By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure vs Tourer
Ducati Multistrada V4 (MY2021-S) vs Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00C-SE)
Ducati Multistrada V4 vs Kawasaki Versys 1000: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Roll on the Ducati Multistrada V4 and it's revving the instant your wrist moves. Under that same twist, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 pulls clean from barely off idle. It keeps swelling toward redline without a step.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the Multistrada V4 if…
Keeping running costs low
The pick: Multistrada V4
The Multistrada V4 costs clearly less to keep on the road. You'll notice it at every service.
The Multistrada V4 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: Multistrada V4
On a twisty road, the Multistrada V4 edges ahead. The difference is more feel through the bars and better suspension. Not by enough to settle it alone.
The Versys 1000 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: Versys 1000
Through rush hour, the Versys 1000 is a little easier to live with. Only a little.
What makes each one tick
Multistrada V4
Higher up the tach, the Multistrada V4's engine answers the throttle exactly, with no drama right to the limiter. The V4 doesn't growl or crackle. Its suspension reads the load it's carrying, and the front end stays composed at corner entry. The fork settles and the bike steers in.
Nils rode the Multistrada V4 in 2021 and 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
Versys 1000
Hours into a day on the Beartooth Highway, the Versys 1000 still has you sitting upright on a seat that doesn't wear thin. The inline-four's lively rush builds once it's spinning high. There's plush give when a bump hits the fork and shock. The chassis sometimes wallows. Its wide fairing keeps the wind off all day.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in South Tyrol in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Multistrada V4 has the lower wet weight: 529 lb (240 kg) vs 567 lb (257 kg).
- The Multistrada V4 makes more peak power: 170 hp (125 kW) vs 120 hp (88 kW).
- The Multistrada V4 makes more peak torque: 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) vs 75 lb-ft (102 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither one fits
Neither of these is a sensible first motorcycle. Learn on something smaller and lighter, then come back.
There's no real gap on long days. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
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
Versys 1000
What owners say
Strengths
- Comprehensive electronics package
- Smooth, lively inline‑four engine
- Solid luggage and touring kit
Trade-offs
- Dated TFT display
Known problems to check before you buy
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.
Versys 1000
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Seat height
- 33.1 in (840 mm)
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
Where the spec sheets split
| Multistrada V4 | Versys 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 529 lb (240 kg) | 567 lb (257 kg) |
| Multistrada V4 | Versys 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1158 cc | 1043 cc |
| Engine | V4 | Inline-four |
| Power | 170 hp (125 kW) | 120 hp (88 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,750 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Torque | 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,000 rpm | 7,500 rpm |
| Multistrada V4 | Versys 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.8 US gal (22 L) | 5.5 US gal (21 L) |
| Multistrada V4 | Versys 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 120/70-19 | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 170/60-17 | 180/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Multistrada V4 | Versys 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Standard |
| Keyless System | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
