Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro

MONSTER ADVENTURE. Ducati takes its The Multistrada 1200 Enduro deeper into the dirt with the Pro edition WORDS AND PICS ASHENHURST. Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro

Ducati released the Multistrada 1200 Enduro in 2016 into an adventure market that was in full swing. Since then we’ve had new arrivals from KTM while Triumph has given its range a refresh, BMW has had a rethink of its smaller-capacity models, Honda has dominated in Australia with the Africa Twin and Yamaha is so close to releasing its long awaited T7. Things are moving quickly in the adventure scene and manufacturers have to move with it to keep up. Ducati could probably sit on the Enduro 1200 for another year without too many complaints, but instead the Italian company decided to give it a bit more of an edge where the dirt begins, which is a sign that adventure bikes aren’t the Prados of the two-wheel world and that people are using these bikes to get away from the black top.

The modes not only adjust the engine but also the suspension, so you’re always getting the best settings dialled in at the flick of a switch and overall the Ducati is surprisingly nimble in tricky stuf and very stable at speed when you’ve dialled it in right. We did a little fiddling from time to time in the sub-menus where you can fine tune the engine and suspension to incredible degrees, but actually found that most of the time the stock Enduro mode is all we needed.

It’s a heavy bike and there’s no escaping that — we dropped one on a ride from Newcastle to Lightning Ridge and it took a lot of efort to pick it up. I was rooted by the time the bike was upright again (it was horizontal because of my stupidity in the first place) and this is something to keep in mind when plotting the terrain you’re looking to take. Another consideration is that the 19-inch front wheel limits just how confident you feel taking on the more serious sections. An experienced rider can make it happen but it’s not easy if this is your first foray into adventure. So there are limits, or at least points where there would be a better choice of bike, but for those looking to take on majority dirt roads with some double track, the Enduro Pro 1200 is more than up for the task. It can’t go where the Africa Twin can but, again, if I had to choose between the two to do the Barrier Highway to get to Broken Hill, I’d go the Ducati. Cruise control set and of we go for endless hours and less fuel stops.

It’s a supremely comfortable bike, too. It has a better seat than the KTM 1290 Adventure R and that big 30-litre tank is shaped nicely not to be an imposition. The standard electronics are mind-blowing and there isn’t anything missing. From variable and on-thefly adjustable Traction Control and switchable ABS that’s active through corners, to a clever Vehicle Hold Control for hill starts, cornering lights that are gold for spotting kamikaze roos and Wheelie Control which, sadly, we will never need. The TFT screen is an easy read and the controls are no problem to work while riding. The tiny adjustable windscreen is surprisingly good. I’m not sure how because there isn’t much of it, but it works.

DUKE IN THE BLOOD I suspect anyone that buys this is really only looking for a Ducati and wouldn’t want a Beemer or Honda etc, but this isn’t just a token efort at placating some dirt dreamers. This is a well-built bike, capable of getting a long, long way from civilisation. I’ve ridden it really hard, jumped it, slid it and revved the crap out of it for ages and it was there and keen for every inch of it. I’ve done quick squirts and two multiday rides over very long distances and multiple states on the Standard edition, and I’d take the Pro for the added extras. With the Ducati in the garage you’ll be looking to the endless amounts of dirt roads that wind around this country for adventure. It also pays to have some experience or some training to get the most from a bike this size and this powerful. But if what you want to do out there doesn’t stray into single trail or sandy stretches, the Ducati will cover massive amounts of ground with you and at the flick of a switch return to being a monster on the road.

sources: Ultimate Adventure Bike Australia, June 2018