Ducati has never suggested it would be 190 + hp. Just because the Panigale and fighter put out this doesn't mean their touring bike will. It'll likely be 150 or less at the rear wheel regardless
I guess it's showing off until a point. But considering that the Pikes Peak was a model that wanted to differentiate itself from the rest of the line, a V4 would be a good candidate for it. The first Pikes Peak stood out. Lighter, Ohlins semi active suspension, it did make a difference compared to the other models. As the Multi evolved that difference was minimized (they all became much heavier and the Skyhook was greatly improved so the difference was essentially wiped out). Now, with the V4 they have a chance to make that top model stand out again. I cannot see the V4 going to all models as this would be, to my eyes, a suicide. The V2 is an excellent package. Most (or all?) if its faults have been fixed and the 4 year warranty plan shows that Ducati feels much more secure about its quality. One question is how would they do that with a single frame ... For me, it would be quite difficult to choose. For single riding the extra horsepower would probably be unnecessary. For two up, it would be a bonus. But it seems that its advantages would be far less than the disadvantages (at least those that I can think of). In the end it will be more of a need to have something new rather than riding the revolution.
The more I look at the ‘mule’ picture the less I think it resembles the finished product. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t have a monocoque chassis, the same as the Panigale and Streetfighter. I’d also be surprised if it has anything less than (a stated) 185bhp. What that means at the back wheel is anyone’s guess..... But Ducati will be keen to match or beat the likes of BMW and KTM.
I know this is old news, but looks closer to the finished model to me. Single sided rear end and no sign of trellis subframe, or main frame for that matter. You can‘t see the frame but my money is on aluminium construction.
Having ridden a V4 Panigale and previously owned a line of VFRs I would very much like a V4 Multistrada. Having said that the 1260 is pretty awesome and cost of change will be out of my reach for the next couple of years. Current Multi will more than serve it's purpose for the time being.
I tend to agree with you BK about the 1260 and what Ducati have been able to achieve with it to date. I'm not particularly constrained by future budgeting, luckily for me, however, I'm categorically NOT going to be a test rider for the 1st generation V4 Mutli, which even with a relatively proven engine, in what will pretty much be a completely new model, it will certainly have more than its fair share of Ducati foibles, woes, issues and the like. I'm not interested in having one until it's a more proven overall version, say year 2 onwards, when most, if not all of the undoubted wrinkles will have been dealt with. My 1260S has the extended 4 year warranty, which I paid a hefty whack for the privilege of having, so I'm staying put, so to speak. The very best of luck to everyone who decides to go for one though.....Enjoy being a test rider!
Been there - Done that - with a 2010 Multi The current 1260 is an awesome bike and maybe I will look at a V4 towards the end of 2021 but not before!
I also think the horsepower thing is a lot about bragging rights. My other bike is a naked Ducati Monster 152 HP (140 HP dyno'd) and can tolerate speeds in excess of 100 MPH for only no more than a few seconds. Other than the above, I just don't get the need for 200 HP on a naked. Notwithstanding, the current Multistrada's 158 HP with wind protection can ride all day at 100 MPH. Not that you'd want to.
Unless Ducati use some very light and very expensive materials, it's going to be a heavy brute. It maybe that the SSSA has been abandoned for those reasons,
I can't see a Multistrda V4 without a SSSA (enduro excepted). Those spy photos without a SSSA were probably taken while engine testing.
Really is time to drop that single sided swingarm. Disadvantages: wheel more complicated to remove, chain more complicated to adjust, servicing a hub that can collect road debris, heavy. Advantages, none
I was the first purchaser of a 959 in Canada in Jan 2016. I was interested in the very popular Panigale 899 at the time and purchased the 959 sight unseen on specs alone. I read just about everyhing written about the 959 and I have never seen any pre-release comments about it having a SSSA. The highlights were a larger engine to comply with the new Euro 4 at the time and larger stroke for lower end power. In fact, the larger 959 engine was a product of Euro 4. A lower powered 899 would not have sold.
Wheel more complicated to remove ... What ??? Chain more complicated to adjust ... What ??? Servicing a hub that can collect road debris ... What??? Heavy... Ok it's heavier. All this talk just want to make me go out and work on my easier to service front wheel.
I’d rather see Ducati concentrate on the 950. As it stands it looks so dated. The nose makes it look theee models old. It would be great to see some tech that actually works. I feel it has a long way to go to compete with the Africa twin
I suspect there will be a new bike based on the Scrambler 1100 engine at some point soon as per the concept bikes Ducati showed at EICMA last year.
The only reason why the wheel could be more complicated to remove is because some idiot used an air gun with more than 40 kg of torque. That's user error, not a disadvantage of the SSSA. As for the chain tensioning it's far easier and you avoid alignment problems altogether. The hub that collects debris has nothing to do with the SSSA. It was bad design on the first models that was fixed with a cap (if I am not mistaken). So, it's a bit heavier. But I would never by a Multi without one. The effect on the looks is very prominent and I want to like the bike I'm riding. The latter of course is totally personal.
