Recently joined the world of touring bikes with a V4 T+R and so far my experience just keeps getting better. However, rather than a bike problem its more of a human one and at 5'7-1/2" I'm no giant. I can manage the multi on the lowest seat settings but only on the balls of my feet but not to the point of concern. I would just like a bit more surefootedness when maneuvering from stationary into parking spaces, backing up, in the garage etc. I have tried the min pre-load feature but it isn't quite enough. So, I would like to go the route of the lowering kit but my dealer seemed very uncertain and if it maybe negatively affects the handling? I can easily get the lowered seat but would like to know how this affects/feels sitting on the bike. As in, do you feel like you're disappearing into the bike, can't see over the top etc? As it is, I really like the current seating position and really don't want to change it up too much. Any first hand accounts of either solution would be greatly appreciated.
We’ve recently had the suspension lowering kit (and the lower seat) fitted to a ‘22 Monster (937cc). 800 miles in, my girlfriend has not fed back anything negative about the handling (she is not too enamoured with the fly by wire throttle at low speeds on poor quality tarmac). If you don’t intend using your Multistrada “off road”, I don’t see what the issue is your dealer has with reducing the ground clearance by 25mm. Andy
Have you tried switching to Urban Mode just for when parking / manoeuvring the bike about? It needs to have the ignition on to activate the lower suspension settings, when it is off it is just set hard. Another option would be to have some foam removed from the seat by a specialist upholsterer, not sure that might affect the comfort side though.
Hi, A long story, but I have had two V4s’ the first had to be returned to the dealer. At 5’ 8” I chose the low seat option on the first bike, ok but not perfect. My legs still splayed and uncomfortable. After returning first bike, decided to have The standard seat altered, lowered slightly but significantly made slimmer. In my opinion the perfect solution.
I have the lower seat on my Multi. I prefer this to the standrad seat as i feel as though i am part of the bike rather than perched on top. Does your bike now have the lowering feature from the button on the bars?
Yes both bikes had the updated software. The lowered seat on first was better than the standard seat, but still felt that it splayed my legs. So decided to invest in a bespoke alteration. £75 to be made lower and slimmer, done whilst I was with the bike. Was able to sit on the seat on the bike and able to give feedback before the final version. Only then cover re fitted. Just back from 1,200 miles around Scotland much improved both height and comfort
A mate of mine has a pair of Daytona boots with a raised heel. They don’t look any different to normal Daytona boots, but give about another inch in height. Could be an option.
One of the IAM observers I know has ordered a V4 with the Ducati lowering kit fitted at the factory. Not arrived yet so can’t advice what he thinks of it at the moment
Surely lowering the centre of gravity can only be a good thing. For road riding you don’t need all that suspension travel. Are you really intending to take a £25k bike off road?
Good morning guys, I have the V4 with the seat lowered by a specialist upholsterer, and the height reduction kit, I measure 5.3 approx. (159cm) and I have short legs, so the solution was to leave the bike as low as possible if I wanted to have it. In addition to this, I have been wearing Daytona boots for many years, with the inner sole, which raises about 6 centimeters of heel and 2 centimeters of toe, with this, I support almost the entire two feet (I was missing a couple of centimeters in the heel, I did a video explaining everything I had done specifically to the bike, but I'm sorry, I don't express myself very fluently in English, so it's in Spanish, even so, I'll leave it here below, and if you need any more questions, I'll be delighted to try to solve it. The bike, (I just returned from doing a point to point through Portugal of 2600km), was perfect, moreover, having a lower point of gravity, I notice it more settled in fast curves than before putting it the low kit is a good machine, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
In Italian unfortunately, basically normal V4 vs. lowered with suspension kit, very little difference apart from a slight laziness of the lowered one in changing directions quickly. Even the taller tester said he'd be happ(ier) with the low one.
Is that sarcasm? Orrrrrrr? I thought it was just my eyes? I thought there was a discernable difference with the nose height? But the video was useful enough that I want to go this route and get a lowering kit. Maybe on the PP when arriving in March rather than on the V4S though.
I’m not sure I’d mess with the ergonomics of a PP, but each to their own. There are several other options as mentioned above, that’ll make it easier to flat foot, without having to change any suspension settings.
I have the kit assembled and I have lowered the height and side seat, without any problem, it works very well for my 159cm
