# My RTW Motorcycle - How Ducati Out-Germans BMW

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpVMsqSW6pk
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/GpVMsqSW6pk
Generated: 2025-07-17T03:32:43.518+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally is presented as a superior adventure motorcycle, outperforming German rivals like BMW through its practical engineering, including a reverse-rotating crankshaft for agility, extended 60,000 km service intervals, and a powerful yet under-stressed V4 engine. Its robust design and user-friendly features, despite minor third-party component flaws, proved reliable during a record-breaking 17-day circumnavigation of the world.

**Key Points:**
- The Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally features a reverse-rotating crankshaft, a racing-derived technology that significantly improves turn-in speed by offsetting gyroscopic forces.
- Its Grand Turismo valves allow for an impressive 60,000 km service interval, offering significantly longer maintenance periods than competitors like the BMW GS.
- The V4 engine, designed for 240 horsepower in racing, is intentionally under-stressed at 170hp in the Rally model, contributing to its exceptional reliability and durability.
- The bike's user interface prioritizes simplicity, with a mechanical windscreen latch and a large button for heated grips, contrasting with more complex electronic menus found on other adventure bikes.
- The robust, pressure-latch side bags proved highly functional, securely carrying 80 pounds of fuel across challenging terrains without issues.
- Minor failures were limited to third-party components like the key's plastic plate and footpeg rubbers, indicating strong core Ducati engineering.
- The twin-pulse firing order of the V4 engine provides superior traction and feedback, making the large motorcycle surprisingly easy to control in tight off-road conditions.

![Screenshot at 7:14: Side view of the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally with side bags and helmet, parked on a dirt path with a forest background.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-07-14.png)

**Context:** Ryan F9, a motorcycle reviewer with an unusually deep understanding of the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally (having provided feedback to its manufacturers), embarks on a record-breaking journey to circumnavigate the world in under 19 days. This video serves as a review of the motorcycle's performance and features during this extreme endurance test, often comparing its engineering philosophy to that of traditional German adventure bikes like BMW's GS series.

## Detailed Analysis

Ryan F9 reviews the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, asserting its engineering prowess surpasses that of German motorcycles, particularly BMW's GS line. He highlights the bike's unique reverse-rotating crankshaft (2:10), which, derived from Ducati's racing heritage, significantly reduces gyroscopic forces for faster turn-in and improved handling. The Multistrada V4 Rally boasts impressive 60,000 km service intervals due to its Grand Turismo valves (2:43), a feature that outpaces most adventure bikes. The V4 engine, originally designed for 240 horsepower in MotoGP, is intentionally under-stressed at 170hp in the Rally model, contributing to its exceptional reliability and durability. F9 praises the bike's simple, two-way mechanical latch for windscreen adjustment (4:00) and the straightforward button for heated grips (4:30), contrasting them with BMW's more complex, menu-driven systems. While the large 30-liter fuel tank offers great range, the fuel gauge is optimistically inaccurate (5:30). The robust, pressure-latch side bags (6:04) are lauded for their functionality and ability to carry heavy loads, such as 80 pounds of fuel, without issues. However, F9 notes that third-party components like the key (7:44) and footpeg rubbers (8:03) were prone to failure. He criticizes Bosch's radar cruise control (8:17) for its overly clever design, which can dangerously accelerate the bike when indicators are used. Despite these minor flaws, the bike's twin-pulse firing order (9:50) provides excellent traction and feedback, making the large motorcycle surprisingly easy to handle in challenging off-road conditions. The video itself was filmed using Insta360 cameras (12:08), which allowed for 360-degree, 8K, high dynamic range footage, even in difficult environments and low light, enabling the capture of the entire record-breaking journey.

### Introduction & Core Argument

- Ryan F9 introduces the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, emphasizing his deep familiarity with the bike and its superior engineering compared to German motorcycles, particularly in the context of a record-breaking global journey.

### Advanced Engineering & Practicality

- The reverse-rotating crankshaft is detailed as a key innovation for faster turn-in and reduced gyroscopic forces
- The Grand Turismo valves enable an impressive 60,000 km service interval, surpassing competitors
- The V4 engine, though powerful, is under-stressed in the Rally model, contributing to its reliability.

### User Interface & Ergonomics

- The simple, mechanical windscreen adjustment is highlighted for its ease of use compared to electronic systems
- Heated grips are activated by a single, large button, contrasting with complex menu navigation on other bikes
- Handlebar adjustability requires tools, which is a minor inconvenience for off-road riding.

### Fuel & Storage Solutions

- The bike features a large 30-liter fuel tank, but its fuel gauge is noted for being overly optimistic
- The robust side bags utilize a simple pressure latch system, proving highly effective for carrying heavy loads without complex electronic connections.

### Component Reliability & Design Philosophy

- Failures were observed in third-party components like the key's plastic plate and footpeg rubbers, not core Ducati parts
- The muffler's design is described as utilitarian for weight reduction
- The overall aesthetic is seen as conventional and practical, rather than overtly stylish.

### Riding Dynamics & Off-Road Capability

- Bosch's radar cruise control is criticized for its counter-intuitive behavior, accelerating when indicators are used
- The twin-pulse firing order of the V4 engine provides superior traction and feedback, making the large bike manageable in tight off-road situations.

### Filming Technology & Challenges

- Insta360 X series and Ace cameras were utilized for 360-degree, 8K, high dynamic range footage
- These cameras allowed for capturing thrilling moments in diverse conditions, including darkness and tight spaces, where traditional cinema cameras were impractical.

![Screenshot at 0:00: Ryan F9 on the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally on a scenic road, introducing the video.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-00-00.png)
![Screenshot at 0:53: Title card for the documentary, "Around The World in 17 Days: A Record-Breaking Documentary."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-00-53.png)
![Screenshot at 2:00: Rider's point of view from the Ducati's handlebars, showing the digital dashboard and the road ahead.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-02-00.png)
![Screenshot at 2:38: An animated diagram illustrating the Desmo valve system on the Ducati engine.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-02-38.png)
![Screenshot at 3:36: Rider's point of view on a highway, showing the blurred surroundings and the bike's speed on the dashboard.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-03-36.png)
![Screenshot at 4:00: Rider adjusting the windscreen on a dirt road, demonstrating the mechanical latch.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-04-00.png)
![Screenshot at 5:25: Ryan F9 standing next to the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, removing his helmet after a ride.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-05-25.png)
![Screenshot at 6:08: Split screen showing the motorcycle with side bags on a road at sunset and Ryan demonstrating the side bag latch.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-06-08.png)
![Screenshot at 7:14: Side view of the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally with side bags and helmet, parked on a dirt path.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-07-14.png)
![Screenshot at 8:24: Rider's point of view on a wet highway, showing the dashboard and a hand interacting with the controls for radar cruise control.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GpVMsqSW6pk/00-08-24.png)