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1260 Mutley 1260s Test Ride Review

Discussion in 'Multistrada' started by Wayne58, May 15, 2018.

  1. First and foremost, my thanks go out to MotoRapido for lending me the bike to start with.

    OK, this review is my own thoughts and opinion's so giving me a kicking or disagreeing will prove fruitless as it's only my own thoughts and owners or other folk alike may find things different on their own bikes, or demo rides they go on.

    I won't bother mentioning the brakes or suspension as they are the same as the DVT, and both the M50's and the Skyhook are epic imo, and the one to go for would be the "S" if money is not an issue.

    The bike I rode was a 67 plate with just shy of 2000 miles on it, so is probably still not fully loosened up but will be getting there. Temperature today was a barmy 26 and not a cloud, all roads were dry.

    Firstly, the motor. While it is without doubt stronger in the mid range, the bike feels no faster than a 1200DVT, but it definitely has the stronger pull at the 4-6k rev mark. However, it feels a little bit more linear and has lost some of that top end rush that appeals to me with the 1200. Other than the stronger middle, it's still unmistakably a big V-twin. My DVT sounds much the better, but thats only cause I don't have that daft butterfly in the pipe anymore, and my best guess would be they'd sound broadly similar if you take it out of the 1260. Overall, both engines are V-twin works of art, and although the 1260 has the stronger middle, keep a 1200 revving, and you ain't getting left behind, but the 1260 definitely makes for easier less frantic progress.

    The quickshifter I can take or leave, this bike had it and on the downshifts it never missed a beat, but on the upshifts on a few occasions it either lurched forward, or found a false neutral. This didn't happen a huge amount but just a few times over a couple of hours. Also, manually rev matching while on the brakes deep into turns does not ever result in the back wheel stepping out on my 1200, as you obviously have more control on the clutch, but did on one occasion using the downshift on the QS. This only happened once but did quite violently slide the arse end out, to the point the traction control intervened.

    I've not ridden a Multi with a stock screen for a long time, but will maybe try putting mine back on for a little while as was so impressed with the one on the 1260. I'm 5'11" ish and the screen was near perfect in its highest setting well in to 3 figure speeds, but provided good clean air with minimal buffeting on its low setting. The seat was in the low setting when I rode it, so would hope the screen is as good if moving the seat up as I was completely flat footed, which served to make me feel in the bike, not on the bike, so personally, I'd put the seat up to the higher position. To me, the 1200 was a comfier rider triangle than the 1260, but that's probably down to the seat, although the bars did feel lower on the 1260. Again, this can all probably be dialed out by rotation of bars and moving the seat.

    The dash has the clearer and easier to set up format, but again, this is not something that bothers me, as once all the modes are set up, who cares ? On my 1200 I only flick between sport and touring, so once they are dialed in I don't care what it looks like to switch them over, but for the techno bunch among you, I would say the 1260 is a little clearer to use. I din't really play with the dash too much, but to my mind, it has roughly the same info as the DVT, but its just in different places. The self cancelling blinkers work well, and stay on for just the right amount of time. The hill hold still has this ridiculous time frame before it disengages, which is why I rarely bother using it on the 1200 either.

    Now, the biggest change for me is the chassis. The mid corner stability of the 1260 is staggeringly good, and I found myself laying it further and further over at each bend or roundabout cause the longer chassis inspires such confidence to do so. The flip side to this, is that the bike does not feel slower to turn, but does feel a little lazier to to roll from one side to the other. Coming into roundabouts at speed banked left, then flipping right, then exiting left again felt less frantic for sure, but also slightly lazy to roll over, however, that mid corner stability more than makes up for the side to side roll rate. Entry in to corners and mid corner, the bike feels completely planted, and is definitely a step forward. However, its that corner exit where it was a little less exciting for me, as I like the way the 1200 tries to get skyward as the front end decompresses. If you're after a great handling planted bike that fills you with confidence, the 1260 is an epic handling motorcycle.

    So, would I buy one ?? No is the short answer. If I had a twin spark 1200 Multi or earlier, then I'd buy one, but for owners of the 1200 DVT, its just not a massive leap forward, and as the owner of MotoRapido even once told me, every other generation of Multi is a good move and a good buy, but from a 2016 1200 DVT to the 1260, its just not worth the relatively large outlay. The salesman and me did not even talk numbers at the end but I'm well aware of an approx figure to change and for my money, I'd rather keep mine and buy another bike with the big chunk of change needed.
    So, if you have a pre 2015 DVT, the 1260 is a great move, but if you have a 1200 DVT, I'd stick with it and wait for a bigger jump. This is only my opinion blokes, so if you've just bought one, then fair play, I ain't knocking it, it's just not for me.

