Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4S (2021+) Simplified Maintenance Schedule
This is the Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4S maintenance schedule and service intervals — sourced from the owner’s manual, with input from other public databases.
The V4 and V4S share a similar maintenance schedule. The V4S benefits from higher-spec suspension and lighter wheels, but that doesn’t affect the maintenance.
The Multistrada V4 was a massive upgrade from the previous Ducati Multistrada 1260. It uses a new V4 Granturismo engine that sets itself apart even from its V4 brethren with changes including:
- The V4 Granturismo has a timing chain, not timing belts (similar to some Panigale engines but unlike the last Multistrada)
- The V4 Granturismo does not have Desmodromic valves (unlike most Ducati engines)
- The V4 Granturismo has two more cylinders than the V2 engines (thought I’d leave this for last!)
In terms of maintenance, the most significant change for the V4 Granturismo engine is the 60 000 km (37 280 mi, written as 36 000 in some versions of the manual) valve service intervals — so wide, that many owners may never experience them more than once (if that).
Ducati also released the Granturismo motor in the 2023 Ducati Diavel V4.
Aside from those significant updates, the Multistrada V4 and V4S continue their legacy of being a high-end and very capable sport and adventure-touring machine, able to take you distances very quickly, very comfortably, and in unique Ducati style.
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Service intervals for the Ducati Multistrada V4 / V4 S
Note — the 2024+ Ducati Multistrada V4 RS has different service intervals from the standard Multistrada V4, as it has a different engine. See its maintenance schedule here.
Generally, you can think of the Ducati Multistrada V4’s service intervals as a 15 000 km / 9 000 mi service interval, with some things to do every 2-3 intervals, and a valve service every 60 000 km / 37280 mi.
The 37280 figure may seem oddly specific, but it’s just a conversion from metric units. In the Diavel V4 manual, Ducati specifies a more palatable 36 000 miles. At other times even in this manual, Ducati is more liberal with conversion, e.g. 15 000 km / 9 000 mi for the oil service, when similar accuracy would be 9320 miles. So don’t get too worried.
The manual describes four kinds of service intervals for the Multi V4
- The break-in service (“Oil service 1 000”), which is done once, after 1 000 km (600 mi)
- The Annual Service, which is done every 12 months
- The “Oil Service”, which is done every 15 000 km / 9 000 mi or 24 months
- The valve check, which is done every 60 000 km / 37 280 mi (with no time interval)
Ducati recommends changing the chain and sprockets before 20 000 km / 12 000 mi, or as necessary.
In case of off-road use, you should do the maintenance items more frequently than scheduled.
What you need to service your Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4 S
If you’re thinking of doing your own service on your Multistrada V4 or V4 S, you need the following factory-recommended consumables (or alternatives).
| Part | Ducati Multistrada V4 spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Ducati recommends “Shell Advance 4T Ultra 15W-50” synthetic oil, or another oil that is SAE 15W-50, meets API standard SN, and/or JASO standard MA2. Some alternatives are * Mobil 1 15W-50 Full Synthetic * Motul 300V 15W-50 — a commonly mentioned favourite for the V4 |
| Oil filter | The V4 engine uses the same oil filter as many other high-end Ducatis, and you can use a HifloFiltro HF159 as an easy-to-obtain replacement. |
| Spark plugs | Standard spark plugs are NGK T00132U (easiest to get from a dealer). |
| Air filter | Ducati part number for the air filter is 42610712A. A popular replacement is the DNA filter with part number P-DU11S19-01. |
| Brake fluid/ Clutch fluid | Ducati specifies using DOT 4, so use something high quality like Castrol DOT 4 full synthetic. |
| Front brake | Part # for the front brake pad set is 61340121A. You can also use EBC HH brake pads FA630HH. |
| Rear brake | Part # for the rear brake pad set is 61321161A. You can also use EBC HH brake pads FA209/2HH. |
| Chain management | Ducati doesn’t specify a chain lube, so use something well-liked like Motul chain paste, or maybe clean it with a Motul chain care kit. |
| Coolant | The manual recommends ENI Agip Permanent Spezial antifreeze or an equivalent. If you track the bike, many prefer Redline Water Wetter and distilled water. |
| Battery | Dead battery? If it hasn’t happened, it will happen. The replacement you need is a Yuasa YT7B-BS (12V – 6.5Ah 10HR) (common to many Ducati motorcycles) |
Regular maintenance for the Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4S
This is the regular maintenance that you can do yourself (though the manual says you need a dealer to do it).
Every 1 000 km / 600 miles OR 6 months (whichever comes earlier), perform the following maintenance:
| Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4S — Regular maintenance |
|---|
| Check engine oil level (Motul 300V 15W-50) |
| Check brake fluid level (Castrol DOT 4) |
| Check tire pressure and wear |
| Check the drive chain tension and lubrication (Motul chain care kit) See below section on chain tension |
| Check brake pads, replace if necessary (FA630HH, FA209/2HH) |
Ducati Multistrada V4 Standard Inspection Checklist
This is the checklist of standard items to check / do every service.
Notes
- Break-in service: For items marked #, you don’t have to do these at break-in, but it can’t hurt.
- [D] means items that need dealer-specific tools.
| Standard checklist for the Ducati Multistrada V4 |
|---|
| [D] Read error memory with DDS 3.0 and check for technical updates and recall campaigns on DCS |
| Visual check of the front fork and rear shock absorber seals |
| # Check front and rear brake disk and pad wear. Change if necessary |
| Check brake and clutch fluid level |
| Check wear of chain, front and rear sprocket, and final drive chain elongation, tension and lubrication. (See below for chain maintenance guidelines) |
| Check the freedom of movement and tightness of the side stand |
| Check that all rubber gaiters and flexible hoses in view (e.g. fuel, brake and clutch hoses, cooling system, bleeding, drainage, etc.) are not cracked, are properly sealing and positioned |
| Check free play of rear brake lever |
| Check tyre pressure and wear |
| Check the operation of all electric safety devices (clutch and side stand sensor, front and rear brake switches, engine kill switch, gear/neutral sensor) |
| Check lighting devices, turn indicators, warning horn and controls work |
| Visual check of the coolant level and of sealing of the circuit |
| # Check the proper tightening of brake calliper bolts and front and rear brake disk screws |
| # Check front and rear wheel nuts and rear sprocket nut tightening |
| # Checking the front and rear wheel hub bearings and the steering tube bearing play |
| # Lubricate the levers at the handlebar and pedal controls |
| # Check the freedom of movement of the swinging system for side bags and top case |
| [D] Final test and road test of the motorcycle, testing safety devices (e.g. ABS, DTC and VHC), electric fans and idling |
| Clean the vehicle |
| [D] Record the service coupon, turn off the warning light on the instrument panel using the DDS 3.0, and fill out that the service was performed in the service booklet |
Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4S Maintenance Schedule Table
The following is the list of maintenance operations and to be done on this motorcycle with a distance or time interval — whichever comes earlier.
The maintenance schedule is quite complicated (even for Ducati), with a raft of things necessary at different intervals of time and distance. We’ve done what we can to clarify it below.
For the break-in service for the Multi V4 / V4S — do a full inspection service (the items in the table above), plus change the oil and filter.
