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| 2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200S Sport |
2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200S Sport ... The Ride-by-Wire (RbW) system is an electronic interface between the twistgrip and the engine which decides the ideal power response depending on the riding mode selected and according to the rider’s throttle input. The twistgrip no longer has a throttle cable connected directly to the throttle body butterflies, but instead delivers a signal to a control unit, which in turn operates the butterfly opening. The RbW system uses three different mappings to regulate the power delivery. The three maps offer 150hp with a sports-type delivery, 150hp with a progressive delivery suitable for touring and 100hp with progressive delivery for city or off-road use.
Ducati Traction Control
The racing-derived Ducati Traction Control (DTC) is a highly intelligent system which acts as a filter between the rider’s right hand and the rear tyre. Within milliseconds, DTC is able to detect and then control rear wheel-spin, considerably increasing the bike’s active safety and performance. The system offers eight ‘levels of sensitivity’, each programmed with a level of rear wheel-spin tolerance in line with progressive levels of riding skills classified from one to eight. Level one is programmed to offer the least amount of interaction while level eight uses the most amount of interaction. DTC is an integral part of the pre-programmed riding modes on the Multistrada 1200.
The system uses front and rear wheel sensors to compare speed differential and sense when rear traction is being broken (wheel-spin). DTC then decides the best combination of two different types of instant electronic adjustment, calculated with data supplied from multiple sources. The first 'soft' stage of system interaction is executed by high speed software that makes instant electronic adjustment to the ignition timing, administering varying amounts of ignition retardation to reduce the engine's torque.
If the DTC software detects that the first 'soft' stage of system interaction is inadequate to control the wheel-spin, it continues to administer ignition retardation and, in addition, instructs the engine ECU to initiate a pattern of constantly increasing injection cuts until, if necessary, full injection cut. Red lights around the circular riding mode section of the instrumentation illuminate to indicate the interaction of the DTC system. As soon as the system recognises the gradual return of equal wheel speeds, it incrementally re-establishes normal power delivery. This seamless interaction is key to the super-smooth operation of the system.
The real innovative thinking behind the DTC system is how the various range of sensitivity levels decide precisely how to react to excessive wheel-spin by understanding the bike's exact 'dynamic situation'. From slow mid-corner acceleration with considerable vehicle inclination to high speed corner exits while almost upright, this 'system intelligence' is achieved by processing a mass of data in a matter of milliseconds.
DTC levels are factory pre-set in each of the four riding modes, but can be individually customised and saved to suit the rider by accessing the set-up menu within each riding mode. A ‘Default’ option is available to easily return all settings to factory pre-sets.
Ducati Electronic Suspension by Öhlins
The ‘S’ version of the Multistrada 1200 is equipped with the latest generation 48mm Öhlins forks featuring the innovative
Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES). The new fork technology enables rebound and compression damping adjustments electronically controlled via the instrument panel. The top of the range Öhlins TTX rear monoshock is also adjusted electronically in both spring pre-load and rebound and compression damping.
The electronic suspension adjustment can be made easily by using the pre-set riding modes, which have been developed by Ducati test riders, or independent mode, which allows riders to use their own personal settings. Adjustments made electronically send a signal that initiates electronic actuators mounted on the suspension units.
In addition to the riding modes of Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro, there is also an option to quickly change the suspension setting to suit ‘rider only’, ‘rider with luggage’, ‘rider and passenger’ or ‘rider and passenger with luggage’.
Hands-free ignition
The Multistrada 1200 ignition is not actuated with a normal key. Instead, an electronic key in the rider’s pocket communicates with the Multistrada when within a distance of approximately 2 metres (6.5ft), recognising the dedicated key code and automatically enabling the bike’s systems. Pressing the key-on switch then activates all systems to ‘on’ and the engine is ready to be started.
The electronic key, which internally consists of a radio circuit, externally doubles as a mechanical flip-key, required to open the seat and fuel tank cap. When parking the motorcycle an electronic locking device can be actuated on the steering simply by applying full steering-lock and pressing the ignition-off button a second time.
Instrumentation
The instrumentation has a large, high visibility LCD showing all main data and a dot-matrix circular LCD which displays the riding modes, additional data or set-up menus depending on whether the bike is stationary or moving.
The main LCD displays data for speed, rpm, gear, total mileage, trip1/trip2, engine coolant temperature, fuel level and time. When the motorcycle is in motion, the dot-matrix LCD displays the selected riding mode, remaining fuel/distance, current fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, average speed, air temperature, trip time, and ‘freezing conditions’ alarm. When stationary, it enters a setting menu from where adjustments to the various functions can be made including personalised DTC set-up and, on the ‘S’ version, suspension settings.
The Sport, Touring, Urban or Enduro riding modes can be changed while either stationary or in motion, as well as load settings for ‘rider only’, ‘rider with luggage’, ‘rider and passenger’ or ‘rider and passenger with luggage’.
Engine
Testastretta 11°: The ideal travelling companion
The heart of the highly complex and innovative Multistrada 1200 project is the engine and, as a prestigious model, the motorcycle had to be powered by the most advanced, evolved twin-cylinder engine to come out of the
Ducati factory. The Testastretta Evoluzione engine that powered the world-beating 1198.
The challenge, however, was to produce an engine that would be enjoyable to use in all conditions and able to adapt to the rider’s character and not the other way around. Making the best ever L-Twin performance engine smoother and more user-friendly was a challenge, but Ducati’s innovative designers and engineers met the challenge by designing the revolutionary Testastretta 11° engine. Their achievement succeeded in harnessing the immense power of the Superbike engine, making it smooth and adaptable to suit to any occasion, a significant step forward in balancing performance with usability.
