A new Ducati Multistrada has been spotted testing in Europe. Looking like a scaled down model of the 1200cc adventure touring motorcycle, this new Multistrada is expected to share powertrain with the new Hypermotard 939.
The sole spy shot of this motorcycle shows that it borrows the trellis chassis and major styling cues from the bigger litre-class Multistrada. However, some exotic bits like the single-sided swingarm have been ditched in favour of conventional cost-effective components. The seat height also seems lower, which should make the bike less intimidating to novice riders. A smaller engine will also mean lower kerb weight and smaller dimensions, which should help usher in a whole new set of buyers.
Though Ducati hasn’t commented on this yet, it seems fair to assume that this Multistrada would employ the new Euro IV-compliant 937cc Testastretta L-twin engine. This engine is already used in the Hyperstrada 939, which demonstrates that it can be tuned to suit the character of a touring motorcycle. We can also expect it to be loaded with electronic aids like traction control, ABS and riding modes.
This new Multistrada will compete with other middleweight and litre-class adventure touring bikes like the Honda Africa Twin, BMW F800GS, KTM 1050 Adventure and the Triumph Tiger 800s. Given the way Ducati has been going aggressive with product launches in India, we can safely expect this new Multistrada to be introduced here within a few months of its global launch.
