2026 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally review: Expertly refined

The new Rally still has Marzocchi suspension with semi-active damping and self-levelling rear preload. The right fork leg has been modified to feature an electromagnetic fork sensor that reads fork travel, position, and direction.

With the forks sending this extra information to the IMU, rebound and compression damping are more accurately controlled, and the rear shock adjusts perfectly to follow suit.

The shock still uses a stroke sensor, like most manufacturers’ semi-active systems, but none have monitored the forks before. The swingarm pivot is also 1mm higher. Now the V4 Rally is sharper, more agile, grippier, and better at hiding its bulk.

An additional new ‘auto’ suspension mode learns your riding style and reads the road to give you the best balance of comfort and control.

Taken from the 2025 Multistrada V4 S, the V4 Rally has a new automatic lowering device. When your speed drops below 6mph, the rear of the V4 Rally sinks to help you get your feet on the ground. It’s an effective device on a machine with a lofty two-way adjustable (870mm/890mm) seat height - 30mm taller than the standard Multistrada V4 and V4 S.

It works by electronically winding off the shock’s preload by 15–30mm, depending on rider, passenger, and luggage load at the time. The action is pronounced enough that you can feel it drop. The preload winds back on again above 30mph, or above 12mph if you’re in the off-road riding mode. Taller or lower seat and suspension kits give a seat height of up to 905mm or as low as 805mm before the lowering device takes effect.

The V4 Rally’s linked brakes have also been tweaked. Ducati are always keen to help the rider stop like a pro. The current Panigale V4 will apply the rear brake as you feather off the front to help the bike turn into a corner, and for the new V4 Rally there’s an ABS mode to assist off-road, too.

The rear ABS deactivates to help you skid into corners but will also give you a touch of rear brake if you pull the front too hard, to help you stop.

As before, Brembo Stylema calipers anchor onto 330mm discs for confident stopping, with a new slightly larger 280mm disc at the back. Like the new Multi V4, there’s also a rear-to-front linked mode that gently applies the front brake when you press the rear only. It feels unnatural for sporty riding but works well to keep the bike flat when braking with a pillion.

Make no mistake, it's still very much a ‘superbike on stilts’ and the Pirelli Scopion Trail 2 tyres lean into that characteristic with reassuring road confidence. They are 90/10 tyres, with a 90% bias towards road use and 10% off-road. They'll enable you to venture down some fine gravel or dirt roadways, but they are much more at home on paved surfaces.