Ducati Multistrada V4 Conquers Europe’s Tightest Alps With Tournanti.com, Day 2

As a card-carrying Southern California rider, I am legally obligated to believe that our local canyons—from Palomar Mountain to the legendary sweepers of Malibu—are the center of the motorcycling universe. But Day 2 of our European adventure with Touranti motorcycle tours threw a serious wrench into my SoCal exceptionalism (check out Day 1’s adventure during the Honda Africa Twin Euro Review With Tournanti.com, Day 1).

We kicked off the morning leaving a breathtaking medieval castle built in 1000 AD in southeastern France. After a thoroughly damp, deluge-filled first day in the saddle of a Honda Africa Twin, day two promised drier roads and a fresh stallion: the 2023 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally.

The Machine: An Italian Spaceship with an 8-Gallon Appetite

If you’ve read our in-depth Ducati Multistrada V4 review, you know this platform is a masterclass in sport-touring engineering. But the Rally version takes things to a planetary scale.

The first thing you notice is the presence. The front fairing is broad—wider even than the Africa Twin Adventure Sports—forming a massive, wind-deflecting wall that shrugs off the elements. Between your knees sits a gargantuan 7.9-gallon aluminum fuel tank. You’d think carrying almost 50 pounds of premium fuel up high would turn this bike into a top-heavy barge, but the chassis wizardry at Borgo Panigale is real. It remains unbelievably flickable.

To cope with the changing Alpine topography, we dialed up the electronically adjustable Skyhook suspension. Maxing out the preload on the fly literally lifts the motorcycle beneath you like a high-tech off-road throne.

1,000 Corners and the “Malibu” of France

Our route carved directly through the stunning Verdon Gorge (including the spectacular Sentier Blanc Martell). Picture the towering red rock of Zion National Park, but doused in emerald-green rivers and lush European foliage.

Eventually, we dropped out of the mountains and descended into Nice, France. Let me tell you, Nice gives off pure Malibu, California vibes—minus the pesky morning marine layer. It’s got the same sun-kissed cliffside curves, gorgeous hillside villas, and local traffic that reminds me of riding home to Vista.

We finally rolled into Monaco, parking our Italian tourer high above the glitz, glamour, and mega-yachts of the harbor. The quiet, winding streets above the principality felt exactly like Coronado in San Diego County—beautifully maritime, perfectly manicured, and exceptionally classy.

The Reality Check: Alps vs. SoCal Canyons

So, how did the big Ducati handle the tightest roads Europe has to offer?

While the 170-horsepower Granturismo V4 engine is an absolute peach that wants to run to Antarctica at 120 mph, it also generates enough engine heat to warm a small cabin. In the middle of an unusual summer heatwave in the Maritime Alps, that V4 heat soak made things incredibly toastier than we’d like. On ultra-tight, technical switchbacks, the lighter and nimbler Honda Africa Twin is still the easier weapon to slice through traffic.

But for covering massive distances over mixed, epic terrain? The Multistrada V4 Rally is practically unmatched. It turns out you can survive 1,000 corners in a single day—as long as you have world-class suspension and an 8-gallon tank.

Gear Check: Staying Dry (and Connected)

Riding adventure bikes through Alpine deluges requires serious motorcycle gear. On this trip, we trusted:

• The Lid: We wore the Shoei Neotech 3 modular lid. Check out our comprehensive Shoei Neotech 3 modular helmet test to see why we call it the best modular helmet on the market. We paired it with a Cardo Packtalk system for seamless road comms.
• The Suit: The Tourmaster Zephyr jacket and pant combo kept us protected. While we braved some dampness in the heaviest downpours without the thermal rain liners, the fit and overall ventilation are excellent.

2023 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally Technical Specifications