Is a Multistrada V4 Enduro coming, too? Why it should and why it shouldn't
The new Ducati Multistrada V4 is coming - that's for sure. Even Claudio Domenicali admitted it on the ceremony for the birth of the 100.000th Multistrada. But like we said elsewhere, the V4 Desmosedici Stradale engine shouldn't completely remove the Testastretta Evoluzione 11° twin from the current Multistrada 1260 range. That, by the way, will welcome the new 1260 Grand Tour version during the next Ducati World Premiere.
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Ducati Multistrada V4, video spia
8 luglio 2019
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Instead of a complete re-hash of the Multistrada line-up, the new model could well be a top of the range Multistrada V4, a model somewhat different from the rest, perhaps inheriting the role now played by the 1260 Pikes Peak (that, coincidentally speaking, is the non plus ultra in the family) as a kill-em-all crossover for twisty mountain roads and short circuits, 17" ultra-wide wheels and not-too-tall suspension.
That would be basically a Streetfighter V4 with longer-stroke suspension, a taller riding stance and the right wind protection. Far from us to make accusations, but it would be a similar operation to what BMW did on the S1000R to create the S1000XR back in 2015. A strategy that makes very good sense in a moment when platform thinking is natural, if not even unavoidable.
We can't deny, though, the fascination of a "simple" transplant of the V4 motor in the chassis of the current Multistrada range, maintaning some offroad capabilities, and even substituting all the high-end of the range - just like it happened with the Panigale - and leaving only the Multistrada 950 with a twin-cylinder engine.
A pretty dangerous hypothesis from the market point of view, given the long, strong emotional tie between Ducatisti and the Bologna V-Twin, that would open - not to say force - to the development of a Multistrada V4 Enduro. That is to say a version with a 19" front end, bigger tank and taller suspension, as to define offroad capabilities at least equal to the current model.
Outlandish? We also think so. Creating a crossover is one thing, but defining a big adventure bike - that requires a more rear-end oriented weight distribution to perform accettably on rough terrain, not to mention a 19", spoke-wheel front-end - capable to handle decently the power surplus from the V4, is a completely different story. Because considering the 160-ish horsepower from the current, 1.262 cc Testastretta 11°, it just wouldn't make sense to install the vee-four just to neuter it to roughly the same power level.
You will agree, though, that the proposition has its own allure, and that such a Multistrada would have a certain exotica uniqueness (we aren't aware of real offrod V4s on the market...) offering at the very least better low-revs regularity. We just have to wait another year to see what's in store. What do you think about it?
