Multistrada comfort, powered by the Desmosedici Stradale V4 superbike motor, fitted with top spec Ohlins, Brembo, Marchesini and Pirelli... Sounds good to us! Pics: ShotByRoth.
Ducati is a name that echoes through the high-performance motorcycle world, known for producing some of the most powerful, exotic, and immaculately engineered motorcycles ever made. That’s quite the bold statement to kick off a road test for BikeReview.com.au…
I’ve had the chance to test the Ducati Multistrada V4 RS recently and spent two weeks with this very impressive motorcycle. The RS version is the very top spec of the Multistrada range, it boasts 180hp, 118NM of torque and is 1103cc, powered by the V4 Desmosedici Stradale. All this is in a motorcycle that is capable both on road and off road.
The focus of this test was the on road performance of this beast, and with brand new Pirelli DIABLO Rosso IV Corsa tyres fitted (read our review on those here) I was definitely not going to be doing any dirt road activities on this top end model, especially knowing that it is worth $57,400!
“The RS version is the very top spec of the Multistrada range, it boasts 180hp, 118NM of torque and is 1103cc”.
What does the bike have for that money? A lot, a real lot! It’s got Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 electronic suspension, single-sided swingarm, Marchesini forged alloy wheels, the Pirelli tyres, Brembo Stylema brakes, riding modes including a race mode, dry clutch and a raft of electronic aids and adjustments that make this bike truly individual when set up for you. The adjustments to the electronic aids to suit your riding style for any condition is amazing and the settings can be saved for the future as well.
This can all sound a bit daunting to some… What do I do, and how do I ride this bike? It’s not necessary to get an engineering or computer diagnostics degree to own or ride one, but if you want to learn more about the bike and how it can be dialled in for you, you can take the time and research and learn the abilities of the systems, which would take time we don’t have…
Most of you will be very happy with the factory settings in each of the modes and fully enjoy the bike for what it is, as we did. There is of course a pure Race mode that unleashes the full 180hp and the best of the bike, not what you would use on a dirt road but definitely what you would want on your favourite section of country road or at a track day, both places where the V4 RS absolutely shines.
Panigale powered, with adventure comfort and hyper naked handling. Sounds perfect to us! What an absolute weapon!
The engine is very much the Panagal V4, it has been tuned to deliver power where it is needed for an adventure bike, but is still very fast and very reliable. This is what you want in a crossover road/ adventure bike, as close to the best of both worlds but with the flexibility to do either and still be satisfied. The trick race clutch set up is there and has its distinct rattle when disengaged and in gear waiting for the lights to change.
As usual, once you move away from the lights there is no need to use the clutch again with the very smooth quick-shifter for both up through the gears and down. Down shifting also brings in a pre-programmed blip of revs to make the downshifts even smoother, very nice and very trick, and the sound is addictive.
225kg, 1592mm wheelbase, all day comfort, advanced electronics and a superbike motor. What is not to like?
The real world use of this Multistrada V4 RS is what the bike is all about. With 170mm of front and rear wheel travel and the need to get the motorcycle off the ground for what it is designed for, (you don’t ride a Panigale down fire trails) you are going to end up with a tall motorcycle. All the major brands of this style of adventure sports bike are tall, there is just no getting away from that, but how Ducati has addressed this is well thought out and executed with the detail that most manufacturers can’t do.
For my stature at 179cm tall and average length legs I found it was a little hard to swing the leg over when first getting on the bike, but the seat height, which is adjustable, was excellent and I found that I could have both feet firmly planted on the ground when stopped. This was with the seat on the highest setting as well, which is 860mm.
Seat height standard is 840 to 860mm, while a low seat of 810 to 830mm is available.
This was good because it gave a relaxed riding position with my legs not overly bent to be on the footpegs. A shorter ride with shorter legs would be just as comfortable on a lower seat height. The side stand is robust enough to support your weight when getting on the bike and this ended up being my preferred method of straddling the bike.
At 179cm tall Paul found the seat height spot on and also the small but adjustable front wind deflector. .
There is bulk with the Ducati, it has the typical larger capacity fuel tank that is tall and wide with handlebars that are also tall and wide and a wind deflexion set-up that is narrow but offers variable heights to help deflect wind from the riders head and shoulders.
You sit in behind all of this when riding, you don’t need to be leaning forward; it just feels natural to be sitting straight, very much like a giant trail bike. The seat and rear section of the bike is slim, with a pillion seat that looks large enough for most people. The clean rear section gives the bike a more sportier feel and look which is nice, I reckon.
Wheels, tyres and brakes are all very much sportsbike, the wheel sizes are what you would get on a Panigale as are the brakes. This gives you confidence in the ability of the bike when riding quick, you know that there is not a compromise in wheel sizes or tyres. This is where this Multistrada V4 RS edition is definitely more slanted to road use rather than dirt.
