2021 Multistrada V4 test: the Ducati maxitrail bends over backwards
The fourth generation of Multistrada must do the 4 Wills of its owner thanks to its new V4, its redesigned ergonomics, its reconfigured cycle part and its advanced technology. Site was able to test Ducati’s brand new maxitrail in its Multistrada V4 S version. First try.
Multistrada V4S test page 2: still sporty, more versatile
While remaining a "maxisportif" maxitrail, the Multistrada V4 progresses in terms of comfort! In this "Touring" chapter, the officials – of the official site of – Ducati once again emphasize the highly technological content of its big and big road….
"Ready for long journeys, thanks to the GPS integrated into the dashboard and the innovative radar system, the new Multistrada V4 will offer you excellent driving comfort", simply introduces the Bologna brand. MNC for its part, would have communicated in priority on the new ergonomics, more typical trail.
The saddle of the new Multistrada is higher: 840 or 860 mm on the "V4", against 825 or 850 mm on the "V2". One of the advantages for grown-ups is the gain in legroom: "compared to the old Multistrada, we gain 21 mm between the saddle and the footrests," Ducati judiciously emphasizes..
The pilots of 1.80 m and more will choose to install – without tools and very quickly – the saddle at the highest: they will then touch the two heels on the ground when stationary, and will unfold a little more the knees while riding . Le Journal moto du Net informs the smallest bikers that a low saddle can drop the height to 810 mm.
The original saddle is also better drawn than the old one. Long enough and flat enough to vary the positions during a long trip, it would be really perfect by widening more on the back. At the end of our good day of driving, the Journal moto du Net did not have its – end – tired hindquarters.
In Touring mode: comfort and serenity
Wide and high, the wide handlebars do not, however, spread the arms too far. The back is straight, the head high: thanks to this attitude, and to this "altitude" too, the rider overlooks the traffic. He sees, anticipates and avoids any obstacles better, whether in town, on the road or outside.
And on the highway? The protection offered by the screen – mounted as much as possible using a single finger – is satisfactory: only a third of our helmet is exposed to the wind, which allows efficient ventilation in the event of a heat stroke. Conversely, you only need to lean slightly to isolate yourself, shoulders included.
The hand guards supplied as standard prevent the cool wind from directly whipping the gloves and thus delaying the start-up or the purchase of the optional heated grips, but unfortunately they do not completely vent the forearms, despite the help of the deflectors transparent and mounted – as standard – on the fairing.
Like its cousins Panigale and Streetfighter V4, the all new Multistrada is decked out in fins but their main role differs on the trail: "ciao" the aerodynamic support and "buongiorno" the air flow supposed to refresh the rider’s calves, his thighs if it takes them off a little from the tank.
The other side of the coin that Site observed during this winter rolling: there are no plans to deactivate, pivot, obstruct, close – then dismantle? – its appendages which effectively direct the ambient air (between 5 and 10 ° C in this case) towards the legs.
Appreciable whatever the weather conditions this time, the total absence of crackling – on the feet, hands, mouth buttocks, it is a faultless – allows to consider very long routes. Conveniently long, the sixth gear makes the engine purr at half speed (5250 rpm) to gallop at 130 km / h meter.
Of course, vibrations appear from 6000 rpm, especially in the tank, but on small roads the performance of the mill is such that we do not really pay attention. In "overdrive" on the motorway, we can therefore stall at 140 km / h "counter" without shuddering due to the beating of the V4 … nor too much fear of fines for speeding !
In its Touring mode, the Multistrada V4 wants to be more docile by automatically adopting a "fluid" reactivity at the level of the electronic accelerator, as opposed to the "dynamic" setting of the Sport mode. The difference is not striking: the bike always accepts to set off again on a trickle of gas at 2000 rpm on the upper gears, after crossing a village for example..
The pickups remain very tonic in third gear at 50 km / h: the 4-cylinder then turns at 3500 rpm and takes revs briskly. To overtake on the motorway or attack a pass at a good pace, the 170 horses can always run free … In freedom – more – monitored by electronics of course.
Fins for cooling … or freezing ?
Another advantage of this new Ducati engine: the sound volume is quite bearable. The Italians also point out that this new acoustics as well as the redesigned aerodynamics must also benefit the passenger. "The passenger handles are rounded to improve comfort", even details the French press manager..
On the Multistrada V4 S, travel and its preparations are simplified by the shock absorber and its "auto-leveling" function which recognizes the configuration of the motorcycle and adjusts it autonomously to bring the saddle to the ideal height according to the different configurations driving".
