Ducati Multistrada V4 S 1160 2022 — Specifications

A 170-horsepower trail bike is already a concept that borders on indecency. But when it bears the Bologna badge and abandons the mythical twin-cylinder for a V4, we touch on revolution. The Multistrada V4 S doesn’t just turn the page, it burns the book. With its 1250 cm3, its Granturismo engine delivers brutal power of 170 horsepower, for a torque that hits hard at 124 Nm. A figure that places it without complex at the top of the category, ahead of competitors such as the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure or the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Yet, Ducati emphasizes versatility and… civility, less on extravagance. Forget the desmo, make way for cylinder deactivation to limit heat and extended maintenance intervals. The world is changing, and Ducati with it.

The 2022 model year refines the beast, notably with an ingenious software trick: "Minimum Preload." This magical function virtually lowers the motorcycle when stopped, bringing the seat to 840 mm to more accessible heights. A relief at the traffic light or on a rocky path. But the real highlight is the electronic arsenal. The S version inherits as standard semi-active Skyhook EVO suspensions, adjustable in one click among nearly 400 combinations. And then there are the radars. Yes, plural. One at the front for a car-like adaptive cruise control, and one at the rear for a blind spot detector. A technology still very rare, shared only with a few rare BMW and KTM models. The cockpit is dominated by a 6.5-inch TFT screen, clear and complete, even integrating navigation via your smartphone, which fits into a tank compartment. It's high-tech, almost too much.

But all this sophistication comes at a price, and not just financial, although the requested 22,490 euros have an effect. The weight, for its part, has increased. With its 243 kg fully fueled, the V4 S noticeably increases the bill compared to the previous 1260. You can feel the mass, especially at low speed, despite efforts to lighten the engine block and adopt a monocoque aluminum frame. Fortunately, once launched, the magic works. The four riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro) profoundly modulate the character, limiting power to 115 hp in the city or for off-road, and releasing the 170 horsepower in Sport mode where the suspensions stiffen. The braking, ensured by top-of-the-line Brembo Stylema calipers, is of absolute power and control, assisted by an infallible Cornering ABS.

So, who is this machine for? Certainly not for the beginner, nor for the purist attached to the fat torque of a twin-cylinder. The Multistrada V4 S targets the demanding and tech-savvy globetrotter, who travels thousands of kilometers on the highway and who, on weekends, wants to be able to play in the mountain passes or the trails without changing mounts. It is the ultimate weapon of the hurried and connected traveler. But it pays for this versatility with a certain complexity and a sometimes aseptic feel. It is a motorcycle by engineers, brilliant, efficient, over-equipped, but which may have lost a little of that vibrant and simple soul that made the charm of the Ducati of yesteryear. It remains, however, a reference, a demonstration of force that commands respect and redefines the standards of the grand touring trail.