If we’re talking about aspirational motorcycle brands, Ducati is probably at the top of the list for most people—after all, the blend of performance, Italian flair and striking red paint is kinda hard to argue against. The thing about aspirational brands though, is that they’re often placed just out of reach for the vast majority of us.
So imagine my surprise when Ducati Malaysia proudly claimed at the launch of their six new models that there was now a Ducati for everyone. Now, if we’re talking about having a bike for every type of rider, I can kind of see that to be true. After all this, new launch sees quite the spread of different bikes.
The two V2s
The most interesting new models to Malaysia has probably got to be the new Multistrada V2S and Streetfighter V2. Both of these bikes are positioned to be the tamer, more accessible version of their V4 counterparts—but don’t mistake them for easy-going entry level bikes because they’re still packed with performance and a bunch of tech.
Ducati’s Streetfighter V2, for example, still packs a 955cc 90-degree V2 Superquadro engine which provides 153hp at 10,750 rpm and 101.4Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm. And for a bike that has a claimed wet weight of 200kg, that’s more than enough power to light your hair on fire on the streets.
You also get fully adjustable Showa BPF forks up front and a Sachs monoshock at the back, with braking being handled up front by two radially-mounted Brembo Monobloc M4.32 callipers as well as a 2-piston calliper at the rear with Bosch cornering ABS EVO. There is also a full suite of rider aids including multiple riding modes, traction control, and wheelie control that’s enabled by the 6-axis IMU (inertial measurement unit). There’s also an up and down quickshifter so you can quickly bang through the gears when you’re wringing its neck.
The Multistrada V2S is the more adventure focused machine so you get a much more upright riding position, a big windscreen up front as well as Ducati’s Skyhook electronic suspension. This suspension setup lets you adjust compression and rebound damping at the front and rear, with the rear also allowing for spring preload adjustments.
At its heart the machine is powered by Ducati’s 937cc Testastretta11 L-Twin cylinder engine which outputs 113hp at 9,000 rpm and 96Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm. Ducati has also strived to make this bike more beginner friendly with a reduction in height to 830mm (there’s also a low seat accessory that takes this down to 810mm) as well as a reduction in overall weight by about 5kg compared to the Multistrada 950 it replaces.
If I had to pick from the two though, the Streetfighter V2 definitely looks more up my alley. Its design definitely has more flair to it, though I’ve always preferred the way it looks from the back thanks to that single sided swingarm and brake light design.
The Ducati Streetfighter V2 is priced at RM101,900 (excl registration) while the Multistrada V2S is priced at RM105,900 (excl registration).
The Scramblers
Also new to Malaysia are the Scrambler Urban Motard and the Scrambler 1100 Tribute Pro, both of which I think look really good with their neo-retro styling cues. These are part of Ducati’s more urban Scrambler lineup where you will probably find more of these parked in front of a Starbucks than doing any scrambling, so it’s important they look stylish.
I personally vibe with the Urban Motard a little more because I’ve been on the hunt for a Supermoto styled bike for a while now, and it’s also the most affordable bike launched during this event. That said, the bike does come with a air-cooled L-Twin 803cc engine which makes a modest 73hp at 8,250 rpm and 66.2Nm of torque at 5,750 rpm.
If you’re someone who rides modern naked or sportbikes, these numbers probably won’t excite you, but that’s not really what this bike is about anyway. There’s also not a whole lot of tech here, with a rather basic-looking LCD gauge cluster compared to the beautiful TFTs you’d find elsewhere.
But that’s part of the charm. The air-cooled fins, the large front mudguard, the 17″ spoked wheels and the stacked exhausts—they really do get my low-key hipster juices flowing. And the same can pretty much be said about the Scrambler 1100 Tribute Pro too.
With a larger capacity engine, it does get more power, peaking at 86hp at 7,500 rpm and 88Nm of torque, but it also gets more tech too. There are three riding and power modes: Active which gives you the full grunt, Journey which gives you a smoother throttle response, and City, which is basically the baby mode that reduces engine power and smoothens out the throttle even more.
It also packs Ducati’s Safety Pack which gives it traction control and cornering ABS. There are fully adjustable upside-down forks up front and a Kayaba adjustable monoshock at the rear. Not the absolute best of specs, but as a style-focused bike it’s hard to argue with how it looks especially in this colourway.
The Ducati Scrambler Urban Motard is priced at RM68,900 (excl registration) while the Scrambler 1100 Tribute Pro is priced at RM85,900 (excl registration).
The “motor kayangan”
Finally, we have the two special edition motorcycles in the form of the Streetfighter V4 SP and the Panigale V2 Bayliss.
The Streetfighter V4 SP is basically the Streetfighter V4 on steroids. Designed to be more track focused, it gets an 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine that producing a whopping 208hp and 123Nm of torque at 9,500 rpm. For those who are unfamiliar, that is also known as a buttload of power.
It also gets pretty much all the other high-end components you’d want, with Brembo Stylema brake callipers in front, Ohlins NIX30 fully electronically adjustable front forks and Ohlins TTX36 electronically adjustable (rebound & compression damping) monoshock out back. There are even wings up front that help push the front of the bike down when you’re going way too fast.
But, probably the most visually striking thing—besides the colourway—is the exposed STM-EVO SBK 9-disc dry clutch. How does that even work? I have no idea but it looks cool as heck.
Meanwhile, the Panigale V2 Bayliss is a fully faired sportbike based on the Panigale V2. This particular model though was made to celebrate Troy Bayliss and the 20th anniversary of his first WSBK Championship. Because of that, it gets a really nice red, green and white livery, and the #21, that’s inspired by Bayliss’ championship winning 2001 Ducati 996 R SBK.
Functionally, the Panigale V2 Bayliss is 3kg lighter with a 2mm longer wheelbase and a seat height that’s lower by 5mm compared to the standard Panigale V2. You also get an Ohlins adjustable s teering damper, a silencer outlet cover in carbon fibre and titanium, Ohlins NIX30 forks with TiN treatment as well as a fully adjustable Ohlins TTX35 monoshock that’s mounted to an aluminium single-sided swingarm.
The Streetfighter V4 SP is priced at RM239,900 (excl registration) while the Panigale V2 Bayliss is priced at RM136,900.
A Ducati for everyone…?
I guess there is technically a Ducati for everyone, you just have to have at least RM70,000 to drop on a motorcycle, which makes sense considering Ducati’s brand status in the motorcycling world. What I would have loved to see would have been a true entry-level middleweight bike kind of like how Aprilla did it with the RS660/Tuono 660, and Triumph did with the Trident 660/Tiger 660. That would have been really cool to see.
However, Ducati Malaysia is trying to make it easier for people to own one of their bikes. At the launch, they also announced Ducati Corsa Credit, which from what I understand is an in-house financing plan made possible by the group’s Naza Credit & Leasing Sdn Bhd.
With this, Ducati Malaysia are promising faster and easier approvals (within 24 hours), interest rates from as low as 4.88% per annum, and a minimum down payment of 10%. The loans can be taken up to 7 years, and you can also add the cost of your accessories into the financing package as well.
