The Multistrada range of Ducati bikes has always split opinion at least when it comes to the aesthetics. For every person who thinks that the design of the bikes – especially the first generation that was released in 2003 – is quirky and different there will be someone else who despises the overall style of the Multistrada range. “The reaction [when the first Multistrada was unveiled] was one of hushed shock, because the Multistrada looks like nothing else – except possibly a Dyson upright vacuum. Ducati is known for producing iconic machines such as the 916 and Monster and now it unveils something that looks like the result of a night of taboo sex between a Cyberman and a supermoto”. - VisorDown.com However, the design element to the Multistrada often takes a bit of a backseat when it comes to the bike overall as the focus is mainly on how well it rides. Multistrada itself translates into ‘many roads’ in that the whole purpose of the bike is that it should be able to drive effortlessly on any type of road surface and in any conditions. Is this the case however? The Original The Multistrada 1000DS was announced in 2003 and released the same year. It was designed to be a hybrid type bike that would combine touring, sporty and off-road riding all in the one machine which was quite a feat at the time. The two-valve air cooled engine was a highlight of the mechanics of the bike in that it followed on from previous Ducati models in terms of reliability. With only 85 bhp it didn’t seem like it had a lot of power so it couldn’t be classed as a full sports bike however it was enough at the time to give it enough oomph to ride along most surfaces and conditions. This would be eventually replaced with a 75 bhp engine in the revamp in 2007 however this was not a complete transformation of the Multistrada range rather it just added a bit of extra power as opposed to radically reforming how the bike performed. “From Ducati’s refreshingly off-center perspective, the Multistrada is a new breed. More mutant than clone, it’s an iconoclast. A heretic”. - Motorcyclist Online With most Ducati’s the base model usually needs to be complimented with some accessories that you can buy at a later date. A pillion hump and centre stand for example were usually the two upgrades that owners of the original bought. The original Multistrada came with a completely new frame so in terms of basic design it was a new model. The fairly long 1450mm (57.1-inch) wheelbase caught some by surprise when it was unveiled as this was around 10mm long than the one found on the Monster series and a massive 55mm longer than the wheelbase that you can see on the Supersport 1000. In terms of actual design it generally split people down the middle. The narrow but pretty tall fairing looks, at first glance, pretty awkward however after a while there is something about the design that, well isn’t beautiful, but isn’t as bad as first thought. When you park it next to one of the Honda Inceptor models specifically the one which was redesigned and released around the same time as the 1000DS then the Multistrada actually looks fairly compact and neat. The 620 The 1000 was not the only Multisrada in the range at the time and Ducati also came out with the 620. This was initially designed to be an entry level bike into the Ducati Multistrada range. At first glance it isn’t always obvious as it why this is a cheaper bike than the 1000DS however the engine was obviously downgraded to 620 cc form the much more powerful and higher spec 1000 DS. The tank was also smaller and only held around 16 litres and it also did not come with any on board computer equipment and a fairly simple and basic instrument panel. The basic idea behind it is that it was meant to be a way to ride a Multistrada bike from Ducati without paying the price for the original; for sure this is what the 620 achieved to an extent but it had quite a few shortcomings. The 620 was also much lighter was pleased some coming in at 13 kg lighter than the 1000 model and the above mentioned smaller fuel tank allowed for some small storage space under the seat which was praised by many. Basically it was mainly aimed at new or inexperienced riders who wanted to have a go at a Ducait bike and especially a range as diverse as the Multistrada one while also not having to deal with a lot of power and weight. It must be mentioned that the equipment on the 620 was basic to say the least. We know that it was an entry level bike but a fuel gauge was probably not too much to ask at the time considering the 620 only came with a fuel warning light that often took riders dangerously close to running out of fuel completely. Riding The Multistrada’s Giving its off road appeal and design some were worried that the high seat would cause issues with riding the Multistrada 1000 however they proved to be fairly unfounded. Indeed, the 2005 upgrade provided a much better seat that was far more padded than the previous models so this aided in the comfort aspects of riding the Ducati Multistrada. However, what about the clutch? The heavy clutch that was employed in the first range of Multistrada’s was derided by a lot of Ducati enthusiasts. While most people would only use two fingers to operate the clutch many found that they were using all their fingers on the 1000 range due to the stiffness and heaviness of the