Ive looked at Ducatis for years but always been out of budget, well maybe a sign im getting old but not any longer Bought a Multistrada 1200, went for standard suspention as had the bike lowered as standard to high. I liked the 1199 but i wont post the comment for my wife after the test ride on the rear seat!! Read all the Ducati "hype", feedback, reviews etc. Well the "hype" isnt hype its the best bike I have ever had, and ive had a few. The rear brake is also the worst rear brake I have ever had, including small bikes !! Know there are lots of posts on how to improve but the question is how many people are running standard brakes ?? and how long would you expect to bed in as only done 300 miles upto now before get as good as a standrd brake would get. All in all, i dont think ive come back for rides with as wide a grin for a long while.
Welcome aboard, tis a great bike,has it's faults,but as you say it puts a grin on yer face,and that's what counts. Back brake shite,but it means you can stomp on it and it has a steadying effect,front brake not the best,but if you are in a situation then the brakes will pull you up quickly,but maybe with not as much feel and finesse as some more expensive braking set ups,and not anywhere near as good as the brakes on say the latest Kawasaki Z1000SX I went one,but they will stop you. Enjoy the bike and enjoy the forum too,you can probably get the answer to all things Ducati and most things non Ducati too here.
What's a rear brake? Ah, that thing that clamps the rear disc that you have to press once a year to make sure it's working for the MOT
Like you gg went for the standard and got a lower seat thrown in, tho not as comfortable as the standard seat so only use it if I got SO on the back. Found a pair of Sidi Adventure boots made a big difference :Shamefullyembarrased: Well just covered over 1200 miles, first service (£195) and just number plate light needed replacing. Gotta say really impressed with the bike, all the fun of the KTM 950 SM I used to own (5yrs) but with more comfort/power. Screen works great for me but being 5'8'' helps, being used to naked bikes a flyscreen would be noticeable Front brake could have a bit more finesse, just needs a bit more thought than some others and my rear brake works fine just need to be a bit more aggressive ( that's what ABS is for ) Cleaning is a doodle but then I only use Mantis Instant Shine and GT85 for wheel rims and having this done Monday Halosmart Products so should wear well. Scorp tyres ok had them on the 950 but looking forward to more road focused rubber Mich PR4 seem popular. Getting around mid forties mpg and tend to keep it in Sport, headlight is one of the best I've had on a bike and working nights makes the trip far more pleasant. Notice the bike is not a fan of cats eyes, vibrates thru the lower part of the bike horribly. Thought I was going for a KTM1290/BMWS1000R but had enough of nakeds and missed the fun of the 950, so looked at the Adventure but not keen on 19'' front wheel, likewise for the Triumph Tiger and not keen on the Sport, same with Caponard. Only thing for me on the list was the Multi, in fact at the mo it's the most sensible bike I've owned :Woot:.... .....ish
Well, you say that. But once I broke the rear brake lever and had to spend a few weeks without it. It was only then that I realised how much I use it. Not for the sort of braking that the front is for, but for scrubbing off speed prior to blind corners, perhaps to settle the bike. To be honest, if I told you what I used it for, I would be saying that it's a conscious thing when it definitely isn't. But if you don't have it for blind bends, it makes life very difficult. That being said, I don't think it needs to be particularly good. It's just to produce a small slowing down effect, not a stopping one, so I'd probably find the crap rear brake on the Multi just fine.
Good point about the bike not liking cats eyes,different rubber does not change that,also it's not keen on hard acceleration over white line paint,can make the TC come in and it's bloody annoying,and before anyone suggests changing the TC setting it has never been activated by hard riding out of corners etc,so it's set nicely for road riding.
Fair point but I really find the rear brake ok for me,been riding ducatis with shit rear brakes for years now,so my riding technique incorporates a bloody good stomp in the rear,never had a lock up with the non ABS bikes.
As Ggreenwood said... and probably one of the nicest looking bikes on the road today as well (well, in my opinion).
Interesting comments, and to be honest after a while im sort of getting used to it. Just need to be less "gentle" on the rear brake and I suppose with ABS ( My last bike didnt have ABS) to much isnt a problem as much. The more I ride though the more I like Surprising how long it now takes me to get places that was a short trip in the car before, cant understand why.
Rear brake = Engine braking Rear brake pedal = Stops bike rolling back on a slope (that's it, can't think of any other use....) Front brake = Pretty good really but keep clean with disc brake cleaner (discs do tend to be a little prone to warping though).
Yeah I also find if I take the bike to work I end going a longer way, don't need too.....just happens
