Our ‘day zero’ comes three weeks before departure in Borgo Panigale. The guys at the Vehicle Reliability Service centre help us prepare the bikes for shipping and, for the first time, we are able to see the brand-new aluminum cases for ourselves, prototypes (the result of thorough research and reliability tests) that will shortly be put into production. So as to best prepare for our adventure, we spend the rest of the day practicing how to apply the Best Grip studs to the Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres and it’s not long before we have blistered hands. We’re ready to leave and will be reunited with our Multistrada V4 bikes when we arrive in Iceland! 

Having landed at the international airport of Keflavík, we head to the Ducati store in the capital and are immediately warned as to the rather unfavourable weather conditions expected over the next few weeks. The winds are violent, and we have the vague but persistent feeling that we’ve perhaps taken on too much this time. But we’re here now, and as the famous Icelandic saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes”. And so it is with spirit that we prepare for our adventure. 

The following day, and meticulously kitted out, we are finally ready to travel. The sun is shining, and the wind seems like a distant memory. The Multistradas can unleash their 170 hp, or less if we want to use enduro mode. In this way, they can safely tackle terrain that is a lot more treacherous than asphalt, like snow for example.

By evening we reach Vík í Mýrdal, a narrow village nestled between the sea and the glaciers that, with its 320 residents, stands out as one of the most densely populated centres of the island’s entire south coast. 

We base ourselves in Vík í Mýrdal for two nights, enjoying ourselves as we exploit the Multistrada V4 bikes and delve into Icelandic nature, which never ceases to amaze with its magical landscapes… Sea stacks and cliffs that the waves seem to want to devour, sandy beaches as black as coal, waterfalls that look like something out of a fantasy novel. 

We set off eastwards. In this area, the temperatures are not too bad, between -8 and +2 °C, but we have to deal with a general feeling of instability and precariousness caused by deep snow and battle a wind so strong that we struggle to ride in a straight line. We break up the 161 mile stretch separating us from the port town of Höfn by stopping at Jökulsárlón, a lagoon that contains hundreds of floating icebergs, a breath-taking blue in colour, which break away from one of the branches of the Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier. Not far away is the so-called «diamond beach», on which the same ice masses are deposited after having reached the open sea and been reduced to tiny fragments, similar to precious stones, by the currents. 

From Hofn, we head north, following the irregular coastline indented with fjords. We chance upon a snow-covered beach on which there are obvious tyre tracks and so we decide to have some fun with our Multistrada V4s. Atop this white blanket, we soon appreciate the importance of a chassis that always responds so calmly and courteously, thanks also to the great work Ducati has done on the suspension. The fresh snow is very similar to sand and, if you trust in the bike, you find yourself floating at incredible speeds and fully enjoying the riding that only this type of maxi enduro can offer. 

On day five, we are rudely awakened from our innocent sleep… A bad storm is expected in the next few hours. We ready our weapons and baggage and, as we head in the direction of Reykjavík, we stop off in Grindavík, just south of the capital, exhausted after covering almost 372 miles in just one day. 

Our plan was to set off to towards Vesturland, a region located in the central-western part of the country, but the weather plays another cruel trick, bringing a red alert and a forecast of gusts exceeding 93 mph. In a short space of time, the storm swallows the entire island.

Having been held hostage by the bad weather for two days, we are finally able to head back out but decide to remain in the area around Reykjavík, exploring some wonderful off-road routes and adventuring via the thermal springs and lava fields. One thing is now clear: the Multistradas can take you anywhere, but if Iceland and its unpredictable guardians decide to get in the way, then there is no traction control that can save you. 

We plunge into the heart of the Borgo Panigale company, and together with the Ducati team we work on the set-up of our bikes, no details is to be neglected.

Let's get to know our Multistrada V4. The riding position is perfect, the seat comfortable and heated, just like the handles. Hours and hours on the motorway could well be arduous, but the plexiglass shields us and the ventilated helmet peak limits “sail effect”, which prevents the muscles in our necks from becoming tense as we travel. With the radar-operated adaptive cruise control, you feel completely at ease, which in the long run means you feel less tired. After 391 miles of snowy passes through Italy, Austria and Germany, we arrive in the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt.

We encounter snow and ice, however our 170 horsepower is seamless, regular and unwaveringly powerful, and our technical gear keeps us protected and, thankfully, warm.

We travel several miles with snowflakes falling onto our helmets, in the late afternoon, we arrive at the shores of the North Sea, and from Rostock port, we set sail in the direction of Sweden. We put our special tyres on only once we have arrived in the Swedish capital.

Today’s aim is ambitious: leave Trelleborg, a town located on the southern most point of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and cover the 400 miles that separate us from Stockholm. However, the weather conditions prove to be dangerously unstable, quickly changing from snow to ice to sun. The DTC system, which gives you 8 different levels of traction control, is perfect: it means you always have optimal control in all types of conditions, from dry and cold, to wet and even snowy, whether you’re using standard tyres or even snow or studded tires. Fortunately, a friend, who lives in Kumla, offered to host us if we ever needed help. We recharge our batteries before continuing our journey to the North the following day.

As soon as we’re up, we get back on the road and shortly reach the Stockholm Desmo Center, where special tyres that had been sent across from Italy a few days before are waiting for us, alongside a warm welcome party (that we particularly appreciate, given the –15°C temperatures).

With our studded tyres now on, the bike feels notably different, and, even with the anti-puncture fluid, it remains extremely agile and precise. Our target for today is to ride around 466 miles north along the Gulf of Bothnia, which separates Sweden from Finland, and reach the city of Skellefteå,

At the first push of the ignition button, our V4 engines immediately come to life, despite the freezing temperatures during the night. Before the end of the morning we reach the Arctic Circle. We weave our way through all the roads we can, relying on the bike’s adaptive Skyhook suspension, an innovative approach to the bike’s dynamics that results in a setup that’s always controlled, so with reduced pitching when travelling with a full tank, and with suspension that reacts to the uneven ground, making it feel as if you’re sitting on a cushion of air, enabling you to travel endless miles even on bumpy terrain without getting tired.

At the end of the day, thanks to the equipment provided to us by Ferrino, we are able to fully appreciate the nature that surrounds us as we set up camp in a truly magical setting.

We pack up our tent and decide to go back towards Arjeplog, where we get a room in the same place we stayed two nights ago.

We head straight to the Colmis Proving Ground, a set of tracks located on a frozen lake that we have all to ourselves for the day. We spend the day “playing” with our Multistrada V4 bikes on the icy surface, having the time of our lives whilst gaining first-hand experience of just how effective these controls are, giving us perfect command of the vehicle even in completely unique conditions like these.

We head back towards the South, it’s time to begin the long descent home. The confidence that we now have in our Multistrada V4 bikes is incredible: therefore decide to ride for 565 miles without stopping and try to get back to Stockholm by the evening.

We hastily cover the last 1367 miles along Germany’s high-speed motorways. Our heads are filled with memories, and our excitement helps to make the last two days of riding less arduous.

It's time to take stock. Our bikes, tyres and clothing were not just the perfect travel companions, but they radically changed what we believed to be true, namely the hell we thought we’d have to endure to survive the cold. But actually, thanks to each and every individual who played their own part in designing the electronics, the materials and the technology, our minds were much clearer of any fear and worry than we expected, enabling us to enjoy the roads and landscapes to a far greater extent.