2010 Multistrada at Milan show

Added on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Ducati have a new Multistrada 1200 for 2010, making it more sporty and versatile, writes Alastair Walker. The all-rounder, launched today in Milan, now features a claimed 150bhp delivered at 9,500 rpm, utilising the Testastretta engine that equips the 1198 sportbikes in the Ducati range.

The new Multistrada will be available in three versions: basic, sport and touring. All three models are equipped as standard with electronics that allow the rider to select one of three power modes, with electronic traction control that allows you to choose from eight levels. The throttle is also `ride-by-wire.’ The mode options mean that wet weather riding, or gentle off-roading can be tackled without using the maximum 150bhp on tap.

The frame is a mix of trellis steel tubes and plates bolted onto a central alloy casting. A front sub-frame in magnesium holds the lighting unit, the instrument panel and screen. The wheelbase is 1530mm and Pirelli Scorpion Trail tyres are fitted, with a 120/70 front and 190/55 at the rear, mounted on 17-inch wheels.

Suspension on the basic version is Marzocchi 50mm upside-down forks, with multiple adjustment, plus a Sachs monoshock, also adjustable, at the rear. There’s a single-sided swingarm and braking is by Brembo, featuring radial-mounted calipers on twin 320mm front discs. The Multistrada Sport has the Bosch-Brembo ABS as standard, while on the basic model it’s an option.

The Sport version has Öhlins suspension, with an electronic control system so you can vary the settings on the move, within four basic operational modes. The factory recommend certain suspension modes for the chosen engine mapping configurations set in the ECU. So hard riding on a trackday requires a firm suspenion set-up, whereas two-up touring would require softer settings, with maybe a touch more preload on the monoshock, depending on passenger weight. The rider can play around with the preload, compression and rebound within the four main settings all day long.

The Sport Multistrada has carbon parts: air intake, engine covers, rear fender etc. But the touring 1200 has accessories designed to make the bike more practical: the centre stand is designed to reduce physical effort when lifting the bike, there are heated grips, and panniers with a load capacity of 57 litres, or 77 litres when you use the optional bigger pannier lids.

There’s no doubt that Ducati have tweaked the Multistrada to offer a sporty rival to the BMW R1200 GS, which has practical touches in its touring guise, but features a 150bhp sportsbike engine to deliver something more visceral than the BMW. As sterling remains low compared to the euro, it would seem likely that a fairly hefty £13K-£14K price tag will be attached to the `fully kitted’ touring Multistrada when it arrives in 2010, although the basic model may retail at around £11K.

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