Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally on the 1000PS Bestzeit track

In the saddle of the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, something strange happens after three or four laps at Bad Fischau. You're in track mode. Not in the role of the touring rider dutifully reeling off his warm-up laps - but on a 240-kilo touring bike that suddenly feels like a lively sportsbike. That's exactly what makes this Bestzeit test so exciting: the Rally is the touring variant of the Multistrada family, with a big tank, a 19-inch front wheel and a layout designed for really long stages. And yet it goes so hard here on the tight supermoto track that after getting off I have to pause for a moment and remind myself what kind of bike this actually is. The truth: in the saddle, you sit at the top of the food chain - not just in price, but in riding feel too.

Three or four laps on the Multistrada V4 Rally, and then it happens: you forget you're sitting on an adventure bike. That lightness, that sporty character, that revvy nature - the liveliness of a 240-kilo tourer is simply surprising. I'm not going to say it rides like a track machine. But the feeling of being out on a very, very sporty bike is damn clear. Only when I get off and walk once around the machine does it dawn on me: this is the touring variant of the Multistrada family. There are even sportier versions above it. And even this machine, designed for long stages with luggage, delivers handling and speed here on the tight supermoto track that are hard to put into perspective.

The Rally is the version with the big fuel tank, built for incredible touring range, where you'd normally have a luggage system fitted as well. 19-inch front wheel, long suspension travel, designed for gravel and bad weather too. That's exactly what makes it so crazy that it works here at Bad Fischau. What the Ducati engineers have nailed: despite that big tank up top, you get a harmonious, neutral line through the corner. You glide pleasantly through the radius, but on the other hand you always have the option of riding really sporty. For me personally, the Rally version is my favourite machine in the Multistrada family and one of the best all-rounders I've ever sat on. It can play more roles than any other bike in this league.

What sets the Multistrada V4 Rally apart from most of the competition isn't pure power. It's the way the electronics package supports you without being intrusive. Traction control and ABS work breathtakingly well, even here on the supermoto track. The semi-active suspension adjusts electronically to the current riding situation, and the sporty brakes deliver exactly the stopping power you need in any given situation. The Bridgestone T33s fitted to the Rally configuration in our test round off the overall package harmoniously. This isn't a bike that overwhelms you with raw power. It's a bike defined by a degree of perfection that could only be achieved through an incredible use of technology. And you feel that in every load situation.

What works well - and you have to give the Euro 5 models credit for this again and again - is the responsiveness at low revs. On the tight Bad Fischau track, where you're often buzzing around low in the rev range, I was able to control the engine really precisely both in the rolling phases and in the braking zones. Harmonious and confidence-inspiring, in every situation. Despite the 170 hp and despite the high weight, I felt absolutely at ease. The V4 Granturismo isn't a nervous sprint engine. It has this incredible ability to be gentle at the right moment and build up real grunt the next. It's exactly this dual nature that makes the Rally rideable on a tight supermoto track without you ever feeling it's overwhelming you.

I think this is its greatest strength: it brings these three parameters together like no other bike in its league. Sportiness, accessibility, combined with touring comfort. Look at the competition. A Harley-Davidson Pan America, for example - it's very comfortable, but doesn't have this level of sportiness or this level of accessibility. And so every other adventure bike on the market has its own highlights and its own strengths. But if you really want to bring these three things together - that you don't have to be afraid to ride it, that it's still sporty enough and that it still stays comfortable as a tourer - then in my view it's currently the best bike in the adventure bike league.

In everyday use, a few little things remain in my view. I still wouldn't call the smartphone integration perfect. An Apple CarPlay solution would be best for me, especially for riders who aren't so tech-savvy. Also, when you get on and first have to click your way through all the different variants and modes, it's always a bit of a hassle until you feel: now I know exactly what the bike wants from me. But once you've immersed yourself, you're rewarded. The technology gives you back a very high degree of perfection. It's simply a bike that demands your attention - and rewards it just as consistently.

The tested Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally MY 2026 set a time of 1:06.375 on the 1000PS Bestzeit track at Bad Fischau on Bridgestone T33 tyres at an asphalt temperature of 16 °C. That is currently the best time for an adventure bike on the track! Above it in the table are the Yamaha MT-10 MY-22 on Bridgestone Battlax S22 at 33 °C with 1:06.2 and the Kawasaki Z900 SE MY-25 on Bridgestone S23 at 36 °C with 1:06.328. Below it are the Ducati Multistrada V4 S MY-21 on Pirelli Scorpion Trail II at 30 °C with 1:07.3 and the BMW R 1300 GS MY-24 on Bridgestone A41 at 31 °C with 1:07.2. Further down is the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special MY-21 on Michelin Scorcher Adventure at 30 °C with 1:08.7. Anyone comparing the times directly should always factor in tyres and asphalt temperature - both shift the result noticeably.

The 1000PS Bestzeit is a real-world test format on our compact supermoto track near Bad Fischau. The setup is strict: ten warm-up laps, then a flying lap from a standstill, started just 20 metres before the finish line. Because this run-up is so short, clutch modulation and traction directly determine the final result. It's not about pure race track performance or top speed, but about rideability, handling, front-end confidence, braking behaviour and engine response under real-world conditions. You'll find the onboard footage of the Multistrada V4 Rally in the YouTube video on the 1000PS channel, where we also show the lap time at the end. Some Bestzeit videos only go online weeks after the report - this test stands on its own. By the way: the Bestzeit table now includes over 100 bikes, all ridden crash-free.

To the Ridelink Wingman (https://www.ridelink.com/) - our data recording tool

SP Connect motorcycle mounts (https://sp-connect.de/collections/motorrad) at a glance

Onboard footage: Insta360 Ace Pro 2 (https://store.insta360.com/product/ace-pro-2?c=3619&from=nav)

NastyNils gear at Louis (https://1000ps.to/louisbestzeit)

All videos of the 1000PS Bestzeit series (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLsviWGSZ2foxG_K3_Q-qowN06fgU63rV) (This is also where you'll find the lap time at the end of the video. Some videos, however, only go online a few weeks after the report is published!)

Want to ride the track yourself? Book here! (https://www.motorsportarena.at/)

About the author NastyNils (https://www.nastynils.com)