By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Ducati Multistrada V4 (MY2021-S) vs Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour (MY2024)
Two-up with bags on and a patched back road ahead, the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 levels itself to the load, and its front won't wallow into each turn-in. The Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour's damping isn't fixed: it adjusts at both ends over those patches. Its ride stays settled where the pavement's broken.
What makes each one tick
2021 Multistrada V4
High revs pay on the 2021 Multistrada V4, where the engine tracks the throttle exactly and stays calm as the tach climbs. There's no V-twin thunder at idle. You'll barely notice the quickshifter's downshifts as the brake lever works the radial-mounted Brembo brakes down to a stop. The tach needle's the only drama this V4 makes.
Nils rode the 2021 Multistrada V4 in 2021 and 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour
A broad spread of revs carries this Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, whose V4 isn't peaky and keeps stretching toward redline. Walking pace exposes its weight. The shock takes the bump your spine won't.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2021 Multistrada V4 has the lower seat: 33.1 in (840 mm) vs 33.9 in (860 mm).
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, option on the 2021 Multistrada V4.
- USB Charging Port: standard on the 2021 Multistrada V4, not offered on the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour.
Which one for the way you ride
Real off-road capability
Not their thing
Both of these belong on pavement, with gravel as the limit. Real trails call for a different bike.
Call it even on commuting, twisty roads, long days, and running costs. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2021 Multistrada V4
Strengths
- Throttle you can trust
- Flows into corners
- Readable front in deep lean
- Suspension that self-levels
- Class-leading electronics suite
Trade-offs
- Power without personality
- Thirsty for a tourer
- Radar is blind sideways
- Heated grips buried in menus
- Weight remains high
Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour
What owners say
Strengths
- Brembo Stylema + cornering ABS
- Comprehensive factory-fitted touring kit
- Linear, elastic V4 power delivery
- Skyhook EVO semi-active suspension
Trade-offs
- Substantial weight and limited low-speed agility
- Windscreen produces buffeting at top setting
Known problems to check before you buy
2021 Multistrada V4
- Engine valve guide recall (NHTSA 21V-212) Recall 21V212000 A supplier defect in valve guides of certain early-production 2021 V4 S models led to excessive wear and potential valve head breakage, causing loss of power and engine stall. Ducati issued a full engine replacement recall for 129 units.
Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour
- Engine heat on left thigh and rear/passenger seat in slow traffic Under stop-and-go conditions and ambient temperatures above ~79°F (26 °C), heat from the rear cylinder bank and the under-seat catalytic converter is felt on the rider's left thigh and the rear/passenger seat. Ducati shipped insulated replacement seats to some affected owners as a partial mitigation. The V4 Rally received expanded cylinder deactivation (rear bank also off at low cruise) to address this; the V4 / V4 S / V4 S Grand Tour MY2024 only deactivate at idle / clutch-in and therefore retain the issue.
- Intermittent surging / stutter at 4,000–6,000 rpm steady throttle Surging or "stutter" reported at part-throttle in the 4,000–6,000 rpm cruise band. Attributed to lean Euro 5 mid-range fueling (closed-loop O2 sensor cycling) and EVAP canister purge behavior. Multiple owners report dealer attempts to resolve under warranty in early production years; partial fixes via software updates (overlapping with CR240 ECU and CR267 quickshifter campaigns), EVAP canister removal, or full Akrapovič exhaust + remap.
- Parasitic battery drain on storage Owners report battery flat after approximately 48 hours of inactivity. Cause attributed to keyless ignition system parasitic load combined with the modest OEM battery capacity. Workaround: trickle charger / battery tender. Some warranty replacements of battery or check of "always-on" loads have occurred.
What they share
- Displacement
- 1158 cc
- Engine
- V4
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 170 hp (125 kW)
- Fuel capacity
- 5.8 US gal (22 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-19
- Rear tire
- 170/60-17
- Ground clearance
- 8.7 in (220 mm)
- Front travel
- 6.7 in (170 mm)
- Rear travel
- 7.1 in (180 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| 2021 Multistrada V4 | Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 33.9 in (860 mm) |
| Wet weight | 529 lb (240 kg) | 536 lb (243 kg) |
| 2021 Multistrada V4 | Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) | 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,000 rpm | 8,750 rpm |
| 2021 Multistrada V4 | Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 36 mpg (US) / 6.6 L/100 km | 34 mpg (US) / 7 L/100 km |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2021 Multistrada V4 | Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| Luggage System | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
