2021 turned out to be a bumper year for Ducati. Despite the world dealing with the aftermath of a COVID-infected 2020, the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer recorded its highest ever sales in its 95-year-long history. Ducati sold 59,447 motorcycles worldwide in the calendar year 2021. This was 24% more sales than what it had achieved in 2020, and 12% more than 2019. 2022 is still not over, so we don’t know if 2022 will prove to be any better or not. Anyway, let’s not digress. The majority of the success can be attributed to the Multistrada V4 which found almost 10,000 buyers worldwide in 2021.
How Rally-Capable Is The New Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally?
Honestly, this question is quite absurd as rally bikes are made for a different purpose altogether. They are made to cover distances in the most hostile of terrains in the least time possible without blowing up. But that being said, the new Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally does offer more miles than the previous version by offering a fuel tank which is 2.1 gallons bigger than the previous one. Improved comfort for both the rider and the pillion ensures that you reach those unchartered territories without breaking your back. The semi-active suspension has taken the suspension travel to 7.9 inches which results in a higher ground clearance. A new power mode only for the unmetaled roads along with an auto-leveling function which constantly adjusts according to the weight on the bike means the new Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally always stays true to its image anywhere it goes.
All this technology, when clubbed with the 1,158cc V4 engine delivering 170 HP and 92 lb-ft of power and torque, means you can just point your Multistrada V4 Rally in any direction you like and start riding till the end of the horizon. The 6.5-inch TFT screen lets you navigate with ease apart from listening to music or receiving calls. The Enduro mode from the usual set of modes – Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro – has evolved. It restricts the power output to 114 HP apart from deactivating the ABS the rear wheel for better control.
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Taking The Marvel Of The Ducati Multistrada Further
When launched in 2003 for the first time, the Ducati Multistrada took the motorcycling world by storm. Similar to the Ducati Monster when it was launched in 1993, the Ducati Multistrada also started the segment of adventure tourers. That segment didn’t exist in the world of motorcycles worldwide before 2003. This was a bike that looked like the child of two – supermoto and sport-tourer parents. As expected from any Italian automaker, the Ducati Multistrada looked as exotic as it behaved on roads.
The Ducati Multistrada 1200 was launched sometime in 2010 and delivered power figures that made it look mental. At least, on papers. The 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 delivered a massive 150 HP, and proved to a bike for all occasions ticking a lot of boxes from a never-ending list of expectations from a motorcycle.
Ducati played with the Multistrada by giving it various engine combinations and technologies. The 2018 Ducati Multistrada 1260 had an engine with a longer stroke, traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, keyless ignition and cruise control along with four riding modes the rider could choose from.
The 2021 Multistrada 1200 V4 flaunted a V4 L-twin motor, which is synonymous with Ducati. The engine delivered 170 HP and 92 lb-ft of torque which made it nothing less than a sports bike with more-than-enough off-roading skills. The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally uses the same powertrain and the extra ‘things’ as mentioned above. This most likely means that there is nothing more than a typical Ducatista would want after spending $31,495 (for the red color), and $31,995 (for the aluminum and matt black trim) of his hard-earned money. Their Canadian counterparts will have to shell out $34,395 and $34,995 for the same color options. Expect the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally at the dealerships in the United States and Canada from May 2023.
To make it more personalized, you can choose from a very-long list of accessories. The list includes things like different seat heights, windscreen options, steel-tube engine guard, additional LED spotlights, and satnav with dedicated support. You also get various solutions to your luggage problems for both the tank and the rear plate to pack as much as you want to.
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Does The Competition Need To Worry?
We don’t think there is a straight answer to this question. Non-Multistrada fans would argue that a sports bike with those figures that could go off-road once in a while would seem pointless. They would prefer the less-powerful adventure tourers with more off-road capabilities. That being said, there is a section that still swears by the Multistrada and rightly so. This bike made the line between adventure and performance disappear. And continues to do so. The others in the competition also have their dedicated fan base. Some might seem boring on the highways but provide more fun while jumping over those dunes. Some, like the Multistrada, are blazing fast on the highways but provide a little less fun when off the road.