Ducati Multistrada 1200

Built:2010-18201020112012201320142015201620172018

Photos: Motorradtest.de

Travel, that has something to do with relaxing, serenity and arriving. So pretty much all that Ducati with his bikes brushed on riot does not get that way. Whether this can still become something with travel, we tested with a used Multistrada 1200 from 2017.

The slightly different Duc

Some big stories start very small. With a phone call, for example.

Stephan: "Dietmar, we have to test a Ducati again!"

Dietmar: "Okay".

Stephan: "At Ducati Hamburg stands 'ne used Multistrada. Built in 2017, under 5,000, almost 12 large bills."

Dietmar: "Okay."

Stephan: "I'll get them, we'll meet Tuesday, 10 a.m., at Lake Barmstedt."

Dietmar: "Okay."

And so it came. Why a Multistrada? The Ducati Multistrada is a rather unusual motorcycle for the company Ducati. Similar to the old ST series, it was initially rejected by the "true" Ducati fans because it is not a superbike. Today it is different, even if the first Multistrada series (from 2003) was anything but a success. Their appearance was too unusual. In 2010, Ducati completely redesigned the model series. Now a liquid-cooled V2 with 1200 cubic meters and 150 hp provided propulsion. Most importantly, Ducati disposed of the old, handlebar-resistant cladding and brought a new full cladding.

Wild sports equipment

The track is free, the white circle with the diagonal stripes from the bottom left to the top right has passed. At 120 km/h down into the third - and after feeling one second each after shooting the next gear. The Ducati Multistrada 1200 throws itself forward every time, even at high speeds the furious ballerina of the 152 hp V2 is the defining noise. The thrust does not tear off, beyond 7,000 revolutions it becomes definitely aggressive. 200 km/h rush through as if nothing had happened. However, the revised unit shows almost something like a trailer in the middle of the speed, which you should hurry through as quickly as possible.

That's how it has to be, so the inclined sportsman (m/f/d) buys and drives Ducati. Even the curved curves after the BAB exit are immediately used with maximum effort, the Ducati inspires uncanny confidence. However, the driver has to actively control them, nothing is possible here on its own. But with the appropriate leadership qualities, the Ducati, like most of its sisters, can be driven absolutely precisely. In this way, you always reach speeds that you wouldn't have expected as a Normalo motorcyclist – and that without overburdening yourself or the Duc.

In tight curves, another characteristic of the Multistrada appears: it literally falls into curves, to which the comparatively small front wheel (19 inches) contributes its part. As a result, the large and not excessively light (232 kilograms) Duc is much more manoeuvrable than the dimensions suggest.

Whatever she can do: Drive slowly. Low speeds have been frowned upon at Ducati so far. Under 3,000 turns, hardly anything went – those who tried it were immediately punished with jerking and chain-slapping. And now? It's still not the supreme discipline of the 1200s, but it's possible. This is becoming increasingly important today: with increasing speed limits, it must be possible to drive 100 km/h in a large gear.

The chassis is tightly spring-loaded, here too the Multistrada goes its own way. There is no sign of sean-like serenity. This is already visually shown: the fat rear tyre could appear on a superbike.

So all paletti in driving dynamics? Not quite: The brake values are good, the dosage too. But 90% of this is due to the front Brembo stoppers. At some point I want to drive a Duc where the rear brake shows lasting performance. It is already clear that one will still be allowed to dream.