2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 RS – First Look

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

The sportiest Multi gets updated electronics, wheels and subframe


Ducati revealed an updated Multistrada V4 RS alongside a new Diavel V4 RS for 2026. Produced in a numbered series, the two RS models feature superbike power, distinctive paint schemes, and premium carbon fiber materials. We’ll look deeper into the Diavel V4 RS separately, so here’s what you need to know about the 2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 RS.

The Multistrada V4 RS debuted in the 2024 model year featuring a Panigale V4 engine in a Multistrada package. Road Test Editor Troy Siahaan was one of three journalists invited to an exclusive test when it first launched, and he came away impressed with how good of a track bike it was.


For 2026, Ducati did not stray from its original formula, again equipping the Multi RS with its Desmosedici Stradale engine. The performance figures are unchanged from 2024, with claiming the same 180 hp at 12,250 rpm and 87 lb-ft. at 9,500 rpm. The engine is matched with a dry clutch and an Akrapovič silencer.


The aluminum monocoque frame is unchanged from the previous RS, but Ducati redesigned the titanium rear subframe so that it now can accommodate a top case (reminding us again this track machine is also meant to be a capable tourer). The wheels are still Marchesini forged aluminum rims, but with a new five-spoke design compared to the previous three spokes.


Ducati also updated the electronics package, including the Ducati Vehicle Observer (DVO) algorithm that debuted on the 2025 Panigale V4. Derived from Ducati’s MotoGP program, the algorithm simulates the presence of the 70 sensors used on the GP bikes, feeding the electronics with more precise data. The suspension remains the Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 event-based system and not the latest 3.0 system found on the latest Panigale and Streetfighter V4s, but Ducati update its suspension strategies.

Twin Brembo Stylema monoblock four-piston calipers are matched with 330mm discs for the front wheel. At the rear, the Brembo two-piston caliper is now paired with a 280 mm disc instead of the previous 265 mm rotor.


Other highlights include a numbered black anodized aluminum plate attached to the triple clamp, a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and a techno-polymer tail fairing specifically designed for the Multistrada V4 RS. The Multi RS also features several carbon fiber pieces, including the front fender, the front beak, handguards, and exhaust heat shields.


The 2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 RS arrives in European showrooms in November, with U.S. deliveries expected in December. U.S. retail pricing starts at $39,995.



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Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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