Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally Review: Big Power Meets Big Intelligence

• Ducati’s updated Multistrada V4 Rally now features MotoGP-derived rider electronics and radar safety tech.
• Automatic Lowering Device makes the giant ADV surprisingly manageable at low speed.
• Massive comfort, huge performance and 30-litre touring range make it a serious long-distance machine.

Ducati’s updated Multistrada V4 Rally combines MotoGP-derived electronics, radar safety tech and huge real-world comfort into one of the most advanced adventure bikes ever built. Adam battled winter weather to put the fully-loaded adventure tourer through its paces.

Twenty-three years on and Ducati’s Multistrada concept is still redefining what a touring bike can be. The entry Multi V2 is sensible and useful—a proper 21st-century tourer. The V4 RS? Pure insanity. 180hp of glorious chaos that could have lined up against a World Superbike grid just a few decades ago, with hard luggage to boot. Right in the middle sits the V4 Rally, the Swiss Army knife of the range: massive, comfy, global, and hopefully just as capable off-road as it is on.

Ducati has gone full electronics on the Rally. It’s now running the same race-developed system first seen on the V4 S, bringing Skyhook-managed Marzocchi suspension with longer travel, predictive Ducati Vehicle Observer (DVO) rider aids, linked brakes, adaptive radar cruise, blind-spot detection, and front-collision warnings that flash before trouble hits (or you hit trouble…). The new Automatic Lowering Device drops the seat below 6 mph, making this giant machine way more approachable for shorter riders, and suspension settings can now adjust on the fly or auto-tune themselves to terrain and style.

A bump detection system communicates between front and rear to smooth out the rough stuff, the DQS 2.0 quick-shifter lets you climb and drop gears clutch-free, and cornering lights and even “coming home” lights add a layer of smart, thoughtful tech that feels like the future.

Mechanically, Ducati hasn’t forgotten the fundamentals. The swing-arm pivot has been raised slightly to improve stability under load, heated grips and tyre pressure monitoring are standard, the bash plate is bigger, and the optional hard luggage has a smarter locking system—you can remove and unlock panniers without fumbling for keys. Oh, and the new Jade Green livery? Gorgeous in person.

Underneath it all is the Euro5+ 1158cc Granturismo V4, producing 170hp at 10,700rpm and 124Nm of torque. It’s smooth, reliable, and only needs a valve check every 60,000 kilometres.

The V4 Rally doesn’t just tour. It encourages you to go further, faster, and tackle roads — and dirt — you might otherwise avoid.

Big Tech, Big Ambition

How excited you get by all these electronics depends on your vibe with modern bikes. Adventure machines have come a long way since the early 2000s’ BMW GSs and Ténérés, which were simple, repairable, and utterly utilitarian. Ducati’s goal with the V4 Rally? Make a big, high-tech machine feel intuitive, fun, and approachable—even in near-freezing northern Italy, where we rode it on wet, misty roads that were as chaotic as they were beautiful. Perfect conditions to test every electronic aid.

First, the size. The Rally looks massive—and it is—but Ducati has worked hard to make it manageable. Seat heights are adjustable from 805mm to 905mm, with optional lowering kits. The Automatic Lowering Device drops it even further by up to 30mm, depending on suspension squat. Standard seat heights run 870–890mm. On my 5’7” frame, I could plant both feet on the ground easily with the system active. For anyone who has ever panicked stopping a big ADV in traffic, this is a revelation. The bike gently lowers under 10km/h and rises again above 50km/h, and the system can be overridden for off-road use.

The Rally also introduces rear-cylinder deactivation at low revs. In city streets, it runs like a twin, cutting heat for the rider while improving fuel efficiency. Hit 4,000rpm or twist aggressively, and all four cylinders roar into life seamlessly. No jerkiness, no fuss—the 170hp Granturismo V4 remains silky smooth even when it wakes up.

Combine that with the semi-active Skyhook suspension and Bump Detection System and the Rally feels uncannily composed. The front fork effectively warns the rear suspension about potholes and sharp hits before they arrive, helping smooth out rough roads and broken surfaces. Even tight, wet urban corners feel easy.

