The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally | Is this £27,000 Heavyweight the Ultimate Motorcycle? 

I think Freddie must be the most honest reviewer of bikes I have ever known. I can't imagine some of the big magazines doing such an honest review, for fear of losing advertising revenue. Well done Freddie & Monica. A big thumbs up from me 👍

To quote FD: “Make sure you own your possessions and they don’t own you”. This bike (even if you can afford it) will own you.

I bought an ex demo 6 month old guzzi v85tt with 1k miles for £9k (one third price of multistrada). Fast enough, 450kg carrying capacity, cruise control, heated grips, italian looks, v twin air cooled simplicity, easy to maintain yourself with everything accessible, shaft drive, comfy, great for pillion, can off road on gentle tracks, ACT etc. build quality is superb, and makes you feel special riding it. Nobody needs that much power or tech.

I really appreciate the honest review Freddie. I know a lot of motoring journalists seem hesitant to point out any flaws in a product or say anything that goes against the manufacturers marketing (ie: you saying this is too heavy to take seriously off-road) for fear of not getting offered the next press bike or whatever. But you also give them credit where it's due and I think we all like this honesty. If everyone just keeps saying how good a bike is because they're too worried to say what they really think then we'll just keep getting served the same stuff.

Freddie doing the 'lean test' on loose rocks had me holding my breath 😬

As a Triumph fan, discovering your channel is one the best things that's ever happened to me this 2024. Love everything that you do, Freddie! Keep it up!

So - let me get this right - its too heavy, too tall, too wide, too complex and too expensive. Compare it to a Gold Star or Interceptor which are cheap, light, low, narrow and simple. I know which I would prefer. The simpler bikes capture the pleasure of motorcycling more than the overweight, over complex, over priced behemoths and you havent gone in to the cost of a full service yet. I reckon you could buy a nice bike for the cost of an end-to-end service of that Ducati. No thanks. Great review Freddie and Monika.

I have a 1250 GS and even a gravel car park makes me wet myself. However for touring, especially on our third world UK roads, personally find it perfect and unbeatable as no doubt others with a KTM, Multistrada, V Strom would also say about their bikes. When people ask me now what TYPE of bike I own I no longer use the term Adventure bike. I say "Travel Bike". I think that's far more accurate for 99% of us.

It looks cool though 😂 At 5ft 3 and a female, this bike for you is how I feel about pretty much every bike. They are all tall and heavy. Just have to get on with it.

I have the original 2010 multi brought from new I have covered 40,000 miles no problems , toured France , Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway best bike I have ever owned in all my 50 plus years of biking. Expensive yes but the best bike you will ever own .

Spot on review. These bikes have become so big and heavy that it's not possible for shorter riders to maneuver them at slow speeds. Yes they can munch miles, but that is all they are good at. That's why I have a Tiger 900 for the long tours and a Bonneville for everything else. This cannot be an only bike.

I bought one in October and just done my first trip abroad (Belgium) with the wife, full panniers, top box, bags on the panniers and bags hanging off both the front side bars with both of us must have been close to 450kg. It never missed a beat handled everything perfectly, yes slow manoeuvres are a bit of struggle especially when your only 5’8” 🤣 best £28000 I’ve ever spent 👍. Lane splitting wasn’t an issue, put on the spot lights rev a little to make the Akra sing and watch the traffic part like your Moses 🤣🤣

you are absolutely right about “adventure bike” labelling it is over used , but they are capable and people do use them for it , the broader view is whilst you were able to ride your Triumph to morocco one of these would of smashed it without a hitch and be infinitely more comfortable doing it . every ride i take is the start of an adventure so every bike is therefore an adventure bike to me ..

On a quiet night, you can hear that bike depreciating in the garage.

Good vid as usual, Freddie. As a fella in his early 50s now (sigh…) who has been riding on the road since the early 90s, daily commute into Manchester back in the day etc., I find the amount of electronics on these types of bikes to be a turn off, if you.ll pardon the pun. No doubt this is up there at the peak of biking technology and development, and yes, R&D is part of the duty of manufacturers, but I feel, having had one or two tech laden bikes recently which i ended up selling within a year, they deskill the rider, and are built to appeal to the broader demographic of buyers getting interested in bikes, many of whom have come from the world of cars, primarily. I wince, for example, at how much energy is put into “media” options and connectivity on a bike nowadays… keep your eyes on the road, guys, not on your WhatsApp account…. All this added tech seems to add mainly to the weight, size and increasing price tag of modern machines… 27 grand is eye-watering… and possibly the posing points in the car park. All this is fine, if that’s your thing, but seems to be getting further and further away from the essence of riding - the freedom. Motorcycling seems to be falling into the “mo’ money, mo’ problems” trap, where increasing tech and the associated price tag means the dealer has you over a barrel for servicing, parts, warranty etc. Maybe I’m just an old fart nowadays, but I came away from this thinking “Great, all we need is another German car company getting a slice of the modern motorcycle market, to produce over-engineered, overweight, overpriced machines, accompanied by marketing hype so everyone thinks they have to have one….” Great work as ever, Freddie. Took me a while to warm to your style, but now a convert.

Riding a motorcycle is about the open road and living in the moment not about what you can spend, HP or cc or " please look at me" . Millions people in Azia and the rest of the world ride small bikes or scooters with a bright smile, enjoying life ❤ if you cant have fun on a small bike.... you're no fun 😂😂😂 but... that Ducati is awesome 😍 great video as always Freddie and Monika.

I really appreciate your approach, Freddie. Honest review from an average normal rider like most of us. I own a Bonneville and a ATAS (tallest Africa Twin) and I can relate well with what Freddie said. I will add up that all the motorcycles are a compromise. It depends where you live and if you often travel long distances with your wifie as a pillion. Here in the province Quebec roads are not great so it feels reassuring to have that 21 inch front wheel and a greater suspension even on the tarmack in the city. Plus you feel more visible on the road to the others ant you are able to see better the traffic ahead, It took me some time to get confortable with the seat high even on the lower setting. I found miself taking the Africa Twin more often to work than the Speed Twin, lately.

I understand your point about seat height but if you hold down the Suspension button, it engages them”Min” setting. This will lower the seat height until (I believe) the bike gets to 60Km/h, at which point the suspension returns to the correct height for the ride mode. When you drop below that speed, Min re-engages. Although I rarely engage it, it’s a nice feature for low speed/urban maneuvering.

Very well thought out review, Freddie. It is comprehensive and all points are very well argued. I very muchg liked the comparison to the Transalp, because it is not the obvious choice, but it really showcases the drawbacks of those big Adventure Bikes. And all is underlined with good non dramatic footage. You differ from typical reviews in a very pleasant way. Keep up the good Work!

You sum up the absurdity of this type of bike really well ! .. I did a video that touched on the subject regarding the big GS's and predictably got a lot of push back from BMW fans but the idea a £27K 260kg bike is suitable for any off-road adventuring is fanciful marketing tosh 😊

Not a bike that appeals to me at all. I just don't get the big, GS trailie thing with mahoosive panniers.

An honest review, thank you.

Wow, Freddie. That Transalp left a lasting impression with you. Thank you for your time.👏 👊

I'm thankful to have had a very expensive motorcycle already because i learned that more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. Now going for Honda Transalp as one bike to do it all, whole year riding, short and long tours, solo and two up.

There is never a perfect bike for the job. Last night, what I "NEEDED" for getting to Salisbury in a hurry was a 170ho sport touring bike like the multistrada. What I had was a DRZ400 or a Honda C125 Super Cub! I got there in time and as soon as I got to the busy city centre, replete with temporary works and traffic lights, the C125 was the best. I suspect this bike will be bought mostly by those fortunate enough to collect bikes. They will ride around its shortcomings and habe a whale of a time, knowing that uf they need to go off-roading, they have an enduro, if they need to do a track day, they have an HP4 race, if they want to ride a classic, they choose from 3 or 4. I don't think this will be a one and only bike.

Brilliant review again Freddie Laying out the reality rather than selling the dream

Its a Italian Suberbike Gran Turismo build for sitting comfy upright, Pack a lot of stuff, to travel with ridiciulous speed. I Had a ktm 1190 adventure with paniers. V2 heat Under you seat in summer, but fast as hell and superb in riding with sozia long distances. And Very agile and superb sporty with the right tyres. Its nice to have one in the Garage, but Not for 27k. Today i would Pick my beta 300rr for serious offroad, a tenere 700 for going long travel and some light offroad, and a interceptor 650 as a daily 😊

lols at the tractor shot after saying let’s take it on the road and see what this Italian heavyweight is like😂

ah yes... the travel (horrible MPG) sporty (too high) comfy (heat issues) offroader (too heavy). Stupid price and running costs are the icing on the cake.