| km x 1000 | 1 | 15 | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi x 1000 | 0.6 | 9 | 37.28 | |
| Do a full inspection service (see above) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change engine oil and filter (Mobil 1 15W-50, HF139) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2 years |
| Check and clean air filter | ✓ | More often if riding in dust / rain | ||
| Change air filter (P-DU11S19-01) | ✓ | 30 000 km / 18 000 mi (more often if you ride in dust/rain) | ||
| Check and/or adjust valve clearance | ✓ | |||
| Change spark plugs (T00132U) | ✓ | |||
| Change coolant (ENI AGIP alternative) | ✓ | 4 years | ||
| Change front fork fluid | 45 000 km / 27 000 mi | |||
| Change brake and clutch fluid (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | |||
| Check the tightening of frame fasteners to engine, swinging arm and rear shock absorber | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check the silentblocks (cush drive) on rear sprocket and lubricate the rear wheel shaft | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Replace the final drive chain kit (recommended) | Within 20 000 km / 12 000 mi. |
Maintaining the Ducati Multistrada V4’s Chain
Below are guidelines for maintaining the chain of the Multistrada V4. Ducati recommends Shell ADVANCE chain oil, but you can use any high-quality chain cleaner / lubricant, like Motul chain lubricant.
| Maintenance item | Every |
|---|---|
| Clean and lubricate chain | 1 000 km / 600 mi, or 6 months, or more often if riding in rain / wet |
| Check wear of chain, front and rear sprocket, and final drive chain elongation and tension. Record detected elongation value: __ (cm) (in) | 15 000 km / 9 000 mi, or more often if riding aggressively |
| Replace the final drive chain kit | Within 20 000 km / 12 000 mi, or as necessary |
To check the chain tension, find the point on which the chain is tightest (rolling it around and watching the chain, and put the bike up on its side stand.
For the Multistrada V4, measure the distance between the centre of the chain pins and the sliding shoe.
Target chain tension for the Ducati Multistrada V4 (all versions, including Rally): 33-35 mm
Ducati provides a chain tension measuring tool for the Multistrada V4 as part of the toolkit. Here’s how to use it.
- Position the tool between the slider and swingarm. Make sure it’s all the way at the rear, laying flat.
- Push down on the chain lightly with your finger.
- Look at where the center of the pins sits against the markers.
- Repeat this with several other parts of the chain, trying to find the tightest and loosest spots.
If the tension is out of spec (usually too loose), adjust the tension. Ducati recommends you get a dealer to do this (but you can do it yourself). Luckily, unlike other Ducati motorcycles, you don’t need an eccentric wrench.
- Use a 36 mm socket to loosen the axle socket and a breaker bar.
- Remove the rear chain guard with two 4mm hex screws.
- Use 12mm and 10mm wrenches to release the pinch nut for the chain adjustment nuts and then to use the adjustment nuts. Make very minor adjustments — go a quarter turn at a time, doing the same on each axle.
- Make sure the chain and wheel are still aligned.
- Keep checking the chain tension until it’s in spec.
- Re-tighten the pinch bolts, holding your chain tensioning bolt in place. Don’t over-
- Re-tighten the axle to 180 Nm / 133 ft-lb (use a torque wrench).
- Put the chain guard back on.
Wheel, tire sizes, and tire pressures for the Ducati Multistrada V4 (including Rally)
In base trim, the Ducati Multistrada V4 has a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear, in light alloy cast. The S models can also have wire-spoked rims.
The Multistrada V4 ships with Scorpion Trail II, Scorpion Rally, or Scorpion Rally Street tyres, all tubeless.
The pressure recommended depends on the tyre used, and the amount of luggage fitted. (And rider/passenger weight, and riding style, and where riding, etc.)
| Wheel | Tyre (Tire) size | Tyre (Tire) pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70-R19 M/C 60W | Trail II: 2.4 bar (35 psi) Rally: 1.6-1.8 bar (23-26 psi) |
| Rear | 170/60-R17 M/C 72W | Trail II: 2.5-2.9 bar (36-42 psi) Rally: 1.6-2.2 bar (23-32 psi) |
About the Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4S
The Ducati Multistrada V4 is an update from the earlier Multistrada 1260, and a massive one, but the same genre of motorcycle: a large adventure sport touring motorcycle with a comfortable, upright seating position, a willing engine, and a lot of ability both on-road and mildly off-road… if you can stomach the possibility of dropping the thing.
