Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST: A Sport-Touring Legend Revisited

The 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST wasn’t just another touring bike; it was a beast that tamed multiple terrains. Here’s why it dominated the touring scene.

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A sport-touring motorcycle blends the agility and speed of a sports bike with the comfort and long-distance endurance of a touring motorcycle. Imagine a motorcycle that lets you accelerate like a racer but won’t leave your wrists aching, and that’s pretty much what a sports tourer is.

A famous American motorcycle writer named Peter Egan once described the sport tourer as a “café racer that doesn’t hurt your wrists and a touring bike that doesn’t feel like a tank. 

While we won’t be talking about his first bike, the BMW R100RS, this article will focus on a cool 2013 Italian motorcycle, the Multistrada 1200 ST (the ST part means Sport Touring, by the way).

The Multistrada 1200 ST created quite a buzz when it was released, thanks to its nimble handling and meticulous design that caught everyone’s attention. As a major competitor to BMW and other brands, Ducati held its own in the touring segment. 

Let’s look at the bike’s history and specifications and see if it still holds relevance in today’s market.

A Refined Sport Tourer

The Ducati Multistrada hit the scene in 2010, offering a sport-touring ride with a powerful heart. It borrowed the Testastretta V2 engine from its sporty sibling, the 1198, but with some tweaks for touring comfort. It comes in three versions: the base model, the S, and the S Touring.

By 2013, the Multistrada had a tech upgrade with an active suspension featuring a solenoid valve and the ‘Sky-Hook’ method. The engine also got a makeover with a special setup for cleaner burning and better mileage. Plus, the windscreen got bigger to keep the wind noise down on those highway stretches.

As for looks, the 2013 Multistrada kept the signature Ducati style with a dual headlight fairing, a comfy two-seat design, and a single-sided swingarm for a sleek look. They even threw in 10-spoke lightweight alloy wheels for good measure.

Under the hood, or rather, the tank, was a powerful 1,198cc V-twin engine packing 150 horsepower. That’s enough muscle to get you where you’re going in style and comfort.

Why the Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST Reigned Supreme

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST was a standout in the touring segment, thanks to several significant upgrades in the 2013 model. These included the second-generation 11-degree DS Testastretta V-Twin engine, which provided a 5% torque punch compared to the earlier model, making those long hauls a breeze.

One of the bike’s key features is the Ducati Skyhook Suspension, a semi-active system that uses electronics to maintain the bike’s front-to-rear balance as conditions change. Two pairs of accelerometers (one pair on the fork lower and the bottom triple clamp, and another on the swingarm and subframe) measure wheel movement at each end and feed the data to the bike’s ECU. The ECU then controls electronic valves in the left fork leg and the shock, built by Sachs, to regulate oil flow within the suspension units.

The Multistrada 1200 ST is known for its versatility, fully integrated with selectable riding modes: Touring, Sport, Enduro, and Urban. Adjusting damping and rear preload is as simple as pressing a couple of buttons. 

The Bosch 9ME combined ABS is also fully integrated with these riding modes, allowing the rider to lock the rear wheel in Enduro mode, among other features. It uses the same control unit as the Panigale model. 

This motorcycle captured significant market share in the adventure, sport, and naked bike segments. It proved that the 4-in-1 concept, merging comfort ergonomics with sports performance, worked effectively. 

It blurred the lines between categories, offering sports performance with touring comfort, and carving a new niche for itself. No wonder it became a favourite among riders and brought Ducati to a whole new audience.

Key Features of the Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST was also packed with features that made it a standout in the sport-touring motorcycle segment. Here are some of its key features:

LED Headlights: Brighter and more visible to traffic with lower power consumption, allowing both low and high beams to be on simultaneously, improving overall illumination.

Upgraded ABS Brakes: Three levels of interference, including front and back linked actuation, which change depending on the riding mode, using Bosch’s 9ME ABS system.

Ducati Traction Control (DTC): An 8-level system with smoother interference, offering torque reduction of up to 60%, is controlled by retarding the ignition and interrupting the fuel injection only for greater levels of traction control.

Adjustable Windscreen: Better wind protection and allows for one-hand operation, so it can be adjusted up or down on the go.

The Ducati Multistrada 1200 ST remains a unique and influential model in the sport-touring motorcycle segment, combining performance and versatility in a way that continues to resonate with riders today.