2007–2009 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
The L-Twin Backroad Hustler
Ducati built this Multistrada around an air/oil-cooled 1078 cc L-twin making 95 hp and 77 lb-ft, with the torque peak arriving early at 4,750 rpm. The chassis is the interesting part: a steel trellis frame, an upside-down fork, adjustable suspension at both ends, and full 17-inch sportbike rubber, 120/70 front and 180/55 rear. At 487 lb wet it is genuinely light for a sport-tourer, and it carries that mass high and narrow rather than spread out low. There is no electronics package on this bike at all. What you get instead is a tall, upright Ducati with real chassis quality underneath it.
This one ages the way well-built simple bikes do, and the low weight is what you keep noticing after 300 miles. The 33.5 in seat is tall, the 5.3 gal tank covers a proper day's leg, and because fork and shock are adjustable from the factory you can set it up for a passenger instead of hoping. Honest caveats: 95 hp is modest against what the sport-touring class asks for now, there is no ABS, a center stand and luggage are extras rather than standard, and every 2007-2009 bike needs its fuel tank pump flange seal recall confirmed as done before money changes hands.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) @ 7,750 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) @ 4,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 1078 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 487 lb (221 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Fuel tank pump flange seal failure
Fuel seepage or leakage can occur at the fuel pump flange due to an incompatible seal. A worldwide recall (NHTSA 11V-020 (Ducati code RCL-10-005)) was issued to replace the O-ring with an improved X-ring seal. All 2007-2009 models are affected.
Warped front brake discs
Front brake discs may warp over time, causing pulsing at the lever and judder under braking. Some owners had discs replaced under warranty.
Inaccurate fuel gauge reading
Owners report the fuel gauge indicating empty prematurely, often when there is still a significant amount of fuel remaining. This is a known quirk of the model.
Mirror and turn signal fragility
The original equipment mirrors and integrated turn signals are prone to breakage from vibration or minor impacts.
Hard starting when cranking
Starter motor turns but engine fails to fire, sometimes requiring multiple crank cycles, especially after a ride when hot. Possibly related to fuel pump wiring or ignition interference during cranking.
Abrupt throttle response at low opening
On/off throttle transitions can be jerky, with a noticeable lurch when reopening the throttle after deceleration, making smooth riding in tight corners challenging.
Where this Ducati Multistrada 1100 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Multistrada 1100 is actually built for.
Two to four hundred mile days on Highway 1 or the Blue Ridge suit it, and it still feels fresh in the last hour. Plan around a chain, no cruise control, and luggage as an extra.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Light steering, honest front-end feel and deep lean clearance make it a good tool for polishing lines on the Dragon or Cherohala. With no ABS or traction control, the skill is all yours.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
A fine Saturday bike for the Twisted Sisters: light, loud, and happy to run all day. The 5.3 gal tank covers the long gaps between towns, provided you ignore the gauge and watch the trip.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
The Ducati Multistrada 1100 also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard Multistrada 1100 — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2010–2014
Superbike Soul, Touring Skin
Competitor · 2007–2012
The Triple With Street Soul
Competitor · 2006–2013
The Globe-Trotter's Flat Twin
Same Platform · 2008–2009
Italian Thunder From The Bottom
