Ducati Multistrada MTS 1260 S Pikes Peak DVT 2018-2020 Service Manual

TopSpeed's own launch coverage confirms exactly which engine Ducati raided to build this exact platform, and the genuine engineering rationale behind that choice: "the new Ducati Multistrada 1260 has been bestowed with the same 90-degree V-twin Ducati Testastretta DVT engine as found on the standard Multistrada but gets its stroke increased from 67.9 to 71.5 mm." Motorcyclespecs.co.za's own product coverage confirms the genuine racing pedigree behind the Pikes Peak name: "special paintwork to commemorate Ducati's three victories in America's famous hill climb event," with a "red, white, and black combination of colors inspired [by] the winning bike."

Power comes from the Testastretta DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing), 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, fed by Bosch electronic fuel injection through elliptical throttle bodies with ride-by-wire. TopSpeed's own detailed breakdown confirms the genuinely deliberate low-rpm tuning behind this engine: "capable of pumping 85% of the torque at just 3500 rpm... that makes the Multistrada 1260 the motorcycle in its category with the highest torque values at 4,000 rpm, that is the most frequently used rev range" — a real engineering priority on genuine real-world usability over peak-number bragging rights.

MCN's own review confirms the genuine, distinctive character this Desmodromic Variable Timing system delivers at the throttle: "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 timeline confirms exactly where this specific 1260 generation sits within the broader Multistrada story: "2015: Multistrada 1200 range gets Ducati Variable Timing motor, as well as chassis, styling and electronics updates. 2018: Multistrada 1260: Long stroke motor from X-Diavel, calmer chassis dimensions, electronics upgrades and slight styling tweaks."

Motorcyclespecs.co.za's own detailed specification confirms the genuine premium hardware distinguishing the Pikes Peak trim from lesser Multistrada 1260 variants: "an Öhlins fork and Öhlins TTX36 shock, which can both be adjusted mechanically," paired with "new forged aluminium wheels, which are lighter than those of the Multistrada 1260 S" — autoevolution's own account confirms a genuine 6kg (13 lb) weight savings from those forged Marchesini wheels alone. Further carbon-fiber components include the front mudguard, hands-free cover, front side panels, a short racing-style plexiglass screen, and a red-stitched seat — genuine styling and functional touches built to distinguish this range-topping trim from the standard S variant sitting below it. A Motoplanete-collected owner review from a rider who traded a Multistrada V4 S for this 1260 confirms genuine long-term satisfaction with the platform: "torque, power, elasticity... a fabulous engine. The chassis is great, with perfect ohlins suspension that's both comfortable and supportive," while candidly flagging real ownership costs — "you need to budget a lot for maintenance (belts every 5 years cost over 1000 euros)" — a genuine consideration given the desmodromic valvetrain's belt-driven timing system.

TopSpeed's own confirmed equipment list notes this range came standard with Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) up and down, alongside a full Bosch IMU-managed electronics suite covering cornering ABS, cornering lighting, traction control, wheelie control, and Ducati Skyhook semi-active suspension. This exact 2018-2020 configuration represents the Pikes Peak's original 1262cc DVT generation before Ducati's subsequent V4-powered Multistrada platform took over as the brand's flagship adventure-touring 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 Pikes Peak (DVT) running the way it was built to.