2025 Giro Alpino: Becoming An Honorary Ducatisti
I don’t own a Ducati, but I’ve always fancied them. There’s the style, design, and, of course, performance, all of which set Ducati apart from other OEMs.
I’ve long lusted after a Monster SP, with its naked roadster style that shows off the engine and frame in a lean, muscular way. Ask me what bike I’d add to my garage today, and that would be my answer.
The Ducati Difference
But Ducati’s real standout isn’t the motorcycles, but the community. Ducatisti aren’t blindly loyal; they’re passionate, detail-oriented riders who appreciate performance and design, and they welcome others who share the same values. That spirit runs deep, from everyday owners to Ducati’s top leadership.
Unlike many brand events staffed by hired help, the 2025 Giro Alpino ride out of Fontana Dam, NC, was led by Ducati North America executives themselves. Jason Chinnock, CEO. Phil Read Jr., Director of Marketing. Richard Kenton, Technical Director. These guys aren’t just suits—they are riders, racers, and some of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of saddling up with.
That’s the Ducati difference. The passion isn’t just in the product, but in the people and the ride.
Giro Alpino: An Invitation to Belong
The Giro Alpino is Ducati’s annual gathering for Multistradisti—a chance to come together for several days of riding and camaraderie. Each year, the event explores a different region. In the past, it has explored places like the rugged Rockies of Colorado and the rolling hills of Vermont.
This year, we headed into the ancient Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.
Many riders were repeat attendees, with several new folks mixed in. Conversations flowed easily and the participants’ encyclopedic knowledge of the brand was on full display. But what struck me most was that these people didn’t focus on which bike you owned, but what you did with it.
The first rider to say greet me asked where I'd ridden from. It was assumed, of course, that I rode there and didn’t use a trailer. I like that kind of assumption, because I had ridden for about five hours, taking the long, twisty way to Fontana Dam from my home in Nashville, TN.
There were others who trailered out, and I can’t blame them, since crossing Kansas for the sake of time can often be quite dull. However, most of the attendees rode from various parts of the country, even Canada and Mexico, to attend the event. I was among my kind of people.
2025 Multistrada V2 S
For the event, I threw a leg over a 2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 S in Storm Green. It’s a gorgeous machine that turned heads before the engine even started.
Powered by an 890cc 90-degree V-twin, it delivers 115 horsepower with a torquey, quick-shifting character. Sporty yet comfortable, nimble yet planted, and with electronic suspension that adjusts on the fly, the V2 S seemed built for the twisting roads of western North Carolina.
I’ve tested most of the competitors in this “tall tourer” category, bikes born from the ADV boom but focused on pavement rather than dirt. After two days on the V2 S, I came away convinced that it sits in the sweet spot of the segment.
The Multistrada is light, flickable, fast, and versatile enough for dirt detours if the opportunity arises. But the best of all? It’s shockingly well-priced.
Starting at $15,499 ($19,000 for the S), it undercuts and outshines rivals like the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ or BMW F 900 XR. In a market crowded with choices, Ducati makes the decision quite easy.
Ducatisti for a Day
Day one began in familiar territory. These North Carolina mountains are my backyard; the roads where I truly learned how to ride. They pose a perfect testing ground for Ducati’s engineering, demanding precision, skill, and respect.
That morning, 50 Multistradas roared to life in unison, engines humming like a wasp hive waking at dawn. I don’t usually gravitate toward large group rides, but there’s nothing quite like the sight of a seemingly endless line of bikes flowing through the curves ahead of you.
We carved through fog on the Blue Ridge Parkway, clouds parting to reveal sweeping views and as endless asphalt ribbon. We weren’t riding fast, but to savor the experience. The thunder through mountain tunnels, the shared rhythm of corner after corner, and the joy of being part of something bigger than yourself.
Lunch at the Biltmore Estate capped the morning, and for the ride back, we split into two groups: road and off-road. I stuck with the pavement crew, although I was a bit jealous when the dirt riders returned (almost late to dinner) with tales of water crossings, gravel climbs, and even a trailside tire plug handled by none other than Jason Chinnock.
How many brands can say their leader will drop to his knees to fix a flat mid-ride at an event like this? Again, that’s the Ducati difference.
On the Hunt
Day two brought a new twist with the Giro Alpino scavenger hunt. At dawn, teams poured over emailed clues, whispering about routing strategies across the breakfast tables. Some went for distant locations, others chased high-point spots. Then, like a race flag had dropped, groups scattered into the mountains, following fine-tuned routes and chasing glory.
For me, it was the perfect excuse to slip away and chase some of my own favorite stretches of pavement. I pointed the Multistrada toward the twisties I know best and took off like a knight astride his loyal steed.
The road wasted no time. Curves came in quick succession, dipping and twisting through patches of rough asphalt and scattered potholes. Gravel and debris lingered near the edges, demanding focus and restraint, even as the bike begged to be unleashed.
Lean after lean, I flicked the bars left and right, pushing the chassis harder than any ordinary test ride ever could.
The Multistrada came alive beneath me as I attacked the goat paths and backroads near Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, eventually landing at the Maple Springs Overlook. Alone on the platform, I stood soaking in the view, reflecting on the ride and the bike. These mountains hold a certain magic, and the Multistrada felt like the key to unlocking it.
That evening, the air back at Fontana Village buzzed with stories and laughter as riders tallied points and compared routes. In the end, the defending champion reclaimed victory, but the grand prize was never the real reward. It was the adventure, the roads, and the bonds formed along the way.
Then again, who can argue with the bragging rights that will be held by the winners for the next year?
Riding Away a Ducatisti
For two days, I was an honorary Ducatisti. I felt the camaraderie, the shared passion, and the pride that comes with owning and riding a Ducati.
Although I may not yet have my own red key in my pocket, the experience left me certain of one thing. Ducati ownership isn’t just about the motorcycle. It’s about belonging to a family.
After the Giro Alpino, I know I’ll always feel a little bit like one of them.