Ducati Multistrada 1200S review, test ride

Enough practical talk

Right, it’s a Ducati. And don’t be surprised, it feels like it too. Past 3,000rpm, the Multistrada builds speed rapidly, there is a slight lull in its tug forward between before picking up pace to frantic levels past 6,000rpm. Well, not Panigale or Monster levels of franticness, but it has plenty of ferocity as the revs head to near 10,500 rpm limiter. 200kph comes up in two blinks of the eye and a snap of your fingers. So, thanks to its 160bhp it is plenty fast.

Then there is the chassis, a new trellis frame and cast alloy subframe at the rear, and the Multistrada feels nice and narrow. From the saddle it’s hard to tell how much it weighs, because the Multistrada steers with a lightness that actually catches you off-guard at first. On the fantastic mountain roads of our test route, the 1200S transitioned from one turn to the next with such agility that you’d think it was a sportsbike. However, the default settings for the next-gen Skyhook Evo system were too soft and that meant that the Multistrada felt a bit loose when hustled around. The slip and slide feel didn’t inspire much confidence, but thanks to the electronic safety net of Ducati Traction Control it was easy to just bulldoze through it all.

However, at the next halt, using the on-screen menu, the suspension settings were switched from default to the stiffer settings. The result was dramatic. Immediately, the Multistrada felt sharp and let you pick and hold a line through corners with confidence. Now, riding it with a bit of aggression felt rewarding. But you could feel the rear spin up at times on the exit, as you wound on the gas and the deluge of torque from the engine seemed to get the better of the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres in terms of grip. So, for those interested in riding hard and fast, sportier rubber are a must, but for those looking to cover distances quickly and comfortably, these Pirellis should do just fine.

Yes, lets talk touring now

Going 320kms in the saddle, over all kinds of road surfaces told us a lot about the Multistrada. We’ll jump straight to the bottom-line first – the Multistrada takes the 'Touring' part of Sport-Touring just as seriously as it does the 'Sport' bit. The rider’s seating is comfortable and spacious.  I wouldn’t have minded a flatter seat, as I found myself moving back and forth to find a comfy spot. However, I have to admit that at the end of the ride, I wasn’t sore either.

The new front-end design that is wider and taller claims to poke a bigger hole in the air, keeping the air off the rider. There is no strain as the wind blast is effectively deflected event at speeds of over 160kph. The windscreen, adjustable by 60mm, ensures that there’s next to no buffeting at cruise speeds as well.

Considering the 20-litre fuel tank on the Multistrada, you should be able to spend approximately 300km in the saddle without the need for refuelling. A word with Ducati engineers suggests that the DVT motor is ready to handle a diet of regular 91-octane petrol, and the inclusion of a knock-sensor should add the extra safety net when premium fuel isn’t available.

To ease the load on the rider the Multistrada also comes with cruise control that works between 50-200kph in all gears, except for first. We didn’t get to test the LED headlamps or the cornering functionality. We look forward to doing that when we test the bike in India.