Electronics That Actually Help

Braking is where the Electronic Combined Braking System (ECBS) shines. Front and rear brakes communicate automatically via DVO and the IMU, so you can feather the rear brake, and the system calculates the optimal front input. In Touring, ABS 3 feels like a safety net rather than interference; in Sport mode, ABS 2 sharpens the response. Even a Yorkshire skeptic like me was impressed: it works quietly, subtly, and intuitively.

Twisting through the hills near Ducati’s factory, I kept Touring mode and let Auto suspension do its thing. It’s like it reads the road, adjusting damping and spring rates while keeping the bike level as I leaned, braked, and accelerated through slippery corners.

Once the roads dried out and grip improved, confidence soared and lean angles became surprisingly generous for such a large machine. Switch to Sport on the move, and the 170hp V4 snaps forward, razor-sharp through the DQS 2.0 quick-shifter. The chassis and electronics channel aggression so well that you feel in command, not controlled.

Small touches matter too. Heated grips and seats kept winter at bay, handguards and the manually adjustable windscreen blocked gusts, and the 6.5-inch dash delivered clear, intuitive info. On the freeway, with an Alfa Romeo riding two inches off my rear wheel at 150km/h, the rear radar and blind-spot monitoring were quietly reassuring. Adaptive cruise worked flawlessly, and the back-lit joystick control is a joy to use. Cornering lights? Perfectly judged.

Fuel range is generous. A 30-litre tank carried us nearly 200km on the test ride, with over 200km left, averaging 6l/100km. Comfort? Totally effortless, even fully geared in winter kit.

The V4 Rally isn’t just big, clever, and fast—it’s confidence personified. Every electronic system works in harmony with the chassis and engine to make a potentially intimidating 170hp adventure bike feel accessible, forgiving, and completely controllable. Whether navigating traffic, attacking twisty mountain roads, or blasting down highways, the Rally inspires enjoyment.

Big, versatile, packed with tech, and supremely capable, the V4 Rally isn’t just an ADV—it’s a fully loaded confidence machine. It dares you to ride harder, further, and smarter than ever before. In every way that counts, the V4 Rally proves that adventure, power, and intelligence can coexist—and coexist brilliantly.

The Smartest Multistrada Yet

The standard V4 Rally comes with electronic suspension and radar as standard, along with heated grips and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Opt for the Adventure Travel package and you gain aluminium side panniers and a heated seat for both rider and passenger. The third package Ducati offers is the Full Adventure, with an Akrapovic muffler and carbon front mudguard.

As you would expect from a $51,695 Ducati, build quality, detailing and finish are top level. Ducati opted to add a few extras to our machine: the bike tested is the Adventure Travel and Radar version, which comes in at $53,693.

It is an expensive motorcycle. And there’s also the not insignificant fact that BMW’s R1300 GS Adventure is king of the sales charts for a very good reason. It too can do it all, albeit with less power.

We didn’t get a chance to test the updated Rally on dirt, but awful riding conditions threw a spotlight on its now superb usability and versatility. There were ice warnings on the dash but I remained warm, comfortable and confident all day. Grip in the wet was excellent, and when the roads dried out, the Rally could unleash its power and exhilarating pace. All the time, you can flick between modes on the move, changing the character and feel of the bike. And at every standstill my feet could touch the ground thanks to the Automatic Lowering Device.

Given the time to spare, I would have had no hesitation loading it up and riding a thousand miles home to the UK from Italy despite the terrible weather.

2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally Gallery

Click for more

International Tester

Adam Child

Adam Child is an award-winning international freelance motorcycle journalist. Starting life at Fast Bikes Magazine before moving to Motorcycle News, 'Chad' made the move to freelance and has never looked back. With invites to virtually all the new model launches around the globe, Adam is one of the hardest working and most respected motorcycle testers in the industry. And he's also bloody quick, with lots of racing on his CV including the Isle of Man TT and national championships in the UK.