Here’s a question for you – what do you do if you make the world’s most stylish and satisfying adventure bike and have sold 110,000 of them?
If you’re Ducati, the answer is obvious – change everything.
Well, not quite everything. The Multistrada V4 looks much the same as the V2 version, but under the tank, the 182bhp 1260cc V-twin has been replaced by the 1158cc V4 from the Streetfighter, detuned from 208 to 170bhp.
Madness? Maybe not, for although maximum power is down, the detuned engine makes it at 10,500rpm instead of the Streetfighter’s 12,750, and in the midrange, where engines spend most of their time and riders need power and torque most, there’s a big fat, creamy dollop of both waiting to be lapped up.
For any geeks reading, Ducati’s also ditched the trademark Desmodromic valve system it’s been using since the 1970s in favour of simpler springs, meaning you only need to get valve clearances checked after 37,000 miles.
And while Ducati was throwing everything out, it included the iconic red steel trellis frame, replacing it with an aluminium monocoque – same as in the new Monster.
So let’s see how all that theory works in practice.
Climb aboard, and so far, so Multistrada, with a commanding and comfortable riding position slightly on the sporty side of neutral, tipping you forward a tad to rest your pinkies lightly on the high, wide bars.
Brilliant mirrors, and fabulous TFT screen, with all the basic info nice and big, and the less important stuff there if you need it, such as riding mode and range to empty, which on a full tank is a useful 200 miles indicated.
Having said that, at the end of the day, my average mpg was 38mpg, so I suspect spirited riding could reduce that range to not much more than 150 miles.
Ride off, and although the bike weighs a significant 243kg, it’s so beautifully balanced that handling even at walking pace is a doddle, while at speed it’s featherlight perfect.
Acceleration, even in Touring mode, is lusty enough to satisfy even the most ardent adrenalin junkie, with the aforementioned creamy dollop of power and torque just where you need it for smooth, effortless overtaking while laughing in your helmet and hoping no one’s listening.
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In Sport mode, the laughter gets even louder. Hilariously swift, yet still smooth and safe.
The quickshifter is firm but precise both snicking up and down the gears, and the semi-active suspension manages to be both plush and firm, remaining completely unflustered even when the bike’s tipped into a rough corner. Hugely impressive.
Braking, as you’d expect with Brembo calipers, huge twin 330mm discs up front and cornering ABS, brings you as smoothly and swiftly to a halt as the engine propels you towards the horizon.
The optional heated seat and grips, meanwhile, are so effective that I had to turn the grips down from maximum to medium before my little pinkies burst into flames. Nothing worse.
The screen is manually adjustable with one hand, and at the highest level keeps even the tallest rider, and I speak as one, in a blissful bubble of stillness.
It’s even less of a hooligan compared to a KTM 1290 than the previous Multistrada was, but still more exciting than the ubiquitous BMW R 1250 GS, and now even more satisfying than ever thanks to all that silky power and torque in the midrange.
And if you can’t quite swing to a V4 S, tidy low mileage examples of the base V4 are on Auto Trader from under 14 grand.
The main differences are that the base V4 has adjustable suspension, standard Brembo calipers, riding modes, cornering ABS, traction and wheelie control and a 5in TFT screen.
The V4 S adds semi-active suspension linked to the riding modes, uprated Brembo calipers, cornering lights, a 6.5in TFT screen, quickshifter, anti-weave control in case you throw a wobbly, hill hold control for uphill starts and keyless ignition.
For perfectionists, hundreds of accessories include a complete touring pack of aluminium panniers and top box for £2,053, heated grips for £208 and heated seat for £216.
Only complaint? I prefer the sound of a V-twin than a V4, but that’s just me. For anyone else, this is the best Multistrada yet, which is praise indeed.
*Test bike supplied by Millsport Motors millsportmotorcycles.com
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