Let’s say you’re lucky enough to afford a new motorcycle. Let’s also say you want a bike that fits your lifestyle, serving you as well during the week as on the weekends, and maybe even challenging you to go places you’ve never gone before. The 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200—the saddlebag-equipped S Tour model, in particular—furthers this ideal with greater ease than arguably any other machine on the market today.
Ducati recently invited 115 journalists from 29 countries to Lanzarote, fourth-largest of the politically independent and self-governing Canary Islands, to experience the new Multistradawith its 1198-based, liquid-cooled engine and available Ducati Electronic Suspension by Öhlins and eight-step Ducati Traction Control. Ride-by-wire throttle control is standard; a Bosch-Brembo anti-lock braking system is optional.
For greater on- and off-road versatility, peak horsepower for the World Superbike-winning Testastretta V-Twin is reduced from the claimed 170 of the 1198 to 150 (with 87.5 foot-pounds of torque). Key here is less valve overlap—11 degrees versus 41—for smoother low-rpm running, better fuel economy and lower tailpipe emissions. Revised intake and exhaust ports, a lower compression ratio, a heavier flywheel, 56mm oval-shaped throttle bodies (down from 64mm) and fitment of a light-action, wet “slipper” clutch and a sixth-gear-overdrive transmission are among the other changes to the engine.Valve-adjustment intervals are now 15,000 miles—double the factory-specified checkpoint of the 1198.Ducati claims the new frame—large-diameter, light-gauge tubing combined with aluminum castings, a magnesium front subframe and a trellis rear subframe with a structural polymer tray that doubles as underseat storage—is 19 percent more torsionally rigid than that of the 2006 Multistrada 1100. A single-sided, Multistrada-specific swingarm carries a 17 x 6-inch rear wheel.
Pirelli worked closely with Ducati to create new deeply grooved, smooth-shouldered Scorpion Trail tires that are standard fitment on the Multistrada. The 120/70 front and 190/55 rear radials are said to be the first 17-inch dual-compound tires (softer shoulders, harder center) approved for on/off-road use.Ducati is producing three versions of the Multistrada:
Multistrada 1200 ($14,994; $16,495 w/ABS): a fully adjustable 50mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock are standard equipment; ABS is optional.
Multistrada 1200 S Sport ($19,995): ABS, DES and DTC are standard; the Sport is additionally fitted with carbon-fiber front air intakes, cam-belt covers, rear fender and fairing air extractors.
Multistrada 1200 S Touring ($19,995): ABS, DES and DTC are standard, as are saddlebags with body-color-matched covers, a centerstand and heated handgrips.
Claimed dry weight for the standard model is 417 pounds. ABS ups the count by 6.5 pounds, while DES—Öhlins 48mm inverted fork and top-of-the-range TTX shock—adds just 300 grams. Reportedly, the carbon-fiber bits bring the Sport’s weight back down to about that of the standard model. All models are further equipped with a hands-free ignition system; the electronic key doubles as a mechanical key for opening the gas cap and actuating the seat release.
Located about 75 miles off the coast of Africa, Lanzarote provided a spectacular backdrop for the launch of what Ducati is calling a “game-changer.” The 130-mile route (including a 7-mile dirt section) provided a mix of roads and riding conditions that allowed use of the Sport (150 hp, DTC level 4), Tour (150 hp, DTC 5), Urban (100 hp, DTC 6) and Enduro (100 hp, DTC 2) modes available to the rider at the push of a button.DES can be further tailored for Rider only, Rider with Luggage, Rider and Passenger, and Rider and Passenger with Luggage. Detailed sub-menus allow even greater personalization.
The half-faired Multistrada is fitted with a wide, tapered handlebar that offers excellent leverage; heeling the bike onto its side took very little effort. Fuel-injection response for the two pre-production S Touring models that I rode was spot-on. Acceleration was shudder-free from as low as 2000 rpm, just 700 rpm above idle, and arm-wrenching in the middle rev range. Upright ergonomics place the rider in a slight forward lean; Ducati claims both rider and passenger seats are padded and shaped for long days in the saddle. The “blow-molded” plastic gas tank holds 5.3 gallons of fuel.
Ducati spent two years and 200,000 miles developing the Multistrada 1200. It shows: DES is not a gimmick. A preview of suspension changes felt on the road can be seen at a standstill as a stepper motor alters shock ride height. Bumps encountered on the rough off-road section were managed with confidence-inspiring compliance, though Ducati Marketing Director Diego Sgorbati acknowledged that the Multistrada “is not made for motocross.”
In both theory and actual use, the Multistrada 1200 offers the power of a superbike, the comfort and long-haul capabilities of a sport-tourer, the relaxed ergonomics and moderate weight of a naked bike, along with the ability to venture off-road. A game-changer? Indeed.
