Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Technical Review

When the Multistrada name first appeared on the oddball, Pierre Terblanche-designed 1000DS back in 2003 few could have imagined that the idea would evolve into an entire model range that dominates Ducati’s sales – but that’s precisely what’s happened and as a result the launch of substantial upgrades to the 2025 Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak are big news as the company gets stuck into a planned series of new model unveilings planned between now and the end of the year.

In the first quarter of this year, six of the ten best-selling Ducati models in this country were Multistradas, and while we still tend to think of the company as a sports bike brand, there were no Panigale variants in that top-10 list.

If you can’t instantly spot the 2025 model’s changes, don’t despair – the visual updates are subtle – but some of the revisions under the skin promise to make the new generation machines noticeably better than their predecessors.

Pros & Cons

Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Price

Although the Multistrada V4 officially starts at £17,695, a glance at the registration figures in the UK shows that over here the majority of riders splash out on the more expensive variants, with the V4S outselling the base model. Getting that all-important ‘S’ – and the extra equipment it encompasses – pushes the price up to £21,495. In fact, the V4S can be split into five distinct variants: the base £21,495 bike, the radar-equipped model at £22,495, the ‘Travel and Radar’ version with panniers for £24,025, the ‘Sport Travel and Radar’ variant that adds forged  wheels for £25,125, and the ‘Adventure Travel and Radar’ version with spoked wheels and aluminium luggage for £25,625.

That array of machines illustrates the sheer breadth of the Multistrada range and shows how the sportier Pikes Peak variant – with Ohlins suspension and 17-inch wheels – is only another small step up the price scale with its £27,795 tag despite being a full £10,100 more expensive than the entry-level version, powered by an identical V4 engine.

Pick either the top or bottom of the range bikes, and you’re limited to just one paint option – the standard V4 comes only in ‘Ducati Red’ with silver sides, while the Pikes Peak is also red and silver, but with a dose of black and additional graphics. The V4S, meanwhile, can be had in red as well, but buyers also get the choice of all-black or white versions as well, albeit as extra-cost (£300) options. V4S buyers can also spec wire wheels instead of cast alloys for an additional £700, or forged alloys for £1100, and that’s before even starting to dip into the vast array of dealer-fit options.

2025 Ducati Multistrada V4S

Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Engine & Performance

The 1158cc V4 Granturismo engine was something of a surprise at its introduction back in 2020 because it ditched Ducati’s traditional Desmodromic valve system for a conventional set of valve springs and finger followers – benefitting from extended service intervals as a result, with valve adjustments not scheduled until 37,000 miles. For the 2025 Multistrada it’s been tweaked to meet the latest Euro5+ approval rules, which demand monitoring of the catalytic converter, and more importantly gained an extended version of the cylinder deactivation system of the original version.

Where the previous model’s rear cylinder bank would deactivate when the bike wasn’t moving, helping reduce emissions, heat soak and fuel consumption in stop-go traffic, the new variant expands the cylinder deactivation to operate at low speeds as well as when stationary. According to Ducati, that results in up to 6% lower fuel consumption, extending the bike’s range by the same percentage.

The updates have come without sacrificing any of the engine’s 170hp, which arrives at 10,750rpm, while peak torque of 123.8Nm hits at 9,000rpm.

Those figures can be tamed by five modes, with the Multistrada V4’s updated ‘Enduro’ setting reducing peak power to a more manageable 114hp. For 2025, there’s a new ‘Wet’ mode added to the mix, and the remaining three settings – Touring, Urban and Sport – are unchanged from the previous model. At the other end of the spectrum the Pikes Peak version features a ‘Race Riding Mode’ that introduces the rev limiter more gradually so you can hang onto gears deeper into the red before snatching the next ratio via the standard-fit quickshifter.

Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

One millimetre. That’s the difference that separates the 2025 Multistrada V4 range, including the S and the Pikes Peak, from the 2024 versions. It’s a measurement of how far upwards Ducati has moved the swingarm pivot point on the cast aluminium, monocoque chassis, and while it sounds like an inconsequential amount Ducati says it makes a disproportionate improvement to the handling.

The change increases the anti-squat geometry of the bikes, helping the V4’s handling both unladen and when fully loaded.

On the standard Multistrada V4, the suspension is largely carried over from the previous model with 50mm USD forks, fully adjustable for compression and rebound, and a similarly tweakable monoshock at the back, but it gains an automatic lowering device that drops the rear ride height below 10km/h to help riders reach the ground. While automated, it can be deactivated if you prefer.

