Multistrada 1200 ABS

bought a 2 yr old Multistrada 1200 about a week ago, been considering a few bike options over the last couple of months for a single bike to replace my Honda Blackbird and Ducati 1098.

Saw a white base model Multistrada at a good Ducati dealership and they were willing to take both my bikes part ex. So after a 100 mile demo ride I did the deal.

Done 950 miles in the evenings and two Sundays in the 9 days I've had it, all done with a happy pillion.

Very tall seat on the bike but once you're used to it it's not a problem, in fact it helps hugely with seeing up the road beyond any obstacles ahead.

This base model doesn't have the fancy electronic Ohlins suspension so the big 50mm Marzocchi forks up front do dive under heavy braking. I've adjusted the settings to suit me and a more 'sportier' feel and the dive is almost gone

The engine settings of 'touring' 'sport' 'urban' and 'enduro' work really well, someday all bikes will be fitted with these.... apart from enduro! There's a marked difference in bike/engine character and performance in each of them. In sport it will scratch with the best of them on A roads, in touring it'll sit nicely at any speed you like, in urban it'll do traffic a lot lot easier than in sport mode. BIG thumbs up for this 'gimmick'.

Bike came fitted with Ducati heated grips which means the ECU knows they're fitted and all you have to do to switch them on is push the starter button when the engine is running, press again and again to select from off/min/mid/high. dead easy and no faff with extra bits on the bars.

Digital readout tells me that fuel drops to 30 odd mpg when behaving as a sports bike, other times I can see 60 odd mpg flash up but a long run home from Silverstone on Sunday gave me 46 mpg on one non stop 174 mile run after a refill making it a 200miles per tank bike when you cruise at 70-80-90 on our motorways with a pillion and baggage.

Compared to the Blackbird this a far far more exciting and modern motorcycle and it's a lot more practical than the 1098 and unlike the 1098 you don't have to get to 130-140 to find the adrenaline rush!

Life's too short to waste on boring transport, I'm now well happy with the Multi 1200 and Norton 961

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/der888/1044605_10151993220113222_257519334_n.jpg

Nice review. I took the 1200STouring out for a test ride yesterday. This is one impressive bike. The riding modes may sound like a gimmick but they really work and are noticeably different in the way the bike delivers the power and how much of it to give. The skyhook semi active suspension is terrific. The bike just stays level and planted whatever it's doing down there on the road surface.

I started in urban mode with a gentle throttle response and reduced to 100HP with traction control and ABS on their highest settings. Very composed when going through town or in stop start traffic. At the petrol station I changed it to Sport mode and nearly ripped my arms out of their sockets on launching back onto the road. 150HP, lightning throttle response and reduced TRC and ABS makes this thing into an 1198 Panigale. Fantastic. The bike steers and corners wonderfully and I felt so confident in it that I was taking corners far more quickly than on the bike I've been riding for the last two years.

Motorway miles were perfect in Touring mode. Full 150HP and gentle throttle response and softer suspension settings made those junctions just fly past. The wind protection is very good and the screen can be adjusted with one hand while on the move.

This bike can do everything. And boy does it do them well. the engine is a rocketship and brakes well good enough to bring it all under control. The electronics are very clever and work really well.

I was so impressed that a 60 minute test ride became 2.5 hours. Then I ordered one when I got back to the dealers. I can't wait to pick it up.

Hi.. thoughts id add to this too - as I have been a proud new Mult owner for 3 months now, and covered over 3000miles on her.

Ducati Manchester did me a great deal on a new 1200S Touring, in Frozen Chrome - or matt silver to you and me..

In short - she is superb, in every way... i totally love her.. (and have ridden dozens of other bikes)..

I have the 2014 1200S Touring model, so it came with panniers and heated grips, as well as the new skyhook suspension (repaces the previously silky smooth Ohlins). As a new bike I got £1000 of free Ducati accessories, so added a top box for europe trips, and a Termi carbon can (looks lovely).

As you said, I think the riding modes work very well, and do find myself changing the settings whilst out and about, something I didnt think i would do. Generally the bike is in touring for me, and then urban when in the cities, as the urban mode just soaks up potholes, speed bumps, cobbles etc, like they are not even there.

The Sport mode... wow.. turns this beast into a sport bike killer - it really does unleash a superbly mapped 150bhp of easy to access power. None of my "sport bikes" friends can loose this thing on the twisties.

Bad Bits...:

Tyres

So Im not 100% sure of the standard Scorpian Trail tyres - they do warm up nicely, and proved themselves well in the French alp twisties, however in the cold wet days they are a little uncertain. Ive only used the Enduro mode for 3 miles of forest trail - and it felt ok, but its no enduro bike - and a GS would outperform this bike on offroad easily - however i didnt buy it for its off road capabilities.

Pegs

Ive scraped both the break lever and the gear pedal whilst in france, both of which made me crap my pants as I didnt realise I was that far over. The bike handles deceivling well - and you can get some pretty mean lean angles from her, however the break pedal and gear shift shouldnt hit thr ground first IMO - it should be the foot rest!? bad design maybe?

Seat Height

Ok so I am a short arse at just 5ft 8 - however the seating position at first felt too tall for me, and i nearly parted with some dosh for a lower seat - however, i have got used to it totally now. I have no issue at lights, and just slide over to 1 side and stand flat footed with 1 foot. However it is a problem for me if I have to back the bike out, reversing for short people on a saddle this high is impossible. I do as much bike manovouring from standing, using the bars and pillion grab to move the bike, before lepfrogging onto the saddle

Summary - its the mutts nutts. Not cheap to buy - but makes me smile every time i start it up!..

Good posts all round, I really like these bikes being vertically challanged myself puts me off a tad.

Good posts all round, I really like these bikes being vertically challanged myself puts me off a tad.

im 5"8 and manage on it just fine

there is also a dropped seat option