Ducati Multistrada V4 1160 2024 — Specifications

Is it still possible to talk about a trail bike? When Ducati places its V4 heart, this warrior-like engine, within the Multistrada’s frame, the genre’s definition wavers. One is no longer facing a simple, versatile adventurer, but a hybrid machine that seems to have ingested the aggressiveness of a Panigale to better disperse it across all terrains. Bologna decided to revolutionize its grand touring bike, and the result, this Multistrada V4 2024, is a declaration of war against the notion of compromise.

The engine is the alpha and omega of this transformation. This Granturismo V4, boosted to 1158 cm3, produces 170 horsepower at 10,500 rpm. Compared to the old V2, that’s a gain of 12 horsepower, placing the bike a step higher than the BMW S 1000 XR. The torque, 124.5 Nm, arrives earlier and with a regularity that belies the usual Italian fury. Ducati sought suppleness, and found it, without sacrificing punch. The most surprising aspect? The usage philosophy. Oil changes are spaced 15,000 km apart, valve clearance checks at 60,000. An almost bourgeois program for an engine that remains, fundamentally, a bomb. They even sacrificed the desmodromic system, a pillar of Ducati’s identity, for this reason. It’s a cultural shift.

The chassis follows this logic of total rupture. The trellis frame, another icon, is replaced by a monocoque aluminum structure. The monobrach also disappears, in favor of a more conventional swingarm. There is a desire for pure efficiency, sometimes brutal, which contrasts with the historical glamour. The 50 mm inverted fork and the Marzocchi shock absorber, both adjustable, offer a serious trail suspension travel, 170 mm at the front, 180 mm at the rear. The front wheel switches to 19 inches, a signal towards off-road use, but with its 120/70 tire, it remains primarily a road machine. The winglets, discreet near the engine, are not for the track but to evacuate heat, a new concern for Ducati in this segment.

On board, electronics reign. The four riding modes sculpt the character: Sport releases all the power with minimal assistance, Touring tempers the reactions, Urban limits power to 115 hp for the city, and Enduro prepares for trails with specific ABS. The interface is a 5-inch TFT screen, inspired by the sporty V4s, clear and modern. But you need to look at the S version to have radar, pilot suspensions, or navigation. The base model, at €20,490, remains a rider’s machine, requiring mastery of its 240 kg fully fueled and its 170 horsepower. The Brembo brakes, with 320 mm discs at the front, are there for that.

Who is this motorcycle for? It targets the sporty touring rider who refuses the dichotomy between performance and travel. The one who wants a Panigale capable of handling a bumpy pass, or a trail bike capable of keeping up with a sportbike on the highway. It is not for beginners, its weight and power require experience. It is not for the pure enduro rider, despite its specific mode and ground clearance of 220 mm. It is for those who believe that a motorcycle can be a Swiss Army knife without being a compromise. Ducati, with this Multistrada V4, may have created the first hyper-trail. A machine that makes categories obsolete, while making purists of the brand grind their teeth. It’s a bold bet, and the road alone will judge its success.