Ducati Multistrada V2 2023 — Specifications

When Ducati decided to split its Multistrada family into two distinct displacements, the reasoning was simple: on one side the V4 for those thirsty for power, on the other the V2 for those who want character without constantly checking their license. The Ducati Multistrada V2 therefore inherits a clear, almost surgical positioning, and an engine that we know well: the 90° L-twin of 937 cm3, the very one that equipped the 950. Its 113 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 94 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm haven’t budged an iota, and that’s a good thing. This twin has a real personality, a frank progression, a sound that recalls that Bologna hasn’t sacrificed everything yet on the altar of downsizing. Those who cried for the dry clutch can still shed a tear, but the rest speaks for itself.

What has changed is the dry weight. Ducati has seriously worked on the mass: 5 kilos less than the 950, obtained by trimming everywhere. The rims come from the V4 and alone lighten by 1.7 kg. The brake calipers switch to aluminum for a gain of 500 grams. The clutch contributes 1.5 kilo. The engine itself, with revised connecting rods and a reworked gearbox, loses an additional 500 grams. The result is appreciated on the scale: 222 kg fully fueled, which remains reasonable for a versatile trail of this size. The 48 mm inverted fork and the fully adjustable rear shock absorber each handle 170 mm of travel. On small roads, it manages well.

The chassis doesn’t surprise regulars. The aluminum trellis frame, the four-piston Brembo radial calipers on 320 mm front discs, the 120/70 tire on 19-inch rims: all this translates a clearly assumed sporting philosophy, rather distant from the off-road approach claimed by a KTM 890 Adventure R or a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally. The Ducati Multistrada V2 2023 is a road trail with a touch of Bolognese soul, not an adventure bike. Anyone who imagines its off-road capabilities with such road-biased tires will quickly be disappointed. The 20-liter tank, coupled with a consumption announced at 5.9 liters per 100 km, nevertheless provides a real range of about 330 km, sufficient for long stages.

For the Ducati Multistrada V2 test, the 810 mm seat naturally filters the clientele. Ducati has lowered it by a centimeter and reworked the seat to refine the legroom, but a modest build will seek the 790 mm lowering options. Regarding the price, the Ducati Multistrada V2 2023 is displayed at 15,790 euros; it is noticeably more than a Honda CB 500 X, but the comparison doesn't really make sense. It is, however, directly confronted with the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT or the Suzuki V-Strom 1050, which offer more standard equipment for less money. The V2 responds to them with brand identity and that desmodromic twin that no competitor can replicate.

Available in an A2 version (restricted to 35 kW), it technically opens the door to young riders, but at this price and with this dynamics, it’s hard to see it as a real first-bike machine. The Ducati Multistrada V2 opinion is quite unanimous on this point: it is aimed at the rider who already has established experience, wants a versatile machine without falling into the absolute seriousness of the V4, and who is willing to pay for character rather than for a list of equipment. The color TFT screen remains reserved for the S version, as do the pilot suspensions and adaptive headlights. This is the price of entry into the family.