The “AdvenTouring” Multistrada V4 becomes the first motorcycle to use front and rear radar technology as the fourth generation of the model has begun at the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale. Engine details will be presented on October 15, but the rest of the specs will have to wait until the Multistrada is officially presented on November 4. However Ducati has been hinting at a radar-equipped production bike for years.
“Ducati's interest in this type of system dates back to 2016, when the company worked in collaboration with the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering of the Politecnico di Milano to experiment with this type of system,” claims the Bologna-based OEM. “This first experience has confirmed the applicability of this kind of technology to vehicles on two wheels, and has pushed Ducati to the creation of a complete package of riding assistance using front and rear facing radar units that, within four years, have been developed and produced in close cooperation with Bosch, a top-level technology partner, and sees its first application on the new Multistrada V4.
Looking a lot like a GoPro, the 190 gram radar positioned in the front controls the operation of the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), which by means of controlled braking and acceleration automatically adjusts the distance (selectable on four levels) from other vehicles when riding at a speed between 30 and 160 km/h. Out back, the rear radar is able to detect and report vehicles positioned in the so-called blind spot. The BSD (Blind Spot Detection) system also signals the approaching from behind of vehicles at high speed… useful on the Autostada!