It is a huge hypermotard really, and in reality that is where the majority of the owners will spend their time on this motorcycle, enjoying the relaxed riding style of the adventure bike but having the very best of what Ducati can offer for the road, which is exactly what the RS is designed for. Ducati have multiple other Multistrada versions for those who want to truly get dirty.
“Ducati have multiple other Multistrada versions for those who want to truly get dirty.”
Riding the bike is a real pleasure in all conditions. I spent time riding some of the worst roads around Sydney that offer shocking road surfaces with pot holes, dips and blind bumps, that would be a nightmare on a lesser sorted bike. I also did plenty of riding on the smooth highways and motorways. I did spend most of my time with the bike in Road mode, this was comfortable, with plenty of power to pass vehicles at a glance.
“Supple, controlled and balanced is the best way to describe it..”
Race mode gives you another 10 ponies over the Road mode but it also changes the suspension to a more on track feel which quite frankly I didn’t want or need for my road riding around Sydney and Rural areas. The ride quality shows the moment you start your ride, supple, controlled and balanced is the best way to describe it. Add to that experience the awesome V4 induction noise under acceleration and it is very hard to find a more fun and enjoyable ride.
“Add to that experience the awesome V4 induction noise under acceleration and it is very hard to find a more fun and enjoyable ride.”
The bike started willingly under all conditions, even on the photoshoot where there is a lot of short bursts of riding with time where the engine is turned off. Lots of starts and short rides can lead to batteries getting low on power; the Multistrada was fine in these conditions. These photoshoots can also show up how well and engine stays cool or how hot it may get, the Multistrada V4 RS showed no ill effects from these conditions, it stayed cool and started easy each time it was required to.
Riding home from the photoshoot, a two-hour ride, was excellent, I even got caught in a major storm about 20km from home, in freezing conditions, again the Multistrada never gave a moment of trouble or nervousness in the wet slippery conditions. Weather protection was not that good though, I was well and truly wet very quickly, but I was still having a lot of fun!
“Iconic sounds from the dry clutch to the absolute roar of the induction system, that it gets your pulse up and adrenalin kicking in.”
Most of the other brands in this category build a very good quality Adventure bike that does all the things that Ducati do, but not with a full blown superbike powered version like the unique V4 RS. I have to judge this bike on its merits alone, and I do feel that it meets the design brief very well; it’s capable under all conditions and has the flexibility to be good in those conditions. There is no doubt the Ducati V4 is a powerful motor that offers such Iconic sounds from the dry clutch to the absolute roar of the induction system, that it gets your pulse up and adrenalin kicking in.
“It made it feel more alive and less in normality where noise and character can so often be squashed by rules and regulations”…
I can’t think of another make that would have these same characteristics. For me I really enjoyed this side of the motorcycle, it made it feel more alive and less in normality where noise and character can so often be squashed by rules and regulations. If you are already a fan of Ducati, I think it’s a no brainer for you. If you aren’t a Ducati fan or have never thought of Ducati in this way, you should give yourself the opportunity to ride this bike, it may just be the bike for you.
Tech Talk – Ducati Multistrada V4 RS
The Multistrada V4 RS offers the unique and unmistakable sound of the Desmosedici Stradale with dry clutch and Akrapovič silencer. Ducati say this is the sportiest Multistrada in the family, thanks to Öhlins suspension, single-sided aluminium swingarm and forged rims.
The Ducati Multistrada V4 RS combines the Multistrada line with technical solutions that are typical of Borgo Panigale’s superbikes. There are various carbon fibre components such as the front mudguard, the hand guards (designed specifically for this model), the heat shields and the front “beak”.
The Ducati Multistrada V4 RS is produced in a numbered series. The number is shown on a black anodized aluminium plate, embellished with the Italian flag, applied to the triple-clamp.
The Multistrada V4 RS is the only one in the family to adopt the 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine. Ducati has intervened on the V4 obtaining a fluid and regular power delivery curve at low revs and at the same time, thanks to desmodromic distribution, exciting near the limiter. These objectives were achieved by adopting the air filter from the Panigale V4 R, which is more permeable and sportier, and an exhaust system with Akrapovič silencer developed specifically for the Multistrada V4 RS.
There are plenty of genuine Ducati accessories available for the Multistrada V4 RS…
In this configuration, Euro 5+ homologated, the Desmosedici Stradale engine develops a maximum power of 180hp, with limiter at 13,500rpm. Ducati say that this value was chosen to guarantee sporting performance while maintaining the balance that has always distinguished the Multistrada V4.
Check out the full tech talk on the Desmosedici Stradale here…
As on the Panigale V4 SP2 and Streetfighter V4 SP2, the Multistrada V4 RS also features a STM-EVO SBK dry clutch made from billet aluminium, with a specific configuration of springs and slipper ramps.
To improve the thermal comfort of the engine, the Desmosedici Stradale has been designed to deactivate the rear bank when the bike is stationary, in neutral and with the engine temperature above 70°. The maintenance interval for checking valve clearance on the V4 RS is every 30,000km.
