One hand on the (adventure bike) crown

Many manufacturers claim they've produced a bike to take on the world - 'A true global explorer', 'No horizon too far'... - that will take sales away from BMW's R1250GS Adventure, but without success. At least, perhaps, not until now.

- Adam 'Chad' Child 

The fact is, Ducati’s all-new Multistrada V4 Rally is as equally capable off-road as it is on-road. And anyone who’s piloted a Multistrada V4 over a decent variety of roads will testify that this is quite a statement. Quite a moment in the story of the adventure bike. Yes, the Rally will set you back £23,590 but owners will be buying a rather remarkable and clever motorcycle, one that would certainly make me smile every time I open the garage door.

Let’s get the easy bit done first. Ducati has kept the power and torque output of the Rally’s Granturismo engine identical to the more road-focused V4 and V4S Multistradas, with peaks of 170hp @ 10,700rpm and 89lb-ft of torque @ 8765rpm. However, they have added the heat-reducing rear cylinder deactivation system seen recently on the new Diavel V4 that cuts the rear pair of cylinders when the bike is stationary or running below 4000rpm (depending on torque request from the rider). The alloy front frame is the same as the standard bike’s, but that is really where the similarities end – and where the Rally begins to move the game forward.