After the Panigale and the upcoming Streetfighter
naked roadster, Ducati will apply its Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine on the
Multistrada range. A test mule of the V4 engine equipped Multistrada was seen
during its road test somewhere in Italy recently.
The quick video posted on Facebook gives a quick
glance at the next-generation motorcycle, and it does not appear to be
drastically different from the current version. Ducati made very small changes
to the styling when it upgraded the Multistrada 1200 to 1260, and the same is
likely to happen when the multi-purpose bike gets the V4 engine. Thus, you can
see twin-pod, LED headlight at the front, beak-style design to the fascia and a
semi-fairing design. We may see some tweaks to the fairing design for better
cool airflow to the engine.
The tail section and the single-sided swingarm look
nearly identical to the current Multistrada 1260, although the exhaust is
visibly different. This is an early prototype and we expect to see more changes
to the canister as the development goes on. The exhaust design is noticeably
taller than the current motorcycle, and the canister on the test mule had an
upswept layout.
The new iteration of the Multistrada will continue
to feature its touring focused ergonomics with a tall-set handlebar and footpeg
position. The road-biased model continues to use 17-inch wheels on both ends,
while the off-road spec Enduro version will come with a 19-inch front unit
along with several other changes.
Hardware specifications would be similar to the
current Multistrada 1260 range. Thus, the base model will come with a manually
adjustable suspension. The S variant will pack the electronically adjustable
Ducati Skyhook Suspension Evo. The S variant will also receive more electronics
and premium brake callipers than the base model.
The mechanical specifications will be identical on
all variants. Similar to the current model, the new iteration of the
Multistrada V4 will be available in three versions – Standard, S and Pikes Peak.
All three models will use the 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale 90° V4,
liquid-cooled engine. The performance numbers would be higher than the current
generation motorcycle, and we expect to see a horsepower rating in the range of
170-180 HP. The Multistrada 1260, for reference, draws 158 HP at 9,500 rpm and
129.5 Nm at 7,500 rpm.
The Multistrada V4 is still in the early stages of
development and it may not arrive at this year’s EICMA motorcycle show.
