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COPYRIGHT 2007 Ehlert Publishing Group
The 1997-to-present Pierre Terblanche years at Ducati have been an interesting time. Creating and designing the successor to the legendary 916-996 sportbikes was no easy task, and the resulting 999 was such a radical departure from the bikes it replaced that people didn't know what to think. Some hated it, some loved it. Either way, the bike created a buzz.
In much the same way, there's another Ducati that's just as emotional, but unlike the 999 is often overlooked--the Multistrada. Oh yes, the other Terblanche-designed Ducati. This is a bike for the rider who wants a real-world motorcycle. Carve the canyons, slice through traffic or go on a long weekend ride, the Multistrada can do it all, and do it well. But just like the 999, the odd looks of the bike won over some and pushed others away. On paper it seemed like a clear winner. The 992cc engine had plenty of grunt, the upright seating position was comfortable, the long suspension travel worked on all sorts of terrain and the optional saddlebags made the Multistrada the clear choice for a long ride.
So why stop there? For 2007, Ducati has upped the ante with the Multistrada 1100. The air-cooled, dual-spark, Desmodromic two-valve 992cc engine receives a 4mm overbore that bumps its displacement to 1,078cc, and according to the Borla Performance dyno that translates into 80.2 horsepower and 64.7 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheel. The S model comes standard with top-shelf Ohlins suspension front and rear, and carbon fiber goodies like a front fender and timing belt cover. Other nice bits include a rubber-isolated handlebar to reduce vibration, and a wet clutch. No more clutch rattle--say good-bye to people at stoplights telling you your bike is broken! Perhaps the biggest improvement on the new bike is the increased maintenance intervals. This is partly achieved by beryllium bronze valve seats...
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