clutch. It was hardly something to completely write off the bike but it was certainly a negative feature and the 620 range had a much lighter clutch given that it was a much lighter bike overall however failing to transfer this to the 1000 and subsequent higher powered models is a downside to the riding of the bikes. ”Still, I really like the Multi, and found myself defending its styling and approach to the staffers who had not yet ridden it hard. I’m in agreement with Ducati’s management and design team in that it will open whole new markets for the brand and prove the company can succeed with something other than pure sportbikes.” - Marc Cook, Motorcyclist Online The main purpose of the original Multistrada 1000 range was to get out of town and instead get on those windy country roads and realize the full potential of the Ducati bikes. This is where riding the Multistrada’s really paid off. The steering was fairly light but also very accurate which, when navigating narrow or twisty roads is a godsend. Indeed, the bike as a whole handled very well especially on slippy or uneven surfaces although the outright stopping power of the bikes is something that was mentioned with the original breaks. As for the 620 that was aimed at less experienced and even new riders then it did its job in this category. On the whole, a Ducati bike is not generally recommended for new riders and novices just for the fact that even the base models tend to be fairly powerful and it usually takes quite a degree of skill to handle one properly. For example, changing gear on a Ducati bikes is a slightly different and more complicated process than usual and it takes a certain amount of time before you get to do this without even thinking of concentrating on it; this is one of the reasons why, for novice riders, they are usually not recommended however it is not so much the case when it comes to the 620. The gear/lever action on the 620 bike is very light indeed and does not take a lot of effort; many novices commented on how easy it was to shift on the 620 and it was a big reason in why many choose to go with Ducati as their first, or one of their first, bikes. However, one particular complaint was that, while the 620 was much more comfortable on longer journeys, why was the fuel tank as small as it was? Obviously being an entry level bike everything needs to be downscaled somewhat and reducing the weight means leaving things out or making them smaller but for a very comfortable bike the small fuel tank made things a bit more complicated than what was necessary. First Generation In perspective “The Multistrada’s a superb all-around motorcycle and grade-A hoot, and I’m not the only one saying so. Michael Lock, Ducati North America’s new CEO, tells me the thing is a major hit both here and in Europe, where dealers can’t get enough”. - Mitch Boehm The Multistrada range was not cheap. At the time the original was closer to £8000 than many would like and even the 620 which was marketed as the entry level and budget bike was around £5000. The much acclaimed and praised Honda CBR600RR was cheaper than the original 1000 version and this no doubt convinced many people to side with the Japanese model than go with the Italian firm however, that being said, the Ducati Multistrada first generation bikes did have a considerable following. Even the 620 was not exactly considered cheap and there were other, more powerful bikes such as the Yamaha FZ6 Fazer, Suzuki DL650 V-Strom etc… than were both cheaper and had slightly better specs. Indeed, the design also played a major part in some riders opting for other models or going to a different manufacturer completely. Many analysts and commentators put this down to ‘design snobbery’ and Ducati accepted after a while that there would be a sizable number of people who would not have anything to do with the Multistrada range sorely based on aesthetics and the way in which the bikes looked – even if they did perform well as an good all round model of bike. Value was, well, that is up to the rider to decide but as we said above some other bikes perhaps offered more for what they were. The Multistrada goes down in Ducati history as a good attempted at creating an all round bike that would appeal to a great number of people and, to an extent, this is what was achieved. However, its unique design let it down. Considering that other bikes out there had the same power and were more conservatively designed and also much cheaper then this certainly hit the first generation of bikes quite hard. Also, when you buy a Ducati then you really do need to get into the accessories catalogue to fully get the best out of the bike and this further racked up the costs of the Multistrada range. Overall, a great way to start the Multistrada line of bikes but they certainly had their shortfalls. That being said, this first generation kick started Ducati’s commitment to getting and combining 3 or 4 bikes in one essentially and was a good start for the more appreciated and popular Ducati Multistrada 1200 series and beyond. Read the original post here.
After 112,000 miles in 5 years of faithful service from my 2003 1000DS, never having to strip the engine, just the routine maintenance; has been retired for the moment. This one is not a "triggers broom" as some have said.....we have had a lot of fun together.
