Ducati’s latest project, the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak has been spotted testing on multiple occasions, most recently at a track somewhere in Europe. Which could mean that Ducati would be unveiling the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak in all its glory pretty soon. It will be interesting to see what Ducati comes up with around the V4 Granturismo engine.
On to the bike. The Pikes Peak variants of the Multistrada are built to blaze records at the fabled Colorado-based Pikes Peak International Hill climb event. And in the past, the Multistrada has won the event in its class thrice with Carlin Dunne at its helm. Ducati goes about building the Pikes Peak variant by taking the sportiest (road-based) Multistrada and making it better equipped to the task of the hill climb. That would mean swapping the electronic suspension system out for better top-spec Öhlins with mechanical adjustment, carbonfibre bits to aid weight loss, a lighter exhaust system (a Termignoni unit on the 1260 and 1200) and by the time Ducati was done, the bike would be endowed with almost superbike levels of handling.
We expect Ducati to give the Multistrada V4 the same treatment. From the images, it is difficult to discern what parts of the body work will be replaced with carbonfibre and what will remain unchanged. The test mule doesn’t have a windscreen, so what Ducati plans to do in that regard, remains to be seen. In terms of suspension, the bike does have gold fork tubes indicating an Öhlins unit. The Multistrada V4 S and the V4 S already come fit with Brembo Stylema calipers so expect that to be carried over. But, Ducati may, however, change the master cylinder for better performance. Another major change would be the switch to a 17-inch front rim, which should help the rider tip the bike into corners with less effort and make rapid direction changes easier than with a 19-inch front wheel.
Since none of the photos show the right side of the bike, it’s hard to guess what exhaust system the bike is using. But based on the model’s history, assuming that it will be a Termignoni unit won't be off base. In terms of the engine, the Pikes Peak should retain the newly-launched V4 Granturismo engine in an identical state of tune barring the performance gains from the exhaust system, if any. The electronics suite of the Multistrada V4 will be carried over as is and Ducati might add a few bespoke modes, but that remains to be seen.
The motorcycle class of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event was suspended after the unfortunate death of Carlin Dunne. But it is nice to see Ducati continue the tradition by making the Pikes Peak variant of the Multistrada V4. We don’t have a specific date for the unveiling of the bike but it shouldn’t be far away now. Stay tuned to our social media and website for all the latest updates on the Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak and all other happenings in the bike world.