Any seasoned rider knows that if you have a passport and an ADV, you can go just about anywhere in the world. Adventure bikes are perfectly happy no matter what the road conditions are. They blur the lines between long-distance tourers, sporty road machines, off-road explorers, and maybe even café hoppers.
Riders in the ADV community aren’t content with single-purpose machines. These are the people who constantly juggle between spirited canyon carving on one day to a broken trail through the outback the next. Sometimes both of them on the same day. And that’s probably why they would choose ADV. ADVs are comfortable, powerful machines that are ideal for this kind of unpredictability. There is one ADV, though, that seems to have automated the requirements on this kind of terrain.
What Makes Adventure Bikes So Appealing?
Built For Everything, Everywhere
Adventure motorcycles are designed to tackle a wide spectrum of riding conditions, from rough terrain to varying weather conditions. Long plush seats, upright ergonomics, long suspension, and even tall windscreens are features you will often see on ADVs that reduce fatigue for the rider, allowing for longer stints in the saddle.
At their core, ADVs are about freedom; they let riders make the decision about where they can and cannot go. If they choose the highway, that’s where they can go; if it’s a broken road through some ruins, so be it. They won’t be limited by something like a sportbike on the trails or a dirt machine on the tarmac.
The ADV Advantage
Take the BMW R 1300 GS, for example. It is the benchmark in the ADV category, capable of crossing continents without batting an eye. Or even the Honda Africa Twin, a bike that leans a little more towards off-road capability, but is still able to comfortably cruise for hours on end on the highway. These bikes showcase a fairly broad spectrum that the manufacturers aim for when designing their machines and interpreting adventure in their own unique way.
There is one motorcycle, however, that manages to hit the center of the spectrum very easily. It combines comfort, power, and versatility into one neatly designed package. It’s not too road-focused, but it isn’t completely dirt-biased either. And best of all, the unpredictability that the road offers in terms of bumps and dips, this bike’s suspension smooths out everything electronically.
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The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally
Form Meets Function, With A Hint Of Drama
Adventure bikes usually dress for utility first and style later. The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally flips this just enough to stand out. Don’t get us wrong, it still wears all the hallmarks of a serious ADV with its tall stance, wide bars, and commanding presence. But there is more aggression woven into its design to suggest capability. The front, for example, is sleek with sharp LED lighting, but its shape manages airflow really well. From the side, you can see a bulky tank that flows into a seat designed for touring, but everything is visually tight, like you would see in some more serious off-roaders. Whether the bike is parked or in motion, there is always a sense of presence about it that pulls eyes towards it.
The Heart Of The Machine Has Power That Feels Effortless
Smack in the middle of the Multistrada sits Ducati’s Granturismo engine. This 1,158cc 90-degree V4 is capable of producing a peak of 170 horsepower at 10,750 rpm. While this does seem high, the 91 pound-feet of torque arrives relatively low at 8,750 rpm, which means there is plenty of oomph lower down in the rev band for not just overtakes on the highways, but also grunt in the mud. The engine also features a cylinder deactivation system, which shuts down the rear bank under light loads and easy riding conditions.
|
Engine Type |
Displacement |
Power |
Torque |
Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Granturismo 90-degree, liquid-cooled, V4 |
1,158cc |
170 HP |
91 LB-FT |
6-speed with Ducati Quick Shift 2.0 |
Comfort On The V4 Rally Isn’t Just A Keyword
On an adventure bike, comfort is not just a soft seat or an upright stance, but it’s everything put together. The riding position wouldn’t mean anything if the wind blast is constantly pushed at your chest, and the soft seat would be meaningless if the suspension was too stiff. Speaking of, the V4 Rally gets semi-active Marzocchi suspension controlled by the Ducati Skyhook System. This tailors the suspension settings not just based on the rider’s preferences, but in Auto mode, it can even calibrate itself depending on the riding conditions and riding style.
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The Ducati Multistrada’s Versatility In The Real World
On And Off The Road
Regardless of where you want to take your Multi, the bike will be more than happy. On the asphalt, the Multistrada has more than sufficient power to keep cruising for days on end. Unlike some of Ducati’s other machines, this engine was tuned for endurance rather than high-rpm madness. In the dirt, while the V4 isn’t a dedicated off-roader, rough terrain doesn’t really pose a problem. Even for a beginner in the dirt, the semi-active suspension can analyze the rider’s style and adjust itself accordingly. This helps when the terrain is unpredictable and can catch the rider off guard.
Technology Packed To The Gills
Like most premium ADVs, the Multistrada V4 Rally is jam-packed with electronics. You have multiple riding modes that adjust things like throttle input, traction control, and ABS, and there is also the suspension we’ve spoken about. But one of the fanciest bits of tech on this bike is radar. According to Ducati, the Multi V4 Rally was the first production bike to adopt both front and rear radar.
This allows for adaptive cruise control. Front collision warning and even blind spot detection. But the best part? It comes standard with the bike. No need to burn that extra hole in your pocket.
Living With The Multi V4 Rally
As far as Ducati’s reputation goes, when it comes to maintenance, we know it can get a little expensive. However, the Multi has been designed to keep those expenses low. Service intervals have been extended to reduce maintenance frequency, and the company suggests that oil and filter changes are typically required every 9,000 miles and a major Desmo Service (valve clearance inspections) every 36,000 miles.
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The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally Draws A Pretty Wide Line
Price: $31,995 MSRP
A lot of ADVs bias a little more towards either the road or the dirt, and a very select few walk the line well enough. Among these, the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally seems to have widened that line for itself. It doesn’t excel in either direction, but it does both so well that you may not even know the difference if you don’t look for it. It brings together comfort, power, and versatility in a way that feels natural, like this is what motorcycles should have been in the first place. After all, isn’t that what we are all chasing anyway? Freedom?
Sources: Ducati