Bike Files: Ducati Multistrada V4

Ducati’s Grand Touring Multistrada is plush, practical and very, very fast!

What’s the story behind the Ducati Multistrada?

The Ducati Multistrada was first introduced in 2003, when it received a somewhat muted reception.

Styled by South African designer Pierre Terblanche, it came at a time when Ducati design language was a bit, erm, odd. Bikes like the gorgeous 916 and the SS series had been replaced by distinctive but slightly gawky models like the 999 and later generation SuperSport machines.

The Multistrada (which when translated from Italian means Many Roads) was Ducati’s entry into a market that didn’t really exist, certainly not in big numbers. It was a sports tourer with a touch of super motard, a bit like the old Yamaha TDM and some oddballs from European brands like Aprilia and BMW.

Powered by the venerable air-cooled desmo twin engine, it was light and fun but a far cry from the plush Multistrada we know today. In 2010 the Multistrada was repositioned. The Multistrada 1200 arrived, powered by a retuned version of the 1198 superbike engine and it took on ‘tall-rounders’ like the Honda Crosstourer and Triumph Tiger 1050 – in other words road focussed sports tourers with adventure bike ergonomics.

With the 1200 the Multistrada found its mojo and really won an audience. It was one of the key models which helped escalate Ducati’s sales and positioned them as a more mainstream brand. By 2015 an even more upmarket and shifted position again to become an even more ‘adventurey’ 1260 version, which heralded a third generation of Multistrada, before the introduction of a totally new V4 model in 2021.

In 2025 we saw this fourth-generation platform further developed and refined and, at the time of writing, there are four different variants of Multistrada V4 on sale. There’s also a Multistrada V2, although for the purposes of this article we’re focusing on the Multistrada V4 S, which is the most popular model.

Over two decades the Multistrada has gone from a quirky V-twin to one of the classiest V4 Grand Tourers you can buy. At the time of writing, the Multistrada range is Ducati’s best selling family of bikes (that means they sell more Multistradas than the more affordable Monsters or Scramblers) and there’s a very good reason for that.

What makes the latest one so popular?

It’s simply a very good motorcycle, offering superbike levels of performance in a comfortable package. They’re not massively common on the street, the price tag means it’s still an exclusive motorcycle, but it appeals to long time Ducatisi while persuading many others to chop in their GSs and other adventure bikes for one.

What does the Ducati Multistrada ride like?

The Multistrada is like a comfy superbike. That V4 engine has 170bhp and delivers ballistic performance, but really only if you want it to. The electronics allow the rider to modify the way the power is delivered, and there are even some reduced power modes.

That said, the way the electronics assist and cosset the rider are so impressive. Wheelie control, traction control, cornering ABS… you name it and the Multistrada has it. The V4 may be a real powerhouse, but it is a pussycat when you want it to be.

Some shorter riders may be put off by the relatively tall saddle, but there is some help. The standard seat has two height settings – 840 and 860mm – but there’s an option to lower this further. A seat with less foam can reduce this by 30mm, and there’s also an optional suspension lowering kit available, to drop a further 15mm. That’s probably more lengths than most will go to, but a really nice touch is that the electronic suspension can drop the bike by up to 30mm at slow speeds, to help riders get their feet down at standstill.

If the Panigale is a two-wheeled supercar then the Multistrada is a two-wheeled Grand Tourer. It’s super fast but without compromise. It is comfy, with an upright riding position and wide handlebars. It’s surprisingly capable around town, rock solid on motorways and incredible fun on the twisties. We’d argue that regular riders will be quicker and smoother on a Multistrada than they would be on a Panigale, by virtue of that commanding riding position, ‘bars which give great leverage and the higher levels of general comfort. 

Give us a quick review of the Ducati Multistrada V4 S…

We asked experienced road tester Phil West for his thoughts on the Multistrada V4 S and he said: “The Multistrada is stylish and sporty, practical yet sophisticated, and does pretty much everything most motorcyclists could want. The price, especially with the options added, is getting scary but in every other respect the Multistrada V4 is almost perfect.”

What other bikes are worth considering?

The obvious competitor is the BMW R 1300 GS, which is the benchmark adventure bike, and although they are priced similarly, the GS can’t come close to the Ducati for performance.

We’d argue BMW’s S 1000 XR, which is a ‘crossover’ version of their S 1000 RR superbike, is a closer rival, albeit probably a little less ‘adventurey’ while if you fancy a full-on adventure bike with ballistic performance, KTM would like to tell you all about their 1390 Super Adventure S….

Aren’t Ducatis expensive though?

It is. That’s what Phil said and we can’t argue with that, however Ducati has made efforts to bring the cost of running one down considerably. Gone are the days when the old desmodromic valvetrain needed regular servicing and a belt change every other year. The latest V4 ‘Granturismo’ engine has 38,000 mile service intervals, with an oil change only needed every 9300 miles (or two years, whichever is sooner).

That said, a 170bhp motorcycle will never be cheap to run, with consumables like tyres and brake pads likely to be used at a rapid rate. Fuel consumption isn’t too bad though and has been improved by some clever engineering which cuts out the rear bank of cylinders at standstill and slow speeds – something Ducati says cuts fuel consumption by 6%.

Basically, any top notch large adventure bike is coming in at over £20k these days. The Multistrada V4 ain’t cheap, but then neither are its competitors. If you’re willing to pay for it, you do at least get a lot of bike for your money – not to mention a very special name on the tank.

Which Ducati Multistrada is the best?

They’re all fantastic motorcycles although, as with most things, the more you pay the more gadgets and gizmos you get.

As with BMW’s ubiquitous big GS, most buyers tend to pay extra and go for higher spec machines – with the V4 S offering a good blend of tech and performance in a more road focussed package. Taller riders, or those wanting to take on more serious expeditions, might gel best with the Rally – while the high performance ‘Pikes Peak’ edition is the sportiest version and gets a smaller 17” front wheel for even greater agility.

The 2025 update, although it might look quite similar to its predecessor, actually offers a large number of small changes, making it an all-round better motorcycle. 

Can I tour on a Ducati Multistrada?

Absolutely, there are very few bikes better for lapping up the miles. That epic motor purrs along at motorway speeds and you’ll love the comfy riding position and generous pillion provision. Ducati offer a three box (panniers and top box) luggage system and the great thing is that the electronics help dynamically adapt the bike as you go.

Options like radar controlled cruise control, electronic suspension lowering, semi-active suspension and numerous riding modes mean you can tweak the settings to make the bike fit your needs and the conditions around you. It’s designed for multi stradas, remember…

So I can go off road on a Ducati Multistrada?

You sure can! To be honest, there are better off road bikes and we’d have second thoughts about taking such an expensive motorcycle through the rough and tumble, but Ducati have built in some off-road capability. You’ve got tall suspension and riding modes which limit power for riding in the dirt, and there’s also a Rally version (Ducati’s answer to the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure) with a bigger fuel tank, longer travel suspension and spoked wheels.

Even the standard model, especially when shod with decent off-road style tyres is capable off the beaten track – even if it’s no motocross bike.

So I could do a track day on a Ducati Multistrada!

Absolutely! This thing is a superbike on stilts. With 170bhp on tap, a competent rider will have no problems winning the fast group on a V4 Multi!

Ok, we get it – is this the perfect all-round motorcycle?

Very possibly, it truly has been designed for all roads!