Essay – Ducati Multistrada V4S Grand Tour – 20 years of refinement

Two decades have passed since the first Multistrada. Since then, much has changed in the popular Italian model, but fundamentally the main characteristics have remained the same. This year, there are no major differences in the most equipped V4S version, so the brand from Bologna has launched a new model with even more standard equipment, the V4S Grand Tour.

Well, we feel old when we say “it seems like it was yesterday that Ducati launched its first Multistrada.” And it seems, but 20 years have passed since the brand from Bologna launched this first crossover model in 2003, at the time with the Multistrada 1000 DS. A concept that still remains today, just like the designation (Multi-strada – Many roads), with the difference that nowadays the model is more powerful, has more technology, etc. In fact, the current bike is a showcase of what Ducati has evolved over 20 years. It is also worth mentioning that the second generation of the MTS, launched in 2010, had nothing to do with the first one, in terms of aesthetics, performance, and sporty behavior; while the third generation, from 2015, came even more refined, with the Testastretta engine with DVT technology and already with a complete IMU in terms of electronics. In 2020, the step was also significant, with the arrival of the first generation of the V4 engine, something that a few years ago would have been impossible to imagine in a model like this. And here we are in 2023, at a time when the Multistrada is about to reach the beautiful number of 150,000 units sold, and also because of that, we were entitled to a little visit to the museum and factory in Bologna.

SECRECY

The brand has been making a beautiful marketing move with the presentation of its models, the “Ducati World Première 2024”. So we went to Bologna without knowing which new model we were going to test, and without being able to reveal any information or photos until the end of the embargo. This created a lot of expectation, only to end up somewhat disappointed that it was “just” another Multistrada V4S with more equipment and some different details. But there are more news to present, which will also be worth it, but for now let’s focus on this V4S Grand Tour, which was introduced to us in one of the new pavilions of the Bologna factory, where by the way, the great party of Pecco Bagnaia’s title in 2022 was held.With this model, the brand aims to continue to focus on four important principles: Style, Sophistication, Performance, and Trust. And if the latter left you with doubts, it has everything to do with what owners value in this segment, such as quality, reliability, maintenance costs, and a variety of related topics that lead us to recommend a model to a specific person. Aesthetically, this decoration fits very well on the model, a Sand Stone Grey with Dark Stealth (and red stripes), in which many components are now painted black such as the handlebar, steering tables, frame, swingarm, and passenger footrest brackets. In this Grand Tour, the side cases in the model’s color are standard, as well as the center stand and the front and rear radar systems already known.

Still in series the keyless fuel tank opening system, the tire pressure monitoring system, the LED fog auxiliary lights, the heated seats for driver and passenger, the heated grips and the absence of “silent block” on the handlebar for a better feeling of the wheel on the road. And of course, this GT maintains some of the equipment that we already find in the entire MTS V4 ’24 range, such as the air ducts with cover (to avoid wind on the legs on colder days), the ventilated compartment for the smartphone, and the engine side covers that support the engine heat. All the other technical characteristics of the model remain, so we are talking about a V4 engine of 1,158 cc that delivers 170 hp of power at 10,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 125 Nm at 8,750 rpm. A motorcycle packed with electronic aids, which mounts a 22-liter capacity tank, and thus joins a V4 range (the best-selling in all segments of Ducati motorcycles) where we also find the V4 Pikes Peak, the base V4, the V4S and the V4 Rally. The weight of this Grand Tour has not been announced but it should be slightly higher than that of the V4S (because of the panniers and fog lights), which stands at 243 kg ready to ride.

SHORT JOURNEY

This presentation was then quite exclusive (only 4 journalists per day, with Motociclismo / Motorcycle Sports being the only media from Portugal), and after the visit to the Museum and factory, where the technical presentation took place, we hit the road for about 60 km to our hotel. A journey already at night and entirely on the highway, where we were able to experience some features of the motorcycle and appreciate others. For example, the aerodynamic protection is excellent – as well as the windshield adjustment system with just one hand – and we liked using the navigation system on the TFT itself. The adaptive cruise control system works well (even if it’s one of those things we won’t use very often), as well as the system that warns us in the mirrors of vehicles in our blind spot. We just didn’t use the heated grips and seat because it was really hot, although not hot enough to cause discomfort while riding. The lighting is good and of course we tried the auxiliary lights – even without fog – and they provide a great help.

SAFE RIDING

On the second day the route was very different, with over 200 (tasty) kilometers around Bologna and Imola, always on beautiful roads with good and bad surfaces, and even hotter. In these conditions we felt once again that this is one of the most complete and emotional bikes in the segment. Comfortable, easy to ride but also very emotional when pushing through the mid and high revs of the V4 engine, the MTS V4S GT covers kilometers with enormous ease, at a calm or fast pace, as we decide. The electronic suspensions perform excellently within each of the riding modes (we can then electronically adjust everything to our liking), and we alternated between Tour mode and Sport mode, the latter when the road conditions improved and we wanted a greater stiffness and superior engine response. We liked the feel of the steering, more direct without the handlebar vibrations, and the braking is also superb, both in lever feel and in the power the system can apply to both wheels.

The good Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires contribute to the excellent dynamics and the quickshifter also works flawlessly, and throughout all these kilometers it was difficult to find faults in a bike that has been so well evolved over the years. Let’s say that, only some heat in the legs, whenever temperatures are above 25 degrees, is something we could do without, while in terms of finishes, there are some stripes in the form of stickers on the tank, that could have been painted directly on the assembly.

At the end of the day we had an overall average of 6.6 l/100 km recorded on the instrumentation after a very enjoyable short trip. There was much left to be said in terms of equipment for this motorcycle (which was already known from the V4S), so it remains to add that this is a motorcycle that is increasingly refined and more premium. Now the GT has all those accessories that many interested in a V4S would ask for separately, and according to the brand’s officials (we didn’t bother to do the math), it will be much more rewarding to buy a Grand Tour than a base V4S and purchase accessories separately. Plus, we love all the black-painted components on this new model! DUCATI MULTISTRADA V4S GRAND TOUR MOTOR V4 Granturismo at 90º, liquid cooling DISPLACEMENT 1,158 cc POWER 125 kw (170 hp) @10,500 rpm TORQUE 125 Nm @8,750 rpm GEARBOX 6 speeds FRAME aluminum monocoque TANK 22 liters FRONT SUSPENSION 50 mm inverted fork, electronic adjustment, 170 mm travel

REAR SUSPENSION single shock absorber, electronic adjustment, 180 mm travel

FRONT BRAKE 2 discs of 330 mm Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers with 4 pistons

REAR BRAKE 265 mm disc, 2-piston Brembo caliper

FRONT TIRE 120/70 ZR19

REAR TIRE 170/60 ZR17

WHEELBASE 1,566 mm

SEAT HEIGHT 840 – 860 mm

WEIGHT n.d.

MSRP (from) €27,795