Meet The New Ducati Multistrada V4, More Multistrada Than Ever Before.

We’ve waited for it for a long time and it’s finally here. In the first of five 2021 World Première episodes, Ducati introduced the all-new Multistrada V4.   

The bike is new from the ground up and front fender to fender. While the look is undeniably Multistrada, the designers had the mission to take the bike to new heights and make it even bike is even more capable, more multistrada-y, than ever before. It’s now shorter and taller which creates a more athletic silhouette. As Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali explained in the presentation, the design is bulkier at the front—thanks among other things to the large 5.8-gallon tank—and slimmer at the back. That’s meant to give the bike a more robust but also more compact appearance.   

 The wheelbase now measures 61.7 inches and the seat height now towers between 33 and 33.8 inches (compared to the 1260’s 62.4-inch wheelbase and 32.5-33.3-inch standard seat height). A low seat option is available which lowers the saddle to 31.9 inches while a thicker saddle can increase the inseam to 34.4 inches if needed. The new V4 weighs in at 478 pounds dry versus 461 pounds for the base 1260.   

The new aluminum monocoque chassis is supported at the front by a 50mm Marzocchi inverted fork up front with 6.7 inches of travel attached to a new 19-inch wheel, and at the back to an adjustable monoshock with 7 inches of travel attached to a 17-inch wheel. The standard alloy cast wheels can be swapped for a pair of optional wire-spoke wheels on the V4 S which also comes with Marzocchi Ducati Skyhook electronic suspension. Ground clearance on the entry-level model sits at 8.66 inches. 

Stopping power is provided by two 320mm discs with Brembo four-piston calipers at the front and a 265mm disc with Brembo caliper at the back, paired with Bosch-Brembo 10.3ME Cornering ABS.   

The new V4 comes with standard 5-inch color TFT display, Power and Riding Modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, and Enduro), Ducati Wheelie Control, and Ducati Traction Control. The S features a 6.5-inch display and adds the cruise control, Vehicle Hold Control, Ducati Connect smartphone connectivity, a USB hub with phone compartment, hands-free ignition, cornering lights, and up and down quickshifter to the menu of equipment. The V4 S Sport comes with an Akrapovič exhaust and a carbon fiber mudguard.   

All three trim levels can also be equipped with different packages that add different optional accessories such as heated grips, center stand, sidecases, tire pressure sensors, sump plate, crash bar, and more.   

Perhaps the most innovative technology featured on the Multistrada is the addition of radar-controlled adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring system. The front radar allows the rider to set the active cruise control which adapts the speed of the bike to the vehicle at the front. If the vehicle upfront slows down, the system will do the same and maintain a steady distance.   
The rear radar can detect the presence of a vehicle in the rider’s blind spot and warn them of an incoming vehicle on one of the sides.

At the core of the new Multi is the equally new V4 Granturismo engine that we met a few weeks ago. The new mill produces a healthy (even sporty) 170 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 92 lb-ft of torque at 8,750 rpm. During the presentation, Domenicali added that the six-speed transmission gear ratio was revised, with a now shorter first, optimized for urban and off-road use, and a longer sixth for added comfort, performance, and fuel economy on the highway.   

Ducati has yet to confirm the 2021 Ducati Multistrada’s price range and availability—information we should expect to get in the upcoming weeks.