By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally (PV01-Pro) vs Ducati Multistrada V4 (MY2021-S)
Tip the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally into a bend and the suspension doesn't need you: it firms up on its own as you push into the turn. The Ducati Multistrada V4 has already read what you've loaded, solo or two-up, and set its ride height. Its front stays quiet as you turn in.
So which one do you buy?
The Multistrada V4 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
A touch ahead: Multistrada V4
The Multistrada V4 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Just a touch.
What makes each one tick
Tiger 1200 Rally
Bad pavement comes out plush on the Tiger 1200 Rally, with 8.7 in (220 mm) of Showa travel at each end working by itself. There's an off-beat pulse in the T-plane triple, and the torque doesn't thin out anywhere in the rev range. The throttle never comes up empty.
Multistrada V4
Highway miles on the Multistrada V4 run on radar that watches the traffic ahead and works the gap by itself. Anything closing from the side doesn't register at all. Going in skeptical, coming out convinced. A bump sinks into 6.7 in (170 mm) of semi-active fork travel, and the aluminum monocoque keeps its road poise. The V4 doesn't stage any drama at idle or down low, yet the tach answers every twist of the grip right to the top. This engine rewards rpm.
Nils rode the Multistrada V4 in 2021 and 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Multistrada V4 has the lower seat: 33.1 in (840 mm) vs 34.4 in (875 mm).
- The Multistrada V4 has the lower wet weight: 529 lb (240 kg) vs 549 lb (249 kg).
- The Multistrada V4 makes more peak power: 170 hp (125 kW) vs 148 hp (110 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
For commuting, long days, and running costs, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Tiger 1200 Rally
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent semi-active suspension
- Powerful, characterful T-plane triple engine
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
Known problems to check before you buy
Tiger 1200 Rally
- Random engine stalling on early 2022 models Some owners experienced the engine cutting out unpredictably at idle or low speeds.
- Hydraulic clutch air ingress causing spongy lever and clutch drag Owners report air ingress into the hydraulic clutch actuation circuit, leading to a spongy lever feel, an inconsistent bite point, and incomplete clutch disengagement that makes gear shifting and selecting neutral difficult.
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.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Ground clearance
- 8.7 in (220 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.4 in (875 mm) | 33.1 in (840 mm) |
| Wet weight | 549 lb (249 kg) | 529 lb (240 kg) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1160 cc | 1158 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | V4 |
| Power | 148 hp (110 kW) | 170 hp (125 kW) |
| Torque | 95 lb-ft (129 Nm) | 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 5.8 US gal (22 L) |
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 90/90-21 | 120/70-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-18 | 170/60-17 |
| Front travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 6.7 in (170 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tiger 1200 Rally | Multistrada V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
