Ducati Multistrada 950 2019 — Specifications

Since 2017, Ducati has finally delivered a response for riders eyeing the Multistrada 1260 with envy but balking at the price tag and the 160 horsepower to tame. The Ducati Multistrada 950 embodies the same all-rounder trail philosophy, compressed into a format even the A2 license can accommodate in its restricted version. It’s no small machine, however: 937 cm3 of Testastretta, 113 horsepower at 9,000 rpm, 96.2 Nm at 7,750 rpm. The BMW F 850 GS and the Triumph Tiger 900 have cause for concern.

For the 2019 model year, the Ducati Multistrada 950 mainly receives an electronic upgrade that the previous version had requested. The arrival of a 6-axis Bosch inertial platform truly changes the game: cornering ABS now intervenes with the precision one is entitled to expect at this price, and the hill-hold assist becomes a genuine tool rather than a marketing gimmick. Four riding modes structure the available power. In Sport, the 113 horsepower drops unfiltered with a crisp mapping. In Urban, power is reduced to 75 hp for relaxed daily use. Enduro mode also reduces power to 75 hp but significantly softens traction control, allowing for some liberties on trails. Touring mode favors progressiveness on open roads. It’s clean, consistent, well thought out. Mechanically, the hydraulic clutch command lightens the lever noticeably, the only real novelty under the engine.

The chassis relies on the steel trellis frame that characterizes all Multistradas, with a 48 mm fully adjustable KYB inverted fork and a remote preload Sachs monoshock. The 170 mm front wheel travel accepts the unexpected of broken asphalt without complaint. Brembo brakes with radial four-piston calipers on 320 mm discs do the job convincingly. The wet weight of 229 kg remains within the standard of the segment, and weight reduction efforts on the rims and swingarm have subtracted two kilos compared to the previous generation. On a machine of this size, it’s especially useful on exiting tight corners where every gram counts.

The 840 mm seat height imposes a certain stature on the rider. Shorter riders will seek advice from the Ducati Multistrada 950 accessory range dedicated to lowering the seat, a common practice on this model. The 19-inch front wheel tracks the direction clearly on the road and feels comfortable on paved trails. The adjustable 60 mm bubble, the 12V sockets and the USB port clearly position this machine for long crossings. The 20-liter tank completes the picture for long stages. What the standard version does not offer, however, is the TFT screen, the quickshifter or the semi-active Skyhook suspensions. These features join the catalog of the Ducati Multistrada 950 S, which represents a significantly higher budget but justifies its existence for demanding users.

Displayed at 14,490 euros, this Ducati Multistrada 950 test reveals a motorcycle sincere in its promises. It doesn’t try to imitate the 1260; it builds its own legitimacy on a V-twin with character, electronics now up to the task, and handling that remains typically Ducati, meaning sporty in spirit even when playing adventurer. The Ducati Multistrada 950 used market has also expanded since launch, which testifies to a Ducati Multistrada 950 reliability judged reassuring enough for buyers to resell rather than discard. The typical buyer is neither a beginner nor a track rider: it’s the regular touring rider, the weekly rider who wants a unique motorcycle to do everything without a major compromise on any front. On this terrain, the 950 keeps its promise.