I love those off-topic scenes such as the countryside, the cricket match, the parade of all cars, those glances at Monica and the like. They really make your videos stand out.

Incredible at 20:31 onwards to see how small cars were 30 years ago compared to now. And how much more individualistic they were, with real character.

I've always enjoyed your reviews, one way or another. 😁 This was definitely a competent review. 👍

As the owner of a 2024 Honda Transalp, I really enjoy that comparison. Every day bikes for every day riders. And with a comfort seat, it'll do a 1800km 3-day trip just fine. So far my butt is the only limiting factor, the transalp is amazing.

Brilliant review! Realistic and balanced 👍

My Tiger 800xrt. Cruise control. Heated grips and seats. Engine mode settings. Tyre pressure sensors. Ect ect. All for £6000 or so. Very useable power and nimble. With plenty left in the kitty for a nice Jeep Wrangler.😀

It was such a pleasure to see those Ford Capris and other classics. Great timing for the shoot!

3:16 Freddie’s 6’1, tons of fun and he dresses to a tee 👌🏻

Thanks Freddie. I read/watched all the glowing reviews and thought - this is the bike for me. I actually found it tall, heavy and uncomfortable and thought it must be just me being a wuss. The V2s was no better. My ageing FJR is actually considerably heavier but filtering is a breeze with its integrated panniers and being able to flat foot (I'm 5' 9'') makes all the difference. Sadly it's an old lady (2007) and I need to update as I'm beginning to feel less confident that it won't break down when on European tours. Perhaps your viewers can persuade me otherwise...

"on paper this is perfect" sums it up perfectly i think. its an incredible feat of engineering but i'd rather have a Himalayan 450^^

I agree to your comments on manuvering the bike around when not riding it and riding it in heavy traffic. I happened to ride the V4 Rally over a steep mountain pass with a heavy loaded tractor in front of me with traffic also behind me. Even in first gear, I hardly got the engine running without pulling the clutch. Thankfully I managed to overtake the tractor and as soon as the revs went up the sublime riding performance showed. This experience was certainly not pleasant. This riding situation is, however, not typical for my riding. After more than 20000 km with the V4 Rally I can tell that the bike is a superb long distance tourer that also does gravel roads with ease. I would not use it off road however. And, on twisty alpine roads in Switzerland I have come to really appreciate the power of the engine when overtaking whatever is in front of you.

I really love your videos, not only because of the amazing presentation of bikes. As a Hungarian speaking some English I trully enjoy listening to your English. Thanks!

Thank you for a brilliant review and for helping to put me off big adv bikes. I have too many other bikes already

Great honesty about weight and size. You at 6'1" on that is about the same as me at 5'7" on my Transalp. It's manageable, but not fun offroad. I'm just glad mine weighs 50kg less.

To increase or reduce heat from the engine onto your legs there are ducts to adjust just in front of the engine….flip up or down for fresh air or engine heat air..works well. Nice review. For me these bikes turn into corners better than any other adventure bike.

Some people put “brutally honest review” in their video titles, yet they don’t mention any of the things you mentioned. I watched tens of reviews of this bike as I was considering it. This is the best of them so far explaining the daily life with the bike. Thanks Freddie 👌

I would respectfully offer a different point of view. I have a 2020 (so still the L twin). I have taken it on what by any definition is serious off road and was just fine. In fairness, I’m 59 and have been riding since I was 12. This bike really shines on long rides (though I will admit I had the seat rebuilt and upholstered). For me…this is the most enjoyable bike I’ve ever owned. I don’t have any issues filtering traffic. And as far as performance…absolutely unmatched. So if you were considering a Multistrada I would still recommend taking a test ride. It might still be the bike for you. And as far as price goes…remember…you can’t take it with you so buy the bike you love. I did and I have never regretted it. I do agree with one thing though…Freddie really is one of the best reviewers out there. I may not agree with your assessment…but I absolutely admire your honesty as your experience. Well done sir…

Nice to see a realistic ADV bike review try it off road. Beautiful English village. Really surprised some pensioner out walking their lab didn't yell at you for riding on their footpath or parking on the village green.😀 My old 1200 GS is probably just as big, wide, heavy and hard to push around. It cost less me than a nice shiny Transalp. All the your points are valid, except its easy to ride. Have you tried a GS? I like the Pan Am. Reliability? Loved my Bonneville.

