The new Multistrada 1200 S with the dramatic backdrop of Lanzarote. image thanks, ducati

(Note: there's so much information to share with the Soup faithful about the 2010 Ducati Multistrada S, we're splitting our report in three parts: a general overview, a detailed riding impression, a walk through of the bike's technical details. Check back over the next few days for parts two and three.)

About an hour into my first ride of the 2010 Ducati Multistrada S, on the island of Lanzarote, I had what could be described as a motorcycling "moment of clarity".

I was waiting to be flagged off by our Ducati guide, down an undulating segment of coastal road where several photographers waited. The broken coast of Lanzarote was a dramatic backdrop, the Atlantic throwing drafts of foam across the lava rock shoreline and onto the tarmac. 280 years ago, civilization in Lanzarote was nearly destroyed by a six-year holocaust of volcanic eruptions. Evidence of the primordial devastation remains, every white village built amidst flows of once-molten rock. The people of Lanzarote didn't surrender; they breached the jagged shores, huddled under ashen skies, and reshaped Lanzarote into one of the most inspiring and beautiful places on Earth.

Ducati too, has a history filled with moments of both dormancy and eruption. They've had stunning race victories, birthed many mechanical objects of desire. But there were also times when the marque was close to extinction. Sitting on the new Multistrada 1200 S, it felt clear that this bike signals the beginning of a new age for Ducati, an explosion of thought, passion and design that will bring legions of new customers to their shores. The Multistrada isn't just good, isn't just a Ducati without concessions to "Italian character". The 2010 Multistrada 1200 S is arguably the most important Ducati introduced since the 916, a game changer not only for the Bolognese manufacturer, but indeed for every company producing motorcycles today.

Why? Because the Multistrada 1200 S provides groundbreaking levels of personalization over every dynamic element important to a rider. And significantly, it does this without diluting in any way the things that make a motorcycle fun. How many times have we heard manufacturers announce a new technology that would revolutionize riding, only to discover that it made a bike less fun to ride? Automatic gearboxes, linked braking, alternative suspensions, variable valve timing - as riders we've been disappointed so many times by the promise of new technologies. But this isn't the case with the 2010 Multistrada 1200 S.

The bike features a ride-by-wire throttle, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and electronic suspension, all of which are adjustable via the handlebar and control panel. These technologies work together via 4 preset riding modes - "Sport", "Touring", "Urban" and "Enduro", which can then be individually adjusted. Sure, other manufacturers have offered variable suspension - BMW has their ESA system, and Honda's GL1800 offers control over the rear shock preload. But when designing the 1200 S, Ducati considered how the various parts of a motorcycle dynamically interact when it's being ridden - how the bike works as a whole. The presets are a very well-thought out starting point; but knowing that every rider has an ideal "feel" they wish to get from their bike, Ducati allows a wide range of adjustment over the basic settings. So, for instance, you can limit the bike to 100 horsepower, dial out the traction control, turn off the ABS, and add a few clicks of compression damping to the rear shock - without using any tools or even dismounting the bike. Or let's say you have to ride a beat-up road with frost heaves on the way to diamond smooth pavement up in the mountains: a few clicks on the left handlebar and you're covered.

We did a little over 200 kilometers on the Multistrada 1200 S, riding in highly varied riding environments. Whether it was tight mountain roads, flowing mid-speed corners, high speed touring, or hard-packed offroad riding, the bike excelled, aided by the easily adjustable presets. Ducati is marketing the Multistrada 1200 under the premise that it is four bikes in one - Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. After riding the bike, I told the Ducati engineers that this marketing premise sells the bike short. Because ultimately, the Multi S offers something a lot more appealing than "four bikes in one" - it enables a rider to shape it into the bike they want, under almost any given condition. And the technology doesn't intrude on the enjoyment of the bike, or require an adaptation to use it. I didn't really even realize it was there, until I needed or wanted it. And that is huge.

If the 2010 Multistrada S were a movie, it would be Avatar, (3D of course.) It's that game changing, and will likely have other manufacturers scrambling to rethink their own flagship bikes. Can the next Goldwing or BMW LT not have some variation on these technologies, and still justify a higher price point than the Multi? People have gotten used to technology enabling personalization via their phones, their cars, Facebook--even their furniture. The 2010 Multistrada S introduces technology I didn't really know I wanted, that now I really don't want to live without, without compromising the things that are inherently appealing about the brand. I can't think of another company that's done that recently except Apple or Google, and with the 2010 Multistrada S, Ducati is certainly worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as those companies..

On second thought, neither Google nor Apple offers anything with 150 horsepower and is red, so I'd say that's Ducati, FTW.