From Ducati's press material:
The Multistrada - Chassis and Running Gear
Frame
The Multistrada utilizes the signature Ducati Trellis frame. It's strong and light thanks to its ingenious trellis design using welded ALS 450 tubing. The mitered and welded tubing gains it's rigidity from triangulation and material integrity, not volume as is the case with the more common extruded aluminium frames. Furthermore, our incredibly strong engine cases are an active component of our frame, a "stressed member," saving weight and contributing to rigidity for confident and consistent road-holding.
Suspension
We chose our best Superbike suspension and layout for the Multistrada 1000 DS. Showa fully adjustable forks ensure plush, accurate and confident handling. For the Multistrada, we've added more travel for a total of 165 mm to tackle and smooth-out uneven and changing road conditions. A new single-sided swingarm featuring a new larger axle carrier and bearings increases rigidity and reliability. It combines with a Showa fully- adjustable shock with convenient remote pre-load adjuster to handle rear damping duties. The Ducati Superbike derived rising rate, height-adjustable suspension system has been utilized, which allows you to adjust ride height independently from spring pre-load, so your chassis can be modified to suit your riding style and road conditions.
Brakes
Only the best Brembo "Serie Oro" calipers are used front and rear. Up front newly designed 320 mm discs are gripped by Brembo four piston calipers and a single 245 mm disc is used in the rear. Performance is enhanced with steel-braided brake lines front and rear. And to complete the system, a newly designed light weight, compact and space efficient fluid reservoir is mounted to a Superbike Brembo PSC 16 brake pump.
Wheels and tyres
Ducati Design has developed new front and rear wheels. The aggressive design is beautiful to look at and also simplifies and lightens the wheel/disc package. The discs are now mounted directly onto oversized hubs, eliminating the disc carriers. Mounted to the wheels are fat and sticky high performance street tyres to compliment the track and road-tested performance, and power of the Multistrada.
Seat/tank/fairing
Ducati Design has made the Multistrada as slim as possible -- as narrow as a typical single cylinder motorcycle. Comfort on a motorcycle is a combination of many things, but primarily its determined by the handlebar/seat/footpeg relationship. The Multistrada strikes a balance between the rear-set footpeg and low clip-on handlebar position of a Supersport, and the raised handlebar, feet forward position of big dual sports. The fairing takes a unique approach to wind protection. The slim fairing's windshield is not integrated with the fairing, but is mounted with the handlebars to the front fork. This allows a large angle steering arc (i.e. tight turning radius) because the clutch and brake levers swing with the windshield, and therefore are not restricted by it.
Controls/handlebars
The Multistrada uses our latest updated switches that are more ergonomic and easier to use with gloved hands. The handlebars are of traditional tubes which allow some fore and aft adjustment so riders can customize the riding position for comfort or style.
Gauges/lamps/signals
A new instrument cluster includes an oversize electronic/analog readout tachometer. An LCD screen can be cycled to display a variety of readouts including speed, in kilometers or miles, engine temperature, low fuel warning, trip meter and time. The front turn signals integrated the mirrors, saving weight and adding a 'clean' look to the bike. The newly designed headlamp includes a projection lamp and a wide-field main beam. The headlamp's aim (height) is electronically adjustable by remote control from the instrument panel, offering easy adjustment for maximum visibility as cargo loads change.
Back to the Ducati Multistrada page.