No bike is worth that much and no bike in my mind can do everything, I wouldn't want it too. My bike allows me to do what I want to a point and I like that, it challenges me. If I really want to do something extra to a higher level, I'll buy a bike to do that and still have plenty of money left over and also have the fun of riding something different. Great video Freddie, loads to think about and no doubt loads to argue about 😃

If I was looking at a Multistrada, I would have considered the 950 / V2 rather than the bigger brother 1260/V4. I remember going to see one at a dealership immediately noticing how high the center of gravity of the bike was which put me off immediately. Theres a fine line for me when it comes to bikes where if its a pain to get out of the garage - it only comes out for the big trips and having something which is easy to live with but comes out a lot more often. Enjoyed the video Freddie :)

A superb review : nuanced, articulate and entertaining. Clearly a bike with great panache but deeply flawed in the real world.

I think these big adventure bikes are really alternative touring machines, I have the 1250 GSA and a lot of the things you comment on the Multistrada apply to the GSA. I have done a couple of gravel tracks on my GSA and that's my limit, but as a long distance tourer it's great.

I bought my first adv bike, a mere cb500x, n seeing the top heavyness of it, i can say it will be my last adv bike

Finally, someone with a proper review on this bohemian, the same for the GSA1300 and Triumph Explorer, anything above 220kg is not worth all the add ons they bring, but don’t worry, exactly like in cars the Chinese will teach them, if you can just take a look to the Kove 800X or the Voge 900, just so refreshing seeing these light bikes arriving on the market.

Thanks for an interesting review Freddie. However, as an owner of such bike I feel I need to balance things a bit and also to fill in with some more information 😀. The bikes in the top adventure segment is Ducati Multistrada V4, BMW 1250/1300 GS, Triumph 1200 Tiger and KTM 1290 Adventure (no, HD Pan Am is not in this group). The Ducati is the most race-track capable and the KTM is the most off-road capable, and the two others are somewhere between. I tested all the four bikes before I decided on the Ducati, but they are all great bikes. The choice of a motorbike is very much like music; it comes down to your personal preferences and feelings (and wallet). However, I must say you are reviewing a motorbike that is outside your segment. If it's too heavy, too tall and too expensive for you, then go for something else. I took out mine this spring and have been riding about 15000 km and have some experience with it. The main drawback on this bike is, as you pointed out, that it is top-heavy, which is something to be aware of before buying it. But once you are in motion, it does not feel top-heavy, that's mainly when standing still and you need to support with your feets. It is not a bike for smaller persons, however, you can also buy lower seats to it. If you want to go hard-core off road, this isn't the bike! And when testing it off-road, you should test it with off-road tires and not street-tires. Then I have some comments on things you point out, which I disagree with; I find the seat very comfortable and can take long rides with no problems. The seat is a bit more rounded and narrower in the front to easier get your foot to the ground, but your butt does not rest in this area, you sit further back. The standard seat on the top adventure bikes are all quite similar in design. However, there are tons of different seats you can buy. The foam is relatively soft. It has excellent crash protection when equipped with crash-bars, panniers and hand-guards. I been to the ground twice; once hit by a car from my left and tipped over on the right side. Only some scratches in the crash-protection and the panniers, the car had more damage than the bike. The crash-bar probably saved my knee, which took a small hit and turned blue. Whithout the crash-bar it would most likely been badly injured. Then, a second time when I simply forgot to put down the side-stand before leaning it over. No damage to the bike itself. The crash-protection system is designed to take the hit and it really does. It is different if you hit a rock or something, then the crash protection does not help much, but that goes for all bikes. I doesn't quite understand the fuzz around the engine heat. Yes it get warm, but I never had a problem with it. It has a very effective cooling fan that kicks in at 104°C. However, I live in Norway though. Then you argue it is gets wide when riding with pannier in traffic and difficult to manouver in traffic. Yes of course, that goes for all bikes with side-panniers. All bikes have some pros and cons, and so does this bike. What I most of all likes with this bike is its engine and its driving comfort, especially on the motorway with a lot of traffic where riding often can be more exhausting. Adaptive cruise control and blind-sone detection makes it more relaxing to ride on the motorway. Among all adventure bikes, this is the most capable bike on the race track, and I had mine on a few track-days and it is enourmous fun. For driving on twisty, and sometimes quite bumpy roads in Norway, this is an excellent bike to go touring with. You can also go on gravel roads and roads that are in general bad shape with no problem, the suspension is great. But pure off-road? No, do not recommend that. And, it has among the longest service intervalls for a motorbike. Then there are some things that I don't like so much; its fuel consumption is high, though with a 30 l tank you still get some range, there are quite som vibrations typically between 3500 and 3800 rpm, the Al-panniers are somewhat simple, and a few more annoying stuff.