It is still possible to manually adjust the preload of the shock absorber according to your preference: solo, loaded solo, duet, loaded duo … All this without taking out any tool, "per favore"! The ignition key of the motorcycle is also forgotten: be careful, you still have to take it out of your pocket to open the fuel cap. Too hard ?
Finally, future owners will be able to set off with peace of mind: "travel around the circumference of the Earth one and a half times with confidence", Ducati calculates to illustrate the control of the valve clearance expected after 60,000 km, "against an average sector of 25,000 km, or less than half ".
Paradoxically, Ducati reached this record distance by abandoning two emblematic solutions of the Multistrada 1260 DVT: the distribution both desmodromic and variable, becomes useless on the 4-cylinder which shares the same red zone as the twin, i.e. 10,500 rpm.
According to the Bologna engine manufacturers, the valve spring alloy would now be of much better quality than in the 80s and 90s (2000 and 2010 too, Editor’s note?) And the use of two timing diagrams would no longer be necessary for fill low and mid-speed on the one hand, maintain high speeds on the other…
Mechanically simpler and Euro5 approved, the new Multistrada V4 promises to be strangely less sober than its predecessor: 6.5 l / 100km according to the technical sheet, which is enough to cover about 340 km thanks to the 22 liters of capacity provided by the new tank, compared to 20 liters previously. But it’s never enough, if ?
Still in the Ducati catalog, the Multistrada 1260 Enduro is, on paper, much more "autonomous": its 30-liter tank gives it a range of 545 km … on and off the road! On this subject, what offers the new Multistrada in "off-road" mode? ?
Enduro style: versatility and off-road
Since all of the driving takes place on asphalt, Site does not have to engage Enduro mode. Ducati believes its new Multistrada V4 is "designed to overcome all obstacles" … although most of the copies sold won’t venture far off the beaten track.
"The new Multistrada V4 performs well even when there is no more asphalt, thanks to its high ground clearance, electronic suspensions, the gradual arrival of power and its design also suitable for standing driving. , however assures the manufacturer.
In addition to the position mentioned above in this MNC test, the part-cycle of the "Multi-streets-roads-paths" also becomes more "trailing". We observe and we like first of all the presence of a 19 inch rim at the front, as is the case on the Multistrada "V2" Enduro.
Formerly playful and sometimes rowdy, the front end of the Multistrada becomes less lively when entering a curve but seems more calm afterwards. The bike necessarily becomes more physical to take in the winding, but trail enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate this new character..
At the rear, the pure "Ducatistes" will surely regret the abandonment of the single-sided arm, invisible on the right and sturdy on the left … The Multistrada V4 uses a more classic double arm but which still stands out from the competition : very openwork, it lightens – visually in any case – considerably the machine.
Looking closely at this new part, Site notices that the careful and grainy finish of the aluminum arm is exactly the same as that of the rider footrest plates. If the upper frame is discreet, the rear loop is on the contrary put forward: its good big steel tubes with pretty welds are painted red, "Ducati" of course.
To gain agility and versatility, the Multistrada V4 slimmed down its rear tire by 20 mm (170 mm wide Vs 190 on the "V2"), reduced its wheelbase by almost as much (1567 mm Vs 1585) and considerably increased its clearance. ground (220 mm Vs 174) thanks to its more compact engine rather than higher deflections (170 mm at the front and 180 at the rear Vs 170/170).
Lovers of small outings road country people will note that the selector and brake pedal lugs are retractable, which can prevent a small but crippling breakage after a fall animal (left side especially …).
"Even the turn signals are linked to the idea of the solidity of the bike", adds Ducati. "They are integrated into the fairings, increasing the volume of the bike and maintaining the compactness while remaining protected from small side impacts" … whether in the tropical or urban jungle.
In Urban mode: daily life and safety
Fourth mode of driving – and of life !? – tested by Site on this new version of the Italian maxitrail is "Urban" thanks to which the bike is "ready for any eventuality, agile and connected. Like you", skillfully compliments Ducati.
According to the Bologna firm, its new (super!) Production is "designed to facilitate low speed maneuvers". A point tested and validated by MNC during our photo sessions: the turning radius is short enough to turn around without maneuvering or even setting foot on a small country road.
Another good point for maneuvering in an urban environment at a very low speed, the shorter first gear of the Multistrada V4 prevents excessive use of the clutch, which is also progressive and all the more easy to grasp as its lever is easily adjustable (such as brake lever).
In urban mode, the management of the stormy engine is facilitated by the "fluid" adjustment of the throttle as in Touring, and by the specific clamping of the 115 horsepower stable! Largely sufficient therefore to get ahead of scooters or 125 cc motorcycles at the green light, then drive at 30 or 50 km / h in town, no ?!
