Ducati Multistrada V4 2023 — Specifications

When Bologna decides to throw everything overboard, it results in the Ducati Multistrada V4. Not an evolution, not a facelift: a clear break with thirty years of in-house dogma. The twin disappears, the trellis frame retires, the monobrach swingarm puts away its fine suit, and the desmodromic distribution—an absolute pride of the brand for decades—yields to conventional valves. For a fan from the very beginning, this is the kind of news that stings. Then you read the technical specifications, and the pain turns to curiosity.

The engine powering this new Multistrada V4 descends directly from the Panigale and Streetfighter. A 90-degree V4 cylinder engine, 1158 cm3, designed for the road based on a competition DNA. The result: 170 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 125 Nm at 8,750 rpm. Facing the BMW S 1000 XR, which peaks at 165 horsepower, the Italian takes the lead on paper, even if the two machines don't exactly have the same character. The Ducati V4 revs high with a sporty fervor while still retaining enough suppleness to swallow the miles without exhausting the rider. Maintenance follows this logic of modernity: oil changes every 15,000 km, valve check at 60,000 km. Those accustomed to distribution adjustments every 15,000 miles will appreciate this.

The chassis is in keeping with this approach. The aluminum monocoque frame replaces the trellis tubular frame, offering a direct link between the engine and dynamic behavior, as on the brand's Superbike models. The 50 mm inverted fork, electronically controlled by the Skyhook system, manages compression and rebound without rider intervention, unless the rider prefers to handle it themselves. The front wheel size goes from 17 to 19 inches, clearly orienting the machine towards degraded roads and passable trails, without making it a true off-road machine. For true off-road use, you’re going to need to select the spoked wheels and knobby tires options on the S version. The base Ducati Multistrada V4 remains primarily a capable road bike, not a rally machine. The wheelbase of 1,567 mm and the 242 kg wet weight also recall that this is a grand touring machine, not a supermotard.

Braking relies on Brembo M50 Stylema four-piston calipers, components usually found on much sportier machines. Cornering ABS modulates braking power based on the lean angle, and the overall electronic suite is substantial: IMU inertial sensor, traction control on eight levels, wheelie control on eight levels, four riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro) that adapt the available power and the sensitivity of the aids. In Urban or Enduro mode, power is limited to 115 horsepower to keep it manageable. In Sport mode, the 170 horsepower are expressed with minimal filtering. It's well thought out and really covers all the uses of the Ducati Multistrada V4 in everyday life.

At €20,490, the base version positions itself at the top of the segment, which corresponds to its actual level of equipment. The Ducati Multistrada V4 steps up a level further with piloted suspension, radar for adaptive cruise control, integrated navigation and adaptive cornering lights. The Pikes Peak version pushes the sporty cursor even further, with refined geometry and equipment tailored for twisty roads. This range of options illustrates Ducati's strategy: a solid base, adaptable with money and usage. The 22-liter tank and a consumption announced at 6.5 liters per hundred allow for stages of more than 300 kilometers, which is consistent with the profile of the machine. This Multistrada targets the sporty road bike and grand traveler, someone who wants everything on one motorcycle, from alpine passes to the Paris ring road, without obvious compromises. It achieves this, but at a price and with a handling that requires a minimum of experience. Center stand still absent from the standard equipment, which remains an oversight difficult to justify on a touring-oriented machine.