Try out the Multistrada V2S. It has most of what you liked about the V4, but with less weight and less cost. You can even get the near identical 19-21 950S for even less money with the only difference being a couple minor tweaks in the menu options.

As someone that is 203cm/6'8" and weighs over 150kg, this bike would probably fit me quite well. I currently ride a 2007 Honda Varadero XL1000 that has about the same weight and height. I have absolutely no issues riding it slow, in traffic or slight offroad/gravel situations. But the price is oh so expensive. I've been lusting after an HD PanAmerica S or a BMW K1600, both powerful heavy weights. Maybe in a few years I'd get a V4 Rally when the value has gone down by 50%.... Love the video. It's brutally honest and still fair. This bike will most likely always be a tarmac mile muncher, and that's OK.

Absolutely brilliant review. Honesty is rare with reviews these days. 👍

I bought the R1300gs over this for a few reasons! First, the adaptive height control of the bmw is a game changer. Secondly, the ducati throws a lot of heat, and I live in florida. That thing will cook your balls!, and third, that ducati is thirsty! The bmw will do about 250 miles with a full tank if driven moderate, the ducati will do 270 with way more fuel. On top of that, the bmw is cheaper! And fourth, I got used to a driveshaft, who needs to maintain their chain while traveling! And on top of everything, the bmw is cheaper! Crazy!

Freddy, What a good and honest review of the bike and what a beautiful area. We went to the BSB Brands Hatch in the UK this year and had a day left before we went back to the Netherlands (by ferry). Visited Hever castle & gardens👌🏼. If I had known that Eynsford was so close we would have definitely visited this beautiful village. We love the British countryside and old villages👍🏼🙌🏼✊🏼.

You see dozens of people manhandling these bikes around the alps. I don't know how it is comfortable at all. The heat, weight, size are crazy.

I couldn't help smiling throughout the episode. Ducati have given their premium adventure class motorcycle to a rather old school gentleman. Crazy how Freddie can describe the love for retro and even modern retro bikes. This is clearly a mismatch of personalities. Nothing more. Given that this is just a lifestyle adventure bike for many and for very serious cross continent adventures, I am sure many like Freddie and us, cannot identify with this Multistrada version.

I observed the same thing with regards to top heavy when I tested it. The GS is a wastly better allround bike. However, it was fantastic in the twisties in high speed.

Fantastic review Freddie. I think you are spot on regarding the every day use of such a bike. The higher centre of gravity on these beasts would I think really give me much less confidence than any other bike. I know a few who have such bikes and, although they love them, they all have experienced near misses or actual tipping over of the bike due to that weight distribution

What an excellent and honest review, Freddie. This where you excel.

KTM 1290 SAS option 3. All the toys, better non narrow adaptive cruise control and enough change of £10,000 for a bloody good holiday 😂

I have the multi v4s and have no problems moving it around at low speed or off road like any of the big adventure bikes you get used to the size and ride and plan accordingly. You are right about the off road limitations which are not the bikes limitations but the rider and the worry of damaging it. This bike excels in covering big miles on twisty alpine passes loaded up.

As the saying goes there is a bike for everyone and a price point too. Not everyone can afford one of these and it’s size and weight limits it’s use, if you don’t to long distance touring then this is not the bike for you and limits it’s use. It’s is a fabulous design and engine alone makes it special. For my 24k I would go down the two bike route.

