Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally: The new king of the adventure bike class | MCN review 

Well, he said the bike is thirsty. The whole review seemed to me like he did not want to say anything bad about the bike.

@@motolover5697 yes seem to agree but I was interested to see what it does to see if it’s worth replacing my Tiger 1200 gt pro for it

Paul … I agree ! I’m lucky enough afford this kind of bike every couple of years. However I do high miles ! I don’t want to waste money either ! Will it cost more to run than a BMW R1350GS ?

May I kindly ask ? Do you have it ? Mpg ?

@@maxflight777 around 150 miles per tank if your lucky 🍀

based on what you wrote, you are not the target rider for multistrada. mv4s has gs1250 and ktm1290 riders switching. i have an ktm 1190S and seriously considering multiv4 because i still want 150+mph topspeed, offroad capable, big power, spoked rims with electronic suspension, but no more ktm wobbles...

Extra cylinder and bragging rights for the extra HP? Yeah - nah. I can't see it either.

gallons per mile would be easier to calculate.

Check out Big Rock Motos review of this bike for a better idea of actual off road capabilities.

KTM sucks! In 2021 I thoroughly tested both Ducati Multistrada V4 S and new KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, including taking them both to their top speeds, and a lot of high speed riding. Multistrada V4 is AWESOME: it's fast, very stable and maneuverable at any speeds, with great handling, comfortable, versatile, you name it. 1290 SA S, on the other hand, is completely the opposite. In short, 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is uncomfortable: bad sitting position with cramped legs, harsh seat, engine vibrations at any rpm, bad screen with poor wind protection and a lot of buffeting. Super Adventure is slow: it's ~20 km/h slower than it's direct competitor Multistrada V4 on the top speed, also KTM really starves on power above 200 km/h. But hands down the worst feature of this bike is how horribly unstable it is above 200 km/h - it's wobbles permanently. And that's in the bone stock form without any boxes - so I'm afraid to even think about how badly KTM will wobble with boxes. Yes, besides everything else, I also covered ~ 72 km in ~ 20 and a half minutes on the 1290 SA S (I'll release the footage later), but that's all thanks to my riding skills and experience. I was permanently struggling with KTM through the entire ride. It's a widow maker bike for sure - on this bike anyone can get killed at any moment because of the quirks of Super Adventure. This bike also has it's strong sides like awesome suspensions, unbelievably smooth and precise gearbox, and good dashboard. But downsides (mentioned above) of this bike outweighs it's upsides by many times. That's why KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is really bad bike overall. It's good for nothing. Unlike the Ducati Multistrada V4 - which is good for almost everything.

@@motocritic good for you buddy, whatever it takes to justify the asking price and extremely high maintenance bills. Here in the states we don’t have any roads with 125mph posted speed limits, so I’m not sure how I’d ever see those speeds even while passing in a 75 mph speed zone, but good for you, what’s your fuel economy at those speeds? Trying to find out how far you can go traveling at that velocity. I get 50 mpg in normal conditions but at WOT, I’m guessing around 18-24 mpg.. full tank would be gone way too fast for my budget lol! Enjoy riding fast, I’d recommend a bike designed for it though and Ducati does make sports bikes so you’re on the right track there.

​@@Kwhopperfan, I don't think maintenance bills are going to be any lower on the KTM than on the Ducati. KTMs are known for having very bad reliability and a lot of issues. Just couple of weeks ago I've seen a series of videos here on the Tube where a guy bought a brand new 1290 SA S, and constantly had a problems with it. Which dealer could not fix (although they tried multiple times). So the guy finally returned the bike back to the dealer, and got his money back. As I said, 1290 SA S is exceptionally bad at high speeds, but not only. It's uncomfortable at any speed, really. So there's just no point to buy that bike. But if you are looking for the inferior badly engineered motorcycle for a lot of money - than yeah: KTM 1290 Super Adventure S would be great pick! On the Multistrada V4 S at an indicated top speed of 270 km/h indicated fuel consumption on a dashboard was 20 liters per 100 kilometers. I'm not saying go and buy Multistrada - there is other good adventure bikes on a market. BMW R1250GS, for example, is also good, and probably even better than Multistrada for sensible riding. But it's also very unreliable and expensive to maintain - just like all European and American motorcycles are. And by the way, why are you choosing among 150+hp hi-end bikes when you're just looking for the inexpensive and fuel efficient ride? What is the point of paying a huge premium for the additional horsepowers that you'll never use? How about looking at a more affordable Japanese alternative? Japanese bike are hands down the best in terms of reliability, problem-free riding, and ownership cost. Africa Twins, for example, are great: dependable, comfortable, very versatile, reasonably priced, fuel efficient, and really good to ride. With your riding style what's the point looking any further? And if you for some reason don't want to buy a proper adventure bike with a 21/18-inch wheels, and want a more road-biased option with smaller wheels - Honda VFR1200X is still the best option for the probably most reliable and problem-free bike ever (although a bit obsolete and not up-to-date comparing with modern rivals). Personally, I like riding fast but in a good comfort with a vertical sitting position, decent wind protection, low vibrations, plush suspensions, and ability to go offroad when needed. That's why hi-end adventure bikes are my #1 pick. And that's why I don't like sportbikes and other uncomfortable types of motorcycles: they're just not for me.

