Conor – Ducati – Multistrada 60.000 km Tour

The story

June 2024 has proven to be one of the busiest periods for me on two wheels since getting my licence. I’ve been all over the place on an array of motorcycles, but the highlight, without a doubt, has to be the Multistrada V4 Rally. Ducati UK kindly invited me to participate in their leg of the Multistrada 60,000 km tour, which allows five riders to embark on a journey of their choosing and cover a minimum of 2,000 km.
I collected the thrilling machine from Ducati Bournemouth on the 13th of June, and after a quick tutorial on how everything works, I was on my way. The first few days consisted of a ride through the New Forest, heading east to Rye and then making my way west to the imposing cliffs of Cheddar Gorge. All this was done solo, with the top box and panniers loaded with camera gear.
It was on the 16th that I would set off on my first major ride down to Cornwall with my fiancée as pillion, and I got to appreciate the true nature of the V4 Rally. I’ve been fortunate enough to ride powerful motorcycles in my time, but only for a morning or afternoon. Here I was, on a bike equipped with a 170 bhp four-cylinder engine, and nothing but time and the open road ahead of me. Quite simply, a bike of this size, loaded with that much extra weight, should not be that fast off the line and so agile at high speeds! It is a compelling experience.
We enjoyed the twists and turns of the A303 before making a course for Dartmoor, one of my all-time favourite places. Wild ponies greeted us, and we didn’t see another soul on the road for most of the evening. We ended up being extremely late for our check-in at a farm, as every time we set off, we would discover yet another stunning spot accompanied by a sunset that unfolded in a breathtaking display of colours. A negroni upon arrival cemented what has to be one of the best rides of my life.
The following morning, after a hearty breakfast, we returned to Hampshire via Dartmoor and then prepared for a ride up to Staffordshire for a two-night stay. Fast forward to the first morning in our cabin, and I noticed the rear tyre on the bike had suffered a puncture. Disaster. My attempts at locating and repairing the punctures were in vain, and we resorted to phoning roadside assistance, who had the bike back in tip-top tarmac shredding shape in no time at all.
Fast forward another day, and we made our way to Ducati Worcester for a quick tyre change to be on the safe side, and then continued down to Cardiff, where I would leave the bike ready for its next adventure.

There were many charming moments throughout the tour, with Dartmoor again being the highlight. I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to experience it again on a Ducati, the first being from my tour on the Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro in 2021. It was tough handing the keys to the team at Ducati Cardiff, as I had developed a bond with the bike from the first mile, and it did everything I asked of it. The Multistrada V4 Rally is an incredible machine that opened my mind to new adventures, and I welcome the day when I ride one again.

I’ve always wanted to do a proper motorcycle tour, and the Multistrada V4 Rally was honestly the best bike for the job. Putting the sheer power of this bike to one side, it offers so many comforts that make the ride much more enjoyable. I could preload the suspension at the flick of a button to adjust for the number of riders and panniers. When moving in slower traffic, the bike would go to its minimum setting by pressing and holding on to the same button, allowing me to plant my foot on the ground comfortably.

On the motorway and fast-moving A-Roads, if I ever fancied a break on the throttle, I could set the adaptive cruise control with my left hand, and the bike would take over and accelerate/break to match the traffic. Although we do our best to give ourselves the best visibility in our mirrors, it is still inevitable that there will be blind spots. Hence, the addition of Blind Spot Detection (BSD) helps on longer journeys when fatigue might start to kick in.
One final feature that is a welcome perk is the option to open/close the wings on either side of the bike. Whether facing torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning or a sudden heat wave, by adjusting these winglets, I could direct a cool flow of air around my legs and feet or keep them dry and feel the warmth of the engine. It’s a minor detail, but one that I know I will miss moving forward.
All in all, the memories and experiences of this tour will remain with me for a very long time. I’ve always had my doubts about these larger adventure-style bikes, but the Multistrada V4 Rally has done a superb job at changing my mind. If you’re in the market for a mile cruncher that could also wipe the floor with most bikes on a track day, this could well and truly be the bike for you.