The Multistrada V4S also has that system but uses an ‘Evolution’ version of the Ducati Skyhook semi-active Marzocchi suspension that automatically tweaks the damping on the move. An addition for 2025 is a dedicated suspension button on the bars that lets riders alter the setting on the fly, regardless of which riding mode is selected.

As before, the Pikes Peak has Ohlins Smart EC2.0 semi-active suspension, which is allied to 17-inch Marchesini wheels at each end instead of the 19-inch front, 17-inch rear combination of the V4 and V4S models. That setup lowers the nose, putting more weight on the front and steepening the rake for faster responses. Again, a new bar-mounted suspension adjustment button is added for 2025 to let you make quick changes to the damping. As in previous years, the Pikes Peak is set aside from the V4 and V4S by using a single-sided swingarm instead of a dual-sided design.

All three models use Brembo brakes, with monobloc four-pots on the base V4 and Stylema calipers on the V4S and Pikes Peak, each with cornering ABS. At the back, the rear disc grows to 280mm for 2025 on all three versions of the bike, improving braking performance.

Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Comfort & Economy

The level of comfort you enjoy will depend on which Multistrada V4 you choose. The V4S’s Skyhook Evolution damping includes a ‘bump detection’ function that tweaks damping in response to individual bumps in all apart from the Enduro riding mode, for example, while the Ohlins Smart EC2.0 setup on the Pikes Peak has been optimized for greater comfort when touring.

However, for passengers, there’s a range-wide improvement if, as many will, you opt to add luggage. The cases have been repositioned 25mm further back, boosting pillion space, and there’s a new die-cast luggage support that’s more rigid than before.

By extending the engine’s cylinder deactivation to operate at low speeds on the move as well as when the bike is stationary – something that applies across the 2025 range – Ducati is also boosting both comfort and economy. Comfort is better because with the rear cylinder back deactivated in traffic, there’s less heat being generated that can find its way through to the rider’s legs. And because the bike is operating as a 579cc twin rather than an 1158cc four, it uses less fuel, giving an overall reduction of consumption of 6% compared to the previous model.

Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Equipment

Ducati has long been at the forefront when it comes to electronic goodies, and the simple rule with the Multistrada V4 range is that if you can think of a gadget, it’s probably fitted as standard or available as an option.

Most of the kit is carried over from the previous generation, including the cornering ABS ands traction control, wheelie control, cornering lights and much more, and as on the previous Multistrada V4, front and rear radars are available as an option – enabling adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. New for 2025, the radar-equipped bikes also get forward collision warning (FCW) via a pop-up message on the dashboard. The Pikes Peak has the radar kit and FCW as standard.

The rider assist systems also benefit from ‘Ducati Vehicle Observer’ – the system that premiered on the latest Panigale V4 which ‘estimates the position of the bike in space’ and simulates the input of 70 virtual sensors. All that information is passed on to the rider assist systems to help them perform more effectively than before.

Although not instantly noticeable, the new V4, V4S and Pikes Peak all feature a redesigned nose, with subtly altered proportions and different plastics around the headlight and ‘beak’ to make the bike look slimmer. Most notably, there’s more painted bodywork and less black plastic than before.

Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Rivals

The adventure bike market might be saturated with high-powered machines right now but there aren’t many that can combined the absolute performance and the high level of equipment as the Multistrada V4 range. You might consider:

BMW R1300GS | Price: £16,470

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Power/Torque

145bhp/110lb-ft

Weight

237kg (inc. fuel)

KTM 1290 Super Adventure S | Price: £17,499

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Power/Torque

158bhp/102lb-ft

Weight

227kg (without fuel)

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 | £15,995

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Power/Torque

150bhp/94lb-ft

Weight

254kg

2025 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak

Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025) - Verdict

We’ll give a verdict once we’ve ridden the bike.

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Ducati Multistrada V4, V4S and Pikes Peak (2025)- Technical Specification

What is MCIA Secured?

MCIA Secured gives bike buyers the chance to see just how much work a manufacturer has put into making their new investment as resistant to theft as possible.

As we all know, the more security you use, the less chance there is of your bike being stolen. In fact, based on research by Bennetts, using a disc lock makes your machine three times less likely to be stolen, while heavy duty kit can make it less likely to be stolen than a car. For reviews of the best security products, click here.

MCIA Secured gives motorcycles a rating out of five stars (three stars for bikes of 125cc or less), based on the following being fitted to a new bike as standard:

• A steering lock that meets the UNECE 62 standard

• An ignition immobiliser system

• A vehicle marking system

• An alarm system

• A vehicle tracking system with subscription

The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.