This Adventure Bike Handles The Street Better Than Most Street Bikes
With the rise in demand for more versatile motorcycles, the adventure bike market has seen explosive growth over the past few years. Today, there is a versatile Adventure motorcycle for pretty much every riding style and budget. While we have seen several middleweight bikes come out in an effort to appeal to those wanting to hit the trails, the bigger bikes offer more comfort and touring features.
The Rise Of The Crossover
In the automotive world, crossovers have been around for quite some time now, and have proven more popular than anyone really expected. The motorcycle equivalent is quite different, and ranges from light middleweight tourers all the way up to full-blown superbikes with jacked-up suspension. With more comfort-oriented ergos, these bikes all offer us the opportunity to own a more powerful bike that is actually somewhat practical.
We say somewhat practical, because these bigger crossovers are still pretty heavy, and there is no denying that one of the middleweight bikes would be more practical. But, if you really want an everyday superbike, you can’t really go wrong with the bike in question. Along with a host of comfort features, it also has a V4, and a trick suspension that can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.
The Ducati Multistrada V4 S Is A Sport Bike On Stilts
MSRP: $29,995
Ever since the Multistrada first came out back in the early 00s, it broke the mold. While the modern V4 S is technically an adventure bike, it certainly is not the kind of ADV you would readily use for back country exploration. It is, however, the kind of ADV you would use to search out the best canyon roads on offer. It is also comfortable enough to hop on and ride across the country without a worry.
In the past, there would always need to be some form of caveat that Italian motorcycles might look great, but can’t really be trusted for long-distance travel. Well, the latest Multistrada completely flips the script on that outdated attitude. There might be a few modern Italian bikes that still struggle with patchy reliability, but the Multi is not one of them. It is a proven globe trotter largely thanks to its modern V4.
The Granturismo Is A V4 Designed For The Street
Power: 170 Horsepower
One of the key factors that can’t be understated in Ducati’s new-found reliability, is the role that VW has played. Ever since the VW Group acquired the famed Italian brand, reliability has steadily improved across the board. Crucially, while adding a dose of German attention to detail, the Italian charm has not suddenly been thrown out. The Granturismo V4 is arguably the best example of this.
In an effort to make this lump more practical, the decision was made to ditch the demodromic valves in favor of more modern valve springs and variable valve timing. This was initially met with some level of suspicion, but other models have retained the desmo system and that bit of engineering certainly has its advantages in race applications. For high-performance street bikes like the Multi, the Granturismo V4 just makes that much more sense, with long service intervals, and less expensive valve clearance inspections. With 170 horsepower, it is no shrinking violet, either.
Semi-Active Electronic Suspension Promises A Dynamic Ride
If you are choosing the V4 S over the base model V4, you need to pay a hefty $10k premium. What you are paying for is one of the most advanced suspension setups in the motorcycle industry. Ducati’s semi-active electronic Skyhook suspension automatically adapts to any road surface, and every riding style. It also has a self-lowering feature that lowers the seat height every time you come to a stop.
The dynamic suspension combines with a compact aluminum monocoque chassis to deliver a riding experience that rivals some of the best sport bikes, let alone sport tourers. Simply activating sport mode will transform the adventure tourer into a superbike slayer, with the suspension settings and engine map all changing in an effort to maximize performance. You will be able to hustle its 511 pounds (weight with no fuel) through the corners without fear. Even though electronic intervention will be reduced in sport mode, it will still be there to save you from yourself if (and when) you run out of talent.
The Multistrada V4 S Has More Features Than Anyone Will Ever Need
At this price point, features like cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control are to be expected. The fact that the Travel and Radar package is standard is more surprising, so those color-matched side cases are not just there for the marketing shots, they do actually come with the bike. You also get adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitors, a forward collision warning system, ride modes, and a rather big TFT dash.
The Multistrada V4 S really can do it all, just for a price. While it might be fair to say it is two bikes rolled into one, it is essentially two bikes for the price of three. It is an incredibly expensive motorcycle that offers a long list of nice-to-have features most of us will never actually use. Even if we do use them, we don’t really “need” them. In many ways, it is an exhibition of excess. But, for those in the market for a bike like this, that might be the whole point.
It is an exclusive machine that offers the kind of dynamic riding experience that was in the realms of science fiction around a decade ago. Today, the mere fact that we can say (with some authority) that any Ducati is reliable was also in the realms of science fiction around a decade ago. This is a bike that can come off a dirt road, shake a little gravel out of its tires, and overtake superbikes once you reach the next mountain pass, all while traveling across the country with fully loaded saddlebags.
Source: Ducati
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