I haven’t used the factory fit DIN sockets on any of my bikes for about twenty years. And I guess that most owners are in a similar position. Yet the Multistrada V4 has two of the things, one under the seat and one on the dash: it’s up there with the Ducati Multimedia System and their pathetically small tank cubby (that doesn’t fit modern phones) as a prime example of Anachrotech: why they don’t just implement Apple’s Carplay and Android Auto and have done, I simply don’t know.

Now I power two things at the pointy end (of the bike, not me – I don’t have a pointy end): a Quadlock iPhone charger on an Evotech dash mount and a front-mounted GoPro. The phone I use with Kurviger for navigation, and the GoPro has their lab firmware installed, which switches the camera on and off with the engine. 

I’d originally planned to tap into Ducati’s own nav power outlet, which is tucked tightly away under the dash. However, the wiring and JWPF connector are only rated to about 3 Amps, less than my devices can potentially draw. There’s probably some leeway but full draw for the phone while the GoPro was running might create some interesting burning smells. That circuit is actually fused to 10A (position 10 on fuse box B), but that’s designed for all accessories: auxiliary lights, nav unit, hair curlers etc…

So, as a quick fix ahead of our first tour on the bike, I fitted an Ultimate Add-Ons 90º dual USB adapter to the DIN socket. That worked well, but was a bit wobbly in the DIN socket, and having the USB sockets facing upwards wasn’t exactly a brilliant weatherproofing ploy in the Scottish climate. This supports a total draw of 4.8A over its two USB-A ports. It doesn’t however support any of the power/delivery or fast charging protocols.

Then I found this, from the ever-helpful Nippy Normans:

https://www.nippynormans.com/camping-travel/nippy-normans-fast-charge-dual-usb-a-and-usb-c-socket-for-bmw-motorcycles-plug-and-play

Now apart from its having a USB-A and a USB-C socket rather than two modern USB-Cs, this has a good spec (from the Nippy Norma web site):

USB-C: 5/9/12V 3A (36W max.)
USB-A: 4.5/5/9/12V 3-5A (36W max.)
USB-C + USB-A: 5V-4.8A (24W max.)

And it supports Fast charge protocols:

USB-C port only: USB PD3.0/PD2.0/PPS
Both ports support: Qualcomm Quick Charge QC4+/QC4/QC3.0/QC2.0, Samsung AFC, Huawei FCP and SCP, MediaTek PE2.0/PE1.1, Spreadtrum SFCP, OPPO VOOC.

Other: BC1.2, Apple 2.4A

The only downside is that it’s designed to be plug and play with BMW motorcycles. The Ducati DIN socket has a different twin spade connector, so I was faced with sourcing the plug and making up a cable. I did however email Nippy Normans to ask if they did an adapter cable. And it turns out that they’d just had a prototype made up. Which they very kindly sent to me when I ordered the charger. Ducati’s DIN sockets are fused to 7.5A common for the pair (position 16 on fuse box C), so there’s plenty of overhead there for the USB charger.

After that it was pretty much plain sailing: the DIN socket unscrewed easily, the NN charger slid straight into the keyed hole and tightened right up using the 3D printed hex wrench provided: no drilling needed. Space behind the dash is fairly tight, and slightly more so after I’d installed some heat shrink over the connector to improve the weatherproofing, but all went back together easily enough. The charger obviously protrudes from the dash a lot further than the flush outlet of the DIN socket and it does make clearance to the cabling from the right side handlebar switches fairly tight. I’m using the standard USB-A cable from the Quadlock and a 90º USB-C cable to power the GoPro, and they do give sufficient clearance. Everything is working very well now: the phone (iPhone 17 Pro Max) charges rapidly and there’s plenty of current to run the camera as well. 

Overall, a cheap and very useful upgrade, and one I recommend, especially if you can also buy the adapter cable for Ducatis.