LADIES and gentlemen, presenting to you Ducati Multistrada V4S, a premium adventure motorcycle that has all the bells and whistles which got the motorcycle fraternity excited.
And I got the opportunity to review this.
The Multistrada V4S, comes with the Brembo Stilema four-piston brake callipers.
The Multistrada V4S variant is packed with a lot of goodies like the Marzocchi Ducati Skyhook electronic suspension – suspension travel is the same as the Multistrada V4 – with automatic leveling function, vehicle hold control, cornering LED lighting, keyless start, blind-spot detection, and cruise control.
The available colours are Ducati Red and Aviator Grey.
The design of the bike combined with the Ducati red (the bike I am reviewing) gives the adventure attitude.
The front beak with a big headlamp and the large tank with a sculpted body scream adventure.
Meanwhile, the pointed rear end with the bright tail light is definitely a Ducati signature.
Something tells me that the designers on this bike want to flaunt its beauty, making sure every bit is not hidden.
One thing I realized about the bike is the winglets on both sides of the bike.
These winglets give a sporty look and are designed to create extra aerodynamics on the bike and at the same time cool the bike as soon as possible.
The new Multistrada V4S runs on a 1,158cc V4 Granturismo engine.
Believe it or not, the Multistrada V4S does not come with the iconic Desmo engine.
Now the bike runs with valve springs instead of Desmo valve gear.
The reason for the valve springs; it makes the engine lighter, less stress on the engine and increases the service intervals to 60,000km, and is cheaper to maintain.
While riding on the highway, I realised that at lower revs, the bike picks up speed immediately and smoothly.
The engine is at its best when running at the rev mid-range.
According to factory data, the Multistrada V4S can do 0-100kph sprint in 3.8secs.
I personally feel that the bike is at its best on the open road, especially on long journeys.
There is no lack of power or torque when I need it as this bike has the performance DNA of the Panigale V4.
I wondered how this bike would perform on the track with the Sport riding mode?
Historically, the Multistrada line-up has always been known for great road handling and the new model has taken it up a few notches up.
The agility of the bike is amazing despite weighing at 240kg.
During traffic jams in the city centre, the Multistrada V4S handles the chaotic traffic at ease like a smaller bike.
The slim design of the bike allowed me to zig-zag out of the traffic without breaking a sweat.
On two occasions, I decided to take the bike up to five-foot to avoid the traffic.
It was fun but not recommended.
While waiting at the traffic light, I did feel a little heat from the bike but it did not bother me and was well dispersed.
I took the bike on a 400km+ ride, I will admit that the ride was comfortable.
The seat was firm and wide while the sitting position and the reach to the handle were natural.
There was more than enough room to move my legs around when I got a bit tired.
The windshield was able to deflect the rushing air well when I was riding at high speeds.
The bike comes with four riding modes of Touring, Urban, Enduro, and Sport.
In Touring mode, the engine response is smooth and apt on highways and less challenging roads.
Power at Urban mode is reduced to 115hp to better handle riding in city centres or on wet roads.
The Enduro mode is tuned for off-road adventure where the engine offers up to 115hp with ABS acting on the front wheel at level 1.
Meanwhile, in Sport mode, the rider gets 170hp, with traction and wheelie control set to low and ABS at level 2.
Each riding mode can be individually tailored as per the rider’s skill level.
While riding up to Fraser’s Hill, the Multistrada V4S was at ease with all the twisties and corners.
The wide handlebar and the upright riding position were perfect for me to tame Frasers Hill.
I was dancing with the bike while going up the mountain.
Flipping the bike from side to side at every opportunity was so enjoyable.
It has been a long time since I had this much fun on Frasers with a motorcycle.
I was riding on the Sports mode either on the third or fourth gear most of the time while climbing up the hill.
The hand clutch and gear were working in unison.
Every time I upshift or downshift the gear, there is no lag of power.
The throttle response while entering and exiting the corners was spot on.
No corners or twisties were a challenge for the Multistrada V4S.
The throttle response was perfect.
I was able to take corners with speed and the braking was perfect.
The latest Multistrada V4 line-up is the first bike in the world to be equipped with a front and rear radar system.
The front helps with the Adaptive Cruise Control while the rear is designed for the Blind Spot Detection.
After riding the bike close to 100km, I only realised how useful the Blind Spot Detection (BSD) was.
BSD alerts a rider via lights flashing on the side mirrors when a vehicle is very close to you.
Every time I see the flashing light, I become more careful with my surroundings.
Another cool feature is the adaptive cruise control that is a first for a road bike.
It works like the one you find on the cars now.
When the front radar detects a vehicle in front of the bike, the bike slows down automatically while keeping a safe distance.
When no vehicle is detected, the bike will resume back to the set cruising speed.
The bike is also fitted with the more advanced Ducati Connect system, compatible with iOS and Android systems through smartphone mirroring.
I could search my contacts or type a phone number using the keypad; play my favorite music by scrolling through folders, artists, albums, and playlists; set my destination, and follow the navigation on the complete map view projected on the digital display.
The final verdict is, this RM146,900 bike is a mix of great performance, comfort and technological advancement designed to make sure every rider is safe while enjoying the ride.
SPECIFICATIONS
Ducati Multistrada V4S
Engine: 1,158cc, liquid-cooled, 90-degree V4
Maximum power: 170hp at 10,500rpm
Maximum torque: 125Nm at 8,750rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Suspension: Front 50mm fully-adjustable, upside down forks; rear fully-adjustable monoshock
Braking system: Front 2X330mm discs with four-piston Brembo Stylema calipers, cornering ABS; rear 265mm disc with two-piston Brembo caliper, cornering ABS
Features: Automatic leveling function, vehicle hold control, cornering LED lighting, keyless start, blind spot detection and active cruise control, ABS, wheelie control, traction control, electronic suspension, four riding modes, Ducati Connect System, 6.5-inch TFT-LCD screen, quickshifter
Fuel capacity: 22 litres
Weight: 240kg
Price: RM146,900 (without insurance, road tax and number plate)
Keyword: Ducati Multistrada V4S: Performance with the smarts