The Multistrada V4 continues the legacy of the Multistrada motorcycles which started in 2003 with the Multistrada 1000DS.
Back in 2003, that ugly duckling of a motorcycle (which is now somewhat of a collectible classic) was received with mixed press. It wasn’t the most beautiful thing in the world (for a Ducati), and it had no off-road prowess, unlike the BMWs and earlier Honda Africa Twins that had been making waves.
But the Multistrada did what it promised — it offered long-range touring comfort on roads, which is where most people ride.
Since that launch, the bigger adventure touring motorcycle manufacturers have also begrudgingly admitted that their motorcycles are mostly ridden on the road. And that’s OK. At the same time, the Multistrada has gravitated gently towards dirt, with higher suspension clearance and options for spoked rims, knobby tires, and engine guards.
It would be a brave adventurer though who’d risk damaging their Multistrada V4 by dropping it on a fire trail!
The Ducati Multistrada V4 is a huge step forward in engine technology from the outgoing V-twin that it replaced.
First and foremost is the engine in the Ducati Multistrada V4 — not just a detuned block from the Panigale or Streetfighter V4, the Ducati Multistrada V4’s engine is known as the “V4 Granturismo”.
The V4 Granturismo engine is an 1158cc liquid-cooled V4 that makes 125 kW (170 CV / 168 bhp) at 10500 rpm. It makes peak torque of 125 Nm (92 lb-ft) at 850 rpm — and what’s more important, it makes a lot of that torque down low.
Rather than using a desmodromic valvetrain, the V4 Granturismo uses a spring valve system. The general explanation from Ducati was that in the past, desmodromic valvetrains could move more quickly at high RPMs. These days, spring valve technology performs as well, and makes maintenance easier.
As standard, the Ducati Multistrada V4 comes with a lot of technology, including riding modes, power modes, cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, and an intelligent brake light. These are almost standard on high-end motorcycles these days, but they’re worth mentioning.
Probably most impressive from a maintenance perspective for the Ducati Multistrada V4 is the 60000 km (37280 mi) valve clearance checks. A six-fold increase in the distance needed between valve checks since the days of the air-cooled L twins changes a lot for what long-distance travelling looks like.
Aside from the engine, the Multistrada V4 comes with some really incredible new technology like adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection, both as options, enabled by front and rear radar detection.
The Ducati Multistrada also comes as a V4S spec, which adds “Skyhook” suspension, a semi-active suspension system with an auto-levelling function. The base model has 50mm fully adjustable inverted forks. Both the V4 and V4S have the same suspension travel.
For the 2023 model year, Ducati released a Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally. It is mostly the same motorcycle, with the same engine at its base and even the same dimension wheels. But Ducati gave the Rally spec a few extra bits, including slightly longer-travel suspension and thus more ground clearance, a smaller brake master cylinder, a “Rally” off-road mode, and other bits to help with mixed-use performance
Alternatives to the Ducati Multistrada V4 / S — Big Bore Adventure Motorcycles
The Ducati Multistrada V4 / S is a compelling competitor to some other high-adventure big-bore adventure motorcycles. Here are the other (latest) big-bore adventure motorcycles with which it competes.
BMW R 1300 GS (2024+)
The BMW R 1300 GS (2024+), is the latest in the long line of GS boxer-powered adventure motorcycles. It’s a high-power, high-spec, and very capable adventure tourer, designed to be at home on highways or on dusty 4×4 paths. It’s powered by a 1300 cc liquid-cooled boxer engine with VVT (“ShiftCam”). The R 1300 GS replaces the already high-spec R 1250 GS, with updates including optional radar-supported adaptive cruise control, improved Telelever design, improved optional dynamic suspension, and 12 kg / 26 lb reduced weight. The R 1300 GS “Adventure” is not yet available, though the GS is available with optional 20mm longer travel suspension (just not a longer-range tank).
Ducati Multistrada V4
Ducati’s latest incarnation of its Multistrada is the Ducati Multistrada V4, powered by Ducati’s V4 Granturismo motor, which makes impressive power of 125 kW / 170 hp at 10000 rpm) and has super long 36000 mile / 60000 km major maintenance intervals, thanks to a traditional spring valve return — no desmo. The Multi V4 has loads of things that make it special, including active “Skyhook” suspension, and a popular option of radar-based adaptive cruise control.
Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250
Harley-Davidson released the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250, surprising markets by releasing not just an adventure motorcycle, but one with a liquid-cooled engine that’s packed with an array of tech and which makes a surprising amount of power. It combines peak power of 112 kW / 150 hp at 9000 rpm with hydraulic self-adjusting valve lifters, meaning it never needs a valve service. The Pan America has a neat trick of lowering itself at low speed, to make it easier to flat-foot at lights. On top of that, the Pan America comes with cornering ABS, cruise control, and 19/17-inch wheel combo with optional spoked rims.
Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L
The Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin is Honda’s continuation of the revival of an iconic brand that put them on the map as adventure touring manufacturers. The 2016+ models are powered by a parallel twin “Unicam” engine which has a 270-degree crankshaft, and has loads of torque and character. The Africa Twin has a 21-inch front tire and comes with tubes in some configurations, which is something to be aware of. The 1100+ model has cruise control and a 6-axis IMU for cornering ABS, and optional semi-active suspension.
KTM 1290 Super Adventure S / R
The KTM 1290 Super Adventure R (along with its sibling, the Super Adventure S) is a bike that has so much power and character that some find it overwhelming. Both bikes are powered by the LC8 V-twin, a 1301 cc liquid-cooled high-power beast that also powers the 1290 Super Duke R. It makes 118 kW / 160 hp @ 8750 rpm, and gobloads of torque. The S is the street bike, with a smaller front rim, semi-active suspension, and radar-supported active cruise control, and the R is the off-road adventurer with long-travel suspension (non active), both rims spoked with a 21-inch front wheel, and a shorter screen.
Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE
The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 and 1050 (same 1037 cc engine capacity for a while) have always been budget contenders in the adventure touring market, but this doesn’t mean they’re not capable and very well-equipped — plus stylish! For 2023, Suzuki updated the 1050 to the V-Strom 1050DE, bestowing upon it a 21-inch front wheel and letting you disable rear ABS for off-road riding. Otherwise, the V-Strom 1050DE is the same V-twin powered adventure bike with a motor that traces its architecture back to the groundbreaking Suzuki TL1000S. The V-Strom 1050DE doesn’t have all the latest tech (e.g. radar or active suspension) that its competitors do, but it has cruise and an IMU, and a much lower sticker price.
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally / Explorer
Triumph has been making the big triple-powered Explorer 1200 for many years, but in recent years has made concerted efforts to make it more off road-ready. The Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer (and Rally Pro) replace the XE and XC models, and they’re the same concept — a big adventure tourer powered by an 1160 cc triple, powering the rear through a shaft drive, a relative rarity in this class. The Rally models have a 21-inch front wheel, still with a tubeless tire, and semi-active suspension.
Yamaha Super Ténéré XTZ1200
The Yamaha Super Ténéré XTZ1200 is almost forgotten next to its middleweight sibling, the darling Ténéré 700, but for a long time was the secret alternative to the GS. The “S10”, as it’s affectionately known, is powered by an 1198 cc big bore parallel twin with a 270-degree crankshaft, and puts power down through a shaft drive. The ES version lets you electronically control rear preload and front and rear damping. Aside from the introduction of the option of ES, the XTZ1200 hasn’t had major updates since 2014 and has been discontinued in some markets.
Reference — Ducati Multistrada V4/V4S Owner’s Manual
The above info was sourced from the owner’s manual for the Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4S (they share a manual).
We consulted parts fiches and catalogues for the part numbers needed to maintain your Multi V4 / V4S.
You can download it from the Ducati website here.
