Ducati Multistrada 1200 ABS / 1200 S ABS Service Manual (2010)

Ducati introduced the Multistrada family in 2003 with the air-cooled 1000 DS, creating a distinctive road-focused crossover motorcycle before the adventure-touring category had developed its modern form. Conceived to offer sports-bike handling alongside an upright riding position and everyday versatility, the first Multistrada combined a trellis frame, long-travel suspension and 17-inch road wheels. The line expanded with the lighter Multistrada 620 in 2005 and the more powerful 1100 in 2007, reinforcing the idea that the same basic motorcycle could serve commuting, winding-road enjoyment and longer journeys. Ducati's official model chronology identifies these early milestones and the subsequent transformation of the nameplate.

At the EICMA motorcycle show in November 2009, Ducati unveiled a dramatically re-engineered Multistrada 1200 for the 2010 model year. Its new 1,198.4 cc Testastretta 11° liquid-cooled L-twin drew on the company's superbike experience but used reduced valve overlap and revised tuning to make its performance more manageable on the road. Unlike the earlier air-cooled two-valve Multistradas, the new motorcycle had desmodromic four-valve cylinder heads, a wet clutch and a comprehensive electronic-management system. A redesigned fairing with a prominent front beak, improved wind protection and a compact steel trellis chassis established a more ambitious sporting-tourer identity. The manufacturer described the new project as a major step beyond the earlier models in its 2009 EICMA announcement.

The 2010 launch established Ducati's influential concept of four motorcycles in one. Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro riding modes changed engine response and traction-control settings to suit different journeys. The new model employed electronic throttle management, multiple levels of Ducati Traction Control and a sophisticated ABS braking arrangement where fitted, aiming to combine dynamic road performance with reassuring control in daily use. The standard ABS configuration used adjustable Marzocchi front forks and a Sachs rear shock. The S ABS added electronically adjustable Öhlins suspension through the Ducati Electronic Suspension system, allowing the rider to change suspension characteristics through the onboard controls. These differences helped position the S as the higher-equipment touring and sporting variant of the same new-generation chassis and engine.

In its first production year, the model quickly established a reputation as an Italian electronically controlled sport-touring motorcycle rather than a traditional off-road enduro. Its 17-inch wheels, powerful Brembo brakes and broad engine performance were closely aligned with paved-road touring, while the upright ergonomics, windscreen and optional luggage extended its usefulness on longer trips. The sporting potential of the platform was demonstrated in June 2010 when a Multistrada 1200 S won its class at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, driven by Greg Tracy. Ducati's contemporary race announcement linked that result to the motorcycle's recently introduced electronic riding modes and broad performance range.

The first 1,198 cc generation continued to evolve after its 2010 introduction. Later updates refined equipment, throttle behavior and touring capability, and Ducati introduced the Pikes Peak variant as the range broadened. For 2013 the Multistrada adopted a revised Testastretta 11° dual-spark engine and the more advanced Skyhook semi-active suspension system on selected S versions, marking a technical break from the 2010 suspension arrangements. In 2015 a further generation brought Desmodromic Variable Timing, while later Multistradas developed into the 1260 and V4 families. The 2010 ABS and S ABS therefore represent the original electronics-led Testastretta 11° generation, not those later systems. Ducati's 2013 model announcement documents the following major change. Related models and editions can be found in the Ducati service manual catalog.