I have a 2024 Tiger 1200 which has the Givi Trekker panniers on it which makes it even bigger than this bike. It's like everything, once you get used to it, it's (probably) absolutely fine. I ride mine to work through traffic all the time and have no issues at all at 5 feet 11 ins. The huge advantage is that people can see you and you have a very high level of visibility. I also have an Indian FTR which is tiny in comparison. I rode the Indian a couple of hundred miles on Friday, some of which was on motorway and the vulnerability factor was huge in comparison. It's horses for courses but these bikes have some huge benefits and once you've gained the slow speed skills required, they're great.

I am 6 foot tall and got one anyway, its too high for 99% of riding and spent another $2,200 parts and labor to bring height down 1 inch, lowering kit includes front springs, a rear shock and shorter kickstand - much better and Ducati should have done this to begin with and offer the longer travel as an option. Its a beast of a bike and has the all important 8 gallon tank for a great sport touring/sportbike😎

A great review- you look at bikes refreshingly different to some of the older wizened journalists/vloggers but I sense your love of all things Americana bubbling just below the surface too! Great shots from Monica of England at its summer best at last too. ❤

19:51 describes how interesting is this motorcycle.

Brilliant honest review Freddie . I would echo all the points you made. just sold mine with a sad heart but just too much> Brilliant bike but so hard to move around. Loved it but had to go. I'm 63 and 5" 10 Just big & too heavy Fabulous bike though _ power and comfort amazing and also sensible - blind spot spot detection is hopefully introduced on more bikes as it'd brilliant system Life in the old dog yet though I changed to streetlight V2 - Love it

Well presented Freddy. You make a great argument for the small to mid capacity bikes. This bike is purely a status symbol! I’m not a fan of status symbols. 👍🏻

With Ducati the one to go for is the Desert X. Go anywhere, fun, looks good Costs less. Manageable.

Sports tourers is exactly what they are, and exactly how the majority are used 👍

Great honest Freddy. Own a 1260 multi with 45k on it and love it ( and a Transalp, Dobbsie is right) but wanted to move on to a v4, I’m just not sure now. Anyone else swapped ?

Another very enjoyable video. Clearly a very capable, fantastically spec'd bike. As the owner of a '23 Heritage Classic, the Multistrada looks like stellar value for money...!

Hi Freddie, nice video as usual! I was wondering if you ever tried the Beeline Moto tripper... I'm pretty fascinated about this little guy... I used to use the google maps as navigator, and I really like the "whole" map view, but the Beeline is a little bit subtle and I think that it suits better on a classic bike, but I'm not sure if it is convenient to use it... Thanks and Keep Riding!

In your 30 second test you should have pressed the ignition before putting the panniers on.

Freddie, you really made me laugh hard today. I love how you normally really appreciate everything and call most things fabulous or fantastic. Until you get a large adventure bike. I have ridden both the 1260 Enduro as well as the V4S and never felt the way you so passionately discarded this bikes abilities. 😉😉 Still, each to their own. And would I do a long offroad section through half a metre wide trails through the mountains on it? Probably not. Anything else? Yes. Though I might prefer the big GS a bit more still. Or the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, as that is even a bit more of a hooligan than the Ducati.

Great video Freddie 👍 I think most adventure bikes are no good to use on a daylight basis , I sold mine because I couldn’t be bothered!? I’m now looking for a bike that looks good with character , we don’t need all those toys , Faster isn’t always better 👍

Another great review Freddie, poor old Monika, mind you the show must go on 😂

There is another Multistrada, the V2 or 950S (which I own). I purchased mine, a 2021 with 1650km on the clock for $19k AUD. Its a fantastic bike and can do anything I throw at it and is much more manoeuvrable than the V4. I do admit though, I have changed the seat!

Frankly I'm amazed by this review. I own a V4 Rally as well as a 1250GSA and have owned a number of so-called adventure bikes in the past. I am a similar height to Freddie, somewhat horizontally unchallenged and about twice his age I'm guessing so hardly lithe and agile but I dont find either of these bikes a particular problem for slow manoeuvring or filtering. Yes obviously you have to be aware of their weight but I find both to be quite well balanced at slow speed and did Freddie not find the little button on the left hand bar to lower the suspension? What limits these bikes for filtering are the mirrors and the panniers, which in the case of the V4 Rally seem unnecessarily wide to me. Why the panniers arent longer and narrower is beyond me other than the fact they allow Ducati to claim that the left hand pannier can hold a full face helmet. Freddie is right about one thing and that is the heat from the engine and that is despite the fact that 2 of the cylinders cut out at low rpm and there are adjustable vents on either side of the fairing. I guess Ducati offering heated seats for this bike was their little Italian joke. As for offroading, yes of course you would pick something a lot lighter than a V4 Rally or GSA for serious offroading but both bikes are perfectly capable of light offroading and if you plan on dropping the V4 Rally you can option crash bars which I notice werent fitted to this test bike. Another thing Freddie is correct about is that the V4 Rally is seriously licence losing fast when you wind it up and that is probably the major difference to the GSA

