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A “sport bike in disguise” to some reviewers. A “Dyson” vacuum lookalike to others. The Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS befuddled and beguiled the two-wheeled world when it debuted in 2003. Two decades later, the Ducati Museum in Bologna, Italy, will honor the multiple forms of the Multistrada.
Today, the Multistrada is a very different machine. Its transformation required several evolutionary steps over the years. In 2010, the Multi swapped its Desmodue V-twin for the Testastretta 1198, and dropped the DS from its name. The Multistrada 1200 was the result. Other novelties included ride modes and an ADV-appropriate facelift — beak included.
2015 marked another step forward. The 1,262 cc Testastretta-powered Multistrada 1260 benefitted from tech like Skyhook Suspension, cornering ABS, and double variable timing. Those advancements still pale in comparison to the electronic suite on the Multistrada V4.
In 2020, Ducati’s flagship adventurer introduced two industry firsts, radar-assisted Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD). A new Granturismo V4 engine, lightweight monocoque frame, and a 19-inch front wheel also headlined the latest-generation Multi.
With the original Multistrada 1000 DS and the 2023 Multistrada V4 Rally in attendance, the "Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration" exhibit will run until mid October at the Ducati Museum. The Italian marque also notes that the adventurer-tourer will “take center stage” during the 2024 World Première, Ducati's annual series of model unveilings starting in mid September.
After 20 years and 100,000 units sold, the Multistrada has come a long way since its 2003 debut. With the 2024 World Première just around the corner, we’ll get a hint of where it's headed in its next two decades.
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