The new motorcycle season is just around the corner and the Italian manufacturer Ducati threw its hat in the ring this week with a full unveiling of the new Multistrada V2.<\/p>\n
Despite the new name, the bike may seem a little familiar even to the eagle-eyed among us, with the changes representing an evolution of the previous Multistrada 950 rather than a complete revolution.<\/p>\n
There is still a lot to look forward to, however, including a weight reduction and a number of changes that Ducati says will make the Multistrada V2 a more manageable motorcycle. Here’s what we can expect from the Multistrada V2 when it hits showrooms in November.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\nDucati Multistrada V2 – everything we know<\/h2>\n
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While the powerful two-cylinder Testastretta engine with 937 cc is retained from the 950, it has been updated for the new year to refine the already impressive power plant.<\/p>\n
The performance values \u200b\u200bhave been increased from 110 hp to 113 hp and the torque from 96 Nm to 98 Nm. The engine is also Euro5 compliant. More impressive, however, is that Ducati was able to trim some fat in the process as well.<\/p>\n
This means that the updated engine is now 2kg lighter than before. Interestingly enough, the engine can also be restricted to make the Multistrada V2 A2 license compatible, although I pull my cap off any new, young A2 license rider who fancies a Multistrada as the first big bike (I say that when someone dropped their first big bike the first day they picked it up!)<\/p>\n
Further weight savings come from various trims, including lighter mirrors and rims (carried over from the Multistrada V4). These changes contribute to an overall weight saving of 5kg compared to the previous 950, with the new Multistrada V2 weighing in at 199kg dry.<\/p>\n
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These changes appear to be part of a concerted effort to make the new Multistrada V2 a simpler bike that ties in with the work done in the ergonomics department. Ducati has lowered the seat height by 10 mm to 830 mm and made the seat surface smaller to make it easier for people with shorter legs to touch the floor.<\/p>\n
The Italian brand also says the seat has been made more comfortable and now offers a flatter perch for riders. This is encouraging news as the old 950 wasn’t the most comfortable bike on long journeys when we spent on it in 2020. Similar to other sport touring saddles, it tilted the rider further forward than we would have liked, and it didn’t offer much leeway when we needed to relieve pressure points on our buttocks.<\/p>\n
Aside from these changes, there are many of the same features that we loved from the predecessor Multistrada 950<\/a> stay, and again the Multistrada is available as both a standard and a premium S model.<\/p>\n The standard model comes with a 48mm upside-down front fork with 170mm travel, along with a 170mm travel damper, both of which are carried over from the previous 950. However, things are different with the Premium V2 S model, which comes standard with Ducati’s Skyhook chassis.<\/p>\n The brakes are also unchanged, with Brembo monoblock radial calipers and 320mm double discs in the front and a Brembo floating caliper and 265mm single disc in the rear.<\/p>\n Both models are equipped with a state-of-the-art electronics package that offers the V2 cornering ABS, hill hold control, traction control and four driving modes (urban, touring, enduro and sport). We loved how these worked on the previous model; in fact, the cornering ABS and traction control were retained APR <\/em>Editor-in-chief Bryn faced serious damage when a careless driver overtook him last winter, so we’re glad these features have been retained.<\/p>\n The V2 S is also equipped with cruise control, LED cornering lights and headlights, a quickshifter and a 5 \u2033 TFT color screen (the standard model has an LCD unit).<\/p>\n The Standard and Premium S models cost \u00a3 12,495 and \u00a3 14,495, respectively, and you can find out more about them at Ducati’s website<\/a>. There’s also a travel-ready V2 S edition for \u00a3 15,525 with side pockets, heated handles and a center stand as standard.<\/p>\n Would you like to receive a weekly summary of adventure bike news, stories, routes and much more directly in your email inbox?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the ABR Bulletin to the right of this page (or below if you’re reading on your phone) for everything you need to know each week.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\nElectronic wizardry<\/h2>\n
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