Did you know that many of the electronic systems which we get on motorcycles in the various segments nowadays, were first introduced by Ducati?
In the last 15 years, Ducati has invested daily in the development of cutting-edge technologies. The electronic solutions make it possible to refine the character of each bike according to the intended use, whether it is to enable the best performance on the track with the Panigale V4 or to provide the most comfortable and exciting journey possible with the Multistrada V4.
In 2008, with the 1098R, Ducati was the first motorcycle manufacturer to introduce Traction Control on a motorcycle, moving the performance and safety benchmarks of super sports bikes forward.
Just one year later, the LED headlight introduced on the Streetfighter 1100 represented another Ducati world first. In 2010, Ducati presented the first motorcycle in the world capable of “changing character” thanks to the presence of the Riding Modes – the Multistrada 1200 S.
Other electronic innovations introduced by Ducati include the TFT instrumentation of the Diavel, in 2011, another example of a technical solution that has now become a standard on motorcycles in every segment.
In 2012, the 1199 Panigale, which received the prestigious design award, the Compasso d’Oro, saw the introduction in the motorcycle field of the Full-LED light cluster and electronic engine brake management.
Since safety is a very important aspect for Ducati, in 2014 the Bologna-based company, together with Dainese, introduced the first motorcycle with an integrated system capable of communicating with the airbagin the jacket: the Multistrada 1200 Touring D|Air.
At the time, airbag systems did not guarantee current safety standards, while the sophisticated Multistrada 1200 Touring D|Air system sent the activation signal in just 20 milliseconds in the event of a crash or slide.
In 2018, Ducati introduced the Slide By Brake system that allows controlled power sliding under braking on the Panigale V4, while in 2020, with the Multistrada V4, Ducati was the first motorcycle manufacturer to introduce radars to the world of two wheels, which allowed the implementation of the Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detection systems.
2023 saw the arrival of extended deactivation on the Multistrada V4 Rally, a sophisticated system which, by switching off the two rear cylinders, reduces fuel consumption and heat. These are the innovations introduced by Ducati in the world of two wheels, many of which are now standard on motorcycles “over 500 cc”.
In addition to working to introduce new technical solutions to the market, Ducati R&D works every day to evolve and perfect existing bikes, improving them year after year.
This is what happened, for example, with Multistrada V4 owners, who received the Minimum Preload and Easy Lift systems free of charge when they were introduced on later models, and who continue to benefit from navigation system upgrades. Or the evolution that the Panigale V4 has undergone from 2018 to today.
Creating safe, high-performance and accessible motorcycles is the basis of the development of every Ducati, which thanks to all these innovations and the continuous development of solutions already on the market, today offers a range in which each model represents a technological benchmark in the segment to which it belongs, also in terms of safety, given that all Ducati motorcycles are equipped as standard with ABS Cornering and Traction Control.
Ducati innovation also involves new working methods. In addition to developing new technologies internally, Ducati has had several internal laboratories within the company for several years to carry out tests during the development phase, without necessarily having to rely on external resources or suppliers.
One of these is Electrical & Electronic Testing which is responsible for testing the electrical and electronic components of the bikes in the range, putting them to the test to measure their quality and duration over time. The purpose of this activity is to quickly solve the problems that may arise during the development phases and to monitor the quality of the already existing models.
That being said, Ducati says that it will continue to revolutionise motorcycles with more groundbreaking technologies and features in the future, thanks to its never-ending investments in experimentation, aimed at making the perfect motorcycle for its customers.
