Ducati Multibaboon gets semi-active suspension

[1KPerDay]

[Croak]

Reading between the lines about the new DSS suspension, I smell some bad blood between Ohlins and Ducati, likely related to the infamous DES problems (and associated warranty costs).

Problem they're going to have is the "iPhone 4/4s issue"...how do you show off that you have the newer and/or better model if you don't have that gold Ohlins bling?

[SalsaShark]

Reading between the lines about the new DSS suspension, I smell some bad blood between Ohlins and Ducati, likely related to the infamous DES problems (and associated warranty costs).

Problem they're going to have is the "iPhone 4/4s issue"...how do you show off that you have the newer and/or better model if you don't have that gold Ohlins bling?

Putting superbike suspension on an advertised ADV bike great in happy idea land, but in the real world... not so much.

I was going through fork seals faster than oil! 2 sets per year was absurd. I'm just glad I only got stuck paying for the first set.

I'd buy another Strada, but it would be a base model with only what I want put on it... not the "S" anything.

[Croak]

Well, lets be honest here.  Almost nobody who buys or is thinking about buying a MTS1200 is really looking to do serious ADV stuff, and it comes with a 17" front wheel for a reason.   It's a street bike.  It's for people like me that might see a dozen miles of gravel in a year, but thousands on pavement.

It's comfort, power, and (arguably) style that sells that bike.  Part of both that comfort and "style" is the upscale parts list, with the Ohlins stuff being the most visible and well-known bits on the bike, and said Ohlins bits are usually a significant upgrade in capability and comfort, at a small cost to durability (tighter tolerances means they are always going to be harder on seals).  Sadly, Ohlins couldn't get the DES ready for prime-time, in terms of durability, mechanically and electronically, but there's a reason Ohlins generally has such cachet when it comes to suspension.  They make a really good product.  Most of the time.

[SalsaShark]

No argument... Like I said, for sport bikes, they're great, but not for even a casual ADVer. I never abused my strada, but a week's worth of dirt and mud roads mixed w/ pavement in and around yellowstone did them in.

I don't care what most do with their bikes. I understand that there are plenty of GS's parked outside the local Starbucks and a double shot is the rider's idea of an adventure. I bought the bike to do everything it advertised. It didn't hold up it's end of the deal.

[Shizoku]

No argument... Like I said, for sport bikes, they're great, but not for even a casual ADVer. I never abused my strada, but a week's worth of dirt and mud roads mixed w/ pavement in and around yellowstone did them in.

I don't care what most do with their bikes. I understand that there are plenty of GS's parked outside the local Starbucks and a double shot is the rider's idea of an adventure. I bought the bike to do everything it advertised. It didn't hold up it's end of the deal.

So what's your take on the new DSS setup?
 
After 10 years of riding my ZZR1200 I took the plunge and put money down to reserve the 2013 Gran Tourismo at Pro Italia in Glendale.  I'm  not the motorheads that you guys are, but I was looking for a touring bike that still had the 'sport' built in.  

I love my ZZR, but I'm getting older at 54, and even the moderately bent over position is starting to tax my neck and shoulders.  The Duc has the upright position, power, handling, 100 lbs lighter than my ZZR, comfy for my wife on long hauls, and looks great.  

I tend to keep my bikes a long time, 10 years for the ZZR, so I don't mind putting out the money, as this will most likely be my last bike, so prorated, it's not as expensive as one thinks.

I do enjoy hearing opinions on the bike, so far most are pretty favorable.

Dave in Valencia, CA

[SalsaShark]

So what's your take on the new DSS setup?

 

After seeing your thread, I'm anxiously awaiting your review.

It sounds cool... hopefully it will hold up better then my ohlins did.

[expatbrit]

 

After seeing your thread, I'm anxiously awaiting your review.

It sounds cool... hopefully it will hold up better then my ohlins did.

If I didn't own one, I'd buy the new one.

So far, my Ohlins have been good -- but I think I'm more the 'typical' Mutley rider who occasionally looks at a gravel road, not the kind of guy who offroads.
I did just have them re-sprung at 16.5k miles in about 16 months of ownership, though.

For me, at 6'7 and long legged and wanting a sporty bike I could do distance it's this or the KTM -- and my local KTM dealers are known as Rape and Sodomy for a reason. The GS would have been a decent choice, but I'm happy as hell with my Mutley and have been lucky to dodge the bullets so far. Cursed myself now, I'm sure, but...

Looking forward to your review of the new suspension! (And the new rear brake...)

[Hickey]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/103/14440/Motorcycle-Article/2013-Ducati-Multistrada-1200-S-First-Ride.aspx

"This brings us to what you’ve been patiently waiting for – the evaluation of the Skyhook Suspension. Short and simple answer, it works and works well. As we headed out of town I immediately set to switching up the riding modes to see if I could feel a difference between them. Without a doubt the changes between each mode is marked and noticeable."