Ducati’s Multistrada Now Comes as a 180 HP Superbike—Here’s Everything We Know
When the Ducati Multistrada V4 Grand Tour broke cover recently, we were fairly certain that the model line had peaked, but Ducati had something else up its sleeve. The manufacturer has just debuted the impressive Multistrada V4 RS, a successor (but not replacement) to the V4 Pikes Peak.
The “RS” nomenclature should give some hint as to the new bike’s personality. The moniker is normally reserved for Ducati’s athletic machines from the WorldSBK motorcycle race series. These range from the RS to the Monster RS of years gone by, but this is the first time we’ve seen it on a sport-touring machine.
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Unlike the rest of the Multistrada V4 family (Pikes Peak, Rally, Grand Tour, and V4 S) that retain the 1,158 cc V4 power plant, this latest version will utilize the 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale engine shared by the Panigale V4 S and Streetfighter V4 S. For the output, Ducati claims 180 hp and a redline of 13,500 rpm—quite wild numbers for a sport tourer. The Multistrada V4 RS also gains a billet aluminum STM-EVO SBK dry clutch, and the same high-flow air filter as the chart-topping Panigale V4 R superbike.
Weight savings has been one of the largest aims with the RS. The bike is a total of 5.5 pounds lighter than the base model, as the titanium subframe replaces the cast aluminum piece. In addition, six pounds of unsprung mass have been lopped off the now forged-aluminum Marchesini wheels, ensuring the RS will turn with exceptional speed and agility. And another 6.6 pounds have been removed via the new lithium-ion battery.
The Multistrada V4 RS’s main frame continues to be the aluminum monocoque design mated to the Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 event-based electronic suspension and Brembo four-piston monobloc brakes. Electronics are a mainstay of the Multistrada platform, and the RS gets everything Ducati can muster—Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD), a Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit, four power modes, and the four ECU modes of Race, Sport, Touring, and Urban. There are also traction, wheelie, and engine-brake controls, a quickshifter, and a 6.5-inch TFT display that allows phone mirroring via the Ducati Connect app.
The Multistrada V4 RS comes to the market at an interesting time, as superbike performance is now seen more and more as a platform for ultra-fast touring models. Ducati’s greatest competition will largely come from its own Multistrada stable, as the $31,595 Pikes Peak (if you can find one), and $27,195 V4 S offer incredible bang for your performance buck.
Outside Ducati’s house, the main opposition is KTM and its stupendous 1290 Super Adventure S, although it must be said that with KTM featuring a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel, the Multistrada V4 RS will certainly have the performance advantage. Other than that, there really isn’t much to choose from in this high-speed touring market. Aprilia has staunchly refused to get involved, and the same can be said of all the Japanese manufacturers. Thus, the Multistrada V4 RS will stand largely on its own as the leader in this burgeoning segment of motorcycling.
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