2016 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Superbike Soul, Touring Bones
The Pikes Peak badge marks the sharp end of the Multistrada 1200 line. Under the carbon bodywork and the red-and-white paint sits the 1198 cc L-twin with 160 hp and 100 lb-ft, carried by a chassis that leans further toward sport than most machines wearing a touring label. Brembo M50 calipers, ride-by-wire power modes, cornering ABS, traction control and wheelie control are all standard, and the finish quality is exactly what the price and the badge promise.
On the road that adds up to a bike that covers ground quickly rather than gently. The riding position is upright and roomy, the 32.5 in seat is tall, and 518 lb is real weight you feel at parking pace and forget once you are rolling. It suits the rider who wants a full day of mountain roads with cruise control, an adjustable screen and the option of luggage in reserve. The honest caveat is the electrical side of this generation, and high-mileage bikes can go notchy in the steering head bearings. Buy one with a paper trail.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 160 hp (118 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 100 lb-ft (136 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1198 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 330 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 |
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 518 lb (235 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Braking
Exhaust
Lighting
Sidestand breakage (recall)
The side stand may break at the pivot point, causing the motorcycle to fall over. Ducati recalled selected 2015-2016 Multistrada 1200/1200S models to reinforce or replace the stand.
Fuel gauge sender failure
The fuel level sender often becomes inaccurate or fails completely, leading to false readings. Replacement with an updated part generally fixes the issue, but repeat failures are reported.
Electronic glitches (CPU malfunction, limp mode)
Intermittent electronic faults can cause sudden power loss, warning lights, and limp-mode activation. Often resolved by a dealer ECU reflash or cycling the ignition, but occasional recurrence is reported.
Clutch slave cylinder failure
The clutch slave cylinder is prone to seal degradation, causing fluid weeping and gradual clutch disengagement issues. Replacement with an aftermarket upgrade is a common fix.
Steering head bearing wear
Notchy steering head bearings can develop at higher mileages due to the use of caged ball bearings; upgrade to tapered roller bearings is recommended.
Where this Ducati Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak 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 1200 Pikes Peak is actually built for.
For 200 to 400 mile days on Highway 1 or the Blue Ridge, this covers the distance in comfort and still rewards you when the road tightens. Expect a sporting edge, not a sofa.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The lean angle and chassis precision are there for repeat runs on the Dragon and Cherohala. You will feel the 518 lb in the tightest hairpins, but only in the first few miles.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Enough power and suspension range for a fast Angeles Crest morning, plus the comfort to sit through LA traffic to get there. It is a taller, heavier tool than the usual canyon choice.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Ducati Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2017
Öhlins Wrapped Superbike Soul
Successor · 2018–2020
Canyon Carver With Touring Credentials
Competitor · 2015–2019
Superbike Engine, All-Day Posture
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2016–2018
The Beast Goes the Distance
Roughly $900 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr
Same Platform · 2015–2017
Italian Muscle, Digital Brains
Roughly $1,400 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr