I asked at the place I ordered the bike what the total payload was for the bike. I can find this stuff out for most makes but not the MTS. Basically you find the maximum payload, deduct weight of fuelled bike = available carry weight for rider, pillion and luggage - simples. He said he'd never been asked before and explained that the only limit he knew of re the new smaller panniers (2015 model) is 10kg per pannier plus another 10kg in the top box - making 30kg of luggage. That's a good amount and I'd be happy with it for say a ten night tour with the missus. However, the weight of both persons would make some difference to the safe level of weight or am I looking into it too deeply? Maybe you all just go ahead and get on with it and maybe that's what I should do! I did see a report somewhere that alluded to an insurance company not paying a claim because the maximum carry weight of the bike had been exceeded, strange but true. somebody will now post a picture of a bike carrying more than two people I have seen on the Ducati info sites somewhere that there used to be some issues with bottoming out on early models when fully loaded but on the newer models the "skyhook" turns the spring load when required from 85 to 125 in whatever they measure it in! Thus I assume making it capable of additional weight? I'd be really interested to hear how others use the bike - particularly those who travel with pillion and full set of luggage and how far you travel. How it affects the bikes performance and handling if at all. There must be some techno's out there also that might help with the weight puzzle? Touring with the wife is a part of how I use a motorcycle so that's where my interest in this lies. We may or may not have to adjust a little from the capacity we have at the moment but I'm really okay about that. Thanks
Unless you and the missus are 18st each I wouldn't worry too much, and if you were just slam a bigger spring on. I'm fairly heavy, as many multi riders seem to be funny enough, and my missus isnt a size 8 and I find the rider plus pillion setting too hard!
In standard trim it should be able to maintain book spec capacity. Though not sure if the maximum is a structural one or the standard spring limitation.
OK, allowing for 29Kg for coolant, oil, fuel and a charged battery. 100Kg rider (after a few months of SlimFast) and a 70Kg pillion, that means around 35Kg for the Farkles, actual luggage and contents. Sounds about right Rider and Pillion weights are dressed for the road with helmets before the luppy jumpers get all indignant. *F.A.R.K.L.E. -- Fancy Accessory Really Kool Likely Expensive
That's really good info my friend, thanks. The weight I think on the new MTS DVT is quoted as 235kg road ready 90% fuelled (somebody will correct me on that). 430kg - 235kg = 195kg. With riding gear I'll be around 100kg, missus will be about 70kg so if that is true it leaves 25kg for luggage. If those figures are correct I will be riding at the maximum weight of the bike for some of the time, i.e. 3 x 10kg (if not a tad over). wife needs to lose 5kg or ride in a thong :Hungry:. I would imagine that those limits are exceeded as they are with most bikes and that the limits are set very conservatively by Ducati. With those figures in mind how does that stack up with others who ride with pillion? Fir interest I know the BMW GS had a carry weight of 230kg as opposed to the 195kg as above.
I had a problem with me the wife and full panniers read this post Rear shock upgrade | Ducati Forum pay particular attention to the spring compression numbers, Both the wife an I have lost weight since then but I still find I need to dial in the preload to #18 with the wife on and full luggage,
Read that and you appear to be a lot more technical than I would dare to be! As I said previously, my weight is 92kg, wife is 65kg which on the face of it seems ok as it leaves well over 30kg for luggage and bits but when you add bike gear - woosh another 15 kg at least between the two of us or there about. Without being cheeky is that near to you and your better half weights with the stock spring and bricks? Another general question to all. Can I adjust the settings on a new multi apart from just selecting the two helmet and case options? It was mentioned that setting the damper to 18 (?) can be done. What does that mean and can I do that as well as the case and helmet thingy
Yes, its mega adjustable, you can do preload on the fly up to sometjing like 18mph but need to be stationary to adjust the rest of the settings. But you can have a different settimg for each preload and each rider mode...its cool
There was apparently an upgraded shock in 2013 that seemingly has the adjustable sring pre load. Adjusts itself from 80nmm to 125nmm ( I think). Maybe the newer spring has sorted the issue of having to upgrade?
What? Nope. Spring pre-load is either a manual or electronic adjustment on all the MTS1200 models...nothing happens automatically. Sky hook has a variable (progressive) spring tension (depnding on travel) where Ohlins refuse to do this. Is that what you meant?
I have a 2014 MTS GT, I'm a tad overweight, ok very overweight, my wife is a tad overweight and I've never adjusted the settings other than the electro trickery thing that's for two people and luggage. The Skyhook suspension is really great at soaking up the lumps and bumps from our crap roads. It's never bottomed out, unlike the ST4 where we wrecked the down pipe before fitting the Ohlins adjustable shock.
The Skyhook suspension is a lot better for two up riding, than the under sprung Ohlins suspension on the original 2010/11 models. No problems fully loaded for a two week tour - I'm overweight (OK marginally clinically obese) and my wife tells me her BMI is under 25 (whatever that means). If anything, the Skyhook suspension is better for two up riding than solo where it tends to be a bit harsh. I've not yet seen any details on the spring rates of the new 2015 DVT model.
If you've not got a spanner out on the front preload you are missing out. I think the progressive rate spring on the rear (skyhook) is taking up a lot of the adjustment required on the earlier models
I have absolutely no idea what I meant to be honest haha! I was reading this - Motorcycle Info Pages - MTS1200 Reviews & Articles > Andrea Forni Interviews and I didn't really understand it but I was sort of hoping it was what I thought it was if that makes sense? As you can gather my limits regarding techno stuff are very narrow.
Great to hear some two up tales and folk admitting to being a "tad" overweight! Sounds like I'm thinking too much about it and making an issue where there maybe isn't one? I've seen lots of things on tour like old Fazer thou's fully loaded two up and no complaints from any of them. Surely more modern suspensions will be improved on those?
I bet none of those riders worried about it tho, just lugged it all. Same as does anyone ever check the twoing axle weight of a caravan or a trailer? Most modern family 4x4 have only a towing limit of c1t, yet you see loads of them dragging these big caravans
Me and Bird 2 up to Tuscany for 10 days with all the boxes on me 11 plate Sport Touring (Ohlins) was fine. Ground clearance was a slight issue. Mini speed hump things were taken very slowly. New Deep Vein Throm.... 1200 has slighlty better ground clearance+skyhook, so should be better; I hope!