The Multistrada V4 RS is equipped with the electronic package of the Multistrada V4 S, which includes, among other features, standard radar technology on both the front and rear, which enables the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) functionality and Blind Spot Detection (BSD). The electronics of the RS is made up of 4 Power Modes (Full, High, Medium, Low), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Engine Brake Control (EBC) and Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up&Down.
The Multistrada V4 RS is also equipped with EBC (Engine Brake Control) adjustable on three levels, which allows the rider to customize the engine braking depending on riding style and context. You can also slide the bike into turns!
The Multistrada V4 RS is also equipped with EBC (Engine Brake Control) adjustable on three levels, which allows the rider to customize the engine braking depending on riding style and context.
The TFT dashboard with 6.5in screen, characterized on the Multistrada V4 RS by dedicated graphics, enables you to view the map navigator thanks to Ducati Connect, which allows you to mirror your mobile device. The smartphone compartment has forced ventilation, to cool the phone during intensive use of the navigation functions and while charging.
The chassis of the V4 RS is developed around the 17in front wheel. Meaning it’s actually revised compared to the V4 S!
The chassis of the Multistrada V4 RS is developed around the 17in front wheel. This choice led to the choice of a monocoque aluminium frame different from the Multistrada V4 S and Rally to obtain a different inclination of the steering head (25.75° compared to 24.5°), similar to what has already been done on the V4 Pikes Peak. The Marchesini forged aluminium wheels are 2.7kg lighter than those of the V4 S. They’re wrapped in Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tyres, 120/70 front and 190/55.
Ducati say the choice of Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspensions goes in the direction of guaranteeing the best performance in sporting use thanks to the use of an “event based” system, as on the Panigale V4 S and Streetfighter V4 S, which self-adjusts based on individual riding style. The system, already used on the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak, has been recalibrated to obtain the best balance between comfort in relaxed riding and support in sporty riding.
Ducati say the choice of Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspensions goes in the direction of guaranteeing the best performance in sporting use thanks to the use of an “event based” system which self-adjusts based on individual riding style.
The braking system derives directly from that of the Panigale V4. At the front, the system includes 330mm diameter discs and Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers. At the rear the system includes a single 265mm diameter disc on which a Brembo floating caliper works. The control, with regressive kinematics, has a smaller pumping element, thus improving power and modulation. The system is managed by the Bosch-Brembo 10.3ME Cornering ABS system.
Ducati say the new V4 RS offers sportier ergonomics than the Multistrada V4, with higher and further back footrests to increase the maximum lean angle. The handlebar, rigidly fixed to the plate to improve the riding feeling, is lower, narrower and has a less accentuated curvature.
2025 Ducati Multistrada V4 RS Specifications
Ducati.com.au
Price: $57,400 R/A
Warranty: Two-year, unlimited kilometre
Colours: Iceberg White
Claimed power: 132kW@12,250rpm
Claimed torque: 118Nm@9,500rpm
Wet Weight: 225kg (no fuel)
Fuel capacity: 22L
Fuel Consumption (Claimed): 7.3L/100km
Fuel Range (Claimed): 300km
Service: 15k, valve-clearance 30k.
Engine: V4 Desmosedici Stradale, V4 90°, four-valves per cylinder, counter-rotating crankshaft, liquid-cooled, 1103cc, 81 x 53.5mm bore x stroke, 14.0:1 comp, EFI with 50mm elliptical throttle-bodies and RbW system, six-speed gearbox, slipper clutch, Akrapovic exhaust, chain drive, 15/43 gearing.
Chassis: Aluminium monocoque, alloy single-sided swingarm
Rake: 25.75º Trail: 120mm
Suspension: 48mm fully adjustable USD Ohlins Smart E.C 2.0 fork, electronic compression and rebound damping (f), Fully adjustable Ohlins TTX 36 monoshock, electronic adjustment (r). Travel F/R 170mm each end.
Brakes: ABS, Front: Brembo Stylema radial mount monoblock calipers, 330mm rotors, ABS, Rear: Two-piston floating caliper, 265mm rotor, ABS.
Wheels & Tyres: Marchesini forged alloy 3.50 x 17in (f) and 6.00 x 17in (r), Pirelli DIABLO Rosso IV Corsa 120/70 – 17, 190/55 – 17.
Dimensions:
Seat height: 840mm – 860mm (810mm – 830mm available).
Wheelbase: 1592mm
Overall height: N/A
Overall width: N/A
Overall length: N/A
Dash & Electronics: Riding Modes, Power Modes, ABS Cornering, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Wheelie Control, Daytime Running Light, Ducati Brake Light, Ducati Cornering Light, Vehicle Hold Control, 6.5in TFT, Adaptive Cruise, Ducati Quick-Shift, Backlit ‘bar switches.
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Ratings | Bike Review | 2025 Ducati Multistrada V4 RS Road Test
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Multistrada comfort, powered by the Desmosedici Stradale V4 superbike motor, fitted with top spec Ohlins, Brembo, Marchesini and Pirelli… Sounds good to us! Pics: ShotByRoth.
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