Again in 2003, Ducati took a danger. As much as that time, the corporate was recognized virtually completely for its sportbikes; machines just like the 916, the 998, and the Monster, all of which leaned closely into the thought of Italian efficiency and design. The Multistrada modified that. It wasn’t fairly a superbike, not fairly a touring bike, and never precisely an journey bike both. What it supplied was somewhat little bit of every part.
The primary Multistrada was constructed to carve mountain passes as simply because it devoured freeway miles, and it opened the door to riders who needed Ducati efficiency in a bundle they might experience every single day. In doing so, it formed a completely new section: the efficiency sport tourer. Whereas different manufacturers have been pushing conventional journey bikes, Ducati doubled down on the concept that touring didn’t should imply sacrificing sharp dealing with or velocity.
Through the years, the Multistrada grew right into a household of its personal. There have been Enduro fashions constructed for dust, touring fashions constructed for distance, and the Pikes Peak editions constructed for riders who needed sharper reflexes on the street. Every model pushed the Multistrada additional, however the core mission remained: combining consolation with efficiency.
Now, Ducati has launched the Multistrada V4 RS, essentially the most aggressive model so far. Priced at $39,995, it’s a motorbike that blurs the road even additional between touring machine and superbike. Ducati is asking it the last word sport tourer, and on paper, that’s laborious to argue with.
Photograph by: Ducati
Photograph by: Ducati
On the heart of the Multistrada V4 RS is the 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4, an engine initially developed for the Panigale superbike lineup. It’s a 90-degree V4 that revs all the best way to 13,500 rpm, producing a claimed 180 horsepower. To place that in perspective, that’s extra energy than Ducati’s first-generation Panigale V4 made when it launched in 2018.
The RS pairs the motor with an STM-EVO dry clutch, chosen not only for its racing pedigree however for the texture it delivers beneath laborious driving. Add in an Akrapovič exhaust, and also you get each decreased weight and a soundtrack that leaves little question concerning the bike’s intentions. Ducati additionally shortened the ultimate drive in comparison with the Pikes Peak mannequin, which implies faster acceleration and punchier response on the expense of some top-end cruising effectivity.
Maybe essentially the most attention-grabbing function is the “Full Energy” driving mode. On different Multistradas, Ducati scales again output in decrease gears, prioritizing smoothness over brute power. The RS ditches that method, providing you with the total 180 hp in each gear, paired with a devoted throttle map.
Photograph by: Ducati
At 465 kilos curb weight, the RS undercuts the Pikes Peak by about seven kilos. Ducati achieved this by a mixture of supplies and intelligent engineering. The titanium rear subframe alone saves 5.5 kilos (2.5 kg) in comparison with the usual metal model, and the usage of carbon fiber on the entrance mudguard, handguards, and beak shaves a couple of extra. A lithium-ion battery trims further weight whereas reducing the bike’s heart of gravity.
However Ducati didn’t simply concentrate on chopping weight—in addition they made positive the bike stays sensible. The titanium subframe is bolstered to deal with a full set of panniers and a prime field, giving the RS respectable long-distance touring capability regardless of its sportier focus.
The chassis is constructed round a monocoque aluminum body and Ducati’s signature single-sided swingarm. The wheels are Marchesini cast aluminum models in 17 inches, wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tires sized 120/70 on the entrance and 190/55 on the rear. Suspension comes courtesy of Öhlins Good EC 2.0 semi-active models, the identical setup as soon as used on the Panigale V4, tuned right here for a steadiness of consolation and aggression.
Braking {hardware} mirrors Ducati’s top-tier sportbikes. Twin 330 mm discs up entrance are paired with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers and efficiency brake pads lifted instantly from the Panigale. The system is backed by Bosch-Brembo cornering ABS, giving riders constant efficiency even in tough situations.
Photograph by: Ducati
The Multistrada has at all times been a testbed for Ducati’s electronics, and the RS takes that popularity additional. The large debut right here is Ducati Car Observer (DVO), a predictive algorithm that adjusts digital interventions in actual time. It doesn’t simply react to what the rider is doing—it anticipates it, adapting traction management, wheelie management, and stability techniques earlier than issues get out of hand.
Riders have entry to 5 driving modes (Race, Sport, Touring, City, and Moist), 4 suspension presets (Monitor, Dynamic, Touring, Low Grip), and 4 energy supply maps. All of that is displayed on a 6.5-inch TFT display with RS-specific graphics.
For touring, Ducati consists of its radar-assisted options: Adaptive Cruise Management, Blind Spot Detection, and Ahead Collision Warning. These techniques, as soon as thought of luxuries, are shortly turning into must-haves within the touring section, and Ducati has been one of many first to combine them seamlessly into efficiency bikes.
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Supply: Ducati
One of the spectacular features of the RS is how Ducati balanced its mission. The titanium subframe and carbon fiber panels clearly serve the game aspect, however the bolstered baggage mounts and digital aids remind you this bike remains to be designed for large miles. It’s not a stripped-down superbike in disguise—it’s a machine that takes the idea of sport touring and pushes it to its logical excessive.
The Multistrada V4 RS doesn’t exchange the Pikes Peak or the usual V4 fashions. As a substitute, it sits above them, as a halo product for riders who need the sharpest, most uncompromising model of the Multistrada but. It’s a motorbike that celebrates how far the platform has come since 2003.
Ducati expects it to reach in dealerships by March 2026, and whereas pricing within the US is ready at $39,995, native taxes and choices might push it larger relying available on the market. For that worth, consumers will get a bike that blends the efficiency of a Panigale with the practicality of a Multistrada—one thing that, even 20 years in the past, would have sounded not possible.
