2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 1200 Preview

Spy photos of what we believe is the next-generation Ducati Multistrada V4 1200 built around the company’s now-signature V-4 engine, were recently taken while being subjected to a shakedown test on the streets somewhere in Italy. Photos of the new motorcycle, which was disguised in Cerwinske-esque white and black graphics, actually looks pretty nice from all angles. Especially from the front…

See that large box-like shape in the front of the upper cowling? That is the telltale sign of the collision avoidance system Ducati has been working on. Officially called the Ducati Advanced Rider Assistance Systems, it will be the first time it has been deployed on a Ducati production bike. This important rider-safety technology has been developed alongside Audi over the past few years and appears to be ready to be released to the riding public. The system has been showcased in action multiple times over the past year and with variations currently being used by automobile manufacturers around the world. The Audi/Ducati system is known internally as Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology and it uses the latest 5G network to decipher what is going on around the vehicle in order to initiate whatever avoidance maneuvers are appropriate.

Related: 2019 Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro First Ride Review

Anyway, let’s get back to the bike itself. It was only a matter of time before the V4 engine made its way to the Multistrada lineup but a close look reveals that this particular version utilizes a traditional-style swingarm like that found on the 2020 Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro, rather than the single-sided swingarm found on the road-going 2020 Multistrada 1260 S, for example. So the question is: Is this the latest version of the Enduro or will Ducati forgo the single-sided component all together?

Stay tuned as more information is leaked or released in the near future. Until that time, enjoy pouring over these images and anticipating the arrival of the next step in the evolution of the beloved Multistrada.