Once you’re familiar with the Ducati’s menu system, customizing settings is just a few button pushes away.The DQS handles up shifts almost seamlessly with the transition between gears melting away in the surge of acceleration. The engine can even grunt its way out of corners if you let the rpm drop down to 2,000 or so.

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If I screwed up, Bosch cornering ABS was there to bail me out – not that I actually tested this out.Up until now, I’ve focused primarily on the 950 S’ sporting credentials, but it is, by design, a touring bike.

Cornering ABS,265mm rear petal disc with twin-piston caliper.

The rear brake provides adequate power, and the high-zoot lean-sensitive ABS that's standard on the bike makes sure that your overzealous right foot doesn't get you into trouble. In fact, many of the front-end components are taken straight from the family tree whereas seat, pillion seat, swing arm (0.5kg lighter now) are all from the 1260 Enduro.

Get the S to the mountains, however, and you can awaken the beast.The smooth tarmac twisted itself into mostly second and third gear corners with the occasional dip into first just for fun. Yes, we did have a stint on a divided highway, but touring bikes need to be capable of gobbling up the miles. I was able to fit my XXL Arai Signet X helmet into the left-side (non-exhaust side) case, which is saying something. It is available in two colors: Ducati Red for $16,995 and Glossy Grey for $17,195.Join the Motorcycle.com Weekly Newsletter to keep up to date on all things motorcycling.Enter your ZIP code below to get a free insurance quote.Get price quotes for Ducati from local motorcycle dealers.© 2020 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved.We use cookies to improve your experience on this website and so that ads you see online can be tailored to your online browsing interests. S version introduced with electronics lifted off Multistrada 1260 S and Enduro.Multistrada 950: Base 950 has mechanically adjustable suspension and fewer toys.


Minimal lever movement gives a fabulous feel which is backed up by the engine braking when off the throttle – carefully plotting your lines and subsequent downshifts can often result in using no brake pressure at all.

The 950 S comes with an electronically-controlled fork and shock that comes with presets not only for the various ride modes (City, Touring, Sport, Enduro) but also for different rider and baggage combinations. My previous two bikes were the ballistic Kawasaki ZZR1400 and a rugged BMW R1200GS Adventure – so the Multistrada was hopefully going to be the best of both worlds.

The bike makes loads of torque at low-ish RPM levels, which means you're never struggling to get it off the line. The top of the tank sits in line with the bottom of my sternum, making 6ft tall me feel enveloped.The footrests are tall enough to offer all the ground clearance one needs although I think the next incarnation of this model could afford a few mm’s drop to allow for a little more leg comfort.

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Losing My Virginity My Ducati virginity, that is! That said, being able to clutchlessly change gear up and down allows for more attention to be spent on processing the road ahead – which was essential on the technical roads Ducati found for our ride.When navigating tight and twisty pavement, a bike’s maneuverability is of primary importance. That said, the claimed 51.4mpg is pretty good and should result in 220-or-so miles from a brimmed 20 litre tank.

This is one of the finest electronics packages on a sub-£15k bike I’ve ever used.A new addition to the package is the Hill Hold Control. At first blush, the upgrades for the base 2019 Ducati Multistrada 950 were mostly centered around the 6-axis Bosch IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), translating into better traction control and cornering ABS, but.With a baseline as capable as the 937cc Testastretta 11°.The 2019 Ducati Multistrada 950 S in Glossy Grey with the optional $1,400 Touring Pack installed, featuring a center stand, heated grips, and saddlebags.With the RbW comes ride modes, and the 950 S has four of them (Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro). Ducati offers a top box, too, but our tester didn't come with it.The Multi's (admittedly expensive) luggage does a good job of hauling your crap without adding egregious increases in width.So, now we know that the Multistrada 950 S is technically brilliant, but how is it to ride?The middleweight ADV category is one of my favorite segments for around-town use, and the Ducati is a standout in that class.
Bonus points for them being backlit, too.Being an adventure bike, it's essential to talk about luggage. In fact, if given the option between the Multistrada 950 S and the Multistrada 1260, I would go with the 950 S because of its lighter weight and more streetable power delivery.