Second-Generation Ducati Testastretta 11° Gets Dual-Spark?

If you are anything like us, yesterday’s announcement of the revamped 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 line left more questions than answers. Semi-active suspension on a Ducati? A Second-generation Testastretta 11° motor? Give us the deets Bologna! Surely both these changes are going to make it beyond just the MTS 1200 in the Ducati model line-up, yet Borgo Panigale is mums the word on what these changes are exactly, beyond their actual existence.

We do have some clues however, since Ducati released photos of the 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak & 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Granturismo motorcycles. A close look at the forward-facing cylinder head shows a feed for a second spark plug (2013 model on the left, 2012 model on the right), while the absence of the usual obnoxiously gold-colored forks raises some eyebrows as to whom Ducati is using to source its new “Skyhook” semi-active suspension.

The use of a dual-spark system on the second-gen Testastretta 11° motor is an interesting one, and likely more of a response to the ever-tightening European emission standards than anything else. The move should be a boon for 2013 Ducati Multistrada owners though, as the dual-spark configuration should for a more powerful and smoother motor on the adventure-tourer.

We assume the second-generation Testastretta 11° motor will find its way into the 2013 Ducati Diavel as well, with possibly the 2013 Ducati Streetfighter 848 and yet to be announced Ducati Hypermotard 848 also getting similar revisions made to their 849cc lumps.

Obvious from the pictures release yesterday, the 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S models are sans their usual gold-colored Öhlins fork suspension, and instead use grey-colored units from an unknown supplier. With only a handful of companies offering electronically adjustable semi-active suspension pieces, the guess list is pretty short.

Our speculation would be internals from either WP or Öhlins are underneath the otherwise bland-looking fork tubes, but what will be interesting is whether this is the same unit developed for the 2013 BMW HP4 superbike, which also debuted semi-active suspension this year. As always, time will tell.