Ducati is currently in the midst of a teaser campaign for the V4 engine that will power the new Multistrada V4 adventure bike, so it is a bit interesting to see them today promoting the new machine outside of that marketing campaign.
The news from Bologna tells us that the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 is currently being produced on the Borgo Panigale factory floor, and that when it goes on sale, it will be the first motorcycle with rider aids that uses a front and rear radar system.
In that announcement, Ducati does let slip a few more details about this eagerly anticipated 170hp motorcycle, namely that its new V4 configuration will allow for much longer service intervals, and that its motor (which is presumed to be 1,158cc) will produce silky smooth power.
Perhaps the biggest news is that the Ducati Multistrada V4 will officially debut on November 4th, though the motor powering this machine is expected to have a full announcement on October 15th.
For now, Ducati is focused on touting the front and back radar system on the Multistrada V4, which it has co-developed with Bosch.
With radar units fore and aft, each about the size of a GoPro camera, two key systems are added to Ducati’s rider aid package.
The first is an adaptive cruise control, which uses the front radar unit to judge the speed and distance of vehicles in front of the motorcycle, and then adjusts the throttle and brakes in order to maintain that distance (adjustable via four levels) when the motorcycle is traveling between 30 and 160 km/h (roughly 20 mph to 100 mph).
The second system uses the rear radar sensor and powers a blind spot awareness system, and alerts the rider to vehicles that cannot be seen by the rider themselves, or from the motorcycle’s mirrors. It also alerts the rider when a vehicle is rapidly approaching the motorcycle from the rear.
While a variety of European brands have seen testing this same system (in particular the KTM 1290 Adventure and the BMW R1250GS) over the past year or two, Ducati will be the first to market with it.
What other advances and technical bits will we see on the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4? We will have to wait over the next few weeks to find out.
Source: Ducati
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