Ducati Multistrada V4 1160 2026 — Specifications

Do you remember the days when choosing a motorcycle involved a painful compromise? Road or sporty, off-road or track, you had to choose. Today, manufacturers promise us the ultimate weapon, the machine that devours everything. In this race for versatility, Ducati launches its ultimate argument for 2026 with the Multistrada V4 1160. It’s no longer a motorcycle; it’s an onboard computer on wheels, bristling with technologies that would make a rocket blush. But behind this high-tech veneer, what remains of a motorcycle's soul?

The design undergoes a facelift, but you have to be an insider to see it. The LED headlights stretch, the fork narrows for a more pronounced nod to the Panigale V4. It’s elegant, aggressive, but above all, it’s a subtle game to let your red-light neighbor know you’re riding a “new” one. The real change is under the 22-liter fuel tank. The 1158 cm3 Granturismo V4 still spits out its 170 horsepower at 10,750 rpm, a healthy power output for a trail bike in this category. But the magic lies in its ability to metamorphose. Borrowing from Audi engineering, the virtual twin-cylinder makes its entrance: at cruising speed, the rear two cylinders are cut off, reducing consumption and emissions. An intelligent idea, although the rider hardly feels the transition. This is the paradox of this generation: a dreamlike mechanical setup whose roughness is hidden from you.

Because the real driver here is the electronics. The Ducati Vehicle Observer, derived from MotoGP, simulates 70 sensors to analyze the mass, angle, and behavior of the beast in real time. It feeds an arsenal of aids: Cornering ABS, traction control, and anti-wheeling of surgical precision. The S model goes further with automatic lowering, which lowers the saddle from 840 mm when stopped. Practical, yes. Essential for a 229 kg trail bike fully fueled? The question is worth asking. One begins to wonder if we are still riding, or simply supervising a system.

On paper, it can do everything. Enduro mode limits power to 114 hp and releases the rear, for clean trails. Wet mode calms the ardor. Sport mode provides access to full power. But this omnipotence comes at a price, and not just the price tag, which flirts with 21,000 euros. The feeling on board is that of directing an entity that is almost too perfect, too smooth. Compared to a BMW R 1300 GS, more raw and intuitive, or a KTM 1390 Super Adventure, more nervous and playful, the Multistrada V4 1160 impresses with its calm and efficiency. It crushes the distance and flattens road imperfections, but it communicates little.

So, who is it for? For the demanding globetrotter who travels thousands of kilometers in absolute comfort and wants maximum electronic safety. For those who see the motorcycle as a global system, a fail-safe travel companion. On the other hand, if you are looking for raw sensations, direct contact with the mechanics, or the adventurous soul of a real trail bike, you might find this Ducati a little aseptic. It is the culmination of a philosophy: to make performance accessible and safe, even if it means putting a window between the rider and the road. A technological marvel, without a doubt. But a marvel that, sometimes, nostalgically reminds us of the charm of imperfect machines.