First Ride: The Ducati Multistrada V2S is an adventure bike with added thrills

At the back end of 2024, Ducati released a completely revised version of its Multistrada V2S, a ‘do-it-all’ bike with all the character that you’d expect from one of this brand’s bikes. Now available in the UK, we’ve been getting acquainted with this motorcycle to find out what it’s like.

An upgraded electrical system means that the Multistrada can handle more plugged-in features, too, such as hand warmers, cameras or phone chargers. The front screen has been redesigned to improve airflow, too, and the seat height can be adjusted to range from 830mm to 850mm. Bikes like our V2S with electronic semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension can drop that seat height even further to 790mm via a button on the handlebars, making it easier for shorter riders to get on and off.

Ducati says that at 54.4kg, it’s the lightest twin-cylinder motor that it has ever produced. However, with just over 92Nm of torque, it’s not going to get caught lacking in the punchiness department, either. Ducati says that this setup should manage around 43mpg during mixed riding, too, so it should prove to be pretty efficient on a longer trip.

The new twin-engine absolutely rips, too. Somewhat at odds with the height of this bike, the performance that you’re able to access is very impressive and entertaining. With the standard-fit quickshifter, the V2S feels like an adventure bike which leans more heavily towards the sportier end of things and it’s this character that we expect most riders to find hugely exciting.

You can get the Multistrada V2S in two shades – Ducati Red and Storm Green – and our test bike’s use of the latter colour feels absolutely spot-on in our view. Against the British countryside, this colourway is a great match and reflects the bike’s adventure-ready ethos, too.

As is the case with nearly all adventure bikes, the Multistrada V2S is available with a wide range of accessories to help tailor it to the trip you’re heading on. So whether it’s panniers, boxes or even some extra carbon fibre for a racier look, there’s a lot to choose from within Ducati’s extensive options list. It’ll quickly crank this bike’s price up, mind you.

The Multistrada V2S feels like a do-it-all motorcycle. It’s got the performance and excitement that you’d expect from a Ducati, but with the all-round ability and long-distance comfort that you want from your typical adventure bike.

As is usually the case with Ducati models, this does come at a cost, but given the Multistrada V2S’s breadth of talents, we’d say that it more than lives up to its pricetag.