Ducati Multistrada V4 S 1160 Grand Tour 2024 — Specifications

Imagine a machine capable of devouring the asphalt of a dilapidated national road with the nonchalance of a cruise ship, then transforming into a projectile upon exiting the next hairpin bend. That, in essence, is the DNA of the Ducati Multistrada. Two decades after its appearance, this idea of extreme versatility reaches its peak with the V4 S Grand Tour. It’s no longer simply a trail bike; it’s a rolling continent, a proposition that fuses cutting-edge technology with a lavish display of horsepower, all at a price that will likely make you wince. At nearly 28,000 euros, it’s not within everyone’s reach, but it clearly targets the demanding globetrotter for whom compromise is a dirty word.

Beneath its apparent familiarity – a recognizable silhouette adorned with its saddlebags – this Grand Tour edition actually hides a concentrate of practical intelligence. It inherits the subtle evolutions of the Rally version, such as its fixed handlebar for better feedback, its thermal shields, or its ventilated smartphone compartment. But its true survival kit for the modern adventurer lies in its generous standard equipment. The Travel + Radar pack is included, offering not only 60 liters of storage, but also constant monitoring of the surroundings thanks to front and rear radars. Add to that heated grips and seats, a center stand, adaptive and additional lights, and you get a motorcycle ready to face the nighttime highway in the rain, in almost automotive comfort. It’s a clear proposition: everything is there, no need to spend hours configuring options.

The heart of the beast remains its famous 1158 cm3 Granturismo V4 engine. With 170 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, it is, to date, the most powerful production trail bike on the market. The comparison with the Panigale engine is tempting, but here, the character is skillfully tamed. It delivers elastic and deep force, a torque of 124.5 Nm available relatively early, which allows you to both ride smoothly, heavily loaded, and pulverize an expressway access in a few seconds. This mass of 243 kg fully fueled is forgotten once in motion, thanks in particular to a well-controlled center of gravity. The real magic, however, happens thanks to its electronic arsenal. Semi-active Skyhook suspension, wheelie control, stoppies control, cornering ABS, adaptive cruise control… the list is so long that you sometimes wonder if you’re riding or supervising. This sophistication makes the beast accessible, channeling its insane power for the common motorcyclist.

Facing competitors such as the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure or the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, Ducati plays a radically different part. It bets everything on pure road performance, high-end comfort, and technology that sometimes borders on excess. It is less adventurous off-road than the KTM, less balanced in its universality than the BMW, but it clearly outperforms them on the asphalt in terms of sporting potential and raw feel. Its audience? The experienced motorcyclist, lover of fast grand touring, who considers the motorcycle as a technological object and is not afraid of the bill. It’s an excessive machine, sometimes intimidating, but which fulfills its flagship mission with an assumed arrogance. It is not reasonable, but it is, undeniably, fascinating.