    I've probably missed stuff, but if any one has any further questions, I'll answer the best I can.
    (PS. Only doing the red frame on the PP is a bit off as well, if talking about looks only.)

    IMAG0221.jpg IMAG0222.jpg IMAG0223.jpg
     
    #1 Wayne58, May 15, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: May 15, 2018
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  2. Tyres will make a difference on turn in and stability. Mine is entirely different on scorpions (slow and assured) vs PR4s (fast turn and drop in a corner). Would be interesting to try them back to back same tyres
     
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  3. No doubt mate, my 1200 has vastly improved with the T30's but I rode the 1200 with the Scorpions for 3k miles and still the 1260 felt a little less eager to roll from side to side. I guess it's going to being over 50mm longer ? As a side note, I parked my 1200 next to it, and all the extra length is the back end, which I wasn't a huge fan of if talking pure aesthetics.
     
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  4. I have cheated to a few Ducati people who have all commented the DVT was a little light over the rear end, so imagine it would help to be longer
     
  5. Again I agree bradders, however, the back end of the 1200 as you know is fully adjustable and that too is easily sorted IMO. When we got back from Spain, I rode my bike to work and the back end felt light and even slid a couple of times on corner exit, it was only when I got to work I realised the set up was still in one plus luggage, after changing it back to one only, hey presto, sorted. So it goes to show that most imperfections with suspension can be sorted through the dash, especially at the back. As I recall, Rossi's M1 is not the length of an intercity 125, and he does ok ?? :)
     
  6. Cracking report, I’ve not ridden one but what you said is just how I expected the changes to affect the bike.

    Mine is in for a service next month, I’m hoping they won’t offer me the 1260! Determined to keep mine for another year.
     
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  7. Thanks for the kind comments mate, I tried to be as honest as I could, which I'm sure won't please some, but if I've missed anything or you have further questions, I will try to answer the best I can, cheers again
    Wayne
     
  8. Good write up Wayne, I concur re the side to side speed, loving mine especially now I’m past the first service, giving the opportunity to explore a little more :)
     
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  9. If and when you change the tyres Nige, be interesting to hear your views then also. :upyeah:
     
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  10. Biggest difference for me from TA MY13 model to the MY16 DVT was how easy it was to transition side to side and how it behaved so quickly to turn even on scorpions. I’d imagine MY13 to MY18 will be that and a bit more. Not that I have tried one :)

    I think Ducati do two things really well: iterate from v1.0 to v2.0 really well, and put the right parts on. Sounds like they have done exactly the same :upyeah:
     
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  11. Good report fella!
     
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  12. Thank you kindly young bloke. :cool:
     
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  13. Nice write up - I am now 2400m in on the 1260 from a 15 DVT and regarding the handling it has taken a me a while to get it how I want it. I agree the turn is lazier than the DVT and I loved the way that bike looked for corners! The 1260 can be sorted - tighten up the front pre-load by one turn in (needs a socket spanner) and the rear shock by 2 clicks (via the Dash). Also I have got Road 5's on mine from new so they help as well. I now have the 1260 turning quicker and it is VERY stable in the corners!
     
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  14. Great insight thanks and described my experience far more eloquently than I could have done ✅
     
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  15. Many thanks, did you buy one Stevy??
     
  16. Nope for all exactly the same reasons. Was left with pluses and minuses like you and decided to appreciate the DVT more, quirks and all! The main fault for me on the DVT is the twitch as high speed in anything less than still air but I'm still convinced tweaks could fix that and the short carbon screen doesn't help.
     
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  17. Nice one and glad to hear you're loving it. Enjoy VT
     
  18. Maybe the next gen bike eh? Enjoy the dvt :upyeah:

    PS, just power through it. :D:upyeah:
     
  19. Your PS might be the right answer. Sometimes I overthink a problem and look for perfection. Note to self. Just ride on and be a better rider! No that wasn't sarcasm I mean it. Thumbs up emoji if I could work out how!
     
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  20. :upyeah::upyeah::upyeah::upyeah::upyeah::D
     
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