Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/779724
2017 DUCATI MULTISTRADA 950 FULL TEST P74 Urban (aka Rain) and Enduro each peak at 75 horsepower. Switching between modes is easily done on the go via re- designed controls on the left handlebar, and each of the four has different default settings for the three-stage Bosch 9.1 ABS and switchable eight-level DTS traction control programs. These comprise the DSP/Ducati Safety Pack included as standard, but are the sum total of the Multi- strada 950's electronic control systems. Plus without Bosch's delivery of both torque and power on the Multi 950, with an especially noticeable clean, syr- upy pickup from a closed throttle without any sign of jerkiness or over-aggressive fueling, even in Sport mode. The ultra-flat torque curve means you needn't use the six-speed gearbox too assiduously, because with such plentiful grunt at your disposal you're always in the right gear. That's a pity in a way, since the Multistrada 950's gear change is absolutely stellar, with both bikes I rode happy for me not to bother with using the clutch in either direction from second gear upwards—or downwards. The lever for the cable-operated clutch isn't adjustable, though the front brake lever is, and the twin 320mm front discs with two- pad four-piston Brembo M4.32 Monoblock radial calipers combine with the large 265mm rear disc sourced from the 1200 Enduro and its twin-piston float- ing caliper to stop a bike very nicely that rather surprisingly weighs just 11 pounds lighter than the 1200 Multistrada, at 450 pounds dry. That translates to a 500-pound curb weight, with all liquids and the 4.5-gal- lon fuel tank giving a 200-mile range, at least 90% full. Plus, Ducati has left in quite a bit of IMU (Inertia Measurement Unit) fitted here, there isn't the high- end Cornering ABS found on the 1200, nor is the TC lean-angle sensitive. But the revised engine tune produces a wider spread of torque. So torquey is this motor that you can accelerate wide open in top gear from 3000 rpm upwards without a hint of trans- mission snatch, en route to the 100 mph mark at 6800 rpm. This is an extremely flexible friend of a desmo sportbike and one that sounds pretty nice, too, with a punchy-sounding V-twin echo from that flat-sided silencer. Indeed, there's a highly ac- cessible and very enjoyable (Top) Fully adjustable KYB suspension gives same 6.7 inches of wheel travel front and rear, with same 48mm KYB fork as the Enduro variant. (Right) RBW digital throttle has four easily selectable riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro) with variable default settings for ABS and TC. Now that is a beak!