Ducati Multistrada V4 1160 2023 — Specifications

We often talk about evolution, but this is a revolution. Imagine for a moment: the sacred desmodromic distribution, the iconic trellis frame, the signature monobrach – swept away with a single stroke. With this Multistrada V4, Ducati hasn’t done an update, it has turned the page. The heart of the beast is no longer that rough and temperamental V-Twin, but the ferocious V4 Granturismo, boosted to 1158 cm³. The result? A burst of 170 horsepower that propels you without warning, and a torque of 124.5 Nm available much earlier in the rev range. We are light-years away from the smooth suppleness of a BMW R 1250 GS; here, it’s Italian lightning, channeled by a lavish amount of electronics. For the demanding globetrotter who wants sportiness in their trail bike, the message is clear.

The shock doesn't stop at the engine. The eye gets lost in this reworked silhouette, where everything seems familiar yet new. The winglets aren't there for style, but to evacuate heat from the legs, proof that aerodynamics were designed for travel comfort. Under this bodywork, the chassis has been completely redesigned with a monocoque aluminum frame, a 50 mm fully adjustable fork, and a conventional swingarm replacing the monobrach. With 170 mm of travel at the front and 180 at the rear, it retains its trail soul, even if its 170 rear tire and 19-inch front wheel indicate a more road-oriented vocation than off-road. At 240 kg fully fueled and with a 22-liter tank, it positions itself as a very high-flying road sport, ready to swallow asphalt.

But such power demands braking to match. Radial Brembo M4.32 calipers bite on 320 mm discs at the front, enough to calm passions with surgical precision, assisted by Cornering ABS. The dashboard is a 5-inch TFT screen with clean graphics, the interface of an electronic arsenal that leaves little room for improvisation. Four modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro) modulate power, traction control, anti-wheelie, and ABS. In Urban or Enduro mode, power is reduced to 115 hp, making the beast more docile in the city or on trails. It’s a motorcycle that thinks for you, sometimes perhaps a little too much, but which offers astonishing versatility.

So, who is it for? Clearly not for beginners, nor for the Ducatist purist attached to the V-Twin. At €20,490, it targets the sporty globetrotter who does not compromise on performance and technology, the one who looks at the BMW S 1000 XR or the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Its main argument, beyond its apocalyptic mechanics, is its ease of use: a service every 15,000 km and valve clearance check every 60,000 km, a reduced maintenance that sounds like a small revolution at Ducati. It doesn’t have adaptive radar cruise control or pilot suspensions, reserved for the S version, but it offers the essentials with rare mastery.

Ultimately, this Multistrada V4 is a bold betrayal that could well be the most beautiful of tributes. It buries symbols, but to better embrace the future with formidable efficiency and versatility. It no longer has the raw soul of the old one, but it has gained maturity, sophistication, and ease of daily use. It’s a war machine for the road, designed for those who want everything, immediately, and who are not afraid of a throttle that promises flight.