Ducati rolls out new line-up
NEXT Bike Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Ducati motorcycles in Malaysia, has unveiled a new offering of motorcycles with the Monster 821, Multistrada 1260 S and the Panigale in V4 and V4 S guises.
Starting with the Monster 821 at RM65,900, this naked motorcycle comes in three colour options of Ducati Red, Dark Stealth and Classic Ducati Yellow which adds RM1,000 to the purchase price at RM66,900.
In terms of standard fitment, the 821 features an 821cc Testastretta 11-degree engine (hence the nomenclature) that provides 109hp and 88Nm of torque.
It comes with three configurations each for Riding Mode and Power Mode.
The 821 has been equipped with a number of newly designed parts which includes the tail, muffler, headlight and a tank with a fastening hook - all of which pays tribute to the original Monster 900 unveiled in 1993.
But while the new Monster’s looks brings about a sense of nostalgia, it showcases its modernity thanks to the inclusion of a TFT colour display with gear and fuel indicators.
Suspending the bike is a 43mm front fork with an adjustable monoshock absorber and a double-sided swing arm at the rear that’s just beneath the height-adjustable rider’s seat and passenger seat with cover.
Furthermore, it comes fitted with the Ducati Quick Shifter electronic system, which allows the rider to shift up or down without using the clutch while applying the throttle.
Also fitted is the Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) - an infotainment system that comprises of a Bluetooth control unit that allows for connection (up to four devices) to a smartphone, rider’s helmet earpiece, passenger’s helmet earpiece or Ducati navigator.
Stopping power comes from Brembo’s M4-32 monobloc radial calipers that bite down on the dual 320mm front discs and to further bolster safety is the Ducati Safety Pack that features a three-level Bosch anti-lock braking system and an eight-level Dynamic Traction Control system.
The Multistrada 1260 S - touted as an all-rounded tourer, gets an asking price of RM129,900 and will come in Ducati Red or Iceberg White, while an additional RM1,000 at RM130,900 gets the Multi painted in Volcano Grey.
Power comes from its 1,262cc Testastretta DVT engine with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) from Bosch and produces 158hp at 9,500rpm and 130Nm of torque at 7,500rpm.
Standard equipment includes an electronic cruise control system, ride-by-wire system, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), DMS, fullLED headlight with Ducati Cornering Lights (DCL) and a 5.0inch high-resolution full-colour TFT screen instrument panel.
For stopping power, it uses a Brembo M50 four-piston radial caliper for the pair of 330mm front brake discs and is further bolstered by a Bosch-Brembo 9.1ME Cornering ABS system to enhance its braking abilities.
This Multistrada also has a height-adjustable rider saddle, while the electronic semi-active Sachs Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) Evolution suspension system.
The inclusion of Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system helps to take care of any tyre slippage while on the road and if stopping on a slope its Vehicle Hold Control (VHC) system will be a welcomed convenience.
Moving in to high-powered territory is the company’s flagship Panigale super bike in V4 (RM129,900) and V4 S (RM169,900) trim and both will be indistinguishably draped in Ducati Red with black wheels while being powered by a new 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale (road) engine.
The motor feeds from a 16-litre aluminium tank and is capable of producing 214hp at 13,000rpm and 124Nm of torque at 10,000rpm while weighing in at only 175kg (dry) and having a 830mm seat height on its cast magnesium alloy front sub frame.
The V4 comes in a two-seater configuration kit and uses a Sachs steering damper, front fully-adjustable 43mm Showa Big Piston Fork and a rear fully-adjustable Sachs monoshock suspension system.
Both front and rear wheels have been fitted with newly designed Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres as well as Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers.
Other standard fitments include full-led front headlight with daytime running lights, three Riding Modes (Race, Sport and Street), Ducati Data Analyser + GPS (DDA + GPS) and DMS presets as well as a 5.0-inch full-TFT dashboard.
The bike also features the latest-generation electronic package with a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU) and includes anti-lock braking system, Cornering Bosch EVO, Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO), Ducati Slide Control (DSC), Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO), Ducati Power Launch (DPL), Ducati Quick Shift up/down EVO (DQS EVO) with buttons and Engine Brake Control EVO (EBC EVO).
Commanding a RM40,000 premium for the V4 S, this bike gets fitted with lightweight forged aluminium wheels and a lithium-ion battery before swapping out the suspension and steering damper for some Öhlins components from Sweden.
This includes the stiffer Öhlins NIX-30 front forks, beefier Öhlins TTX (TwinTube) 36 rear shock, Öhlins steering damper and an Öhlins Smart EC (Electronic Control) 2.0 system to manage it all.
All Ducati motorcycles are accompanied by a standard twoyear unlimited-mileage warranty with an optional Smart Service Program, which is a two-year free service for parts and lubricants or up to 30,000km and includes Desmodromic service.