The Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Does It All

The 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak, named for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race that Ducati has won no less than seven times since the Italian manufacturer’s 2008 debut, aims to elevate the performance of Bologna’s do-it-all machine to new heights. The self-proclaimed “Sportiest Multistrada Ever” uses a combination of comfortable ergonomics, a capable chassis, mountainous power, and incredibly clever electronics in order to provide a riding experience that can range from leisurely, to immensely thrilling, to even a bit frightening.

The upright, neutral riding position convinces me that the ride will be comfortable. A twist of the keyless, black ignition knob brings the cockpit’s 6.5 inch TFT color display to life. The high resolution display allows riders to configure everything from the engine’s power level, to the stiffness and damping levels of the electronic Öhlins suspension, to the following distance held by the motorcycle while it’s radar-informed Adaptive Cruise Control system is active. There are also four ride modes: “Urban”, “Touring”, “Sport”, and of course, “Race,” each able to be customized to suit an individual rider’s preferences. Seeking a softer, more forgiving suspension setup when in Touring mode? Or maybe a bit more liberty when lifting the front wheel off the ground in Sport mode before DWC (Ducati Wheelie Control) tapers power and torque in order to maximize acceleration while preventing over-rotation? These settings, along with varying levels of DTC (Ducati Traction Control) and Cornering ABS can be adjusted and saved within each mode.

I spent relatively little time in “Urban” and “Touring” ride modes, and even less in “Sport”. Not long after being led out of downtown Palm Springs and onto the test route, we were in Race Mode territory. Switching ride modes on-the-fly is relatively simple. A few intuitive movements with the left thumb on what Ducati calls a “joystick” and the display will prompt you to release the throttle/brakes in order to confirm your ride mode selection.

In Race Mode, everything about the motorcycle is turned up. Cracking the throttle elicits a direct and immediate response from the V4. From 2,500 to 6,000 RPM, a smooth swell of torque builds into a towering wave of power. The titanium-carbon, multi-chambered Akrapovic exhaust system (standard on the Pikes Peak model) makes the sound *that* much more enjoyable, both for the rider and for anyone within earshot. Beyond roughly 6,000 RPM the Multistrada’s second personality, veiled at lower speeds, erupts to the forefront. Growling turns to howling, with the torque curve plateauing around 8,500 RPM and horsepower continuing to steadily climb all the way to 10,500 RPM. Each upward click of the shift lever brings instantaneous and clutchless engagement of the next gear, thanks to a new quickshifter. Auto-blipped/rev-matched downshifts are as easy as pressing down on the shift lever.

This 170 horsepower motorcycle (which, according to my butt-dyno, could very well be an understatement) is rather effective at shrinking the distance of a straightaway. Fortunately, the Multistrada’s braking system is borrowed directly from it’s terrifyingly fast cousin, the Panigale V4. Dual front 330mm discs paired with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers, and a single rear 265mm disc with a floating Brembo caliper provides unbelievable stopping power. Such a powerful braking system can only be made full use of with the help of sticky tires and an effective ABS system. Even when pushing braking zones deeper into the corner than one should, or when emergency braking in the middle of a turn, Ducati’s “Cornering ABS” has your back. After rounding the apex, feel free to basically grab as much throttle as you want. A combination of lean-sensitive traction control and super-sticky, super wide Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires–wrapped around some pretty sweet looking forged/lightweight Marchesini wheels–puts down the power in a way that makes you wonder, “How?”

The Pikes Peak’s new Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension is “event based,” meaning it senses and automatically adjusts based on rider input. Grabbing a handful of throttle in second gear? It knows what to do. Braking hard, suddenly? Likewise. You know something is working well when you don’t even think about wanting to adjust it.