Hot on the heels of Ducati announcing a naked Streetfighter version of its Panigale V4, rumours have surfaced that the Italian company is planning a Multistrada V4.
The Streetfighter V4 production version will be unveiled this year as a 2020 model and a prototype was recently raced at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado.
Sadly, four-time winner Carlin Dunne crashed and died on the final corner on his way to victory and a record time.
Carlin Dunn e on the Streetfighter V4 prototypeMultistrada V4
Now it seems the Streetfighter V4 street version may be accompanied by a Multistrada V4, according to German motorcycle magazine Motorrad.
The magazine claims it has seen the bike out testing in Borgo Panigale, home of the Ducati factory in north-east Italy.
There are no images available to prove their sighting, but it makes a lot of sense for Ducati to use the engine in other model variants.
Who knows, they could also be planning a Monster version!
Streetfighter V4 is expected to have similar power to the Panigale V4’s 158kW (213hp).
It had been suggested the street production version may be a little tamer. However, it is likely to still be more than the Aprilia Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
The Multistrada is likely to be tuned for less top end and more low-down power and torque.
The current Multistrada 1260 has 117kW (158hp) output.
Ducati Multistrada 1260A Multistrada V4 could make its debut alongside the Streetfighter V4 at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November.
If it does, the bike is likely to have front and rear radar for blind spot alerts and cornering ABS as Ducati has previously said it would add these features to its entire range in 2020.
The tech is part of the company’s joint development with Audi of safety technology to fit into an automated driving future.