DUCATI’S GROWING PORTFOLIO OF MODELS

Ludicrously fast, red, road-going V-twins have defined Ducati for longer than most can remember. Yet here in 2024, Ducati premiered four new models on an east coast Australian tour that showcased just how broad the Bologna-based company’s view of motorcycling has become. And thankfully for us, off-road is becoming more and more a focus for them!

Bringing top-shelf Italian style and hospitality, the Ducati 2024 Premiere Event Series hit up Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, as the Ducati Oz team hosted Ducatisti, Ducati dealers, media and special guests to share in pulling the covers off four new models that go on sale in Australia and New Zealand this year: namely, the Multistrada V4 RS, Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, DesertX Rally and the Hypermotard 698 Mono.

We hit up the Sydney CBD launch for an evening of Italian moto heaven. Music, snacks and drinks flowed at easily the best-dressed moto event we’ve ever attended. With an introduction from Sergi Canovas (Managing Director of Ducati Australia and New Zealand) that brought the spotlight onto the new bikes, Nick Sellick then worked through the four new models’ highlights, before Ducati’s DJ took over for the Ducati fashion show and remainder of the evening. While the four new bikes stole the spotlight for the bulk of the evening, Ducati brought along their tyre partner, Pirelli, for the night – along with some of the 2024 range highlights; meaning there was no shortage of bikes to ogle/jump aboard.

“2024 is shaping up to be one of Ducati’s biggest years in Australia, with more models than ever before, an expanding dealer network, and more client experience events for Ducatisti throughout Australia and New Zealand to engage with.” – Alana Baratto: Head of Marketing, Ducati Australia and New Zealand

MULTISTRADA V4 RS

When your V4 Gran Tourismo-powered Multistrada just isn’t enough, Ducati has come to the party and shoe-horned a Panigale V4 Desmosedici Stradale engine into the Multi chassis. Meaning a cool 180HP at your fingertips and by far the sportiest, most sophisticated and exclusive Multistrada ever. Produced in a numbered series, the Multistrada V4 RS is the latest addition to the family which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. Complete with Öhlins suspension, a single-sided aluminium swingarm, forged rims, a titanium subframe and carbon bits everywhere. Plus, of course, the unmistakable sound of the Desmosedici Stradale with a dry clutch. Yep, it comes with a hefty price tag, as the Audi-owned RS badge sure doesn’t come cheap…

PRICE: $55,800 AUD (Suggested Ride Away)

MULTISTRADA V4 S GRAND TOUR

Our thoughts on the Multistrada V4 S were pretty simple; an epic bike to eat up the long kays of Australia’s highways and byways. Yet in traditional Ducati fashion, they’ve upped the ante and brought a bike complete with all the accessories to travel long distances “in first class” to the table. The Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour is a fully optioned ride based on the S model with Travel & Radar set-up, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD). And finally a TPMS system, which shows the tyre pressure on the dashboard. Add a slathering of carbon and grey paint, and this is possibly the ultimate two-up tourer available today.

PRICE: from $45,200 AUD (Suggested Ride Away)

DESERTX RALLY

It was no secret that this bike was the one that we came to see in the flesh, as not all of us were lucky enough to join Transmoto’s Andy Wigan in Morocco for the DesertX Rally’s international media launch earlier this year. Building on the strengths of the ‘standard’ DesertX, the Rally variant really brings its off-road intentions to the forefront; a machine designed and developed for ‘adventouring’ and rally lovers. Race-bred components include Kayaba suspension, with increased travel from a closed-cartridge fork and shock absorber with a larger piston, while the new Excel spoked wheels, carbon bashguard and high front guard make this the most off-road oriented Ducati to date.

PRICE: from $36,600 AUD (Suggested Ride Away)

HYPERMOTARD 698 MONO

If there’s a bike that could simultaneously bring more fun (alongside flashing blue lights) to your future, it has to be the new Hypermotard 698 Mono – Ducati’s first single in a long time. With a Panigale-derived engine (sans one cylinder head), the bike was designed and built to achieve maximum performance on road. Its new Superquadro Mono engine could easily claim to be the most sophisticated and high-performance single-cylinder road engine ever made: 77.5hp (57kW) and a ridiculous 10,250rpm redline – all in a super-lightweight, moto-inspired package. Can’t say we wouldn’t mind sampling this powerplant in an enduro frame…

PRICE: from $22,800 AUD (Suggested Ride Away)