Adventure
DEALS FROM £79
Ducati’s all-new entry into the sporty adventure bike class may carry the Multistrada name, but this is a ground-up redesign featuring at its heart the firm’s V4 powerplant. Yes, a Bologna-built V4 adventure bike has landed and it’s really rather good. Although it is a little like bringing a nuclear weapon to a knife fight, Ducati have completely redesigned the V4 and instead of the firm’s traditional desmo valve system, the V4 Granturismo has more conventional valve springs. As well as increasing the Multi’s service intervals to an impressive 36,000 miles between valve clearance checks, alongside a 55cc capacity boost this delivers a lovely blend of V4 performance with a new smoothness and refinement that is ideal for a tourer. And it also has 167bhp and 92lb.ft of torque, so is hardly left lacking in terms of performance. Allied to this new engine is a top-rate electronics package with the base model Multistrada V4 boasting riding modes, cornering ABS and traction control plus wheelie control as standard alongside a TFT dash. You can spec-up the base machine with spoked wheels, engine guards, cruise control, vehicle hold control, heated grips and an up-down quickshifter alongside the usual luggage and performance add-on options you’d expect. Ducati have absolutely hit the nail on the head with the new Multistrada V4 and while more agile than the outgoing V-twin model, it manages to also offer more practicality and creature comforts to keep mile-munchers happy. And it could be yours for just £159 a month... as long as you like it in red because that’s the only colour option on the base version.
It’s a bit like taking a nuclear weapon to a knife fight!