Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak – First Look

Ducati takes the iconic Pikes Peak name and gives it the V4 treatment – The 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak.

Ducati loves America’s Mountain. The name “Pikes Peak” is as important to the company as Mugello or Imola. Ducati’s Multistrada tasted victory on the mountain three times with the late Carlin Dunne, so it’s not surprising we are seeing the Multistrada V4 S being given the Pikes Peak treatment.

Despite racing for the bikes now formally canceled on the famed mountain, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of the fruits of Ducati’s racing labor.

The Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak uses the V4 S as a base model but takes things in a very tarmac-induced approach. Whereas the V4 S is a go-anywhere ADV machine, the Pikes Peak is designed for your favorite paved mountain roads where you arrive in comfort, and send it like Carlin.

The most obvious difference — aside from the MotoGP-inspired paint — is the 17-inch wheels (120/70 front; 190/55-17 rear) laced with sticky Pirelli Diablo Rossi IV rubber, meaning you can easily throw slicks on if you plan on taking your Pikes Peak to the track.

The suspension is courtesy of Ohlins front and rear (of course) and comes in the form of the Smart EC 2.0 system more commonly found on the Streetfighter V4 S and the Panigale V4 S. This adaptive system changes the suspension while you ride, but if you’d rather go old-school, the ECU comes with the provision of a manual setting so you can dial in the feel you like.

Ergonomics changes include footpegs that are 10 mm higher and farther back, and the handlebar has a more pronounced bend in it to get a bit more weight over the front, and the steering angle has been slackened slightly by going up 1.25 degrees in the rake to 25.75 degrees.

At the heart of it all the same 170 hp/92 lb-ft of torque V4 motor found in the base model Multistrada, but, along with the same plethora of riding modes including adjustable traction, wheelie, slide and cruise control and cornering ABS, you also get the new Race Riding Mode in the ECU. This extra mode allows for a more direct throttle response, sharper cut-out for the quickshifter, and the ability to change how harsh the cut is on the rev limiter, meaning you can wind the motor out further to get better high rpm performance.

Also part of the electronics is the radar Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD) software that debuted on the Multistrada V4 S at the beginning of the year. In case you haven’t seen the ACC in action, the system detects the distance to the vehicle in front and automatically adjusts the speed so you stay at the predetermined distance. It takes a leap of faith to trust the system but once you do, you’ll never look at road riding the same again.

The 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak will be available in U.S. and Canadian dealerships from February 2022 in the exclusive Radar trim, which is fitted with both front and rear radar system, for $28,995 MSRP in the United States and $32,695 in Canada.

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