For those into adventure motorcycles, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S is arguably one of the best in the market. As an outright street performer, there are only a handful of bikes that can match wits with the Multistrada 1200 S. I’m not just talking about its style and performance; the model also has some of the most sophisticated technology found on any motorcycle.

First introduced in the market in 2010, the Multistrada 1200 has laid claim to a handful of performance titles, including its victorious stint at Pikes Peak when it won the 1205 Division from 2010 to 2012.

It’s a testament to a bike that was built to be a conqueror in its segment, something the Multistrada 1200 can lay claim to without even batting an eyelash. The only downside to the model is that it’s going to cost you a pretty penny just to own one.

But if you can stomach that thought, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S is as good a choice as any for an adventure motorcycle.

Click past the jump to read more about the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S.

Design

You can always count on Ducati to keep its bike designs tight. The Italian bike manufacturer doesn’t short-change its customers in that regard. No more is that evident than in the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S, a bike so nice you have to say its name twice. The bike’s design is a case study in comfort and performance, seamlessly blending these two elements to create a singular piece of sportsbike awesomeness. The overall body is slim and refined, which is a big reason why the Multistrada 1200 S only weighs 467 pounds.

The stealthy look can be attributed to the sharp and contoured panels, created to convey a look of sportiness and aggression that Ducati is famous for. The bike’s seat is a testament in comfort, featuring two independent seats for a rider and a passenger. It’s also adjustable by .78 inches, allowing a rider to increase the seat height from 32.4 inches to 33.2 inches. Up front, the rider also gets the benefit of having wide handlebars while the passenger gets his own comfortable grab handle, ensuring that he can keep to his seat as the bike travels. Rider and passenger triangles are also part of the bike’s design, ensuring enough space for the rider and the passenger to seat comfortably

Up front, the Multistrada 1200 S’s dashboard comes with 2.36 inches of vertical adjustment through a one-hand manually operated system that allows a level of customization to give riders of different sizes protection form the wind. Just below the windshield rests a full-TFT instrument panel that can change configuration depending on what Riding Mode is being used at a specific time. These changes include background style, information displayed, and display layout, featuring different visualizations depending on the mode the bike is in.

The nose of the Multistrada 1200 S also has its share of unique features, none more important that the full-LED headlights and front indicators that have been integrated into the hand guards. At the back, Ducati fitted the Multistrada 1200 S with LED lights for stopping, a 3D light guide for position lighting, and traditional lamps indicators.

Design Specifications

Frame

The skeletal structure of the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S is made from the company’s signature Trellis frame with its large diameter, light gauge tubing, two central cast aluminum sections, and a sophisticated rear casted sub-frame. A high-pressure, die-cast magnesium front sub-frame is also part of the body, a key element in reducing the bike’s frontal weight, which then leads to improved chassis feel and control.

Complementing the frame is another Ducati signature, the Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) Evo system. This technology comes with a semi-active suspension control that automatically and continually adjusts damping to help cut down on the amount of vibration transferred to rider and passenger while also improving the bike’s overall stability and riding comfort. It is this system where Ducatti integrated a 1.89-inch front fork and Sachs rear mono shock to serve as the front suspension of the bike.

Things are a little bit different at the back where a spring preload adjustment is integrated with the Riding Modes. This particular system allows bike to adjust to the Riding Mode a rider chooses, changing the bike’s setup depending on any specific riding condition. The aforementioned DSS is capable of acknowledging whenever changes are made and re-tunes its own setup to fit these changes. Pretty sweet, right?

Ducati also fitted the Multistrada 1200 S with a pair of Y-pattern 3-spoke sport rim light alloy wheels, wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires. That set-up is complemented by a Superbike spec Brembo braking system made up of a racing oriented PR 16 brake pump that manages a pair of 13-inch front discs coupled with Superbike-spec Brembo Monobloc M50 calipers. At the back, the set-up includes a single 10.4-inch disc held together by a 2 x 28 floating Brembo caliper with sintered pads.

Frame Specifications

Drivetrain

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S is powered by the company’s new 1198 cc Testastretta DVT engine that pumps out 160 horsepower and 100.3 pound-feet of torque. Power is then sent through a six-speed gearbox, allowing the bike to hit 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds to go with a top speed of 145 mph.

Numbers aside, the Multistrada 1200 S’s performance credentials also offers a sophisticated blend of customization that riders can take full advantage of. I am, of course, speaking about the four Riding Modes Ducati installed on the adventure bike. The four modes, identified as Urban, Touring, Sport, and Enduro, offer specific benefits depending on the road conditions. These modes all take full advantage of a handful of Ducati’s class-leading technologies, including Ride-by-Wire, Ducati Traction Control, multi-calibration 9ME cornering ABS, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), and the aforementioned Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) Evo.

Multistrada S 1200 bikes carrying the Dlair Street system are called the Multistrada 1200 S Dlair.

Drivetrain Specifications

2015 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Key Features:

• New Ducati Testastretta DVT engine

• IMU: Inertial Measurement Unit

• Bosch-Brembo ABS 9.1ME Cornering braking system

• Front brake discs with diameter of 330 mm, Brembo M504 4-piston radial calipers

• Electronic cruise control

• Ducati Multimedia System (DMS)

• Lightweight machine-finished forged wheels

• Riding Modes

• Ride-by-Wire Power Modes (PM)

• Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC)

• Ducati Traction Control (DTC)

• Height-adjustable seat

• Electronic Sachs suspension (front and back) with the semi-active Ducati Skyhook

• Suspension (DSS) Evolution system

• Full LED headlamp with Ducati Cornering Lights (DCL)

• Instrument panel with 5” full colour TFT screen

Pricing

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S comes with a price of £15,995, which is about $24,300 based on current exchange rates.

Quotes:

“The Ducati Multistrada 1200 has been reworked for the 2015 model year, getting a major facelift, along with Ducati’s Testastretta DVT engine with variable valve timing. On the Multistrada 1200 S, a bluetooth connection has been added, which will connect one’s phone to the bike’s entertainment system, now called the Ducati Multimedia System (DMS). Owners can also download an iPhone/Android application, which will download ride information from the new Multistrada, which can then be shared on Ducati.com and other social networks.” ----- Asphalt and Rubber“Ducati introduces the Multistrada 1200 S Touring D-air model, featuring an integrated, intelligent safety system wirelessly connected to Ducati Apparel D-air® airbag jackets by Dainese. Marking a „world.s first. in the motorcycle industry and combining the innovative designs from two famous Italian brands, the new Ducati model takes a significant step forward in two-wheel safety. The cooperation of expertise between Ducati and Dainese has produced an intelligent system that uses sensors built into the Multistrada 1200 S Touring.s electronics to constantly understand the vehicle.s dynamic situation, deploying only when subjected to a genuine accident scenario. The Multistrada D-air® system completes the data analysis and airbag deployment inside both the rider and passenger jackets in just 45 milliseconds, considerably reducing the risk of injury upon impact.” ----- Total Motorcycle