intends to fully justify this reputation with every ride. The Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak is not a trail bike pretending to be sporty; it's a sporty machine that accepts luggage, provided you don't talk about it too often.

At the heart of the matter is the 1262 cm3 V-twin engine borrowed from the XDiavel, reworked with variable valve timing DVT. On paper, 158 horsepower at 9500 rpm and 129.5 Nm at 7500 rpm. In reality, a frank availability from low revs that makes the machine much easier to live with than these figures suggest. From 3500 rpm, the torque is already there, massive, and it doesn't let go until the rev limiter. Compared to the BMW S 1000 XR or the Aprilia Caponord, the Ducati plays in a different league in terms of engine character; the Bolognese twin has a personality that inline-four cylinders struggle to reproduce. The standard Termignoni amplifies this music even further, without it being a mere sound gadget.

The chassis has undergone significant evolution compared to the previous generation. The rake angle goes to 25 degrees, the swingarm is lengthened, the wheelbase reaches 1530 mm. These choices tend towards increased stability at high speed, without penalizing agility in quick transitions. The Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak technical specifications also reveal a dry weight of 206 kg, three kilos less than the standard S version, thanks to the forged aluminum Marchesini rims. The Öhlins suspension, 48 mm inverted fork and TTX36 fully adjustable shock absorber, do a serious job; it's a level of equipment not found on all trails of this size. The only downside comes from the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires fitted as standard: for a machine displaying this level of sporting ambition, a more track-oriented tire would not have been out of place.

The electronic equipment lacks nothing. IMU inertial platform, four riding modes, curved ABS, traction control, anti-wheeling, bidirectional quickshifter, cruise control, adaptive LED lighting in corners, five-inch color TFT dashboard with Bluetooth connectivity. For the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak test, it would be wrong to reduce this list to marketing; each function integrates into a global consistency that makes the machine truly versatile in the hands of an experienced rider. The 825 mm seat height and the 20-liter tank allow for long stages, even if the vocation of this Pikes Peak remains primarily for roads with sensations.

At €25,290 at launch, the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak price is clearly above the S range, which targets a specific audience. Not beginners, not touring riders seeking comfort above all, but riders who want a trail capable of holding its own in an alpine pass or on a scalpel-traced mountain road. Those looking for a Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak used will now find 2018 and 2019 models at much more accessible prices, with the advantage of an engine that has not aged. The competition has caught up some of its delay in terms of electronics, but the character of the Ducati twin and the sporting consistency of this Pikes Peak version remain strong arguments, difficult to contest.