The original V4 Multi is better at
Multistrada-ing than the V4 RS in
almost every way. It's comfier, roomier,
and plenty fast enough, but I guess I
didn't consider the buyer who wants an
RS just, well, because. Think of the guy
who has a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
or a Rolex Daytona, or both.
Ducati says the RS exists because
they "want to elevate the Multistrada V4
to a more exclusive level and to deliver
a new status symbol." What Ducati has
done is essentially turn the Pikes Peak
up to 11, eeking out as much perfor
-
mance as it possible/usable in a plat-
form designed to cover large miles in
relative comfort, with Blind Spot Detec-
tion (BSD) and Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) to boot. You got to be safe.
The 1103cc RS engine is swiped
from the Panigale V4 S superbike, and
although the capacity has dropped
55cc in relation to the Multistrada V4 S,
the RS's motor delivers an eye-watering
180 horsepower at 12,250 rpm, marking
a 10 horsepower increase with an extra
2250 rpm to play with.
The torque has also been upped five
pounds-feet to 87 lb-ft and taken 750
rpm higher than the base Multi V4.
You've got a 50mm throttle body for
the RS, down 2mm compared to the Pani
-
gale and Streetfighter V4, and the same
air filter as the Panigale; however, the ac-
celeration for a bike weighing a claimed
496 pounds wet and designed to cover
large miles in comfort is astonishing.
The V4 RS is more than happy to
cruise around below 4000 rpm, but ride
it like a superbike—as in, rip the throttle
open—and you're met with a huge level
of forward thrust. The RS's motor puts
so much force through the chassis that it
can't help but lift the front wheel almost
all the time, the electronics doing their
level best to keep everything smooth and
on line and your rubber side down.
This acceleration boost, compared to
the Multistrada V4 S, is facilitated not
just by the hardware of the motor but
also by the drastically shorter gear
-
ing. The V4 S runs a 16-tooth front and
42-tooth rear sprocket. The RS, how-
ever, runs 15/43 numbers. Yes, those
VOLUME ISSUE JUNE , P105
(Left) The best-looking
subframe on the market?
We think so. (Left middle)
The Ducati dry clutch. Some
love it, but we feel it's not
needed for a bike of this
designation. It's so loud
it almost drowns out the
sound of the V4.
