Ducati Multistrada S

[JRE]

Did a demo ride on one of these today - WOW! Incredible motor on that bike - it pulls and pulls and pulls. Even in touring mode, the front wheel threatened to loft in second gear without being overly aggressive. It takes off like a rocket and sounds mean too, but is rather comfy (seat could use some work) and has a lot of nice features that make it a well rounded bike. The $20k starting price tag is a bit much to swallow though. Still, I was very impressed. Not the "adventure" bike the Tenere is, but I think it would make an excellent sporty commuter/mid-range sport tourer. I don't think I would want to ride it great distances. It begs to accelerate, go fast, and be thrown into corners. Slabbing it would feel unkind to the bike.
If you get the chance to ride one, I'd recommend it. I've ridden the FJ-09 and the Multistrada will run circles around it.

 

[Z750jay]

I looked hard at getting one before I got the S10. Apart from the price (£17,000) and the fact that I would run a high chance of it getting nicked ( on street parking + Ducati) it was those rather expensive indicators in the handlebar bash guards. The bash guards on the Vstrom had numerous nicks and scratches on them from either being laid down in the snow/ice/diesel slick or clipping van wing mirrors while filtering etc. Think how much a set for the Multistrada would cost!


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[scott123007]

If you get the chance to ride one, I'd recommend it. I've ridden the FJ-09 and the Multistrada will run circles around it.

So, a $22,000, 1200cc exotic, high performance Adventure bike will run circles around a $10.000 900cc Sport Touring bike? That's not too surprising.

 

[JRE]

I'm referring to the engine performance. I really thought the FJ engine was pretty damn good. A big chunk of the price difference are all of the electronics on the Ducati not found on the FJ (ES suspension, cruise, keyless ignition, etc)

 

[Ron Earp]

The Multistrada is a great ride. My riding buddy has one and I've spent many and hour on it in the Blue Ridge Mtns when we swap bikes. They're fantastic machines. Buying them used is the way to go as they depreciate just about like any bike. My buddy picked his 14 model with <2500 miles on it for $13k even. That isn't much different from the 2015 ES I just bought but the ES does have a few more features, but is missing that kick ass Ducati engine.

 

[greg the pole]

I'm referring to the engine performance. I really thought the FJ engine was pretty damn good. A big chunk of the price difference are all of the electronics on the Ducati not found on the FJ (ES suspension, cruise, keyless ignition, etc)

You're not comparing apples to apples (engine wise). I own an FJ-09, and it displaces 847ccs, the Ducati has variable valve timing, and it displaces 1198CC.
30% more displacement will give errrmmm....30% more power.

Besides, the Yamaha is reliable as the day is long. Get's me in trouble plenty, and wheelies like a bastard. Besides lacking curb appeal to the multi, it wins in my books, and wallet.

 

[JRE]

I think the FJ needs to add some of the bells and whistles to compare to the MS, engine aside. Of course, that means the price goes up and people are unhappy so catch-22. I still think the FJ is a great bike, would love to own one but the MS just really blew me away. I was expecting it to be a little more tame.

 

[greg the pole]

I think the FJ needs to add some of the bells and whistles to compare to the MS, again aside. Of course, that means the price goes up and people are unhappy so catch-22. I still think the FJ is a great bike, would love to own one but the MS just really blew me away.

I hear you. The Multi Enduro is amazing. But it has many amazing things that will most likely break..or not, but you have to fork out the money up front, and take your chances.

 

[VRODE]

I've ridden the MS and it's a fun, addicting motor. But the reality for me was it was waaayyy more than I needed. And I couldn't live with the increased maint/cost. I get to put the whip to the ST and it works just fine for me. Don't need 130-150 ponies at hand, but that's just me.

 

[jmcgilroy]

This came from Ducati.com web-site.....

Constant investment in quality - ensured by design, advanced materials and cutting-edge engineering - has allowed Ducati to reduce scheduled maintenance requirements; routine maintenance intervals have been extended to 15,000 km 18,000 miles) (or one year) and valve timing adjustment to 30,000 km (9,000 miles),

I hope their service tech's can do a better job at metric conversion than their spec writers... "Hey, Luigi! Newton-Meters, Ft/Lbs. Is about da same, no?)

 

[Ron Earp]

The motor is a lot of fun. And the styling is cool too.

But what puts me off about Ducati and KTM is I'm paying big money for a motorcycle that still has a fooking chain. I hate chains. They require a lot of attention and are messy as hell.

 

[JRE]

This came from Ducati.com web-site.....

Constant investment in quality - ensured by design, advanced materials and cutting-edge engineering - has allowed Ducati to reduce scheduled maintenance requirements; routine maintenance intervals have been extended to 15,000 km 18,000 miles) (or one year) and valve timing adjustment to 30,000 km (9,000 miles),

I hope their service tech's can do a better job at metric conversion than their spec writers... "Hey, Luigi! Newton-Meters, Ft/Lbs. Is about da same, no?)

Ha, looks like they flip-flopped the numbers. Should be 15,000 km = 9k mi and 30,000 km = 18,000 mi.
What's a year in metric?

 

[decooney]

a good buddy has the 2013 Multistrada S and recently purchased the 2016 Tenere ES. After several trips riding together, he removed the windshield and bags on the Multi and blasts it around locally for one hour rides like a super moto staying close to gas pumps. The bike sucked gas like crazy at sustained speeds over 3,500rpms for any length of time and with a slightly smaller tank we were stopping for fuel twice as much much on road trips as compared to the Tenere'. His new Tenere' gets used for for adventure rides and trips, and the most interesting part is he rides the Tenere' more confidently at speed on twisty mountain roads than his Multi with the 17" front wheel, commenting he can lug the Tenere' with 19" front wheel in/out of turns at speed - and - not having to the keep the rpms screaming up to stay in the torque band like he has to on the older Multi. Both of us want to go ride that new adventure Multistrada with 19" front wheel. If they cammed the motor down and put more of the torque down in the lower end and midrange similar to how the Tenere' engine behaves, that new Multi ADV bike could be a much more fun and interesting ride for adventure and sport touring IMO. Hope to go ride it in a few weeks.

 

[JRE]

Agreed, if I owned the MS, it would be a short distance/commuting/hooligan bike. At some point, I may talk the wife into adding an FJ-09 to supplement the Tenere Especially when used ones start readily popping up. Or an FZ10 but I haven't sat on one yet and it might be a little too aggressive riding position for my aging body.

 

[greg the pole]

The motor is a lot of fun. And the styling is cool too.

But what puts me off about Ducati and KTM is I'm paying big money for a motorcycle that still has a fooking chain. I hate chains. They require a lot of attention and are messy as hell.

meh...
I have two other bikes that are chain driven.
My FJ gets oiled every 500km, and my ktm300 gets oiled after every ride...not that messy really.

I would easily consider a chain driver ADV bike if it was the cat's ass...
Bring on the XT 700