‘Multistrada’ translates from Italian to ‘many roads’ – and that is exactly what the Ducati Multistrada series is designed to do. It is the Italian manufacturer’s adventure-touring range and these bikes are capable of taking on many different kinds of roads.
There are two engine options for the Multistrada range: a 950cc L-twin and a 1260cc L-twin. There is a 1200cc engine in the Enduro, but it will soon be replaced by the 1260cc one. The 950cc Multistrada is geared towards tarmac touring, although it can be fitted with dual-sport tyres and spoke rims at the dealer level to make a ‘Multistrada 950 Enduro’ of sorts. However, it does not get the suspension and electronics tuning that goes into making the Multistrada 1200 Enduro as well as off-road. The larger engine makes the 1200 Enduro more suited to off-road duties, but the spoke rims, dual-sport tyres and electronics geared towards off-road usage also help. One can also opt for proper off-road tyres at the dealer level.
The 1260cc Multistrada is the latest iteration of the range. It has a lot of updates, chief among which is the new engine. The extra displacement is only part of the story – variable valve timing makes it more flexible than the motor it replaces. As expected, it has all the bells and whistles expected of a flagship product from Ducati – a full electronics suite, a TFT instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity for both rider and pillion, and in the S variant, you also get semi-active electronic suspension.
The Multistrada range competes with other giants of the adventure-touring world like Triumph’s Tiger series and BMW GS series of motorcycles.