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Multistrada?

F

fubar929

New member
Joined
Apr 27, 2003
Location
Mountain View, CA.
Moto(s)
2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, 2018 Ducati Supersport S
Do I dare buy a 2015 Ducati Multistrada 1200S? I test rode the 2015 Multi and the S1000XR and really liked the Multi. The Multi seems to tick all the right boxes (good wind protection, all-day comfort, great suspension, nimble handling, fun motor), but there seem to be lots of online complaints about the new model! Haven't heard of any catastrophic failures; just lots of smaller issues... I don't mind some "character", but I don't want to end up stranded hundreds of miles from home or suffer from extensive downtime while waiting for warranty work.

Is it better to buy a left-over 2014 model? Or look for a used second-generation (2013-2014) bike? You lose the latest updates (fancy dash, cruise control, Skyhook Evo, etc) but the older bikes are allegedly lighter, make more power (depending on who you believe) and perhaps better sorted out?

Or should I just give up on these European exotics, stick with a reliable Japanese bike and sleep well knowing I've got an extra $10K in the bank? Hell, that's enough leftover cash to buy a second bike...
 
If you haven't owned a Ducati yet, then yeah, it's your turn in the barrel! :p

All kidding aside, a Ducati, most likely will not leave you stranded. Niggles from now until you sell it maybe, but I always managed to get home on mine.

The Multi is an awesome bike, I believe Cycle World actually voted it best touring bike for 2015, a category usually reserved for Goldwings and BMW GTL's. I know they did say a ECU reflash was a must, but other than that, solid mount for an all day ride. :thumbup
 
Ask Budman. He seems to rock his pretty well. :ride
 
I had a 12 and now the 15 1200s.

Both bikes rock.. The older had a bit more softer suspension with the Ohlins.
I think the new is actually better in sport bike mode because it is a bit stiffer.
The older a bit better in Enduro mode because it was softer.

Motor wise a bit more down low grunt seemed to come from the 12 although I am going to have mine flashed to eliminate a lag right at 4K, which is the down low so we will see.

I like the new features for sure:
* Cruise control
* Heated grips
are at the top of that list and those are all about comfort.

Electronics are a bit easier to understand with the new one.

Both are awesome.

:ride
 
I've been loosely toying with posting an M4M thread for a white one I see at the Club Sport in Pleasanton all the time . Not sure what year it is but if I had the money, I'd get one based on that bike alone!


However, if he is on here and happens to read this, please stop parking next to my SV, your PR4s make mine look like grocery getters:thumbdown
 
fubar929 said:
...Or should I just give up on these European exotics, stick with a reliable Japanese bike and sleep well knowing I've got an extra $10K in the bank? Hell, that's enough leftover cash to buy a second bike...
Click to expand...

I bought a brand new aircooled 1100 Multi, it was not sorted out very well. I'm spoiled by the Japanese bikes.
 
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I'm one of the few who didn't like their Multi--had a '13 1200S with Skyhook and it was a great bike but its personality just didn't jibe with mine, especially on longer rides. I liked the power but found the engine vibration annoying on the slab (once to/from San Diego had me wishing for 4 cylinders). Mine had a full Termi from the previous owner so maybe it would've felt smoother with the stock exhaust but I sold the bike instead. And I didn't really like the sound of the thing, reminded me of a thumper.

The Skyhook was disappointing and I tried all kinds of different settings but never found the Goldilocks mode. Took it once to the racetrack and the Skyhook never felt as planted as my '07 Monster S4RS (plain old analog Ohlins). The suspension techs tried a few things but we just couldn't make it happy. Of course the thing was fast as stink, so it was more of a "feel" thing than anything, but there ya go.

Oh and the fuel sensor went out twice in less than 5k miles.

Anyhoo I replaced the Multi with a '13 ZX14R with all the electronic goodies (ABS & TC) and am a happy camper again. Such a smooth engine, very comfy on my commute, plus an absolute rocket on the backroads.

I love the older Ducs (nothing sounds better than a 2-valve air cooled Duc) and my S4RS, but it seems they're going the wrong way with some of their engineering.

