Multistrada 1200 Introduces New Ducati Maintenance Program

[Mr Sunshine]

Strange that they bill it as a Sport Touring bike and give it only a 20l (5.2 gal) fuel tank.   What has happened to decent sized tanks?   Kawasaki did the same stupid thing with their new Concours. I was actually sort of excited about this bike until I read that in the specs.  

What the hell?  "Oh it has a small tank so its useless"  5.2 gallons is NOT small....that's an over 200 mile range or around 4 hours of riding time.  Frankly its time to get off the bike at that point.

I'm looking for a sport-touring bike...not a touring bike...aka a land barge .

[falconati]

I agree - 5.2 gallons is a decent amount.  Of course I'd like more (maybe 6.5   ), but if it's 5 or more gallons, I'm happy.

[Brent099]

Aww geez...  I honestly didn't mind being poor until now.

[st ryder]

Or you could call it an sport-touring bike that actually sells instead of being a showroom anchor like the ST series.  

They were a slow selling model, and were discontinued, like the SS models. But if we follow your logic through, that better selling bikes are better bikes, then I guess HD makes the best bike.  

And no, you can't call it a ST because it's *not* what Ducati calls it. Of course, one can "ST" on anything, right?  

[falcofred]

If the ST3 had a 15,000 mile valve check interval it would have been the perfect Sport Touring machine.

The new Multistrada with it's comfortable seating position, 150 HP, traction control, anti lock brakes, Ohlins Suspension, heated grips and 15,000 mile valve check interval is almost perfect, only one remaining flaw, the price  

If you want it all, you have to be willing to pay for it all.

[Mr Sunshine]

I agree - 5.2 gallons is a decent amount.  Of course I'd like more (maybe 6.5   ), but if it's 5 or more gallons, I'm happy.

One of the things that happens with a much larger fuel tank is it handles like CRAP for about the first half of the tank.  So there is a balance there.  

[Mr Sunshine]

If you want it all, you have to be willing to pay for it all.

That is a general life quote right there.  

[Busa@11K]

The new Multistrada with it's comfortable seating position, 150 HP, traction control, anti lock brakes, Ohlins Suspension, heated grips and 15,000 mile valve check interval is almost perfect, only one remaining flaw, the price  

If you want it all, you have to be willing to pay for it all.

This is how I look at something like this.  If this is the near perfect bike then it would be something I'd probably own for 10 years or more.  Over the long run, it's probably going to cost less then buying 3 new bikes over a 10 year period trying to find that "perfect bike".

[Oilhed]

If the ST3 had a 15,000 mile valve check interval it would have been the perfect Sport Touring machine.

The new Multistrada with it's comfortable seating position, 150 HP, traction control, anti lock brakes, Ohlins Suspension, heated grips and 15,000 mile valve check interval is almost perfect, only one remaining flaw, the price  

If you want it all, you have to be willing to pay for it all.

I love my ST3.  I really prefer air-cooled but if u want the HP...  The ST would have been better with a single sided swingarm IMHO.  I could really go for the new Multi, even if I hate the snout.  Gotta wait a few years, save my pennies, see if it's sorted out.  I just hope there is a lower cost version without all the traction control, ABS, etc.  What are the colors for 2010?

[st ryder]

If the ST3 had a 15,000 mile valve check interval it would have been the perfect Sport Touring machine.

The new Multistrada with it's comfortable seating position, 150 HP, traction control, anti lock brakes, Ohlins Suspension, heated grips and 15,000 mile valve check interval is almost perfect, only one remaining flaw, the price  

If you want it all, you have to be willing to pay for it all.

One can fit MBP collets on a ST3 and have 18K intervals. And remember, we are, and always have been, talking about *inspections* here, not adjustments in all cases. As some ST owners have stated they reguarly do 18K before adjustments, no reason to think the ST3 will not perform the same way, once past X amount of miles, ie well broken in. Mine are due for inspection this spring, ie 24K, and I'll see how many are out of spec. But, I hope to be doing the work myself, and I think that has a lot to do with it, ie I will know first hand how many actually needed adjusting, rather than trusting my dealer, which I don't. I believe they "adjusted" shims that did not need adjustments, if in fact they did adjust them. But money grabbing dealers should not be confused with the machinery. Yes, desmos are a high precision system, but even Ducati's desmo innovator Dr T is on record for saying a well designed desmo system could stay in spec for up to 50K!! The Ducati desmo system is well sorted , thats for sure.  So, if the new Multi does have better seats, and more gentle cam lobes, no reason to think it won't stay in spec for 20+ k once broken in.  

Most people make the mistake of confusing the inspection interval with adjustments interval, and it is not always one and the same.  

[Mr Sunshine]

Most people make the mistake of confusing the inspection interval with adjustments interval, and it is not always one and the same.  

I don't know about Ducs in this regard but some bikes...might as well make the adjustment once you got it opened.  BMW Boxer motors is a no brainer due to the threaded adjustor but alot of the I-4 supersports are so tight to work on them its "almost" easier to just drop the motor and make the adjustments to make them perfect.  


What I'm hoping to do with my Multi is the first valve inspection/adjustment to have the dealer do it but after that I want to do it.  I understand it'll cost me some money in some speciality tools but that's fine...more tools == gooooodd.  

[DredheadV2.0]

Aww geez...  I honestly didn't mind being poor until now.

that ^^

[falconati]

What are the colors for 2010?

White, and two boring ones  

[Mr Sunshine]

White, and two boring ones  

I like the way you think! (I've got a white one on order)

[falconati]

If the ST3 had a 15,000 mile valve check interval it would have been the perfect Sport Touring machine.

I fully agree.  I don't need more horsepower on my ST machine than my ST3 has.  My only gripe is the maintenance.

[miles]

I like the way you think! (I've got a white one on order)

Because red clay on the white bodywork makes such an aesthetically pleasing contrast?

[Mr Sunshine]

Because red clay on the white bodywork makes such an aesthetically pleasing contrast?

At least one can see the red clay...with a red bike the thing would turn orange and you'd never know why.  

[JamesG]

The only time you'll be getting red clay on a $15,000 MTS1200 is its cartwheeling thru the dirt on the side of the road.
 





Gawdamned that's an ugly frickin' motorcycle!  

[2006FJR]

I love it! Great bike from Ducati and I would be all over this if I did not need a 2-up sports touring bike.  

[atadaskew]

I love it! Great bike from Ducati and I would be all over this if I did not need a 2-up sports touring bike.  

You haven't seen the video of it being ridden 2-up with topcase?  The passenger seat apparently is comfy, with lots of leg room.  Look where the passenger pegs are.