Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak 2022 | When the most versatile Ducati is eyeing the track

(Palm Springs, California) Adapting an all-terrain machine to run on a circuit seems a priori illogical, crazy and even counterproductive. Until we try it out.

An all-terrain for the circuit?

That a bike or a car is offered in a version capable of running on the circuit is one thing. But subjecting an all-terrain type vehicle to the same treatment falls into the realm of quirkiness. But why, exactly, would anyone want to take a Jeep to the track? Although such SUVs exist on the automotive side, in motorcycles, an equivalent is proving almost impossible to find. Almost. Indeed, and without the reason seeming clear at first, Ducati offers a track version of its Multistrada named Pikes Peak. It’s the only adventurer — two-wheeler SUVs — of its kind on the market.

Accidental origin

No one at Ducati had the idea of ​​designing a Pikes Peak version of the Multistrada. The model is rather natural, since it was born from the needs of a small team who wanted to participate in the famous race to climb Mount Pikes Peak, Colorado. The route being, at the time, partially asphalted, a Ducati dealer asked the brand to support it by first supplying a Hypermotard, then a Multistrada, two road models capable of running on the unpaved sections of the route. A few championships later, most of them with the Multistrada, Ducati commemorated the adventure by creating a special Pikes Peak edition.

Now much more than a commemorative edition

The Multistrada Pikes Peak has long been very similar to the top-of-the-line version of the family, the S, but for the first time in 2022 Ducati is making it a model in its own right. The new Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak is thus equipped with lighter wheels whose diameter increases from 19 to 17 inches at the front, soft rubber tires, a frame with its own geometry, a single-branch swingarm, sportier ergonomics and a silencer signed Akrapovič. Finally, the semi-active Öhlins suspensions, the front braking system and the “RACE” driving mode of the brand’s hyper sports car, the Panigale V4S, are also included.

A special adventurer

Despite the technical differences still quite numerous, by moving to the controls of the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak, there are only nuances compared to the normal version of the adventurer, especially in terms of ergonomics. On the road, the small 17-inch front wheel and sporty tires make the steering even lighter than it usually is, but the rest of the behavior remains the same. At least, until you get to the kind of terrain it was designed for, which is the endless corkscrew roads offered by mountains and canyons. There, despite its adventurous silhouette, the Multistrada is transformed into a sports car.

real sports

Driven quickly in such an environment, the Ducati does not behave exactly like a sports car, but it offers an authentically sporty behavior. This is an extremely important distinction that defines the Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak. Although it is heavier and higher than a pure sports car, thanks to the solidity of the whole, the precision of the chassis, the powerful braking and the excellent work of the suspensions (which can be adjusted from flexible closed by pressing a few buttons), the Ducati not only lets itself be steered with ease, but also with surprising pleasure on a winding road, even if the surface is imperfect.

An engine gem

It would be difficult to speak with credibility of sporting behavior without appropriate mechanics, which is quite the V4 Granturismo of the Multistrada with its 170 hp. Not only does it sound glorious and offer top-level performance, but it also sets itself apart by being remarkably docile in everyday use, thanks in part to its ability to produce generous torque and strong acceleration without resorting to revs. very high — it enters its red zone at 10,000 rpm, which is relatively low. Even when it is solicited to its maximum, the various driving aids control everything.

Conclusion

The Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak takes a bit of the formula of the fast brutes that are the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and other Mercedes-Benz GLE AMG. As with those SUVs, the very idea of ​​the Ducati seems, initially, to go against the grain. Nevertheless, we discover in it a frame offering all the comfort and practicality of the adventurous Multistrada V4 combined with a truly sporty behavior. In fact, perhaps describing it the other way around would be more accurate: it’s a genuine sports car, but it’s comfortable and on which you can fit suitcases to travel as a duo. Which is absolutely not insane, quite the contrary.

Transportation and accommodation costs were paid by Ducati.

Bertrand Gahel is the author of motorcycle guide.