The Multistrada V2 is the least expensive way into Ducati's travel family, and that fact tends to get it miscategorized as the compromise option. It is worth looking at what Ducati actually did here, because the V2 was not decontented from something larger. Ducati rebuilt it from the engine outward.
The starting point is the twin itself. Ducati states that the new V2 engine is the lightest twin-cylinder it has ever produced, and that the engine's lightness is a significant contributor to the Multistrada V2's overall weight reduction. That is the thread running through the whole motorcycle: the engine got lighter, so the chassis could be redesigned around a lighter engine, and the finished bike came out at 439 lb wet without fuel.
What Ducati publishes
| Spec | Multistrada V2 |
|---|---|
| Power | 115 hp |
| Torque | 67.9 lb-ft |
| Weight | 439 lb (wet weight, no fuel) |
| Display | 5" full TFT color |
| Color | Ducati Red |
| MSRP | $16,995 |
Add Ducati's destination charge of $995. MSRP excludes options, taxes, title, registration, processing and handling, dealer charges and potential tariffs; the dealer sets the actual selling price.
The engine: built for the bottom of the rev range
Two details in Ducati's description of this motor matter more than the 115 hp headline.
The first is a larger flywheel, which Ducati credits for smoothness at low rpm. The second is variable valve timing, which Ducati says delivers torque across the low and mid range. Put those together and you have an engine aimed at the low and middle of the rev range, which is where a touring bike spends most of its life.
This matters beyond the spec sheet. A crossover lives in third gear at 35 mph through a neighborhood, in sixth at 65 on I-5, and in second coming out of a damp hairpin — all low-to-mid-range situations. An engine tuned to be smooth and torque-rich there does more for your riding than one chasing a bigger peak number.
115 hp against 439 lb works out to roughly 0.26 hp per pound. That is a substantial amount of performance in a chassis this light — enough to be genuinely quick, not enough to be intimidating on a cold, wet morning.
An evolved chassis
Ducati describes the Multistrada V2's chassis as completely revised, and the architecture is specific: an aluminum monocoque frame that rests on the engine as a stressed member, which Ducati says contributes to reducing weight. Behind it sit a trellis subframe and a new aluminum double-sided swingarm, which Ducati credits with improving stability and stress resistance.
Using the engine as a structural member is how you get weight out of a motorcycle without making it flimsy — the mass that would otherwise be frame tubing simply is not there.
Design that is doing thermal work
The styling follows the family — Ducati notes the high shoulders, the front-end mass and the brand's beak, and calls the result a total reinterpretation of the crossover. But a few of the design choices are functional rather than cosmetic, and they are the ones Portland riders should care about:
- Aerodynamic deflectors at the front, which Ducati says improve protection for the rider's shoulders.
- Upwash conveyors that direct fresh air to the rider's leg area, specifically to reduce the amount of engine heat reaching the rider.
- Turn signals integrated into the side fairings, with an air channel that Ducati says also contributes to thermal comfort.
- A full LED front light set with a new headlight and daytime running light, and LED rear lighting that Ducati designed for maximum visibility and safety.
The heat management cuts both ways in this climate. In August traffic on Powell it is a genuine comfort gain; on a 40-degree December commute, routing warm air away from your legs is a feature you may wish you could switch off.
The 5-inch full TFT color display is Ducati's stated solution for legibility, which it attributes to contrast and color rendering in varied conditions. On a bike that will see grey overcast, low winter sun and genuine darkness in the same week, display legibility is not a luxury item.
Pricing
| Trim | Color | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Multistrada V2 | Ducati Red | $16,995 |
| Multistrada V2 S | Ducati Red | $19,995 |
| Multistrada V2 S | Storm Green | $20,495 |
The V2 is offered in Ducati Red only, and at $16,995 it undercuts the V2 S by $3,000. Our separate write-up covers the V2 S specifically.
Who this bike is for
The Multistrada V2 is for the rider who wants the Multistrada experience — the upright position, the long-haul intent, the Ducati character — without buying more motorcycle than they will use. At 439 lb and 115 hp it is a bike you can commute on Monday, load up Friday and ride competently on a wet backroad in between.
It is particularly well suited to a rider stepping up from a middleweight, or stepping down from a larger adventure bike that turned out to be more machine than their actual riding called for. The weight figure is the argument. A lighter travel bike is a travel bike you use more often.
It is not the right bike for the rider chasing outright performance — the Multistrada V4 range exists for that, starting $3,000 above this bike and climbing to $39,995. It is also not the choice if you want the extra equipment and the Storm Green paint that come with the V2 S. And if your riding is overwhelmingly off-pavement, Ducati builds the DesertX family for exactly that job.
See it at MotoCorsa
The Multistrada V2 is in the Multistrada lineup at MotoCorsa Ducati in Portland. Browse our current Ducati inventory to check what we have on the floor, or contact us to book a test ride and find out whether 439 lb feels like the right number underneath you.
Specifications and pricing sourced from ducati.com and are subject to change. Contact MotoCorsa for current availability and out-the-door pricing.