Watching reviews like this make me love my Triumph Street Scrambler 900 more and more 😍

17:30 You make it ridiculously entertaining with this pullback 😂 I ride Hyperstrada 939 with full tank which approximately 210kg, I can feel the weight, let alone 260kg 😅

If you hadn’t already said it, the closing piece shot, with the bike making you look small, sums it up nicely. Anything more than 200kgs and my heart sinks these days.

Freddie, you could have saved quite a bit of time by starting the bike as soon as you pushed the button to fire up the dashboard!! 😂 Yesterday travelled to BSB at Thruxton, full panniers and top box with my pillion. Filtered no problem at the usual Stonehenge bottlenecks, full change of clothes, helmets and both jackets in the panniers and top box for security when we arrived. ( I’ve got the standard panniers which are narrower). The bike will lower at lower speeds if you change the mode! All the way over the fields for parking, no problem. The V4S full is the bike you should have. The Rally is too hardcore for the average rider as is the Desert X

It’s a great review Freddie & Monica, but I can’t help wondering if Monica is ok after the bee sting 🐝….. 😊

They can call it what they like. That bike should be regarded as a long distance tourer, that's all.

Great video Freddie! Honestly, you are getting better and better with your reviews and being as non-biased as possible. And as for the the bike… I really hope that current economic situation and cost of living crisis will make the majority of people realize how ridiculous and redundant bikes like these are. Absolutely unnecessary and I’m sorry, but whoever buys these has more money than sense… to be honest, Dacia Sandero and a Transalp is much more desirable combo than this or a big GS.

Brilliant review Freddie. 👍

Excellent review Freddie. In my estimation, It’s too big, too heavy, and too expensive.

Freddie. Great review and you make some serious points. However, you are missing the point. Trying to compare a Herley and a Multistrada because the cost a similar price is missing the point. It's like trying to compare a lorry costing 50k and an Alpine costing 50k. Yes, they both have four wheels but they are built for different purposes. Your sports tourer comparison is nearer the mark. However, you need to ride a GS 1200, 1250 or 1300. I have never ridden the 1300, but you will then realise why the GS is so popular. The GS Adventure is wider than the Multistrada, but I have zero issues filtering. The suspension is sublime on the road but will bottom out on bumps off-road. Feel free to come and use my 2019 R1250 GS Adventure and you will change your opinion of adventure bikes. I am sending it to live in Cape Town in October, so I can ride it throughout SA, Namibia and Botswana. Honestly, I can go canyon carving, commuting, fast riding and touring on it no problem. Give it a go.

I found the same , its very top heavy and cumbersome even compared to the liquid cooled BMW gs .I`ll stick with my 2012 air cooled BMW r1200gs twin cam still going strong with plenty of mid range torque that makes B road blasting an utter joy .

For sure - car money and more than car money to run. But the great thing about biking is that there is something for everyone - decent second hand bikes to be had from £2000 upwards.

I've no issue with expensive bikes but I don't like feeling I've been ripped off. If Honda had made an identical bike first, there's no way it would cost so much. A premium just for a badge I can't stomach. Each to their own.

A definition of the word "overkill"

I own a ducati multistrada v4, and I an 5 foot 8, I have none of the issues you report, I filter without issues, I don't overheat any more than any other bike. It's the best bike I have had

You can make any bike ride an adventure if you get enough time off work to just go. As a dairy farm labourer I discovered the farm bike and thought, this thing can go where my CB250 rs will not stand a chance. So big bikes are great for road trips but hard core adventure ? WR250r or similar. Or a Honda farm bike with the big cushy seat. Big road bikes eat the miles quicker but hit the tarmac harder. I found that out the hard way. So multistrada does not excite or impress me.