Ducati Multistrada V4 S Named MCN’s 1000cc+ Adventure Bike of the Year 2026

More Than a Motorcycle for the Miles

MCN’s assessment of the Multistrada V4 S begins with its ability to settle into a journey. The award-winner holds a neutral yet commanding riding position, with wide handlebars and plenty of room for the rider to move around. The TFT display, smartphone connectivity and adaptive radar cruise control all contribute to the sense that this is a motorcycle designed with serious distances in mind.

Then there's the semi-active electronic suspension. Rather than simply adding another impressive item to the Multistrada's spec sheet, it lets the motorcycle's character change with the ride. Note the ability to adjust its suppleness alongside a range of configurable rider aids, giving the V4 S the tools to adapt as the road and the rider demand.

That adaptability matters. A long day might involve hours of faster roads before giving way to something narrower, quieter and considerably more interesting. It's here that the other side of the Multistrada becomes important.
 

When the Road Gets Interesting

Comfort may make the miles easier, but the Multistrada V4 S hasn't forgotten the appeal of the road itself. During its test, MCN switched the motorcycle from Touring into Sport mode and found a noticeably more direct throttle response accompanied by a firmer ride. The 1158cc V4 Granturismo engine produces a claimed 167bhp, but the publication's account focuses as much on the way that performance is delivered as the number itself, describing strong acceleration that remains controllable and responsive to the rider.

And that is arguably where the Multistrada's character becomes clearest. This isn't simply a motorcycle designed to isolate its rider from a long journey. It's a machine that rewards involvement through corners, requiring the rider to understand its behaviour and work with the chassis. Once that relationship clicks, the size and long-distance capability of the Multistrada don't prevent it from becoming a genuinely engaging motorcycle on a twisting road.

It's a difficult balance to strike. Make an adventure tourer too focused on comfort, and it risks losing its sense of occasion. Push too far towards sporting performance and the qualities that make it desirable over hundreds of miles can begin to disappear. The Multistrada V4 S is designed to occupy the space between the two.

An Award for the Complete Package

Ultimately, MCN's verdict wasn't based on one headline feature. Its test praised the Multistrada's ability to involve and entertain on twisting roads while still covering substantial distances in comfort. Their review concluded that, within the 1000cc+ adventure-touring category, the V4 S is “the last word.”

That makes the MCN 1000cc+ Adventure Bike of the Year 2026 title about more than outright performance. It recognises the breadth that defines the Multistrada V4 S in the first place: a motorcycle capable of making the journey part of the reason for going. And when the long way round looks more appealing than the direct route, that's rather the point.

MEET THE AWARD-WINNER

MCN has made its verdict. Now it’s your turn to discover what put the Ducati Multistrada V4 S at the top of the 1000cc+ adventure category.

Explore the Multistrada V4 S, book your test ride and discover the bike that could take your next journey considerably further.