2015–2016 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Italian Muscle, European Brains
The 1200 S is the version of this Multistrada where the electronics finally match the ambition of the L-twin underneath. The 1198 cc motor makes 160 hp and 100 lb-ft, but the number that matters is how cleanly it delivers the first third of that. Roll on at 3,000 rpm in a tall gear and the twin pulls without the shunting that big V-twins usually make you live with. Add Ducati Skyhook Suspension, cornering ABS, traction and wheelie control, ride modes and a color TFT, and you get a 518 lb (235 kg) machine that reads the road for you instead of arguing with it.
On a real road the S behaves like a fast tourer that never quite forgot it is a Ducati. Skyhook keeps the chassis calm over broken pavement, then firms up enough that you can carry genuine pace through a mountain pass without the bike wallowing. Lean clearance is generous, the 60.2 in wheelbase keeps it steady at speed, and 5.3 gal (20 L) covers a proper day. The caveat is electronic complexity. A CPU or IMU error can drop the bike into limp mode with soft suspension until you cycle the ignition or get a dealer reflash, and the fuel level sender is a known weak point.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 160 hp (118 kW) @ 9,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 100 lb-ft (136 Nm) @ 7,500 rpm |
| 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 |
| Wheelbase | 60.2 in (1529 mm) |
| 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
You notice the sound first. The L-twin has a hard, hollow bark at low revs that turns into something genuinely operatic once the tach climbs, and it comes through the seat and pegs as texture rather than buzz. The riding position is upright and commanding, 32.5 in (825 mm) up, bars wide and close, knees tucked into a tank you can actually grip. Heated grips and cruise control sit within thumb reach, keyless means the fob stays in your jacket. At a steady 70 mph the bike feels planted and unhurried, and you sit behind the screen rather than on top of the bike. What stays with you after a couple of hours is how little it asks of your arms and shoulders for the speed you are carrying. It feels lighter under you than 518 lb (235 kg) suggests.
Side stand weld defect – recall 15V637
Improper weld on the side-stand support tube could break, causing the motorcycle to fall over. NHTSA recall 15V637; dealers inspect and replace if needed.
Electronic glitch causing limp mode
Sudden loss of power, warning lights, and suspension defaulting to soft mode due to a CPU/IMU error. Cycling the ignition or a dealer reflash typically resolves it.
Fuel level sender failure
The fuel sender is a common failure point, leading to inaccurate or dead fuel gauge readings. Ducati typically replaces it under warranty.
Where this Ducati Multistrada 1200 S 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 S is actually built for.
This is your bike. It carries 200 to 400 mile days without beating you up, the suspension handles whatever the road surface throws at it, and it stays entertaining when the corners arrive.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
It works on the Dragon and the Cherohala, with real lean clearance and drive off slow corners. Just accept you're steering a tall, 518 lb machine, not a scalpel.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Fast enough for a canyon road and comfortable enough for the traffic getting there. If you want the last word in precision at the limit, this isn't the sharpest tool in the class.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2010–2014
Superbike Genes, Long-Haul Composure
Compare to the previous model →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 S. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
