Motorcycle specifications DucatiMultistrada V4 S 1160 2024 The wingspan of a large bird of prey

With the Multistrada V4, Ducati is shaking up part of its DNA more than the maxi-trailer clan. Let's not minimize the jolt, either. With 170 hp, Bologna's road & trail missile takes the lead among high-powered trails.

The 2022 vintage brought an improvement on the suspension side. Ducat' installs "Minimal Preload": a function that reduces the height of the bike. A technical-logistical trick to facilitate low-speed riding and make it easier to put your foot down. At red lights, for example.
We should also mention an improvement in rider-bike-digital interaction, for better navigation in the on-board system.

These updates can also be applied to older Multistrada V4 S models, after a short visit to the dealer. This doesn't go back very far, as the bike only arrived on the market in 2021. With great fanfare: this MTS has put an end to the line of big V2s, dispensing with the desmo distribution and other special features; but that's not what we're looking for in the S version. The two big assets here are the semi-active suspension and the arrival of a dual-radar on-board system.

Let's take a look at this technical point. The first detection module is located in the nose of the motorcycle to inform the on-board electronics of the presence of a vehicle ahead. This enables the installation of an adaptive cruise control system, just like in a car, capable of decelerating to maintain a distance between two vehicles. 4 levels of deviation are available, operating between 30 and 160 km/h. This Bosch-developed system is currently available only from Ducati (MTS V4 S and MTS V4 S Sport), KTM (1290 SuperAdventure) and BMW (R 1250 RT).

But the Bologna-based manufacturer wanted to be one step ahead. So it also fitted a radar system in the rear, under the fire. Thanks to it, the Multistrada can "monitor" blind spots and warn the rider of a vehicle in this zone by lighting up a diode in the relevant rearview mirror. Known as BSD (Blind Spot Detection), this system can also warn of danger - for example, if the rider activates the blinker to overtake, and a vehicle is speeding up behind. LED brightness can be adjusted to 3 levels.
Here's an instrument that can warn you when someone's trying to outwit you. The only drawback is that this "vision" is optional.

Since 2013, Multistrada S models have been equipped with semi-active suspensions. Here, the Marzocchi elements are controlled by the Skyhook Evolution system, a number of sensors, and the IMU inertial unit to manage damping settings in milliseconds. This maintains the bike's attitude and comfort in all conditions. The Skyhook takes into account the riding style to offer the most appropriate behavior. But it also lets you make your own settings using the dashboard and your thumb. I'm told there are some 400 possible combinations.

We 're now on the ^6thgeneration of Multistrada(1000 MTS -> 1100 -> 1200 -> 1200 MKII - > 1200 DVT -> 1260 DVT -> 1160 V4); or^4th if we take into account only the major evolutions. This coincides with the number of driving modes (Sport - Touring - Urban - Enduro), but not with the size of the color TFT screen. It has grown in size, by 30% compared to the previous screen and that of the Standard version. At 16.5 cm diagonal, it's almost the size of a Playstation controller.
The 6.5-inch display features an all-new info layout, a big Panigale V4-style rev counter, a navigation system with sophisticated graphics for suspension settings, rider assistance and phone management - and, once the Sygic GPS app has been installed, a GPS navigator on the dashboard.
To make things easier, Ducat' has inlaid a glove compartment in the fuel tank for the phone. There's even a USB socket for plugging it in.

the S has other privileges, such as hands-free starting, adaptive cornering lights, Up&Down shifter and hill-start assist. Braking performance is also enhanced, with larger brake discs (330 mm on the S, 320 mm on the standard) and top-of-the-range M50 Stylema calipers (M4.32 on the std). In both cases, Cornering ABS keeps an eye on the grain and the angle.

Electronics abound . We'll take a look at all of them in the Driving Modes section, just after the conclusion and before discovering the price... which jumps by almost 2,500 euros.
It's worth noting that the Ducati is more trail-oriented, with a 19-inch front wheel, increased ground clearance (up to 220 mm), slightly more generous rear suspension travel (180 mm + 10 mm) and optional spoked wheels.

weight inflation is another factor. 8 kilos heavier than the 1260 DVT S, the MTS V4 S weighs in at 243 kilos with full tanks - including 22 liters of benzine in the tank. Yet Ducati has made efforts to shave off weight, with a lighter engine block than the V2 1260, and a lighter aluminum monocoque frame and "classic" swingarm.
Oh yes, there's no more monobar. No trellis frame either (except for the rear frame). In any case, there's no desmo on this Ducat' either

but there's a more marked quest for comfort than with the old Multistradas. The company has carried out extensive wind tunnel work to optimize protection. The engineers have even taken up the idea of winglets (under the sides) but modified their function to divert hot engine air away from the rider's legs.
More than on power, the communication insists on the engine's flexibility, its long service intervals, and its decorum with the deactivation of the rear cylinders to limit heat production.

The world is changing, especially for Ducati. Tradition bows to innovation. Although a 4-cylinder in a trail bike is not unheard of. The Versys 1000 and the S 1000 XR, and before them Jean-Claude Olivier's YZE 920 T for the Paris-Dakar Rally, all use this architecture. With a V-shaped layout, it's already rarer. Only the 800 Crossrunner and 1200 Crosstourer are available. Ducati takes the concept to the brink of madness with its 170-hp V4. Over-equipped with electronics, touch and sight, the new Multistrada S is a far-from-reasonable, multi-map machine.

multistrada V4 driving modes:

Sport : the 170 hp are optimally delivered, DTC traction control and DWC anti-wheeling are used sparingly, and the ABS is set to the second level for controlled rear-wheel lift. Suspension stiffens to suit sporty use.

Touring : still 170 hp, but delivered more gently. DTC and DWC are more sensitive, and ABS is upgraded to Level 3, activating rear-wheel anti-lift and cornering brake management. Suspension settings are optimized for maximum comfort.

Urban : power drops to 115 hp. DTC and DWC are much more sensitive, and ABS is on level 3. Damping is tuned for agility.

Enduro : 115 hp for trail-breaking. DTC and DWC are less responsive than in Touring mode. ABS is set to Level 1, cancelling rear-wheel lift detection, cornering and rear-wheel anti-lock. Suspension is calibrated for off-road use.

electronics on the 1160 Multistrada V4 S:

From the most basic to the most technical, the MTS V4 S is a real fighter jet. It features 46 mm fuel injection, cornering ABS, 6.5" TFT screen, cruise control, multimedia system, GPS navigator, 4 riding modes, several power modes, IMU inertial unit, traction control, shifter, anti-wheeling, anti-stoppie, Brake Light, keyless start system, semi-active suspension, full LED lighting with active cornering function, daytime running light signature, hill start, backlit switches - options include front and rear radar, adaptive cruise control and blind spot sensor.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos