Ducati has a new Multistrada for its 2018 line-up. It gets a bigger motor, improved chassis and a new name, the Multistrada 1260.
The major update done to this capable tourer is increasing its displacement to 1260cc. It’s the same motor that does the duty on the XDiavel but with different tuning. The 1260cc L-Twin motor on the Multistrada produces 158bhp at 9500rpm and peak torque of 129.5Nm at 7500rpm. Known for its Desmodronic Variable Timing (DVT) technology, this motor is more accessible now. Ducati claims that 85 per cent of the torque is available below 3500rpm which is a boon for tourers. To get more displacement, the piston stroke was increased from 67.9mm to 71.5mm. This was possible through the usage of redesigned connecting rods, crankshaft and cylinder heads.
The steel trellis frame of the new Multistrada 1260 has been tweaked to offer better handling and make the ride more enjoyable. Ducati has increased the rake angle from 24 degrees to 25 degrees. The swingarm is 1.9-inch longer and the wheelbase has increased too.
Just like the older Multistrada, the new one continues to be loaded with a host of electronics like Ducati Safety Pack (DSP) and riding modes. The standard Multistrada gets an optional Ducati Quickshifter System (DQS).
The 2018 edition is available in four variants – the standard 1260 Multistrada, 1260 Multistrada S, 1260 Multistrada D-Air and the 1260 Multistrada Pikes peak edition. Expect all the four variants to come to India next year at a price which will be marginally higher than the outgoing models.
