If anything, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 has laid the first stone at the foundation of what would in the end become the sport-adventure segment, and one of the most promising new niches in the motorcycle market today. Introduced in 2010 as the model superseding the Multistrada 1100, the new sport-adventure machine was a bit ahead of its time, as it had to pass some 4 more years until the industry and riders discovered how cool this new segment was.
Built on a revised version of the amazing 1198cc Testastretta 11° engine, the Multistrada 1200 brought a heap of high-tech features and combined the street sport character with the extended functionality and a dash of off-road versatility. Technically, Ducati was offering a motorcycle with the heart of a superbike, tuned to be easily manageable by the average rider, packing long-range touring comfort, a sizeable fuel tank and a ton of tech gimmicks to make life easier in the saddle.
And with the added luggage system, the Multistrada 1200 was transformed into a fast and powerful travel motorcycle which could carry rider and a passenger plus their belongings over great distances and not only on perfect asphalt.
Technology never stopped coming
Ducati was not afraid to use by-products of its extensive road racing programs and adapt them into the Multistrada 1200. Electronic suspensions derived from MotoGP introduced the first major tech revolution in the road going motorcycle segment, followed by the active Sky-Hook suspensions in 2013. Needless to say, the active and semi-active suspensions have since become the industry standard for the sport-adventure machines.
For 2015 Ducati ups the ante, introducing an engine revision producing 160 hp at 9,500 rpm and 136 Nm (100.3 lb-ft) at 7,500 rpm, plus the all-new Desmodromic Variable Timing (DVT), “a double and continuous system applied for the first time to a motorcycle engine managing both exhaust and intake camshafts.” The DVT technology adjusts the valve timing for the best operation in all circumstances, producing the optimal power with the best efficiency.
Even if you’re not a Multistrada fan, we believe you’ll enjoy this minute-long video showing such a bike being built on the production line at Borgo Panigale. And you can even slow it down and take your time watching this jewel being put together.
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