Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally 1160 2024 — Specifications

Imagine a machine capable of devouring an entire continent without batting an eye, then tackling a rocky track the next day without faltering. In the world of large adventure bikes, this has become an arms race, where each manufacturer lines up its over-equipped flagship. The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally doesn't just enter the dance; it redefines the rules with a simple philosophy: give everything, everywhere. It’s the ultimate weapon for the demanding globetrotter who refuses compromise, even if it means accepting a price hovering around €28,000 and a ready-to-ride weight of 260 kilograms.

Beneath its squared-shoulder fairing beats a heart of fire, the 170 horsepower V4 Granturismo. On asphalt, its ferocity is downright insane, propelling this behemoth with the eagerness of a sportbike. The engine is so fierce that its 120.6 Nm of torque almost seems superfluous, a megalomaniac’s luxury. Yet, this extravagance is channeled by electronics as refined as they are omnipresent. The riding modes, from Sport to Enduro, are not mere gimmicks; they radically transform the character of the beast. In the specifically reworked Enduro mode, power is limited to 115 hp, the rear ABS and anti-wheelie are deactivated, and the semi-active Skyhook suspension systems adopt an attack posture. That’s the whole ambiguity of the Rally: it whispers in the ear of the adventurer, but it has the soul and reflexes of a thoroughbred racer.

The real feat is its desert-cruising range. With its 30-liter tank, it crushes the competition like the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure or the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro on paper. Easily count 400 km of range, provided you don’t overly tax its thirsty V4. For duo comfort, everything has been redesigned: the taller and wider screen, the deflectors, the larger passenger footrests, and the space freed up by the recessed luggage. Even the cylinder deactivation system has been pushed further, able to remain active at low speed to save a few precious drops. Faced with a Honda Africa Twin, lighter and more natural in pure off-road, Ducati relies on technology and brute power to dominate.

But this sophistication comes at a cost, beyond the price. At a standstill, the seat height, adjustable up to 890 mm, can be intimidating, even with the clever Easy Lift function that softens the suspension to make it easier to straighten. And while its 200 mm of travel and 19-inch spoked rims allow it to swallow trails, its weight will always prevent it from playing the role of an enduro. It’s a premium SUV, not a packhorse. Its element remains the road, winding or endless, where its Brembo Stylema brakes, its adaptive cruise control radar, and its monocoque frame offer rocket-like safety and stability.

The Multistrada V4 Rally doesn't seek to please everyone. It clearly targets the technology-loving and demanding traveler, for whom the journey is a total, exhilarating, and ultra-safe experience. It’s the realization of a limitless motorcycle, a hyper-powerful and terribly seductive Swiss Army knife, provided you accept its dimensions, appetite, and bill. A monument of engineering that, as often with Ducati, prefers excess to compromise.