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2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Comparison Review Photo Gallery

The Italians say it’s for on-road and off-road, but the bike begs to be ridden on fast, curvy pavement.

The 2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring is caught on camera during the adventure touring shootout. Read the full report in our 2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring Comparison.

Because our test unit was the touring model, this bumps the MSRP to almost $20,000 right off the bat. Plus, a list of accessories adds another $3858.

The Multistrada 1200 S Touring is built around a superbike engine and it brings levels of performance that are unfathomable for the other machines.

Thanks to its massive motor and sporty handling, the Ducati left an impression on our testers. If it could match its performance with reliability, the Ducati would be even better.

It can be a blast off-road, but it won’t last for long.

The L-Twin engine cranks out almost 132 horsepower which dwarfs anything else in this comparison.

it’s so user-friendly on- or off road. From mellow cruising at low Rs, roll it on for a smooth controllable rush or pin it and be ready to hang on. The Multistrada S has the perfect power.

Sport mode applies full power, but the Italian also has Touring, Urban and Enduro which alters the output, traction control and suspension settings.

While our riders unanimously slaver over the engine, the drivetrain is another issue.

Ducati isn’t quite as dominant in the torque department, but it still easily sweeps up these competitors with just under 81 lb-ft.

The hydraulic clutch is great, but the six-speed transmission it controls has major issues.

Salt Lake Motorsports hooked us up with a complete rear brake assembly including master cylinder, caliper, brake line, ABS line and rotor.

The brake to malfunction roached the disc and ultimately overheated the system enough that the backing plate fell off a brake pad.

Some riders were able to toy with the gearbox and intentionally slip into false neutral between each gear.

As an “S” model, the Ducati is equipped with upscale components.

A 48mm fully adjustable fork replaces the standard 50mm Marzocchi. The Ohlins rear shock mounts to a progressive linkage and both ends are electronically adjustable.

A 17-inch rear wheel is standard on these machines (except KTM which uses 18-inch), but the 17-inch front hoop is unique to Ducati in this test.

It’s not surprising that Ducati’s high-dollar Ohlins fork and shock combine with an excellent chassis to provide the best overall handling of the bunch.