@@motocritic yeah I bought an SAS and absolutely love it. Bought an exhaust for $200 and a windshield for $150. Amazing bike, took around the block after work ended up going 70 miles on the way home the long way. What a joy to ride, engine and suspension is absolutely awesome. Love it’s handling, gets up to 80 in a blink of an eye. Have an o ring and water pump cover on order for a little coolant drip.. $55. It’s a 2020. Great machine, we will see how it goes.. guys over here have 70k plus miles on em

@@Kwhopperfan, it's good that you like your motorcycle. But don't fool yourself into believing that "it's almost as good as the Multistrada V4": it isn't. Not even close!

On paper - yes. IRL - no. Not close at all by any means. I already explained it in details relying to the Scott C comment above.

I don’t know about that. I think value logic is taken out of many Ducati bikes. They make them pretty enough and perhaps exclusive enough that the people that buy them aren’t concerned with price or value. I mean people are buying these. I don’t think they expect to sell BMW GS quantities, but maybe I’m wrong. I know my Streetfighter V2 was expensive enough that I could have bought a proper hypernaked that was faster or cheaper, but the V2 called to me, and every time I go in the garage I just stare at it a while.

Because unlike you everyone doesn't ride like an old grandpa.

Because a ton of former sportbike riders want the same performance as their old bikes plus all day comfort AND off-road capability. My ktm 1190 is as fast my old old Honda vfr. The brand new adv bikes are probably as fast as a gsxr600-750cc sportbike.

I owned a 2014 1190 S and then a 1290 Super Adventure. Both stayed at the dealership. Lots of problems. Currently own a 2021 duke 890 which has been fairly reliable. I'd definitely pick the multistrada.

I've owned the 990 s, 1090r and now the 1290r. Zero problems. None. Would always go with a ktm over a ducati. Mainly because the ducati's insane price...🫣

@Timo Joukkola I'm in the US. the multistrada rally I've configured on the website is going to run me 32k . Yeah, its a lot of money.

I'm in Finland. The base price for the Rally in here is 35t eur😵‍💫

KTM sucks! In 2021 I thoroughly tested both Ducati Multistrada V4 S and new KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, including taking them both to their top speeds, and a lot of high speed riding. Multistrada V4 is AWESOME: it's fast, very stable and maneuverable at any speeds, with great handling, comfortable, versatile, you name it. 1290 SA S, on the other hand, is completely the opposite. In short, 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is uncomfortable: bad sitting position with cramped legs, harsh seat, engine vibrations at any rpm, bad screen with poor wind protection and a lot of buffeting. Super Adventure is slow: it's ~20 km/h slower than it's direct competitor Multistrada V4 on the top speed, also KTM really starves on power above 200 km/h. But hands down the worst feature of this bike is how horribly unstable it is above 200 km/h - it's wobbles permanently. And that's in the bone stock form without any boxes - so I'm afraid to even think about how badly KTM will wobble with boxes. Yes, besides everything else, I also covered ~ 72 km in ~ 20 and a half minutes on the 1290 SA S (I'll release the footage later), but that's all thanks to my riding skills and experience. I was permanently struggling with KTM through the entire ride. It's a widow maker bike for sure - on this bike anyone can get killed at any moment because of the quirks of Super Adventure. This bike also has it's strong sides like awesome suspensions, unbelievably smooth and precise gearbox, and good dashboard. But downsides (mentioned above) of this bike outweighs it's upsides by many times. That's why KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is really bad bike overall. It's good for nothing. Unlike the Ducati Multistrada V4 - which is good for almost everything.

This isn't an Italian bike anymore, it's German - Ducati is owned by Audi.

Ouch - that comment leaves a mark.

How many Ducatis have you owned?

Lol, it appears you have never heard of KTM! They prefer to live at dealers even after you buy one.

@@seanlml 1 (…too many)

😂😂😂😂😂

You seriously don't know what you are talking about.

While Ducatis aren't inherently unreliable, it is basic mechanicals. A parallel twin engine with minimal electronics is likely going to be more reliable than a V4 with more tech than the average car.

Aside from the Big Four, rumors abound about the unreliability of other manufacturers. But, is there (are there?) reliable data to confirm the rumors? Personally, I had much more trouble with my BMW RT than any of my Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki bikes put together - but, I can’t generalize from my personal experience.

None of those bikes you mention can touch the performance of this one. There are loads of Ducati's that travel great distances, and a ton of KTM's that travel around the world. These aren't 1960's bikes. I'm often 500-1,000km's from any town, and I never have a problem.

Agree the Honda are very reliable and the new transalp looks a great bike , it will take sales away from the Africa twin I imagine. However newer ducatis seem to be pretty reliable and the v4 has a 4 year warranty and 60km valve checks. I had a 1290 ktm no issues with it and now have Multi v4 also no issues. The fuel consumption is better than most road testers seem to manage too! Considering the rally model but without panniers

I don’t want one at all, but it handles incredibly well, seems to be reliable(albeit not easy to work on due to layout). Low service intervals, great tech. I think the only area where this bike doesn’t hit the mark for its intended class is “value”, but I don’t think it was ever aimed at that.

My daughter pointed out that Ducati translated to English means "Broken". Lol

@@robertdean6084 shame she’s wrong but nice idea

I can agree. My gearbox went out at 6,700 miles on my 1260s (2019).😢

I disagree. You sound jealous, poor and bitter.

It is? What has been the problem with yours?

Hmmm, I think you might want to check Michael’s off-road credentials…although he’ll be happy being called a millennial.

Respectfully, your comment is total trash. Wait...that wasn't respectful, because neither was yours. It was a great review.

His off-road credentials hmmmm!!!