Do you own a Ducati? Is it one of the many models with a dry clutch? If you do and it is, you will be interested to know that you do have a choice when it comes time to replace the clutch. If not, the technology here is also of great interest to any motorcyclist and may soon be available for your bike as well.

It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's the Ducati Multistrada 1200

Jeff Dickinson

Contributing Writer

While motorcycle enthusiasts debate exactly what to call it – sport-tourer, enduro, off-road – Ducati is about to unveil all the details of its mysterious 2010 Multistrada 1200.

We’ve been teased by a Web site – www.multistrada.ducati.com - and by blogs worldwide. However, until it is officially unveiled on Nov. 9 at the EICMA International Motorcycle Show in Milan, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 generally remains a mystery.

What do we know for sure about the Multistrada 1200? For starters, the engine will be about 100 cubic centimeters bigger than the 1100 and will offer more horses under the tank. We also know that it will also cost more than the previous Multistrada model.

What is up for debate until Nov. 9, though, is everything else.

The Multistrada 1100 had 95 horsepower, while the 1200 is rumored to come in somewhere around 150. Hinting further that the 1200 will be a rocket is the fact that its dry weight is supposed to be even less than the 432 pounds of the 1100.

Make no mistake about it, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 has been designed with one thing in mind: To take the sport-tour market away from BMW and its R1200GS and the KTM Adventure.

The Multistrada 1200 is rumored to have a new fuel-injection system and a ride-by-wire throttle that offers better sub-3000 rpm fueling than the previous model. The 1200 is also supposed to be one of the most technologically advanced bikes ever produced, with electronically adjustable on-the-fly suspension, a GPS system, keyless ignition and more.

If the Multistrada 1200 is going to become the king of the sport touring market, though, the transmission will have to be improved. The biggest knock against the 1100 was that it didn’t shift seamlessly in the lower gears.

After three years of development and extensive testing, here’s betting that the 2010 Multistrada 1200 will shift like a dream. If not, then Ducati will continue to play catch-up to BMW and KTM in the sport touring class. 

Ducati offers a new way to go hyper

Press Release

DUCATI BAYLISS 1098R

Tyler Hopper
All About Bikes Staff-Writer

The Troy Bayliss Limited Edition Ducati 1098R was created to mark the end of an impressive career for Troy Bayliss.  With an MSRP of $43,995, the price tag sure is impressive.  The 1098R is transformed by means of a few performance and some cosmetic upgrades.  Production is limited to 500 units.  

The 44,000 smackers you dish out will buy you 180 pavement pounding horses, increased to 186 with use of the provided race kit, as the name implies they say it’s for track use only.  The Bayliss Special Edition and the 1098R share identical spec sheets.  Aside from all the bells and whistles, such as Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Data Analyzer, and Marelli fuel injection, the Bayliss Limited Edition 1098R comes with a number of cosmetic upgrades. 

The Latest News from Ducati

Kari Lamanuzzi
AllAboutBikes.com Staff Writer

Ducati is one of the legends among motorcycle manufacturers.  In the Superbike World Championship, Ducati has accumulated more wins than any other motorcycle manufacturer.  Each year, Ducati comes out with a new stable of revised and cutting edge racing bikes.  Ducati shines the brightest in two major racing circuits, the Superbike competitions and the MotoGP racing circuit.  Although each circuit demands different weight, engine, and other performance standards, Ducati has turned out two top of the line series of bikes, the GP9 for MotoGP and the 848, 1198, and 1098R for the Superbike circuit.

The Ducati series of motorcycles for the MotoGP racing circuit has seen some major changes over the years, but what started as a prototype for MotoGP racing competitions has become a mainstay powerhouse.  While 2008's GP8 made major changes to the Ducati design, such as alterations in the rigidity of the bike's frame.  The GP9 utilizes a distinctive carbon fiber chassis, as opposed to Ducati's traditional steel chassis.  The design of the new GP9 is a respectful homage to the original GP6’s look.  Along with its unique carbon fiber chassis, the GP9 boasts a four-cylinder Desmodromic engine, a power output of 200 horsepower, and all the classic character and performance of a Ducati.  It even comes equipped with a port for data output so you can look at the GP9’s performance on a personal computer to make sure that the impressive technology is being used to its ultimate potential.

Ducati: To hit showrooms May 22-23

Tyler Hopper
AllAboutBikes Staff Writer

Ducati North America has announced that the much anticipated Ducati Streetfighter will hit showrooms in a National Showroom Premier on May 22-23.  For those of us yearning to put a leg over the naked 155 horsepower machine, a list of participating dealerships will be made available on April 24. 

The Streetfighter is an all new bike with design elements taken from the 1198 and 1098, altered to fit the personality of the naked sportbike.  The Ducati Streetfighter provides superbike performance in a compact, agile motorcycle. 

Ducati: 'S' PERFORMANCE

Producing 170hp (125kW) and with a dry weight of just 169kg (372.6lb), the new 1198 S now incorporates more World Superbike technology than ever before by taking the 1198 motor and adding top-of-the-range suspension, lightweight chassis components and a true racing-style traction control system designed for road use.