Could 996 power tempt you to a Multistrada?

Sources close to Ducati say the ill-received Multistrada could be spiced-up by slotting in the 120bhp 996 engine shortly after the bike goes on sale in 2003.

Sources close to the firm claim the four-valve, water-cooled Desmoquattro engine will slide straight in.

The prototype’s new 1000cc air-cooled motor is also reckoned to be extremely versatile, allowing the company to reduce its capacity and make less powerful, cheaper versions of the bike – allowing the Multistrada range to follow the lead of the firm’s successful Monster family.

The Multistrada was shown last Autumn to gauge public reaction… which wasn’t of the most positive kind from users of this site.