Motorcycle specifications DucatiMultistrada 1200 Enduro 2018 La Ducat' jumps over the dunes

When the first Multistrada arrived, Ducati's horizons and prospects widened considerably. Then, as the craze for large trail bikes became unavoidable, the brand was quick to enter the niche with its sporty flair and a demonstration of its ideas, always imbued with character. Now that the 1200 Multistrada has confirmed its spirit and versatility, it has entered a territory that would have been considered improbable for the brand a few years ago. Its new playground: adventure. It's fashionable, it's exhilarating, the field of discovery is infinite, and the scent of setting off into the unknown has always moved men and machines alike. The BMW R 1200 GS and KTM Adventure, as well as the revival of the Honda Africa Twin, know the way. Ducati now wants to follow in their footsteps with the Multistrada 1200 Enduro. Make way, dunes and scorpions! A superbike-flavored trail bike comes with big ideas, lots of technology and watts everywhere. Can the off-road-SBK cocktail work? Ducati thinks so. And this bike wants us to think so too.

from the outset, the MTS Enduro impresses. What a face! What size! Ready to go far, it wants to show off when you look at it up close. The nose has been lengthened, the side plates of the tank are made of aluminum, the fender has been modified for better protection, and when it comes to presence, it's the opposite of a flimsy Scrambler. The bike looks like it's eaten a wild boar, so much so that its stature has grown. This augurs well for increased protection, which certainly hides more than that.
Autonomy, much more, to reach checkpoints as far away as possible. The fuel tank gobbles up 30 liters of fuel, 50% more than the basic Multi. In practical terms, that's almost 450 km before you feel your first thirst. Enough to do Paris-Lyon or Bamako-Dinguiraye in one go.
But if a Multistrada can set off on the A6 without worrying about the road, it won't be so much fun once you're on the tracks of Guinea. The Enduro version is more suited to the challenge. First, ditch the 17" spoked rims, then get spoked wheels with more off-road dimensions. 19" wheels 120 mm wide at the front and 17" wheels 170 mm wide at the rear. This will enable it to be fitted with more adventurous tires if required. Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires, with their trail-road profile, are fitted as standard; Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires with large studs are available as an option.
Next, protect the mechanics. It would be stupid to crack a crankcase and spill the engine oil 200 km from the first hut... An aluminum engine shoe takes care of talking with rocks and undesirables. The 1200 Enduro's high ground clearance makes crossing obstacles easier. With suspension travel increased to 200 mm (+30), ground clearance rises to 205 mm. This is sufficient, but still not as much as a KTM or Honda (250 mm). However, neither can adjust its suspension electronically. The Mutlistrada Enduro does: it comes standard with the semi-active Skyhook system. Ride, enjoy, and the on-board control unit adjusts the damping in real time. Some will quip that true adventure lies in knowing how to adapt to conditions; others will ironize that it's necessary to evolve and live with modernity. Both points of view are valid, but what are you going to do on a Tibetan runway if your Skyhook starts screwing up? It's not for nothing that KTM doesn't offer this kind of suspension on the R version of its Adventure. Weight saving, emm...des saving.

The changes don't stop there. The superb single-sided swingarm has been replaced by a double-sided unit, designed to cope better with the sometimes violent ups and downs of cross-country riding. The riding position has also evolved with TT use in mind. A slimmer seat, higher handlebars, removable rubber pads to recover the strong grip of the footrests, height-adjustable rear brake lever and folding shifter - it's always handy to save it in case of a mishap. A center stand comes as standard - handy for greasing the chain, or for tinkering around in the middle of nowhere. The seat has also turned away from the accessible to conform to the canons of the category. It's high, 870 mm, and non-adjustable. But there's an optional seat that's 20 mm lower and 20 mm higher.

the Multistrada is a Ducati trail bike that breathes hard. Inside the trellis frame, a big, impatient engine keeps watch. Originally born in the Superbike breeding ground and equipped with DVT variable valve timing technology, the desmodromic twin spits out a whopping 160 hp at 9500 rpm - 152 since the measurements were recalibrated. Makes you wonder what you could do with so much power. It's not the bike that overcomes slopes and difficulties; it's the engine that wants to rip what's under the rear wheel. We'll be paying more attention to the big torque, maxing out at 13 mkg. As the Enduro has a shorter first gear and a big muscle under the right wrist, extracting yourself, taking off or towing a buffalo won't pose much of a problem.

the classic, rigid tubular steel frame and large 320 mm brake discs clamped by Brembo 4-piston radial calipers are carried over from the standard Multistrada. The wheelbase is different, increasing by 37 mm to 1,566 mm. For its profile, more stability will be appreciated. Agility, however, will be somewhat compromised. In any case, with the 25 kilos added in this evolution, you shouldn't expect to drive an EXC. Does its 257 kg take into account aluminum trekking-type luggage? No, they're optional. Given the machine's price and profile, Ducati should have supplied them as standard.

Where Ducati has spared no expense is on the electronics. It's simple: you'll find just about everything on the market. From the Bosch inertial measurement unit (IMU) for 3-axis tracking to the keyless ignition system, the Multistrada 1200 Enduro is an off-road fighter jet. The IMU measures the motorcycle's dynamics, directly influencing all on-board assistance systems. And there are plenty of them: curve-modulated ABS, full LED adaptive lighting, Vehicle Hold Control hill-start assist system, traction control, anti-wheeling, cruise control, and a large 5-inch TFT screen to monitor and control the machine's nerve impulses. To oversee everything, a choice of 4 mappings manages most of the Multistrada's functions. They work as follows:

The Touring riding mode delivers 152 hp with smooth, progressive power delivery. Active safety is enhanced with high levels of traction control and DWC intervention. DCT on level 5, ABS on level 3, Skyhook in Medium mode.

The off-road spirit of the Multistrada 1200 Enduro is fully expressed with the Enduro Ride Mode, which provides smooth distribution and a minimum level of ABS and traction control intervention to facilitate off-road riding. DCT on level 2, ABS on level 1, Skyhook in Soft mode.

By selecting the Sport Driving Mode, power increases to 152 hp with 136 Nm torque and Sport suspension settings. DCT on level 4, ABS on level 2, Skyhook in Hard mode.

With Urban Driving Mode, power is reduced to 100 hp and suspension settings are adjusted to overcome urban obstacles such as speed bumps and manhole covers. DCT on level 6, ABS on level 3, Skyhook in Soft mode.

and don't forget the little extras that are impossible to do without once you've had a taste. I'm talking about the backlit controls, adjustable bubble, 2 12V sockets and Bluetooth multimedia system. With all this, the Mutistrada 1200 Enduro is all about Adventure with a capital A, but not in a compass, cock and knife kind of way. More like Range Rover, selfies and American Express. Clichés and divisions aside, it's certainly the only Ducati that can really go anywhere.

M.B - Manufacturer's media

Ducati offers a series of packs to customize your Multistrada Enduro:

- Enduro Pack
Touratech's selection of Ducati Performances components: front fairing and engine cowling protect the engine from impact, while the oil and coolant tank grille keeps debris out. LEDs improve visibility, while rear disc and chain guards protect the bike's essential components.

- Touring Pack
Aluminum side luggage with a capacity of 83 liters, created in collaboration with Touratech, and heated grips make travel more comfortable, complemented by a handlebar bag.

- Sport Pack
Includes an approved Ducati Performance by Termignoni exhaust silencer, as well as sporty, machined details such as the clutch and brake fluid reservoir covers and the pump cover.

- Urban Pack
Comprising a 35-liter aluminum topcase made in collaboration with Touratech, a tank bag and a smartphone charger.