Ducati’s venture into the adventure bike segment was in 2016 with the Multistrada 1200 Enduro.
All the other motorcycle brands took notice of the 1200 Enduro as it was the talk of the town.
The bike was designed to conquer any off-road terrain and at the same time cruise comfortably on open roads.
Now, Ducati has come out with another beast which is the Multistrada 1260 Enduro.
At a glance, the bike is huge and tall.
The minute I got myself comfortable on the saddle, I realised I was sitting in it, rather than on it.
I felt enveloped by the bike, thus giving me the confidence to manage this bike better.
The truth of the matter is that the 1260 Enduro is designed for riders who are 178cm tall and above.
Anybody shorter will find it challenging to keep the bike upright.
The scooped-up saddle is wide, firm and comfy.
I find it delightful for long-distance rides on this saddle.
There is enough legroom to ensure no fatigue on the legs while on long rides off-road or on the tarmac.
This bike comes with a large tank designed carefully to sync with the wide handlebar and the recognisable Ducati Multistrada front beak.
Not to forget the 254kg bike’s low centre of gravity made manoeuvring easy.
There are a lot of electronic goodies on this bike such as cornering traction control and ABS, cruise and wheelie control, up/down shifter, hill hold, rider and power modes, LED cornering lights and four riding modes.
In the motorcycle world, I have personally experienced that bigger bikes do not necessarily mean a better riding experience.
But in the 1260 Enduro’s case, bigger is better.
Why? This machine gets the latest 1,262cc Testastretta engine.
This engine has the torque-boosting Desmodromic Variable Timing system, offering a large amount of torque from as low as 3,700rpm.
In layman’s term, the 1260 Enduro needs less gear shifting and can deliver satisfying performance at lower revs.
You will be surprised to know how easy it was riding up and coming down from Genting Highlands.
I was shocked at the agility of the bike despite its size.
The weight distribution on the bike is decent but I do feel a bit of top-heaviness.
The 1,260cc block churns out an impressive 158hp at 9,500rpm and a torque of 128Nm at 7,500rpm.
Priced at RM131,506 (before SST), the 1260 Enduro is available in two colours of Sand and Ducati Red.
On the open road, this beast is fast enough for any speed demon.
I will admit that it will never outgun a superbike.
I was able to go way beyond the legal speed limit on third gear without straining the engine at all.
The bike comes with four riding modes of Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro.
Touring was perfect for cruising purposes. There were no surprises, everything was under control.
Meanwhile, on Sport, the bike was too aggressive for me.
Urban was definitely better for city riding compared to on the highway.
I am an off-road novice but decided to give it a try on this machine.
Got the 1260 Enduro mode on for the less challenging off-road in a rubber estate.
On first gear, the bike was under my total control.
The minute I stood on the footpegs to manoeuvring the bike, I experienced the agility and how planted it was.
That instilled confidence in me to go faster on the second gear and occasionally on third gear.
The gearing on this bike is shortened for better off-road handling.
The Enduro mode default setting offers a soft throttle response so there was no sudden burst of power.
The Enduro kept me safe throughout the one-hour ride in the estate.
On many occasions, the traction control was able to keep the bike upright and kept me from losing balance when I was riding on sandy terrain with loose stones.
The 1260 Enduro is fitted with Brembo brakes and the brakes worked well.
The bite of the front and rear brakes was fierce and yet controllable.
Ducati has always been consistent with their motorcycle design and performance.
Every Ducati bike is a masterpiece and there is no exception for the 1260 Enduro.
This machine is powerful, fast, agile and obedient.
Don’t fear the size, swing your leg over and experience the bike yourself. You will not regret it.
SPECIFICATIONS: Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro
Engine: 1,262cc, Testastretta DVT engine, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Maximum power: 158hp at 9,500rpm
Maximum torque: 129.5Nm at 7,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Front suspension: Sachs 46mm upside-down forks, semi-active
Rear suspension: Sachs single rear shock adjustable, semi-active
Front brakes: Two 320mm Brembo front discs with four-piston Brembo monobloc radial callipers with cornering ABS
Rear brakes: 265mm rear disc with twin-piston callipers and ABS
Fuel capacity: 30 litres
Range: 530km
Dry weight: 225kg
Features: Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), Four Riding Mode, Power Mode, Ducati Safety Pack (Cornering ABS Bosch + DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), cruise control, Hands-Free, Backlit handlebar controls, Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) ready, Automatic indicator switch off, anti-theft ready.
Price: RM131,506 (before SST)
Keyword: It's adventure time with Ducati's new Multistrada 1260 Enduro