2016 EICMA Motorcycle Show: Ducati unveils Multistrada 950

The entry-level ADV from is powered by a 937cc liquid-cooled Testastretta L-twin motor from the Hypermotard 939

The Multistrada 950 is Ducati’s attempt to bring the Multistrada line-up to newer riders – both in terms of accessibility and price. The baby Multistrada then, is a step in the right direction in the sense that it has more compact dimensions and a smaller motor.

While the 950 is styled as the Multistrada 1200, it borrows a lot of goodies from the Multistrada Enduro, like the seat and swingarm. Infact it’s 1594mm wheelbase is similar to the Enduro and larger than the Multistrada 1200. It has a 20-litre fuel tank and a adjustable windscreen.

It gets fully-adjustable 48mm Kayaba front forks and Sachs rear dampers with 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels shod with dual purpose Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres.

It is powered by the same 937cc liquid-cooled Testastretta L-twin on the Hypermotard 939 with revisions to make it Euro-4 compliant with service intervals set at 14,5000 kilometres. The revised mill makes the same 115PS at 9000rpm and 96Nm of torque at 7750rpm. The Multistrada 950 has four Riding Modes (Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro) It also gets ride-by-wire and Ducati Safety Pack, which includes the latest Bosch 9.1 MP ABS with 3-level adjustment and 8-level Ducati Traction Controlb ut misses out on some of the Multistrada tech like DVT, DSS, Ducati Wheelie Control and cornering ABS. 

Braking is courtesy Brembo monobloc radial 4-piston calipers clamping 320mm discs at front and a 265mm disc at the rear. The Ducati Multistrada 950 will be offered in two variants – standard and the Touring Pack version. Expect the Multistrada to be launched as a CKD from Thailand sometime in 2017. When launched, the bike will go against the likes of the Triumph Tiger, Honda Africa Twin, Kawasaki Versys 1000 and Suzuki V-Strom.

- Benjamin Gracias