Ducati has dropped the cover on its most adventure-hungry Multistrada yet. The 2026 Multistrada V4 Rally promises to be a go-anywhere, do-anything flagship offering more range, more comfort, and more brains than ever before. Bruce Wilson fills us in…
At its heart sits the 1,158cc V4 Granturismo engine… the same jewel that’s powered the Multistrada family since 2021. Still good for 170bhp at 10,750rpm and 121Nm at 8,750rpm, the motor is a peach: smooth, tractable, and every bit as fast as you’d expect from Bologna. For 2026, it keeps its long 60,000km valve service intervals and extended rear-cylinder deactivation system, which now cuts out the rear bank even while riding at low speeds to save fuel and heat. A new Ducati Quick Shift 2.0 system, with shorter throws and cleaner changes, keeps it slick on the move.
The big news, though, is the suspension and electronics package. Ducati’s semi-active Skyhook DSS EVO system has been upgraded with adaptive smarts that read the road and the rider’s style, adjusting damping in real time for comfort or control. It now gets an Automatic Lowering Device, dropping the bike at low speeds to make manoeuvring less daunting, and then raising it again once you’re on the move. There’s 200mm of travel front and rear, giving 230mm of ground clearance… plenty for those rocky passes or Sahara pistes you keep talking about.
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Handling is aided by a revised aluminium monocoque frame and a higher swingarm pivot for better anti-squat. At the same time, braking gets a serious boost: Brembo Stylema calipers on 330mm discs up front, and a beefier 280mm disc out back. Ducati’s latest electronic braking strategy even lets the rear pedal activate the front brake slightly, keeping the bike level and stable under load. Clever stuff.
But the Rally’s party trick is its radar-assisted rider aids. First seen on the Multistrada V4 S, the system now adds Forward Collision Warning to the familiar Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detection. Think of it as a MotoGP brain with an SUV’s awareness – constantly watching your surroundings so you can focus on the ride.
Practicality is top-tier too. The new 30-litre fuel tank means serious distance between fill-ups, and comfort takes a leap forward with a larger, taller screen, heated grips (standard now), and the option of heated seats. The redesigned pannier mounts give your pillion more legroom, and a reworked centre stand makes lifting this big beast easier than ever.
Two colourways – Ducati Red/Brushed Aluminium and Jade Green/Brushed Aluminium – set off its muscular, long-haul aesthetic. Add spoked tubeless wheels, TPMS, full LED lighting with cornering lights, and a crisp 6.5-inch TFT dash with phone mirroring and navigation, and you’ve got the full tech suite.
Three trims will be offered: Radar, Adventure Travel & Radar (with alloy panniers and heated seats), and the Full Adventure, which adds an Akrapovič can and carbon front mudguard. Deliveries begin late 2025, and prices? Well, they’re just as towering as the seat unit, with the starting point kicking off at £25,095.
