Radarformultistrada
New Multistrada spotted circulating – pre lockdown. New chassis, 180bhp and a radar system that vibrates warnings through the saddle and bar…
Spy shots of the new Multistrada show it not only has the mighty V4 engine, but features selfadjusting radar cruise control too. One of the photographs – taken outside the Bologna factory just before the Italian lock-down – shows a box between the headlights that appears to be the radar unit needed for adaptive cruise control. Ducati have been talking about this Advanced Rider Assistance System setup (ARAS) since 2018, and until recently the company stated it was going to debut in 2020 (they still do on their website). The system would adjust the bike’s speed to keep a constant distance from the car in front, and use haptic feedback (vibrations through the bar and saddle) to warn the rider of cars in blindspots and any impending collisions. However, it’s thought Bosch, who make the ARAS, discovered a problem which has set them back a year.
The new engine looks like the 1103cc 208bhp V4 powering the Streetfighter. It’s likely to be detuned somewhat for the Multistrada, but even then it’ll probably still make 180bhp, which should suce for most touring tasks. It’ll certainly make the GS feel a bit ponderous, which of course it isn’t. Ducati might even bore it out to 1200 and massage the torque curve to give a more accessible midrange.
The chassis is all new too. The steel trellis frame is replaced by a cast one, and the subframe is now trellis rather than cast. The swingarm is a new double sided job instead of the current bike’s single-sider. Why? Probably because the new Euro5 catalytic converter and electronic suspension took up space. We reckon the new V4 will sit above the current 1260 and 950 Multistradas and be priced accordingly – you’ll probably need £20k just for the base V4, with the S a few grand above that.