In the now traditional survey attained by the Italian magazine Motociclismo at this year’s edition of the EICMA show in Milan, the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 turned out to be the audience’s favorite in what regards aspect, with a decent percentage in front of the new MV Agusta F4 superbike.
Multistrada 1200 occupies first place with 48.9% of the votes, followed by the MV Agusta F4 with 19.8%, Aprilia RSV4 R with 15.8%, BMW S 1000 RR on place four with just 4.5% and Kawasaki Z1000 with 2.4%. Last year, the most beautiful motorcycle voted by the EICMA visitors was the Ducati Streetfighter.
Although we are still traversing the global economic crisis, EICMA 2009 was very successful, more than 450.000 people participating at the 67th edition of the show, which registered a 30% raise of international public.
Ducati has finally made their much awaited move – go against the BMW R1200GS – and they did it in their own characteristic style. Not only the new Multistrada 1200 looks one-of-a-kind, but it is also backed up by a 150hp Italian engine.
During no less than two years, we’ve seen the new Ducati Multistrada being developed, rendered and tested until finally finding out that two versions will be available – a standard version with optional ABS and a high-spec S version (how does an Ohlins electronically adjustable suspension system sound to you?). This last ramifies into two editions – Sport and Touring.
The Sport Edition can be distinguished by the presence of carbon fiber parts such as the engine covers, front air intakes, rear mudguard and spoilers.
The Touring Edition’s distinguishing features are the panniers, heated grips and a center stand. More information as we have it.
After finally unveiling the all-new Ducati Multistrada 1200 at this year’s EICMA show in Milan, we found that the 150bhp Italian enduro motorcycle is extremely versatile as a result of the four electronic riding modes: Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. So Ducati has released a video explaining the concept behind these modes, but because they wanted to keep it cheap, they use animated pencil sketches to illustrate how their systems works.
A newly-launched Ducati website teases us with an official video of the Multistrada 1200 (initially thought to be "Strada Aperta" or "Stradaperta") which they will reveal on November 9th at EICMA. The Italian manufacturer finally decided that their new adventure touring motorcycle will benefit of the 1198.4cc twin from the Ducati 1198 instead of the Streetfighter’s less powerful 1099cc mill. This is great news, but we can’t understand why "Open Road" translated in Italian suddenly didn’t sounded good to Ducati any more. Watch the video after the jump. > More
These latest spy shots of the Ducati Strada Aperta come to reveal the fact that the Italian motorcycle manufacturer has entered in a straight line with the development of its new bike in expectancy of the 2009 Milan Show.
The future Multistrada won’t be a veritable street enduro model, but more of a sport-touring motorcycle offering the ability to hit the off-road once in a while. We look at it as to a taller, comfier and possibly more often dirtier Yamaha FZ1, but it is a totally different thing when it comes to the engine. Unlike the Fazer’s in-line four-cylinder engine, the spied bike will be powered by a 4-valve, liquid-cooled Testastretta Evoluzione engine displacing, most likely, 1200cc.
If it is to look at it in terms of engine configuration and expected performance, models such as the Triumph Tiger and KTM 990 SMT seem more adequate for the comparison.
When Ducati set out to built the sport-touring Multistrada 1100 model they did it with top notch engineering, refinement and, most of all, style. As a 2009 model year, this represents the Italian way of building a bike that would prove efficient on the way to and from work during the first five days of the week and great fun during weekend trips as well.
Not only that, but Ducati also offers the “S” Multistrada 1100 model, which is no more or less than an upgraded model with performance suspensions and even carbon fiber insertions.
After revealing with courtesy of MCN the first spy shots featuring the all-new 2010 Ducati Multistrada, we get to see in the same way a proper computer interpretation of the bike that is meant to become THE alternative for the BMW R1200GS.
This is how the adventure-style Ducati will supposedly look when it will be shipped to dealers in 2010 and these lasts confirm it: "This is an accurate representation of what the bike looks like. I know I could sell loads of them this week if they were available."
Ducati plans are to present the new Multistrada at the Milan Motorcycle Show this November and start selling it at the beginning of 2010.
Ducati has long been planning to replace the Multistrada 1100 go anywhere, do anything bike and by what this spy picture shows, this is the model that will substitute Pierre Terblanche’s creation.
The bike was spotted during tests in Italy and it seems that Ducati is close to giving a green light for the new model. By what we’re able to see in the picture, the sport tires and a thick single-sided swingarm will keep it on the streets and – if it is to listen to the rumors – it will very much belong there.
No wonder, as insiders “leak” that the Multistrada replacement will feature the 1099cc engine that currently powers the Ducati 1098.Just to spice things up, I’ll mention that the DTC traction control won’t be excluded, but that’s all we know for now.
Fans are eagerly waiting to see this bike at the Milan show in November and, later, in their garages as 2010 model years.
We’ll be back with more information on this future model as soon as we have it, hopefully, together with some better spy pics.
Ducati introduces the pearl white color for the Hypermotard and Multistrada motorcycles. These two models are latest to receive the now famous Ducati color which has already made the Ducati 848 and Ducati 696 sell with even greater success.
The fiery Red Ducati color will only cover the frame while the new carbon-grey finish is applied to the outer engine castings of the simple Hypermotard 1100.
On the Multistrada 1100, only the “S” will feature the Ducati pearl white livery. The new shade contrasts with the frame’s racing grey and with the racing-like carbon-fiber components which are present on this model, making it as classy as it is sporty.
Ducati plans on presenting the two models at the International Motorcycle Show in Cologne (October), even though they will start being sold this month.
The Ducati Multistrada introduces a new generation of sport bikes, capable of excelling on every road you challenge with amazing sports performance, outstanding comfort and everyday-use versatility. Ideal for a day in the mountains, the daily commute or a weekend tour, the Multistrada is aggressive like a sport bike when the road turns twisty, yet smooth and relaxed when scenery beckons. > More