Multistrada V4 Rally: production of the grand tourer Ducati gets underway
Twenty years after the birth of the first Multistrada, the new-born V4 Rally rolls off the production line, further expanding a never so complete touring family
Multistrada V4 Rally is the “Multi” designed to offer greater comfort for rider and passenger, more range and greater off-road aptitude to stop at nothing
The Multistrada V4 Rally will be available in Ducati dealerships from February
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy) – Production of the Multistrada V4 Rally, the Ducati designed for lovers of long journeys, already featured in the third episode of the 2023 Ducati World Premiere, has begun at the Borgo Panigale factory. The new bike completes a touring range that has never been so extensive and which was born exactly 20 years ago with the first Multistrada 1000 that marked the opening of Ducati towards the world of travel.
Twenty years during which Multistrada has been able to evolve and renew itself through the 1100, 1200 and 1260, arriving at its fourth generation powered by the new, revolutionary V4 Granturismo. The Multistrada V4 interprets the concept of the Grand Tourer according to the values of Style, Sophistication, Performance that are intrinsic to Ducati’s DNA.
Multistrada introduced several innovations to the Ducati range, such as the Riding Modes and DVT variable valve timing, but it was also the first bike in the world equipped with technological innovations such as the semi-active Skyhook suspension, or more recently the world first of front and rear radar to support Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detection systems as well as extended deactivation.
With the “Rally” Ducati takes the globetrotter spirit of the Multistrada V4 to an even higher level, thanks to better comfort for rider and passenger, greater range and a more pronounced off-road aptitude without neglecting performance (170 hp), reliability and running costs, with maintenance intervals every 60,000 km and Oil Service every 15,000 km/24 months thanks to the 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo engine. The new deactivation strategy extends to the entire rear bank even when moving at low speeds, when the engine speed and the torque request from the throttle are low, positively impacting fuel consumption which drops by around 10%.
To tackle unpaved roads even better, this Multistrada can count on semi-active suspension with increased travel of 200 mm, lightened spoked rims, reinforced engine guards, an Enduro Riding Mode with brand new Power Mode dedicated to off-road use, wider rider foot-pegs and an even more precise and efficient Skyhook DSS EVO control strategy in this model.
Comfort improves with particular attention to two-seater use: the windshield has been redesigned (increased by 40 mm in height and 20 mm in width), the tail has been lengthened and the luggage attachment set back to offer more space in the leg area to the passenger, who can also count on footrests with larger rubber inserts to reduce the level of transmitted vibrations. Furthermore, thanks to the availability of different height saddles for both rider and passenger and the lowered suspension kit, the Multistrada V4 Rally can be customized to adapt to any torque configuration. With a view to improving thermal comfort, the air vents in the leg area can now be divided in order to keep the heat released by the engine in the cold seasons.
To further support active safety, the Multistrada V4 Rally also integrates Cornering ABS, which allows you to harness the braking power of its system even when cornering, the Ducati Cornering Lights (DCL), which improve night-time visibility by illuminating the inside of the bend, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) and Ducati Traction Control (DTC). These systems use the inertial platform (IMU) to optimize intervention based on the lean and pitch angle of the vehicle.
The Multistrada V4 Rally also introduces a brand-new extended deactivation strategy of the rear bank, a technical solution making its debut on a production bike on the world stage. In addition to switching off the rear cylinders at idle when the bike is stationary, a function already present on the Multistrada V4, the V4 Granturismo now keeps the rear cylinder bank deactivated in other operating conditions to the benefit of fuel consumption and emissions.
The 6.5-inch colour TFT dashboard offers map navigation functions thanks to the Ducati Connect application, which supports the use of the telephone, now housed in a ventilated compartment, even to answer calls or listen to music, using a helmet equipped with an intercom system.
The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally will arrive in dealerships from February 2023 in the two colours of Ducati Red and Brushed Aluminium & Matt Black, the latter with a visible brushed aluminium tank. Both versions have black spoked rims. There are three different versions: Adventure Radar, equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detection functions, Adventure Travel & Radar, which adds aluminium side cases, heated grips and saddles, while the Full Adventure completes the latter equipment with an Akrapovič homologated silencer and front mudguard in carbon fibre.
The Multistrada V4 Rally – like all Ducati Multistradas – is covered by the “4|Ever Ducati” warranty, valid for 4 years with no mileage limit, with roadside assistance included throughout continental Europe.