Ducati’s new adventure bike flagship, the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak, is set to hit Australian showrooms in the second quarter of next year, priced from $44,500 rideaway.
The new Pikes Peak variant will sit above the standard Multistrada V4 and V4 S ($28,990, $35,990), distinguished by a number of upgrades to make it better suited to fast road and track riding.
Dubbed the ‘sportiest Multistrada ever’ by the Italian bikemaker, the new Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak stands out with a smaller front wheel, measuring 17-inches, a single-sided swingarm, sporty road tyres, Ohlins semi-active suspension and a new ‘Race’ rider mode.
The flagship adventure bike also features its own riding position and MotoGP-inspired livery, and is four kilograms lighter than the V4 S thanks in part to new Marchesini forged aluminium wheels.
Also distinguishing the Pikes Peak is an Akrapovic titanium exhuast system, a darkened windscreen, a two-tone rear saddle and minor aesthetic details like ‘Ducati Corse’ badging on the fairing.
Changes have also been made to the bike’s monocoque frame, with trail and wheelbase adjustments said to better suit spirited road riding.
Outputs from the Multistrada’s 1160cc V4 remain unchanged at 125kW/125Nm, however, tweaks to the quickshifter, throttle response and rider modes should give it a more aggressive edge on the track.
Like the current Multistrada V4 range, the new Pikes Peak features adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection as standard, as part of a strong electronics suite that can be controlled via a 6.5-inch TFT dash.
While the regular Multistrada variants are positioned to compete with the likes of the BMW R 1250 GS and Triumph Tiger 1200, the high-end Pikes Peak grade is more aligned with sports touring models like the BMW S 1000 XR and KTM 1290 Super Duke GT.
Also launching early next year is Ducati‘s mid-weight Multistrada V2, which will land in the first quarter priced from $22,539 rideaway in base form, or $25,190 for the range-topping V2 S.
This means that pricing for the Multistrada V2 is up slightly compared to the outgoing Multistrada 950 and 950 S ($21,500, $24,000), but remains well in contention with the likes of the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT ($23,299) and BMW’s F 900 XR ($19,835).
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
