2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 First Look - Motorcycle.com

Ducati V4 Granturismo Engine Details

As previously detailed, the Multistrada V4 is powered by the new V4 Granturismo engine, an 1158cc liquid-cooled V-Four with four valves per cylinder using valve springs instead of Ducati’s traditional desmodromic valve system. Ducati claims 170 hp at 10,500 rpm and 92 lb-ft. at 8,750 rpm from the engine, as well as an impressive 36,000 miles between valve service intervals. More details about the engine are available here.

The chassis is comprised of an aluminum monocoque frame and a steel trellis subframe, with the rear wheel supported by an aluminum double-sided swingarm. The base model V4 is equipped with a regular fully-adjustable 50mm inverted fork and an adjustable monoshock with a cantilever layout from Marzocchi. The V4 S and V4 S Sport add a semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension system which has been upgraded with an auto-leveling function. With or without DSS, the Multistrada V4 offers 6.7 inches of front suspension travel and 7.1 inches of rear travel.

Ducati has long been using the Multistrada to showcase its latest electronics and the V4 is no exception. The Multistrada V4 is equipped with an inertial measurement system to manage the cornering ABS, wheelie control and traction control systems, plus cornering lights for the S models. The Multistrada V4 offers four selectable ride modes: Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro, each adjusting the engine output, traction control and ABS to suit different styles of riding.

The Multistrada V4 is also equipped with a Vehicle Hold Control system. When activated, VHC applies the rear brake to hold the bike steady for easier restarts, especially when starting on a gradient.

As previously announced, the Multistrada V4 is the first production motorcycle equipped with adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection using Bosch radar units mounted on the front and rear. Adaptive cruise control adjusts the brakes and throttle to maintain a user-selected minimum following distance behind other vehicles. The blind spot detection system activates lights on the mirrors to warn the rider of vehicles approaching from behind at high speeds. As of this writing, however, these radar-based technologies have not been certified for use in the U.S. (Ducati blames COVID-19 for the delay). U.S. models will come with the hardware installed but with the software deactivated. Dealers will activate the software once it has been approved, which Ducati expects to occur in summer 2021.

The Multistrada is equipped with Bosch 10.3 ME cornering ABS with three adjustable levels of intervention. The Multistrada V4 is equipped with four-piston radially-mounted monobloc brake calipers from Brembo and dual 320 mm front discs, while the S and S Sport models receive higher-end Brembo Stylema calipers with dual 330 mm discs. Brembo also provides the two-piston floating caliper and 265 mm disc rear brake set-up for all three versions.

The Multistrada V4 models come standard with light alloy cast wheels, with Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires (120/70-19 on the front and 170/60-17 at the rear). It can also be fitted with Scorpion Rally or Scorpion STR tires. For the S models, Ducati also offers wire spoke wheels.