New Ducati Multistrada 1260S Grand Tour breaks cover

The 2020 Ducati Multistrada 1260S GT (Grand Tour) was revealed today at Ducati World Premiere in Rimini, and the biggest is news is what’s missing – there’s no radar-guided cruise control.

This special version of the 1260S is geared for maximum rider comfort, with a centre stand, panniers and a dedicated seat all standard-fit. Riders also get heated grips, additional LED lights, a handsfree petrol cap and tyre pressure monitoring.

The colour scheme is matt Sandstone Grey with Ducati Red wheels and fairing trims.

All other specs are the same as the 1260S, and as you’d expect the V-twin engine’s specifications are the same too.

Keep an eye out for the full Ducati Multistrada 1260S GT review coming soon on MCN…

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New Ducati Multistrada 1260GT expected with radar cruise control

First published 06/09/19

Ducati will release a brand new version of the Multistrada later this year but, for the time being at least, it will not be a V4. Instead the new model, dubbed the 1260GT, will be a high-specification tourer that will sit at the top of the Multistrada tree as the pinnacle of touring excellence.

The existence of the bike, along with the rest of the Ducati range, has been confirmed by the American Environmental Protection Agency.

The figures given say the bike will be as near as makes no difference the same weight and dimensions as a current Multi, suggesting the GT will be an accessorized version of a current model.

As well as the usual touring kit we also expect the 1260GT to debut new technology: radar-controlled cruise control. Ducati have previously announced they are working on the technology, stating their intention to be the first to market.

“With the radar systems we are pushing hard to be the first and we should succeed,” Pierluigi Zampieri, Vehicle Innovation Manager at Ducati told us in February. “We were the first people who started this investigation with a university [in 2014] and we are now trying to be first in the market. We don’t want to be followers.”

It was assumed it would debut on a V4 Multistrada but with KTM shortly to unveil their radar equipped 1290, it seems it’s a race to get it in dealerships. Given the reapplication of the full range, it’s possible this signals a new direction for the V4 Multistrada.

Given the popularity of sporty adventure bikes and sports tourers, we expect a V4 Multistrada to be more sports focused than adventure focused. If an adventure tourer with a superbike engine sounds like a familiar winning combination, that’s because BMW have been doing it for years with the S1000XR.

We expect Ducati to unveil the 1260GT in October with the model arriving in dealerships by the spring.

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Ducati Multistrada 1260GT highlights

Straight to the top

The current top of the tree is the Pikes Peak model however given that the V4 Streetfighter replaced it for the race, and following the death of Carlin Dunne, we expect this model to be retired.

All seeing eye

The radar unit, manufacturer by Bosch, will allow the bike to moderate its speed in traffic when the cruise control is applied.

Fully loaded

As the GT name implies we expect the new model to be fully loaded with panniers, top box, heated grips, electronic suspension and all the usual touring comforts.

He’s behind you

As well as helping to modulate speed, a second rear facing radar will warn the rider of vehicles in the blind spot or approaching quickly from the rear.

Nothing for free

Given the high-specification that’s expected the GT is likely to sell for around, or perhaps even in excess of, £20,000.

More from MCN

• Ducati Multistrada 1260 review
• Ducati Multistrada 1260 S review 
• Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro review