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The Ducati Multistrada 950 Review. We ride the newest and smallest Multistrada in the Canary Islands.
Ducati Multistrada 950.
The Multistrada series started as a 1000cc adventure bike for road use in 2003. It had a stance and ergos like a dirt bike but shod with 17 inch tarmac spec rubber. It was new and novel, comfortable for day long rides, handled well and sold in good numbers. Healthy commerce usually drives the upward evolution and the Multistrada 1000 evolved into the 1200. The 1200 had the power to rival most superbikes
Making 113 bhp @ 9000 rpm and 96.2 Nm @ 7750 rpm, the beauty of the engine lies in its strong mid-range. Some 80% of the peak torque is available from as low as 3500 rpm which makes riding the torque curve such a pleasure. Especially on the twisty bits of tarmac. The engine runs smooth across the rpm band right till its 10,500 rpm redline. Some vibration does creep in past the 5k mark but it is not something that cannot be damped by the soft hand-grips and the rubber shod foot-pegs.
- Courtesy: Motorcycle Ergonomics
Brakes on the Multistrada 950 were great. Period. Two 320mm discs with 4-piston 2-pad callipers up front and a 265mm 2-piston floating calliper at the rear were right up there for retardation duty. Couple this excellent Brembo hardware with a 3-level adjustable Bosch ABS and one gets safe and controlled stops. Factor in the 8-level Ducati Traction Control, (both ABS and DTC settings can be memorized) and you get a package that you can customize to the level of riding and response that you like the most. The combo is aptly called the Ducati Safety pack. Setting up either was not straight-forward and could have been made easier.
The Ducati Multistrada is one of the most versatile and user friendly motorcycles to come from the Italian marquee. It is an approachable, affordable and competent machine that is as comfortable to use for the daily commute as it is for a trans-continental jaunt. The engine feels unstressed, the frame rigid and robust, the ergonomics tailored for long rides and simplicity in use make this an amazingly practical and adaptable motorcycle for a rider who loves to ride his machine everyday, whether to work and back or to chase the horizon.
Ducati Multistrada 950 Review: Features
Bosch ABS - Level 1 adapts ABS intervention to off-road use: there is no intervention on the rear wheel and no rear wheel anti-lift. Level 2 sees the ABS act on both wheels but rear wheel anti-lift remains deactivated. The highest Level3 setting provides maximum braking stability and rear wheel lift-up prevention.
Ducati Traction Control (8 level selection) Level 1 minimizes system intervention and is, together with level 2, best suited to off-road use. Level 8, instead, maximizes ABS intervention and is ideal on wet roads. Ducati sets DTC levels for each of the four Riding Modes; however, these can be personalised to meet riders' specific needs and saved on the individual menu settings.
Ducati Riding Modes
Ducati Riding Modes first introduced on the Multistrada in 2010, let riders select different pre-set modes that optimise bike behaviour according to their individual riding styles and road conditions. The Multistrada 950 has four Riding Modes (Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro); each programmed to act on the electronic Ride-by-Wire (RbW) engine control system and the ABS and DTC levels. Riding Modes can be changed on the go.
Touring
Touring Riding Mode delivers 113 hp with progressive Ride-by-Wire throttle twist response, DTC is set higher (level 5) as is the ABS (level 3).
Sport
This Riding Mode is characterised by a direct Ride-by-Wire throttle twist response, a low DTC setting (level 4) and low ABS setting (level 2) with no rear wheel lift-up prevention and 113 hp.
Urban
Urban Riding Mode delivers a maximum power of 75 hp with progressive Ride-by-Wire throttle twist response; DTC is set to an even higher intervention level (level 6) and the ABS setting is at level 3.
Enduro
Enduro Riding Mode gives the Multistrada 950 a maximum power of 75 hp with progressive Ride-by-Wire throttle twist response; DTC intervention is suitable (level 2) for off-road use and the ABS setting is low (level 1), deactivating rear wheel lift-up prevention.
Ducati's Official Accessories
Ducati Multistrada 950 Review: Tech Specs
Photos Courtesy: Ducati
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