Ducati Multistrada V4 S 2023 — Specifications

When Bologna abandons the desmodrome and the V-twin that built its legend, one is entitled to wonder what remains of Ducati in the Multistrada V4 S. The answer lies in one figure: 170 horsepower. At 10,500 rpm, the 1,158 cm³ V4 in a 90° L configuration sends a torque of 124.5 Nm at 8,750 rpm. It’s brutal on paper, sovereign on the road, and places the Ducati Multistrada V4 S well above the competition in the sporty maxi-trail category.

Let’s seriously discuss the competition, because the market is not empty. The KTM 1290 Super Adventure S plays the card of Austrian aggressiveness with a similar temperament, the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure focuses on versatility and a loyal customer base to the point of caricature. The Multistrada, for its part, chooses a third path: stacking technology until the technical specifications resemble a lease agreement. And it is precisely here that the S version distinguishes itself from the Standard. Semi-active Marzocchi suspensions piloted by the Skyhook Evolution system react in milliseconds via the IMU inertial unit, with a staggering range of adjustment from the 6.5-inch TFT screen. Four riding modes, Sport, Touring, Urban, and Enduro, not only modify the engine mapping but also recalibrate the damping, the DTC traction control, the DWC anti-wheelie control, and the cornering ABS thresholds. In Urban and Enduro, power is limited to 115 horsepower to keep it manageable. It’s a motorcycle that reconfigures itself according to the mood of the day, almost like a two-wheeled smartphone.

What truly differentiates the Ducati Multistrada V4 S 2023 from its direct rivals is the radar. Two modules, one at the front in the prow of the motorcycle, one at the rear under the taillight, developed with Bosch. The first powers an adaptive cruise control system operating between 30 and 160 km/h, on four levels of spacing with the preceding vehicle. The second monitors blind spots and illuminates an LED in the concerned rearview mirror if a fast car approaches from behind. As of the time this text is written, only the Multistrada V4 S, the KTM 1290 Super Adventure, and the BMW R 1250 RT offer this technology as standard or as an option. Important nuance: the rear BSD remains an option on the Multistrada, which relativizes the commercial discourse on safety. We already pay €24,290 for the S version, a budget that deserves to integrate this system without supplement.

On the road, the machine's philosophy is consistent with these ambitions. The front wheel is now 19 inches, the ground clearance reaches 220 mm, the rear wheel travel reaches 180 mm. We are no longer in the living room trail that timidly ventures onto a forest path. But 243 kg fully fueled with 22 liters of gasoline is a mass that the rider feels as soon as they put a foot down. The seat height at 840 mm does not simplify low-speed maneuvers, even though Ducati has added the "minimum preload" function to slightly lower the saddle at traffic lights. This is not a motorcycle for someone who is learning. It’s a machine for an experienced rider, a long-distance traveler, capable of juggling between alpine passes and the highway without getting tired, with the refinements of a high-tech vehicle.

For those consulting a Ducati Multistrada V4 S technical specification sheet in view of a purchase, a few clarifications are necessary. Brembo brakes with M50 Stylema calipers on 330 mm discs at the front are among the best available on a trail. The bidirectional quickshifter, the hill-hold assist, and the adaptive cornering lights are standard on the S, not the Standard. The Ducati Multistrada V4 S opinion circulating on forums since 2021 converges towards the same observation: it’s a fascinating motorcycle, technically impeccable, but which requires a financial and physical commitment that not everyone is ready to assume. For others, those seeking a Ducati Multistrada V4 S used motorcycle or comparing model years, know that software updates for recent versions are backward compatible with the first series via the distribution network. This is not insignificant on a motorcycle that ages as well mechanically as electronically.