Rennie Scaysbrook | October 28, 2021
The bike Ducati used to conquer America’s Mountain will return, new and improved, for 2022 in the Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak.
Resplendent in MotoGP derived colors the Pikes Peak, based closely on the Multistrada V4 that we tested earlier this year, will be powered by the same 1160 cc, 175 hp/92 lb-ft of torque V4 Granturismo engine but come with a number of chassis differences, including a return to 17-inch wheels and a new single-sided swingarm.
Ready to set your own Pikes Peak record? Ducati’s got the bike for you…
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb saw the Multistrada take victory with the great Carlin Dunne for the final time in 2018, and although bikes have been formally canceled from any future editions of the race, Ducati still felt the need to honor the bike’s and indeed Carlin’s legacy by giving the sportiest travel ADV bike in the market a freshen up.
Starting from the bottom, the Pikes Peak gets new Marchesini forged aluminum 17-inch wheels front and back, attached to the same Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension taken from the Panigale V4 S and the Streetfighter V4 S, which automatically adjusts the setting according to the user’s riding style.
Running the same aluminum monocoque chassis as the regular Multistrada V4, the Pikes Peak gets a slightly increased rake from 24.5° to 25.74°, with an 18 mm increase in trail. The brakes are the same as you’ll get on the Panigale V4 S, with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers gripping twin 330 mm discs up front and a single-piston Brembo caliper clamping on a 265 mm disc at the back.
The riding position has changed compared to the Multistrada V4 S with the pegs sitting 10 mm higher and farther back and the handlebars styled to put a bit more weight over the front end.
Revised ergonomics put the rider in a more attack stance for canyon riding.
The Pikes Peak will also get the new Ducati Race Riding Mode, which allows you to change the cut for the rev limiter so you can wind the motor out further and get better high rpm performance. The Race mode makes for a more direct response at the throttle twist grip in High Power mode and changes the quickshifter cut out time for faster gear changes.
Also on board the Pikes Peak is the Blind Spot Detection and radar-assisted Adaptive Cruise Control we tested earlier this year and absolutely loved. Check the video here to see it in action at 10:26.
The bike will be available in U.S. and Canadian dealerships in the Ducati network starting from February 2022 in the exclusive Radar trim, which is fitted with both front and rear radar system, with a starting MSRP of $28,995 USD in the United States and $32,695 CAD in Canada.
For more Ducati news and reviews, click here
