Where do BMW’s S1000XR and Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 S fit in? They have big windscreens and side cases like touring-bikes, but they also have hand guards and long-travel suspension like ADV bikes. And yet with big brakes, high-performance engines, and loads of electronic rider aids they clearly have plenty of sportbike DNA too.

So what are the S1000XR and Multistrada 1200, and more importantly, what can they do? In this episode of On Two Wheels we set out to answer that question—on the dyno, at the drag strip, at the track, on the Pacific Coast Highway, and even in the dirt!

Watch the video above to see how these two premium do-it-alls compare in the real world, and check out the dyno, ergo, and spec charts below to see how they stack up on paper.

Cylinder count trumps displacement in this game. Not only does the BMW own the Ducati in peak power, but it lays down a much smoother torque curve, though the Ducati’s deserves something of an asterisk, as the fueling might be compromised by early calibration glitches.

Gerhard, meet your Italian cousin. The rider triangle on the BMW is subtly tighter, with less legroom, more rearset footpegs, and a taller bar. Ducati’s fine Italian saddle makers did a better job, even with a lower seat height. Both bikes are terrifically comfortable though.