Hot on the heels of Ducati announcing a naked Streetfighter version of its Panigale V4, rumours have surfaced that the Italian company is planning a Multistrada V4.
The Streetfighter V4 production version will be unveiled this year as a 2020 model and a prototype was recently raced at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado.
Now it seems the Streetfighter V4 street version may be accompanied by a Multistrada V4, according to German motorcycle magazine Motorrad.
The magazine claims it has seen the bike out testing in Borgo Panigale, home of the Ducati factory in north-east Italy.
There are no images available to prove their sighting, but it makes a lot of sense for Ducati to use the engine in other model variants.
Who knows, they could also be planning a Monster version!
Streetfighter V4 is expected to have similar power to the Panigale V4’s 158kW (213hp).
It had been suggested the street production version may be a little tamer. However, it is likely to still be more than the Aprilia Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
The Multistrada is likely to be tuned for less top end and more low-down power and torque.
The current Multistrada 1260 has 117kW (158hp) output.
Ducati Multistrada 1260
A Multistrada V4 could make its debut alongside the Streetfighter V4 at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November.
If it does, the bike is likely to have front and rear radar for blind spot alerts and cornering ABS as Ducati has previously said it would add these features to its entire range in 2020.
Veteran American racer Carlin Dunne has died in a crash only metres from the finish of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, riding the Ducati V4 Streetfighter prototype.
There have only been six deaths in the event’s history, but organisers seriously considered dropping motorcycles after the two crashes in 2014-15.
Instead, they restricted the field to bikes with single handlebars which excludes super bikes with clip-ons and tightened the vetting process for riders who have to show they can compete safely.
Carlin, aged 36, was the title defender, a four-time winner, the top qualifier and was on target for a record time.
Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
The victory in the heavy motorcycle class went to Australian Rennie Scaysbrook who set a record time of 9:44.963 riding a 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. He smashed the record by five seconds.
Rennie Scaysbrook
Official statements
The hillclimb officials issued this statement:
Throughout the 97 years that this unique race has been conducted on America’s Mountain, we have experienced the ultimate joy in victory, the disappointment of failure and now, the unexpected heartbreak of the loss of a competitor, whose love of the race brought him to Pikes Peak. We mourn the tragic death of Carlin and he will remain in our hearts forever as part of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb family. Carlin will be remembered as a warm hearted mentor with a competitive spirit. He was a gentle and thoughtful man who touched everyone who met him. We will always remember his contagious smile and genuine love for sport.
Ducati North America CEO Jason Chinnock issued this statement:
There are no words to describe our shock and sadness. Carlin was part of our family and one of the most genuine and kind men we have ever known. His spirit for this event and love of motorcycling will be remembered forever as his passing leaves a hole in our hearts.
Hillclimb course
The 20km Pikes Peak course has 156 turns, starts at 2860m above sea level and climbs to an altitude of 4300m which is halfway to the summit of Everest.
Ducati recently released this video of Carlin training on the Streetfighter V4 prototype.
The Italian manufacturer said the Pikes Peak event was identified as an important part in the development process of the new model.
The company has won the Colorado hillclimb three times in 2011 and 2011 with the Multistrada 1200 and last year with the Multistrada 1260.
Carlin rode to victory on each of those occasions and the company celebrated with Pikes Peak versions of those models.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak
Ducati says the Streetfighter V4 “derives directly from the sporty Panigale V4 stripped of its fairings, and fitted with high and wide handlebars”.
Streetfighter V4
The Ducati V4 Streetfghter prototype carlin raced was expected to have even more power than the Panigale V4’s 213 horsepower (158kW).
“The high performance of the 1100cm³ Desmosedici Stradale is kept in hand by aerodynamic profiles specifically designed for this model,” Ducati says.
However, the street production version may be a little tamer, although probably still more than the Aprilia Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
Panigale V4 R
“The prototype will race with a ‘pixelated’ livery, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati; unlike the normal practice with prototypes, the livery does not hide the lines, but exalts them by deliberately revealing how the bike will finally look, “Ducati said.
There is not a lot of difference from the Panigale V4.
Gone is the windscreen and full fairing, although there is still a fair amount of aero bodywork for a naked bike. The rear of the bike looks very similar.
The biggest difference is in the short nose cone with very discrete “eyes” as LED headlights.
Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali said the Streetfighter V4 will be “one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020”.
“Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding; so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production,” he says.
The bike will be presented to the public at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November and will be available in Ducati dealerships from mid-March 2020.
The Italian manufacturer says that “as part of the development process of the new model, the ‘Race to the Clouds’ has been identified as an ideal proving ground for testing the high performance of the Streetfighter V4”.
