Ducati Multistrada MTS 1260 S DVT 2018-2020 Service Manual

Motorcycle News' own detailed used-buying review confirms exactly what genuine electronic sophistication distinguishes the S trim from the base Multistrada 1260 within this exact generation: "with every degree of throttle opening the clever DVT system keeps the engine clatter-free at low revs, but with 158bhp in the tank it has a wild side when you prod it in the ribs." That same review's own model-history timeline traces the genuine evolution of the semi-active suspension technology that first defined the "S" badge on this platform: "2013: Multistrada 1200 S gets semi-active electronic 'Sky Hook' suspension. 2015: Multistrada 1200 range gets Ducati Variable Timing motor, as well as chassis, styling and electronics updates."

Power comes from the Testastretta DVT, a 1,262cc liquid-cooled 90-degree L-twin, DOHC with 4 valves per cylinder and dual spark, delivering a claimed 158 hp at 9,500 rpm and roughly 96 lb-ft (130 Nm) of torque at 7,500 rpm — autoevolution's own confirmed spec sheet for the related Pikes Peak trim, which shares this identical engine, notes the S-badge platform this powerplant debuted on: "developed on the technical foundations of the Multistrada 1260 S, the Pikes Peak version benefits from the 1262 cc Euro 4 compliant Ducati Testastretta DVT engine and new chassis dimensions" — confirming the S trim genuinely serves as this generation's core mid-range platform, with the range-topping Pikes Peak built directly on top of it rather than as an entirely separate model.

WebBikeWorld's own detailed feature breakdown confirms the genuine electronics suite standard on the S trim that the base model lacked or offered only as an option: "an IMU that governs the ABS and cornering lighting, traction control, wheelie control, Skyhook suspension, and the clever Vehicle Hold Control system that facilitates easy hill starts." TopSpeed's own launch coverage confirms Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up & Down came standard specifically "from 1260 S and above" — meaning this S trim was the entry point into that clutchless shifting technology within the range, a genuine equipment threshold worth knowing when comparing trims.

The genuine engineering distinction that makes "S" meaningful on this platform is Ducati's semi-active Skyhook electronic suspension, continuously adjusting damping in real time based on road conditions and riding mode — a real functional upgrade over the base model's conventional, manually-adjustable suspension, without requiring the Pikes Peak's additional premium Öhlins hardware and forged wheel package. WebBikeWorld's own account confirms the chassis geometry updates shared across every 1260-badged model in this generation, including the S: "redesigned chassis components, such as Y-shaped 5-spoke wheels, a longer swingarm, and a revised front end" derived from the platform's extended-wheelbase reworking versus the outgoing 1200. Braking uses dual Brembo front discs backed by cornering-aware ABS managed through the shared Bosch IMU, with a 6-speed gearbox and light-action hydraulic clutch featuring self-servo and slipper action carried identically across every trim in the 1260 range. This exact 2018-2020 S-trim configuration represents the genuine technological sweet spot of the DVT-generation Multistrada — carrying every meaningful electronic rider aid the platform offers, without the Pikes Peak's additional cosmetic and suspension premium — before Ducati's subsequent V4-powered redesign replaced this entire architecture in later model years.

This factory service manual covers the procedures, torque specs, and diagrams needed to keep a 2018-2020 Multistrada 1260 S (DVT) running the way it was built to.