2021 DUCATI MULTISTRADA V4
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)|July - August 2021
In many ways, the Ducati Multistrada set the bar for sport touring motorcycles when the first model rolled out of the factory in 2003. And while either you loved the ’80s sci-fi aesthetic or hated it, it was a game changer.
Justin W. Coffey
2021 DUCATI MULTISTRADA V4

In many ways, the Ducati Multistrada set the bar for sport touring motorcycles when the first model rolled out of the factory in 2003. And while either you loved the ’80s sci-fi aesthetic or hated it, it was a game changer. A hybrid of supermoto and sport touring, the Multistrada was ready to tackle “many roads.” But for those who purchased the first offering, riding the Multistrada off road, with its 17-inch cast wheels and superbike tires, didn’t bode well.

Fast forward to 2016, when the Multistrada became available as a 1200 Enduro model, provided increased suspension travel, additional fuel capacity, a double-sided swingarm, a 19-inch front wheel and spokes. But it felt like an afterthought. Now, with their new V4 power plant on the horizon, Ducati has changed the game again.

Borrego Springs, CA, was the backdrop for Ducati’s introduction of the 2021 Multistrada V4. The twisty pavement and wandering dirt roads were the perfect location to test the new platform.

SPECS

At the heart of the new Multistrada beats an 1158cc, 168-horsepower V4 Granturismo engine, utilizing a counterrotating crankshaft that helps with wheelie control and rear wheel raise under braking via mechanical aid versus an electronic one. The V4 power plant is 2.6 lb. lighter than the outgoing 1260 motor and is physically smaller (85mm shorter and 95mm shallower), allowing for additional ground clearance. Ducati opted for an aluminum monocoque unit in place of a trellis frame, which some may consider a major shift from tradition.

While Ducati did increase horsepower and torque, reduce physical engine size, and opt for a more adventure-friendly wheel and tire combo, they didn’t manage to shed weight. The Multistrada 1260 S weighed in at 518 lb. wet and the V4 model should be roughly 535 lb. with fluids and a full tank. But scale weight and how a bike feels beneath you are two different things.

Bu hikaye Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto) dergisinin July - August 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto) dergisinin July - August 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE (ADVMOTO) DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Stuant Gregory IS IT AN ADDICTION?
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Stuant Gregory IS IT AN ADDICTION?

Five-Time Dakar Malle Moto racer

time-read
4 dak  |
January - February 2024
INTO THE MUD
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

INTO THE MUD

Strategies for Successful Off-Road Riding

time-read
3 dak  |
January - February 2024
CHASING PEAKS IN THE HIMALAYAS
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

CHASING PEAKS IN THE HIMALAYAS

It was 2:00 a.m. on my fourth day in India. My eyes blinked open in the dark of a hotel room in Drass, a town in the Himalayas on the Indian side of the border. Yesterday was our first day riding on a six-day trip through the Himalayas, and my brain could not process everything I'd seen and experienced.

time-read
5 dak  |
January - February 2024
Angels and Demons RIDING TWO-UP SOUTH THROUGH ALASKA
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Angels and Demons RIDING TWO-UP SOUTH THROUGH ALASKA

A not-so-warm welcome as we entered Hatchers Pass from Willow to Palmer, Alaska.

time-read
6 dak  |
January - February 2024
EXPLORING THE THRILLING WORLD OF RALLY RAID
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

EXPLORING THE THRILLING WORLD OF RALLY RAID

A GUIDE TO GETTING STARTED

time-read
7 dak  |
January - February 2024
MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE

LESSONS LEARNED ON THE ROAD

time-read
5 dak  |
January - February 2024
White Desert
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

White Desert

Riding Across the Frozen Landscape of Siberia

time-read
3 dak  |
July - August 2023
Kitti and Martha Forget Black Dog CYCLE WORKS
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Kitti and Martha Forget Black Dog CYCLE WORKS

How do you start something from nothing? That’s what Kurt and Martha Forgét did when they created Black Dog Cycle Works (BDCW) out of their garage 16 years ago

time-read
4 dak  |
July - August 2023
Essential GROUP RIDING Tips
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Essential GROUP RIDING Tips

FOR ADVENTURE RIDERS (ON OR OFF THE ROAD)

time-read
6 dak  |
July - August 2023
MAKING MEMORIES
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

MAKING MEMORIES

Kevin and I initially met in the Marines. We have been riding together for a few years, and riding BDRs the entire time. Our first attempt at a BDR was in Utah, where we were completely unprepared and significantly ignorant of our capabilities. It led to some interesting moments conquering Lockhart Basin where we developed our backcountry motto: “Less Gear and More Water.” We document our rides on our YouTube channel, “Be Gone for Good.”

time-read
5 dak  |
July - August 2023