Ducati Multistrada V2 S 937 2023 — Specifications

We always talk about the flagship, the one that has it all? The V4, the grandiose engine, the impressive figures that inspire dreams. But in the shadows, there's the one that holds the house together, that does the job without fuss. The Multistrada V2 S is a bit like that. With its 113 horsepower drawn from a 937 cm3 L-twin, it doesn't have the grand scale of its big sister, the V4. It focuses on something else: accessibility, a more predictable character, and an entry price that, at €18,690, remains a sum, but avoids crossing the €20,000 threshold. The compromise is there, palpable. It loses two cylinders and a good dose of raw power, but gains agility with its 225 kg fully fueled and a seat height reduced to 830 mm. It's the trail bike for those who want Ducati without pretending to be a MotoGP rider, the globetrotter who prefers a smooth curve to a frantic straight line.

However, don't be fooled. This V2 S is not a stripped-down motorcycle. It's even a true technological sponge, having shamelessly siphoned the electronic arsenal from the V4 S. The semi-active Skyhook EVO system manages the suspension in real time, the cornering ABS keeps a watchful eye, and the six-axis inertial platform orchestrates the entire safety suite. We have cruise control, the up and down shifter, adaptive headlights, and a five-inch TFT screen that is dizzying. This is where things sometimes get tricky: this plethora of gadgets can give the feeling of a motorcycle that is too tame, too assisted, where the rider becomes a simple supervisor. And then there are these options… Finding heated grips as an extra on a machine at this price and in this premium category is a bold, to say the least, choice. Ducati, like the others, gently invites you to explore its catalog of accessories, where cases and spoked rims await you with an open wallet.

So, who is it really aimed at? Clearly not the adventurer in search of rocky trails, despite its trail name and Enduro mode. The 170 mm suspension travel and road tires restrict it to asphalt, even though it is capable of swallowing a dirt track without a hitch. Its audience is the demanding traveler, the one who covers hundreds of kilometers a day and for whom comfort, stability, and technology are decisive arguments. The engine, flexible and torquey from the middle of the range, is better suited to this role of grand touring bike than the high-revving V4. It delivers its 96 Nm of torque without rushing, allowing brisk acceleration without constantly playing with the gear lever. Faced with competitors like the BMW F 900 XR or the Triumph Tiger 900 GT, Ducati plays the identity and premium card. It is more expensive, also heavier, but it brings that "something extra," that Italian flair and technological density that makes the difference for a certain type of enthusiast.

Ultimately, the Multistrada V2 S perfectly assumes its role as guardian of the L-twin temple in the Ducati trail bike family. It doesn't try to imitate the madness of the V4, it offers a more reasonable, but incredibly successful, alternative. It is a serene grand touring machine, incredibly well-equipped, that takes you far without exhausting you. It forgives a lot, flatters the average rider, and makes the journey almost too easy. Is that a criticism? For the purist who seeks raw sensation, perhaps. For the globetrotter who wants to combine performance, comfort, and serenity over long distances, it is probably the definition of the ideal motorcycle.