Why 11°?
For a motorcycle intended for touring, the smoothness and user-friendliness of the engine is key to achieving an effortless and comfortable ride and the main engine characteristic that enabled this configuration was the revision of the valve overlap angle.
The overlap angle is defined as the interval of crankshaft rotation, measured in degrees, during which both the intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time. This overlap occurs between the end of the exhaust stroke and the start of the intake stroke. High performance engines, which are subject to compromising smoothness for extreme power delivery, use high values of this parameter in order to benefit from the pressure waves to improve engine performance by maximising volumetric efficiency.
On the Testastretta 11° engine, this angle has been reduced from 41°, used in the Testastretta Evoluzione engine which powers the 1198, to just 11°. As a result, the fresh inlet charge flow is less compromised by the exiting exhaust gases, resulting in a much smoother combustion in addition to improved fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions. Unburnt hydrocarbon emissions (pre-catalyser) are reduced by up to 65% and specific fuel consumption (and consequent CO2 emissions) by up to 12% (Euro3).
With its 150hp and 12.1kgm (87.5lb-ft) of torque, the Testastretta 11° sets a new standard for Ducati twincylinder engines. Fluid dynamics testing on ports and combustion chambers has resulted in a modified power delivery profile, specifically the torque. New intake and exhaust ports combined with a radical adjustment of the cam timing and slight reduction of the compression ratio have enabled
Ducati to achieve a favourable torque curve at low rpm, which remains strong through a wide range. This particular characteristic considerably enhances the Multistrada 1200’s effortless ridability.
The gearbox and final drive ratios have also been optimised to enable reduced fuel consumption and achieve increased riding comfort by reducing vibration. If the 1198 Superbike reaches its top speed in 6th gear, the Multistrada 1200 is able to reach it in 5th gear and maintain it effortlessly in 6th.
The Multistrada 1200 features an oil bath clutch with ‘slipper’ function and super-light feel at the lever. Its design uses a progressive self-servo mechanism that presses the plates together when under drive from the engine, enabling the reduction of the clutch spring rates. This results in a much lighter clutch lever at the handlebar, ideal in stop-start traffic or long journeys. When the drive force is reversed (over-run), the same mechanism reduces the pressure on the clutch plates, enabling them to provide a race-like ‘slipper’ action, which reduces the destabilizing effect of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and provides a much smoother feeling when closing the throttle or down-shifting under normal riding conditions.
The layout for the exhaust system, which is simple and minimalistic, uses two primary manifolds flowing directly into the triple chamber single silencer. Apart from carrying out the 2-1-2 compensator function, the silencer also contains the catalyser and sound-absorbent materials. The two compact and lightweight aluminium alloy end pipes depart in a low, lateral configuration to keep the overall weight to a minimum.
More strada between major services
Constant investment in quality by design, advanced materials and engineering techniques, has enabled the distance between major service intervals (valve clearance check) to be doubled to a highly competitive 24,000km (15,000 miles). This has been achieved partly by the introduction of a new valve seat material and partly by the improved combustion efficiency and temperature management designed into the Testastretta 11° engine.
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| 2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200S Sport |
2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200S Sport - North American Specifications
USA MSRP - $19,995 USDChassis- FRAME Tubular steel Trellis frame
- WHEELBASE 1530mm (60.2in)
- RAKE 25°
- FRONT SUSPENSION Öhlins 48mm fully adjustable usd forks, electronic compression and rebound adjustment
- FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL 170mm (6.7in)
- FRONT WHEEL 10-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17
- FRONT TYRE Pirelli Scorpion Trail 120/70 17''
- REAR SUSPENSION Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Ohlins electronic monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm
- REAR WHEEL TRAVEL 170mm (6.7in)
- REAR WHEEL 10-spoke light alloy 6.00 x 17
- REAR TYRE Pirelli Scorpion Trail 190/55 17''
- FRONT BRAKE 2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo callipers, 4-piston, 2-pad. ABS as standard equipment
- REAR BRAKE 245mm disc, 2-piston caliper
- FUEL TANK CAPACITY 20l - 5.3 gallon (US)
- DRY WEIGHT 192kg (423lb)
- INSTRUMENTS Na
- WARRANTY Na
- BODY COLOUR (FRAME/WHEEL) Red (racing grey / black) - Arctic white (racing grey / black) - Diamond black (racing grey / black)
- VERSIONS Dual seat, ABS as standard equipment, available in two packages: -SPORT (Cam belt covers, air intake and hugger in carbon fibre); TOURING (side panniers, heated grips and center stand)
- SEAT HEIGHT 850mm (33.5in)
- DDA
- DDA
Not available on this model
DTC
DTC
Standard equipment
ABS
ABS
Standard equipment
Engine- TYPE L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled
- DISPLACEMENT 1198.4cc
- BORE X STROKE 106x67.9mm
- COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1
- POWER 150hp - 110.3kw @ 9250rpm
- TORQUE 87,5lb-ft 118,7Nm @7500rpm
- FUEL INJECTION Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system, Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies
- EXHAUST Stainless steel muffler with catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes, aluminium tail pipes
Transmission- GEARBOX 6 speed
- RATIO 1=37/15 2=30/17 3=27/20 4=24/22 5=23/24 6=22/25
- PRIMARY DRIVE Straight cut gears, Ratio 1.84:1
- FINAL DRIVE Chain 5.30"; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 40
- CLUTCH Light action, wet, multiplate clutch with hydraulic control. Self-servo action on drive, slipper action on over-run
Emissions- STANDARD follows the US Federal Regulation
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