The Ducati Multistrada 1200 Engine

Smoothness and a rider-friendly engine power delivery were Ducati priorities when it stuck its eight-valve superbike engine into the latest Ducati Multistrada 1200.

It creating that uncharacteristic power delivery for the stonking 1198cc engine, Ducati went to work on the cylinder head. Reducing the valve overlap from 41 degree of the Ducati 1198 to 11 degrees, improved volumetric efficiency.

Basically, the Ducati 1198 compromises low-rpm smoothness for high-rpm performance, which isn't required for the Ducati Multistrada 1200. The smaller time period that both valves are open – overlap – on the MTS means less compromise of the fresh inlet charge by exhaust gases, and a cleaner, smoother combustion which gives better tractability and no more lugging and chugging at low-rpm – just what you want on a Ducati Multistrada 1200, but no so important for the Ducati 1198.

The fuel-injector bodies are new for the 1198cc engine, with smaller oval throttle bodies that now run the injectors under the butterfly. Flywheel mass has increased while the compression ratio has been dropped – further changes that amount to a better engine response below 7,000rpm.

Ducati uses the same engine for both the Ducati Multistrada 1200 and Multistrada 1200S variants.

The internal and fueling changes also mean the engine has fewer stresses places on it than the Ducati 1198 and, as a result, major service intervals for the eight-valve Ducati Mulistrada 1200 engine are pushed out to 24,000km.