It is exactly 20 years ago this year that the Multistrada saw the light of day, the model that changed Ducati’s history and would become one of the most successful families of the Borgo Panigale brand. To reflect on this in an appropriate way, the Italians have set up a temporary exhibition in the Ducati Museum dedicated to 20 years of Multistrada.
When the South African designer Pierre Terblanche had secretly embarked on a completely new path at the beginning of this century, which would be put on the market in 2003 as the Multistrada 1000 DS, he could not have imagined that he had laid the foundation for what was 20 years would become the best-selling model of the Ducati line-up.
Although at first it didn’t seem that way at all. Terblanche had immortalized himself at Ducati with the design of the Supermono, to this day one of the coolest (if not the coolest) single-cylinder racers ever, but the unique design with high exhausts in the butt and rotating windscreen was not appreciated by everyone.
However, it turned out to be a matter of getting used to, because underneath the controversial design was an incredibly cool handlebar bike that more than lived up to its name Multistrada. This was a motorcycle that was suitable for multiple roads, a motorcycle to tackle the winding mountain roads. What the 916 had meant to Ducati on the track, the Multistrada was for the street.
Over the course of its twenty years of existence, the Multistrada has brought with it a rich history of innovations and technological evolutions that have redefined the standards of the motorcycle industry and established itself generation after generation as the ideal companion to discover the beauties of the world.
One of the main innovations introduced for the first time thanks to the Multistrada that should certainly be mentioned are the riding modes of the 2010 model, a solution now widespread on most upper and mid-range motorcycles.
Now Ducati did not have a world first with these riding modes, but it was one of the first bikes where all parameters could be set entirely to your own taste and taste. It was also the first motorcycle with a keyless ignition and the first motorcycle with semi-active suspension, developed in consultation with Öhlins.
Launched in 2020, the Bologna manufacturer’s technological benchmark Multistrada V4 was the very first motorcycle in the world to be equipped with front and rear radar. A solution that has made it possible to introduce the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD) systems, which improve driving comfort and safety.
On the same model, Ducati also introduced the Phone Mirroring solution, which transforms the dashboard into a color map navigation system, while keeping the information necessary for riding the motorcycle visible.
The Multistrada V4 also has industry-leading service intervals, with valve clearance checked every 60,000 km. All models in the family come with the exclusive “4Ever Ducati” warranty, valid for 4 years with unlimited mileage.
To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the model that changed the history of the Bologna-based manufacturer, Ducati has set up a temporary exhibition entitled “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” at the Museo Ducati.
Enthusiasts can admire two of the symbolic models of the Multistrada dynasty up close. On the one hand, the first Multistrada 1000 DS, which embodies the original vision and inspiration behind the creation of this motorcycle family, and on the other hand, the more recent Multistrada V4 Rally, which embodies the path of innovation and evolution that the model has taken over the past twenty years passed.
The exhibition is complemented by a short documentary that traces, through images and testimonials, the history and progress that has characterized this incredible model, from its introduction to its most recent versions.
The special exhibition “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” will remain open until early October with the same opening hours as the Ducati Museum, Monday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm and closed on Wednesdays.
The Multistrada will be one of the protagonists of the Ducati World Première 2024. After the first episode dedicated to the Ducati Monster 30° Anniversario, five other appointments, from September 19 to November 7, will unveil as many new Ducati models every two weeks for the 2024 range.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.