Oh, and for ADV bikes I've previously owned a Suzuki DL1000 (hated it--boring, sold after 6 months), and '95 and '05 Triumph Tigers (heavy but fun in an old-school kinda way and the triple engine's a peach! Put 50k on each of them before selling)
 
eworthington said:
The Skyhook was disappointing and I tried all kinds of different settings but never found the Goldilocks mode. Took it once to the racetrack and the Skyhook never felt as planted as my '07 Monster S4RS (plain old analog Ohlins). The suspension techs tried a few things but we just couldn't make it happy.
Click to expand...

How much do you weigh? The stock springs are progressive-wound rated @ only 80 Nm or so. This might have worked a bit for you...

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/203-suspension-tire-tech/467898-skyhook-heavy-riders.html

OP if you get a 2015 Multi, be sure that all of the updates and recall work is up to date.
 
Thanks for reminding me--I took the bike to Catalyst and they put a slightly stiffer spring in the rear for me (was planning on 2-up a lot) but Jim said there were no replacement springs available for the Skyhook, so granted I had mismatched springs front/rear. That could explain some of my distaste for the Skyhook.
 
the thread you linked to is just about the rear spring, not the forks
 
Dollar to dollar, I'd go S1000XR. Seeing as how you didn't like it as much as the Multi, buy the Multi. Gotta go with what jives with you and not what may be better on paper.

That said, the SD1290GT is coming out soon-ish. If you're not in a rush, could be worth the wait. But I imagine the MTS will be a more relaxed riding position and there won't be any updates to it for a while.
 
hooli....

what updates on the '15??

I know about the software flash, but what else??

Sorry to derail OP.
 
No surprise, I really enjoy my '12S. The windshield noise on that model leaves something to be desired and it does put off a fair amount of heat on the right side. Having a Termi kit put on it right now so we'll see if that changes at all. Overall I feel it handles pretty darn well for what it is, and has brought me more smiles per mile than most bikes I've owned. The only issue I've had is the one that prompted me to swap out the exhaust. A weld on the exhaust header cracked and oh by the way the extended warranty does not cover it. Yippee. :(

The BMW sure looks like fun and I'd be interested in riding one for sure. I REALLY like v-twins but I'm guessing there is no way you could really go 'wrong' with either bike.
 
fubar929 said:
...Or should I just give up on these European exotics, stick with a reliable Japanese bike and sleep well knowing I've got an extra $10K in the bank? Hell, that's enough leftover cash to buy a second bike...
Click to expand...

That's the reason I bought a Versys 1000. It's an awesome bike at a great value. Leaves you with $$$Ks in your pocket to sort out things to your liking (which you do anyway with any bike). Oh, and I did test ride a Multi and I've owned BMWs...

rider-magazines-2015-motorcycle-of-the-year
video-kawasaki-versys-1000/
 
Wait a year.

The 2015 Multi has a horrific drop early in the torque curve that creates legitimate ride-ability issues. A recently released software update helps, but doesn't really solve it. Same with a full termi upgrade. Hoping by the 2016MY this will be fixed.

The first year of the prior gen (2010) had nearly a dozen recalls. Nothing that left me stranded, but lots of time in the shop.

The BMW XR is an appealing bike, but the suspension doesn't seem to be as sorted as the Multi, and they do have some annoying vibration (though it may recede with time).

And as someone else mentioned, the SuperDuke 1290GT is coming, which will offer yet another option (though you'd have to wait until 2017 for the second-year version of that one). KTMs have rowdy motors and a raw, bad-boy quality neither Ducati nor BMW provide. The SuperAdventure 1290 is a great alternative to the big BMW GSA, but is massive compared to the svelte Multi.

If you need something now, a used, sorted 2010-2012 Multi S (Ohlins!) would be a great choice. 2010s can be had for under 10k (I may put mine up for $9k).

Otherwise, I'd wait until the current new-gen bikes get into their sophomore year.
 
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budman said:
hooli....

what updates on the '15??

I know about the software flash, but what else??
Click to expand...

Any other firmware that might remain:

BBS (Black Box System) Update/reprogramming
Petrol System Update
ECU Update for Hands Free Control Unit "ZADI"
ECU Update - Fuel Mapping
LED Headlight Update
Instrument panel Reprogramming (top do with heated grips)
Tripmeter fix

That's all for now. :toothless
 
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