Fast motorcycles usually require physical abilities that not everyone can meet. That's why all your favorite MotoGP riders spend hours training hard every day. The faster the motorcycle is, the more physical fitness is required. Since that's not possible for most of us, there has been a shift in thought and design over the last decade or so. With prices of quick machines getting to where they are today, the realization has struck manufacturers that not all young, physically fit people can afford them. They have understood the need for performance machines that do not exhaust their riders. The Marriage Between Comfort And Performance Yamaha MotorsportsDifferent manufacturers add comfort to their performance machines in different ways. Manufacturers have started making sport bikes that are less aggressive to sit on but still offer the racetrack performance that those consumers desire. Whereas, the sport-touring segment has moved from the lightly modified sport bike to the crossover.BMWOnce more, it offers a much better seating position that allows the rider to be comfortable all day. And it is one such motorcycle that is the ideal selection if you want something that is incredibly fast when you open the throttle and yet cossets your derriere when you just want to putter around. That machine comes from Ducati. The Ducati Multistrada V4 RS Is The Performance Machine That Doesn’t Exhaust You DucatiThe Multistrada has always been at the intersection of speed and comfort in Ducati's range. It is now a range of motorcycles in itself. You can choose from a middleweight V-twin-powered Multistrada that costs as much as a premium middleweight tourer should. And you can go all the way up to this, the absolute performance-oriented Multistrada V4 RS. The RS denotes the fact that it is powered by a performance-oriented engine with Desmodromic valves, but it remains a Multistrada, so it is going to be comfortable as well. This is a motorcycle that you can take to the racetrack, have a whale of a time, and then ride home in comfort at the end of the day. Premium MSRP For A Premium Machine DucatiWhile any Ducati is pricey, the S and RS badges usually command a premium in themselves. So the Ducati Multistrada V4 RS sits at $39,995. That puts it in a class all by itself when it comes to price. Considering there's nothing quite like it in the market (a V4 crossover with a superbike engine), the enthusiasts will simply have to pay for the extravaganza. Powered By A Panigale-Sourced V4 Engine DucatiThe Multistrada V4 RS is unique in the lineup because it is the only one to run the Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine. Yes, this is the one from the Panigale V4 and has the Desmodromic valve train, although it makes less power here. This is a 90-degree V4 with a counterrotating crankshaft, Twin Pulse firing order, and a semi-dry sump. It displaces 1,103cc and has a compression ratio of 14.0:1 to produce 180 horsepower at 12,250 RPM and 87 pound-feet at 9,500 RPM. The redline is 13,500 RPM. A Dry Clutch Is Present – On A Tourer DucatiThe Multistrada V4 RS has a shorter final drive ratio than even the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak to make it the fastest-accelerating Multistrada in the range. It has a dry clutch, like an old-school Ducati, which is also an assist and slipper clutch. Other interesting features about this driveline are the fact that the rear cylinder bank gets deactivated whenever the bike is stopped, in neutral, or if the engine temperature goes above 158 degrees. A titanium Akrapovič muffler is standard on the V4 RS. Oh, and the dreaded valve clearance check is needed every 18,000 miles. World-Class Chassis Components Complement The Powerful Engine DucatiThe Multistrada V4 RS boasts the best possible chassis components in the Multistrada range for road use. It starts with an aluminum monocoque with a steeper rake compared to the other Multistradas. It also has a titanium subframe, which is modified to accept a top box. Yet, it contributes to a 5.5-pound weight saving. An aluminum single-sided swingarm is also present. This is now one of the distinguishing features of the performance Multistradas. Ohlins Suspension Provides Electronic Control DucatiThe Multi V4 RS gets Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension, which is an electronic setup with a 48 mm fully adjustable inverted fork with TiN treatment at the front. At the rear, there is an Öhlins TTX36 fully adjustable single shock. At both ends, you can adjust the compression and rebound damping electronically, and the preload at the rear can also be adjusted at the touch of a button. 6.7 inches of travel are present at both ends.The front brakes have been derived from the Panigale V4, with twin 330 mm semi-floating discs at the front paired with radial Brembo Stylema calipers. At the rear, a 265 mm disc is paired with a Brembo two-piston floating caliper. Marchesini forged aluminum wheels with a 17-inch diameter are present at both ends, and they feature high-performance Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tires. Multistrada-Sized But Behaves Like A Sport Bike All Multistradas are full-size crossovers or adventure bikes, but the V4 RS is a little lower than the standard Multistrada because of the 17-inch rims and the suspension with less travel. It has a 62.6-inch wheelbase, which means it is still a large motorcycle and a comfortable one for rider and passenger. The seat height is variable, so the standard seat can go from 33.1 to 33.9 inches. Wet weight (without fuel) lies at 496 pounds, and the tank can hold 5.8 gallons of fuel. The Best Electronics Among All Multistradas Are Present DucatiThe Multistrada V4 RS is 4.4 pounds lighter than the Pikes Peak. Now, part of this is the titanium and aluminum used for the chassis, subframe, and swingarm. But it also uses carbon fiber in different areas, such as the front fender, hand guards, heat shield, and the front beak. More weight saving comes from the forged wheels and a light lithium-ion battery, and what Ducati calls a ‘technopolymer’ tail that is exclusive to the V4 RS. It shares its 6.5-inch TFT screen with the Multistrada V4 S.DucatiThis display gets you access to a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU, so you get access to riding modes, power modes, traction control, engine brake control, cornering ABS, wheelie control, hill hold control, and the two-way quickshifter. It also has a radar system for adaptive cruise control, and we have already discussed the electronic suspension. Other features include an all-LED lighting system with cornering headlamps, self-canceling indicators, a 12-volt charging socket, USB port, and backlit switches. There Is Only One True Competitor BMW MotorradThere is only one true competitor to the Multistrada: the BMW M 1000 XR. This is also a crossover, and it is a model in a premium high-performance subset of a premium European brand. You get a full 200+ horsepower from the S 1000 RR, with variable valve timing. It has all the electronics necessary to do a semi-professional track day. And it has great comfort with which to tour, should you wish to do it with your M 1000 XR. The base price is significantly lower than the Ducati’s, but when you put options on it still becomes a $30,000+ motorcycle. Source: Ducati USA