2008 Ducati Multistrada 1100 S

Although many people consider the 2008 Ducati Multistrada to be a sport bike, this motorcycle is diverse enough that many will end up using it for other purposes. Its suspension is comfortable enough for daily commuting or even weekend touring. However, it also has enough spirit and power for enjoyable rides on rUral mountain roads.

The Multistrada was created by the masters of mountain biking at Ducati. These Italian bikes were developed to hug tight, mountain curves and zip through small, rUral villages. With a 1078cc, Desmodromic, air-cooled engine, this motorcycle has enough power to keep sport bike enthusiasts happy. The engineers at Ducati increased the power and torque available on the Multistrada, and it handles impeccably on the open road.

However, the Multistrada rides unlike any other sport bike. The designers reduced the frame vibration that is typical of sport bikes by inserting rubber mounts in the top yoke assembly. Ducati added an Öhlins suspension to both the front and rear of the bike to increase the ease of the ride. The seat position and foot pegs are located in ergonomically correct positions, although some riders have reported that the seat could use some additional padding. The comfort of this bike means that riders can take it out for hours and still be comfortable. The 2008 Multistrada seems to be an excellent dual-purpose motorcycle.

• Ducati redesigned the engine of the Multistrada for the 2008 year. By increasing the bore to four millimeters, it increased the capacity of the engine from 992cc to 1078cc.
• The 2008 Multistrada has been transformed from a dry clutch to a wet clutch. The new wet clutch improves the horsepower of this bike.
• Ducati's designers added rubber mounts below the handlebars to help diminish vibration throughout the frame of the bike. This reduction in vibration gives the 2008 Multistrada a much smoother ride.