Ducati Multistrada 950 S 2020 — Specifications

Does the premium trail still justify itself when you remove a few horsepower and shed a few thousand euros? That's the question posed by the Ducati Multistrada 950 S, a motorcycle that skillfully plays on the register of relative accessibility without denying its noble Italian DNA. Faced with a larger 1260 sibling that can sometimes be too demonstrative, this 2020 version offers a significant compromise, with its 937 cc V-twin engine delivering 113 horsepower and 96 Nm of torque. These figures, admittedly, are more than sufficient for the vast majority of uses, whether you're devouring a mountain pass or crossing a city.

The true appeal of this Multistrada 950 S lies in its enriched technical specification. Ducati had the good idea to equip this intermediate version with the famous semi-active Skyhook Evo suspension, an electronic gem that adjusts damping in real time. Coupled with an inertial sensor, it offers four riding modes and the ability to adjust preload according to the load. The system promises hundreds of combinations, but let's be honest, you set it once and for all and let the magic work. The equipment is generous: cruise control, color TFT screen, full LED lighting with cornering function, and even a bi-directional quickshifter as standard. One detail is irritating, however, the absence as standard of heated grips, an accessory that is nevertheless basic on a machine at this price.

With a 20-liter tank and a consumption figure of around 3.5L/100km, the range is correct without being exceptional. The wet weight of 227 kg for a seat height of 840 mm makes it an accessible motorcycle, even if its size remains imposing. On the road, the handling is typically Ducati: the engine is lively, sonorous, and the steel Trellis frame offers rail-like precision. Faced with competitors such as the Triumph Tiger 900 or the BMW F 850 GS Adventure, the Multistrada 950 S focuses on character and technological sophistication, even if it displays a less affordable price. Its price of 16,790 euros clearly positions it in the high-end of the mid-size trail bikes.

Who is it for? For the demanding globetrotter who wants an off-road motorcycle capable of sporty performance on asphalt, without the excess and cost of a 1260. It is also an excellent choice of used motorcycle today, the 2019 to 2021 models offering a very interesting equipment/price ratio. Ducati Multistrada 950 S forums bear witness to this, its owners praise its versatility and cutting-edge electronics. A test ride of the Ducati Multistrada 950 S is enough to understand its positioning: it is not the most radical, but it offers a concentrate of sensations and technology that justifies, for some, the investment. It's a motorcycle that flatters the ego and the wrist, without ever betraying you.