Ducati revealed its smallest Multistrada bike today at EICMA – a 937 cc adventure rider that borrows the engine from the Supersport and Hypermotard 939. It’s not really a baby, of course – it’s good for 113 hp and 71 lbs.-ft. of torque.
It’s not really much smaller, either, at less than half a kilo lighter than the 1200. Official dry weight is 209 kg and wet weight is 227 kg.
No – the savings here is all about the price, making the 950 the most affordable of the Multistradas. Official American pricing starts at $13,995, which is $4,000 U.S. cheaper than the base 1200. In Canada, that basic 1200 lists at $19,395 Cdn., so expect the 950 to come in just below $15,000 Cdn.
It doesn’t have as many electronic doohickeys as the larger bikes, but it’s still well equipped with ABS and Ducati Traction Control, as well as four riding modes: Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. There are optional accessory packs that suit those modes and include things like engine guards, hard bags and knobby tires.
Much of its design comes from either the 1200 or the 1200 S. The 19-inch front wheel will give it some extra cred on gravel roads (the larger bikes use 17-inch front wheels), and the comparatively utilitarian double-sided swingarm helps bring the price down.
The upside-down KYB 48-mm front fork is fully adjustable, as is the rear Sachs monoshock. It comes standard with Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires for chewing up asphalt and a bit of dirt – but not too much.
