Australian Bike Advice & News Blog

When the original Ducati Multistrada arrived in 2003 it was a bike that tried to be everything to everyone. Six years on a Ducati continue to evolve the design to achieve their goal of producing a versatile bike able to achieve impressive levels of performance at all times and in all places.

The new Multistrada 1200 employs a host of electronic technologies including: Keyless starting and filler cap, on board computer, tyre pressure monitoring, fly by wire throttle, Ducati Traction Control (DTC), ABS and Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES).

DES is a brand new technology that enables the fork and monoshock spring pre-load and rebound and compression damping adjustments to be controlled via the instrument panel. The electronic suspension adjustment can either be made by using the pre-set riding modes, which have been developed by Ducati test riders, or in independent mode, which allows riders to use their own personal settings. Adjustments made via the instrumentation send a signal that initiates electronic actuators mounted on the suspension units. DES can instantly configure the suspension to suit ‘rider only’, ‘rider with luggage’, ‘rider and passenger’ or ‘rider and passenger with luggage’.

With the Multistrada 1200, Ducati claim to have built 4 bikes in 1, which it achieves by putting its array of advanced electronics to good use. With the touch of a button the rider can now change between 4 modes – Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro – on the fly. The different modes reconfigure the engine mapping, the suspension settings and the traction control settings.

The Sport Riding Mode provides the rider with 110kW and a sports-oriented suspension set-up. It also slightly reduces Ducati Traction Control intervention to level 3 for expert riders whose ‘comfort zone’ is closer to the limit.

The Touring Riding Mode is still programmed to produce 110kW; however, the power characteristic is designed in a touring configuration with much smoother torque delivery. Safety is enhanced with advanced ABS technology and with the Ducati Traction Control system set to level 5 (intermediate intervention), specifically intended for a stable and relaxing ride. The suspension set-up is ideal for touring, ensuring maximum comfort for both the rider and passenger.

Urban Riding Mode instantly changes the power to 75kW, and the suspension to the perfect setting for tackling the maze of city streets full of speed bumps and drain covers. The traction control level is set to 7, providing high system intervention so the rider can enjoy enhanced safety even in the most chaotic of stop-start traffic.

Should the journey aboard the Multistrada 1200 leave the beaten track, the Multistrada also features an Enduro Riding Mode which instantly transforms the bike, with a smooth 75kW engine, higher suspension, and the option to disable the ABS. Traction control is reduced to the minimum of level 1 for almost no intervention.

The new Testastretta 11°  engine utilises an 11° valve overlap angle which Ducati claims provides much smoother combustion in addition to improved fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions, making the engine smoother and more user friendly then the previous 41° model.

The Multistrada 1200 features an oil bath clutch with ’slipper’ function. Its design uses a progressive self-servo mechanism that presses the plates together when under drive from the engine, enabling the reduction of the clutch spring rates. This results in a much lighter clutch lever at the handlebar, ideal in stop-start traffic or long journeys. When the drive force is reversed, the same mechanism reduces the pressure on the clutch plates, enabling them to provide a race-like ’slipper’ action, which reduces the destabilizing effect of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and provides a much smoother feeling when closing the throttle or down-shifting under normal riding conditions.

At only 189 kg dry the Mulitstrada is light, especially when you look at the features included in the package. For those long days in the saddle there is an adjustable front screen, dual storage compartments, 20 litre fuel tank, 12V power outlet, large rearview mirrors with horizontal and vertical adjustment.

Model options include ‘standard’ and ‘S’ models. The ‘S’ includes ABS (optional on the ‘standard’ model) and Öhlins suspension fitted with Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES).

The ‘S’ model is then available in a Touring Edition or Sport Edition. The Sport includes some weight saving carbon fibre components, while the touring edition comes with a centre stand, heated grips controlled via the instrument panel and panniers, designed together with the bike, offering a load capacity of 57 litres or 77 litres with the large lid version.

With an extensive list of optional extras including intergrated GPS, lower seat and large capacity top box, and an array of different colours to choose from, maybe the Multistrada 1200 will be able to achieve its goal of being a bike for all times and all places.

by Chris Lucan

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