We drove: Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro

We used the morning part for an enduro lap on the tracks, where the rally takes place in Sardinia and is considered the world championship in inertial rally for motorcycles. The circle, 75 kilometers long, consisted of sandy and muddy paths and fast but very narrow rubble paths with rather steep climbs and descents that led us to the 700-meter hills in the interior of the island. We also drove to the coast, where you could admire the crystal clear sea. And all this without a single kilometer on the asphalt! The hand guards have proven to be a very useful accessory in this area, as the dense Mediterranean macchia is overgrown with paths in some places. But besides the beautiful views and the smell of Mediterranean vegetation, we also liked the road. Excellent asphalt with good grip and countless corners was the right testing ground for what the Multistrada Enduro could do on the road. The circle was 140 kilometers long.

Ducati says this model completes the offering of this extremely important motorcycle family for Ducati, and that it is the most versatile and useful Multistrada in any situation.

One glance at the menu that appears when you press a button on the left side of the steering wheel says a lot. It offers up to four motorcycle control programs. We say motorcycle because it is not only about rebooting the engine and how much power and harshness it sends through the chain to the rear wheel, but also because it takes into account ABS work, rear wheel slip control, front wheel lift control, and finally work. active suspension Sachs. With Bosch electronics that measure inertia on three axes, the Enduro, Sport, Touring and Urban programs ensure maximum safety and driving pleasure and, in fact, four motorcycles in one. But this is just the beginning, you can customize the motorcycle and its operation to your liking. Just by going through the menus, which is not difficult to learn, since the logic of operation is always the same, you can adjust the suspension stiffness and the desired power while driving. There are three power levels available: low - 100 "horsepower", medium - 130 and the highest - 160 "horsepower". All this so that the engine power is maximally adapted to the driving conditions (good asphalt, rain, gravel, mud). Since we love the terrain and a few introductory kilometers were enough to get to know the bike, we found the optimal settings for the terrain: the Enduro program (which offers ABS only on the front brake), the level of the rear wheel slip control system to a minimum (1) and the suspension. installed on the driver with luggage. Safe, fast and fun, even with hill jumping and rear steering in faster turns. The faster we drove, the better the system worked to control where the rear wheel could go. In closed corners, however, simply open the throttle carefully and the torque will do the trick. Aggressive throttle opening does not pay off as the electronics interrupt the ignition. For racing in the style of Dakar races from the 80s. in 90 year. years of the last century, when motorcycles reigned in the Sahara without restrictions on volume, number of cylinders and power, it is necessary to turn off the electronics, making sure that the bike does not slip, and real fun can begin. Since the Multistrada Enduro has a very continuous power curve and linear torque, it is not difficult to control the sliding on the curves of gravel. Of course, we would not have done this if the motorcycle had not been properly shod. Pirelli, Ducati's exclusive partner, has produced the off-road tires for this model (and therefore all other modern large touring enduro models). The Pirelli Scorpion Rally is a tire for all types of terrain that a true adventurer encounters on his round-the-world trip, or even if you are traveling from Slovenia to, say, Cape Kamenjak in Croatia during your holidays. Large blocks provide sufficient traction for safe driving on asphalt, and above all, there is no problem where the more road-oriented tires for touring enduros would otherwise fail. On rubble, earth, sand or even mud.

But the bigger tank isn't the only change; there are 266 new ones, or 30 percent of the bike. The suspension is adapted for off-road driving and has a stroke of 205 millimeters, which also increases the distance of the engine from the ground, more precisely 31 centimeters. This is necessary at least for a serious confrontation on the ground. The twin-cylinder, variable-valve Testastretta engine is well protected by an aluminum engine guard attached to the frame. The seat is now 870 millimeters off the ground, and for those who don't like it, there is a lowered (840 millimeters) or raised (890 millimeters) seat that the customer can order at the production stage. They changed the geometry of the motorcycle, and therefore the way the bike is ridden. The wheelbase is longer and the handguard and fork angle are more open forward. Combined with more powerful suspension, in which the electronics prevent mechanical parts from colliding with each other when landing, and stronger and longer swings (two legs, not one, like the regular Multistrada). All this contributes to a very stable driving on the field and, above all, very great comfort even when driving on the road.

Comfort is the real denominator that characterizes the Multistrado Enduro in every way. A taller and wider handlebar, a larger windshield that can be lowered or raised by 6 centimeters with one hand, as well as a comfortable seat and an upright position of the steering wheel a little closer to the driver, all this is neutral and relaxed. Powerful brakes and adjustable suspension, as well as a powerful engine, make the ride even more lively. We only missed a sportier transmission, it would be ideal with an ignition interruption system, which, unfortunately, is not yet available. First gear is shorter due to the need for off-road driving (a shorter gear ratio means more revs at lower speeds and more control in technical sections), meaning the Multistrada Enduro at full throttle is a very snappy bike on the road. With running boots that are bulkier than regular hiking boots, we have successfully skipped gear several times. Nothing dramatic, but it is worth noting that to move in such shoes you need determination and fairly pronounced foot movements. With all the accessories, of course, the bike is heavier. Dry weight is 225 kilograms, and filled with all liquids - 254 kilograms. But if you're gearing it up for a round-the-world trip, the scale doesn't stop there, as they offer a wide range of accessories with which you can customize this adventurous model to your liking. For this purpose, Ducati has wisely chosen specialist partner Touratech, which has been equipping motorcycles for off-road and long-distance travel around the world for more than 20 years.

Probably not every owner of the new Ducati Multistrade 1200 Enduro will take a trip to the most remote corners of our planet, we also doubt that he will ride in the terrain that we drove in this first test, but it's still nice to know what he can. Maybe for a start, you just drive along the gravel roads through Pohorje, Sneznik or Kochevsko, and then next time hone your knowledge in Poček near Postojna, continue on somewhere on the Croatian coast, when your companion prefers to sunbathe on the beach, and you explore the interior of the islands ... well then you become an off-road motorcyclist who can still go anywhere. The Multistrada 1200 Enduro can do it.

text: Petr Kavchich, photo: Milagro