While Ducati has not released any tech specs on the prototype, the race-trim engine is expected to have more power than the Panigale V4’s 213 horsepower (158kW).
“The high performance of the 1100cm³ Desmosedici Stradale is kept in hand by aerodynamic profiles specifically designed for this model,” Ducati says.
However, the street production version may be a little tamer, although probably still more than the Aprilia Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
Panigale V4 R
“The prototype will race with a ‘pixelated’ livery, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati; unlike the normal practice with prototypes, the livery does not hide the lines, but exalts them by deliberately revealing how the bike will finally look, “Ducati says.
There is not a lot of difference to the Panigale V4.
Gone is the windscreen and full fairing, although there is still a fair amount of aero bodywork for a naked bike. The rear of the bike looks very similar.
The biggest difference is in the short nose cone with very discrete “eyes” as LED headlights.
Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali confirms that the Streetfighter V4 will be “one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020”.
“Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding; so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production,” he says.
The bike will be presented to the public at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November and will be available in Ducati dealerships from mid-March 2020.
Ducati looks like it is planning a GP-inspired Hypermotard 950 and a naked “streetfighter” version of its V4 Panigale.
A Hypermotard 950, customised by the company’s styling shop, Centro Stile Ducati, has won first place in the Concept Bikes: New Design and Prototypes by Manufacturers and Independents category at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held at Cernobbio on Lake Como, Italy, at the weekend.
The concept features a compact full LED projector plus styling and technology inspired by the MotoGP bike.
The Hypermotard was introduced in 2005 and has been through many iterations.
Now it could have a GP-inspired version.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t have those ridiculous partially red tyres and rims!
Naked V4
There has been talk for some time of a naked version of its V4 Panigale for some time.
Now, Drop Dead Gorgeous magazine has released spy photos of a naked V4 being track tested.
Image: Drop Dead Gorgeous magazine
The blurry images show it has the V4 headlight, but only a lower fairing and bellypan like an Aprilia Tuono.
As a street fighter it gets MX-style bars rather than clip-ons.
Since the famous Pikes Peak Hillclimb in Colorado does not allow bikes with clip-ons, this could just be a prototype to run in the event which Ducati has won on several occasions.
The hillclimb is on June 24, so the track testing seems relevant.
But surely Ducati wouldn’t go to so much effort just for one race. We think a production version will not be far away.
Image: Drop Dead Gorgeous magazine
However, don’t expect the 1103cc engine to have the same 213 horsepower (158kW) as the V4.
No doubt they will tune it down for a street fighter version, probably just a little more than the Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
Norton Motorcycles is expected to improve reliability and spare parts availability as well as delivering important new models this year after two major cash injections.
Ducati could be considering a naked version of its V4 Panigale along the lines of this sexy custom V4 Penta by italian design company Officine GP Design.
Only nine of these V4 Penta models will be made and they start at an eye-watering €100,000 (about $A157,000, $US114,500, £87,300).
This ridiculous promo video seems to show that its purpose in life is to be a thing of beauty to be displayed by the pool, rather than actually ridden!
However, Ducati has a history of collaborating with design houses and other institutions to design custom motorcycles that end up being the inspiration for production models.
So there is every chance that the V4 could shed its fairing and become a naked model the Hypermotard or the axed Streetfighter model.
V4 Penta
However, designer Luca Pozzato has been a little too adventurous for this to translate faithfully into a production model.
For a start, it features expensive and heavy girder forks. Ducati is unlikely to follow suit.
Ducati’s new Panigale V4 has had a traumatic introduction this year with its fourth recall.
The latest recall is over a timing chain tensioner that could become loose and leak oil through the adjustment bolt on to the rear tyre. The result could be dramatic!
Ducati Australia confirms that the recall announced recently in the USA will also affect Australian owners of all variants of V4.
However, the official recall notice has not yet been listed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
It’s an easy fix with dealers will only needing to tighten the tensioners to specification. Stay tuned for our official notice, along with VINs of those bikes affected.
Fourth recall
This is the fourth recall affecting the new Ducati flagship model, not all of which affected bikes delivered to Australia.
Ducati Australia says an American recall for the Ducati SuperSport over mirrors that work loose from engine vibration does not affect local riders.
There is also an American recall over a faulty gear shift knob which could fall off the lever on the SuperSport and the Monster 821 and 1200.
“No gear lever campaign has been launched for our market at this stage,” says Ducati Australia.
If/when it does, we will publish the recall notice.
Ducati Monster 821
Even though manufacturers and importers contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