To avoid overheating – especially of the pilot! – at a red light or at beautiful ugly middle of summer traffic jams, the rear cylinders of the V4 can deactivate at idle and when stopped. The transition is imperceptible, when switching off as when "restarting" the rear bench.
To improve the damping of the suspensions, MNC advises future users to select "the softest" of possibilities via the configuration menu, because the engineers in Bologna have curiously retained the "medium" setting by default for this Urban mode, already used. for Touring.
By releasing the hydraulics of the fork and the shock absorber as much as possible, the driver is ready to face donkeys, potholes, pigtails, too-cow retarders, etc. To mention only the urban context and its backyard … But it could be very useful off-road.
Useful on the road only, "the new Multistrada V4 is the first motorcycle in the world to be equipped with front and rear radar systems (optional, on command only, Editor’s note), to allow innovative functions such as adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection ".
In fact, the Ducati stuck in "cruise control" slows down on its own to keep its distance from a vehicle in front of it. The motorcycle begins by lowering its revs, then cuts the throttle and goes as far as braking – slightly – if necessary … to wake up the rider ?!
Four distances are pre-selectable, but the Motorcycle Journal of the Net finally used only the weakest: long of about forty meters (a white band on the edge of the motorway) it avoids being slowed down so too early.
In the event that it is impossible to overtake (because of work on the A6 in this case, sometimes reducing traffic on a single lane at very limited speed but at full price, um …), the Multistrada V4 adapts continuously on the speed of the vehicle in front. Convenient for those who spend too much time surveying the landscape or playing with the multiple functions of the motorcycle.
When the road clears – whether one shifts to overtake or the predecessor changes lanes – the Multistrada V4 gradually to regain its cruising speed. Conversely, when a vehicle pulls back in front of the motorcycle, the latter does not pile up (phew!) But simply gives up throttle until again respecting the desired safety distance.
Tested by MNC on the motorway, the device is effective: it identifies trucks and cars … and motorcycles on the condition that they are on the same half of the track as you. It is therefore possible to overtake a rider when the latter pulls up to the side, without disengaging the regulator. Effective for sure … But useful? MNC opens the debate.
Hyper connected, super efficient, super expensive
More convincing perhaps, the blind spot detector also works very well, and could well save the bet of some: the Ducati with 20,000 balls of course, but also and especially the life of the pilot a little "helmet in l ‘air’ which no longer performs side checks since the passage of his license, the possible passenger, and people in the other vehicle.
Integrated into the rear-view mirrors, orange LEDs light up continuously to warn the rider that a vehicle is reaching or doubled, whether from the left (normal) or from the right (it was perhaps necessary to fall back) in this case, right?)…
The warning lights start to flash quickly when the rider activates his turn signals, to indicate that it is not safe to change lanes at this precise moment! MNC sees only one complaint to make to the Ducati engineers (and Bosch): the brightness of the diodes should adapt to the ambient light. At night on a busy highway, the lights are a little too aggressive.
Finally, the Multistrada V4 wants to be "comfortable on a daily basis also thanks to its adjustable saddle (reread our" Touring "section), hyper-connected thanks to the projection of your smartphone screen on your dashboard". And what a dashboard !
The 6.5-inch screen mounted on the Multistrada V4 S (the standard is just a 5-inch) is as bright as it is readable. Fans of maxitrails will also note that the Italian maxitrail shares the same slab as a very, very popular German competitor … Tiltable via a small dial located just below, the instrumentation prevents reflections from the sun.
The menus and sub-menus are well thought out and very easily explored by means of a new joystick placed under the turn signals control (not to be confused!). It should be noted in passing that, like the previous model, the commodos are cleverly backlit, in red of course..
A Bluetooth and Wifi module must allow the motorcycle to be paired with their phone in order to use a GPS navigator, manage music or make calls via a communication system. The Ducati Connect application, which duplicates the smartphone screen, should be released in the coming days, at the same time as the new Multistrada V4s.
A storage space dedicated to the smartphone, therefore waterproof and provided with an essential USB socket, is on the tank. The only problem "of size" noted by MNC: like instrumentation on motorcycles, "smart" phones are getting bigger and bigger. So not all of them will fit into the dedicated storage compartment…
On hyper connected, super efficient and super expensive motorcycles (from 19,590 euros for the standard or 22,190 euros for the S, but up to 26,390 euros for a "full options" S!), Bikers could expect to a better reception of their smartphone (more than 1000 balls)! Come on Mr Ducati, you have to live with the times, no ?
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