Ducati has unleashed its most adventure-ready motorcycle in India. The Multistrada V4 Rally, priced at Rs 29.72 lakh (ex-showroom), is the Bologna brand's answer to those who want to carve through Himalayan switchbacks and then hit 250 km/h on the expressway back to town. It is the most off-road focused Multistrada ever made.

What You Need to Know

  • The Multistrada V4 Rally is priced at Rs 29.72 lakh (ex-showroom), making it the most expensive adventure tourer in Ducati's India lineup
  • It uses the 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo engine that produces 170 hp and 125 Nm of torque, with a service interval of 60,000 km for valve clearance
  • Rally-specific upgrades include 200 mm of front suspension travel, spoked wheels, a larger 30-litre fuel tank, and dedicated Enduro riding mode
  • It competes directly with the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, Harley-Davidson Pan America, and Triumph Tiger 1200

V4 Granturismo Engine

The heart of the Multistrada V4 Rally is the V4 Granturismo, a 1,158 cc liquid-cooled V4 that Ducati designed specifically for long-distance touring. It delivers 170 hp at 10,500 rpm and 125 Nm of torque at 8,750 rpm, with a power curve that prioritises mid-range grunt over top-end madness.

What sets this engine apart is its refinement. The V4 Granturismo features a counter-rotating crankshaft that cancels out the gyroscopic effect of the rotating mass, making the bike feel lighter and more agile at low speeds. It also shuts down the rear bank of cylinders when idling or cruising below 4,000 rpm, reducing heat and fuel consumption in stop-and-go traffic.

Ducati claims a service interval of 60,000 km for valve clearance checks, which is class-leading for a V4 motorcycle. The oil change interval is set at 15,000 km. For Indian touring riders who clock serious kilometres, that means fewer trips to the service centre and more time on the road.

Off-Road Capability

The Rally variant is distinguished from the standard Multistrada V4 and the V4 S by hardware that is purpose-built for off-road work. The most obvious change is the suspension: a fully adjustable 50 mm USD fork at the front with 200 mm of travel, paired with a rear monoshock that offers the same 200 mm of movement. That is 30 mm more than the standard V4 S.

The bike rolls on spoked tubeless wheels , 19-inch front and 17-inch rear , shod with Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres as standard. The 30-litre fuel tank is a massive upgrade over the standard bike's 22-litre unit, giving the Rally a theoretical range of over 500 km on a full tank.

Electronic rider aids are extensive and accessible through a 6.5-inch TFT display. The Rally adds a dedicated Enduro riding mode that reduces power delivery to a manageable 100 hp, softens the throttle response, and dials the cornering ABS to its least intrusive setting. Traction control, wheelie control, and Ducati's Vehicle Hold Assist come standard, along with cornering ABS tuned specifically for loose surfaces.

A quickshifter, hill hold control, and a bi-directional shifter are included as standard. The Rally also gets a higher windscreen, wider footpegs for off-road riding, and a protective engine guard that Ducati says is strong enough to support the bike's full weight on a rock.

Price and Competition

At Rs 29.72 lakh (ex-showroom), the Multistrada V4 Rally is priced at a premium over its primary rivals:

  • Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally: Rs 29.72 lakh
  • BMW R 1250 GS Adventure: Rs 22.50 lakh (estimated)
  • Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250: Rs 23.50 lakh (estimated)
  • Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro: Rs 20.05 lakh

The Ducati is clearly the most expensive of the bunch. But it also offers the most advanced electronics package, a V4 engine that is smoother than BMW's boxer twin and Harley's V-twin, and a level of on-road performance that none of its competitors can match from the twist grip alone. Whether that premium is worth it depends entirely on what you value in an adventure tourer.

Who Should Buy It

The Multistrada V4 Rally is not for the weekend warrior who sticks to paved roads. It is for the rider who plans multi-week expeditions through Ladakh, Spiti, or the Northeast, and wants a motorcycle that can handle rough terrain day after day without compromising on the highway ride home.

It is also for the Ducati loyalist who wants off-road credibility without sacrificing the brand's signature performance DNA. The Rally can climb a rocky trail and then outrun most sports bikes on a straight road. There is no compromise motorcycle quite like it.

Bottom Line

The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally is an expensive, specialised tool for a specific kind of rider. But for that rider, it is arguably the best adventure tourer money can buy. The V4 Granturismo engine is a masterpiece of touring powertrain engineering, the suspension upgrades transform its off-road capability, and the electronics package ensures you can tailor the experience to any terrain. If you have the budget and the ambition, this is the bike that will take you everywhere and bring you back smiling.