When it comes to the history of Ducati bikes then the Ducati Multistrada 1200 is surely one of the most diverse ranges around in the sense that we are not always entirely sure how to class the bike that come under the Multistrada series. It was originally billed as a tourer type bike perfect for going on off-road adventures that a normal bike would struggle on. Indeed, there has been a rise in the number of bikes that have came under this classification in recent years and a lot of people are now purchasing them for off-roading; but does the 1200 from Ducati and all the models that come under this range actually classify as an adventure-tourer? Releasing the 1200 The exterior of the Multistrada series, particularly when it was first announced in 2010 and released soon after, was controversial in that it could very much be placed, as Visor Down explained, in the ‘marmite’ category of bikes – you are either going to love it or think that it is one of the ugliest bikes around. Indeed, any production company takes a massive risk when they release a bike that is designed like this; you could create a mass cult following who really like it but you also risk alienating some of your fans due to the design. [We wanted] to produce the greatest Ducati of all-time, an urban bike but with no limiting barriers. It would be a dream, an impossible one to make a bike like this. We had to change the way we thought, the way we designed our products at Ducati. - Mario Alvisi, Product Manager That being said, not all of the Multistrada design was original in that the trellis frame was taken from other models although the production team did put its own spin on other parts of the bike. When it was first released around 3 years ago it came in three models – base, S Sport and S Touring model. The Base Models While the Multistrada S range is generally the model that received the most attention when it comes to reviews and press, the base models are also popular given that they provided a good entry point into the Multistrada series without being too expensive – around £11,000 got you a base Multistrada when they were first released. They came with Ducati’s new new Testastretta 11º engine that was specially designed for the Multistrada range. Indeed, it was based in the V-Twin engine that is found on the ever popular 1199 however it has a significant reduced valve overlap that allows it to have a softer delivery. The engine also had more changes and add-ons from the V-Twin; a wet clutch, ride-by-wire from the new Mikuni to allow for a range of riding modes and also a softer rate of compression. So while it was based on certain older and well used features of other Ducati engines it also brought a lot of new features and combinations to the table as well. The bhp on the bike was 150 which, while not the highest in the adventure bike category, still gave it enough punch to be more than useful when off-roading or driving in some difficult conditions. Because of the lower price of the base model it came without the much famed ABS. This was slightly controversial at the time given that most bikes in the Ducati range now did come with ABS however the base version still had adjustable control of the traction, different height in regard to seat options, power delivery riding models as well as a full LCD screen with a wealth of options and information. For a base version the 1200 proved a great way to enjoy all the freedom and technology of the Ducati range, minus the ABS, without paying a premium price. S-Models The level above the base models was the much famed S range in the shape of, as mentioned before, the S Sport and S Touring. The S Sport is around £4000 more expensive than the base model so it can be slightly steep and a step up but it does come with a lot more options. It does however come with the exact same engine as found on the base range but it has been said to handle better. Indeed, it can be the perfect bike for light off-road use in many circumstances and while it was never advisable to go too far off the beaten track with the S range, it can handle roads that are less than acceptable to most other bikes. It also comes with ABS which was missing on the base model as well as the usual suspects of traction control and adjustable suspension. The carbon fibre cam belt covers and specific to the S Sport and certainly allow it to stand out from the rest while the rear hugger and air inlets also give it somewhat of a unique look. That being said, it is really the S Touring model that came out as the third in the range that is mostly associated with the 1200 Multistrada series given that it was the one that received the most hype and did its best to encapsulate everything that the series is about. For many the Touring class of the 1200 series is best described as an all-rounder and many people heaped their praise on the riding mode system that was present in this model of the bike. Essentially what you could do is change the system to suit the kind of road, track, route that you are setting off on and this came in 4 different modes: Endure, Touring, Urban and Sport. The Sport mode was probably the most popular out of the 4 in that it meant that 1200 Touring could ride and handle pretty much like an 1198 if you ignored the high riding position although the Enduro mode proved to be popular for off-roading and the 4 modes that were present on the bike added to the feel of a good all round ride that could be taken pretty much anywhere and handle as if it was made for that terrain. Urban mode allowed you to cruise around at about 100 bhp and was designed to be the perfect mode for those residential, urban areas that come with speed limits; sport gave you more engine power with 150 and could be great for long, winding roads and Touring allowed for more weight transfer. Even Enduro had its fans in that it gave you the ability to lock the rear wheel. Again, like the Sport version, it came with a wide selection of equipment and addons such as ABS, adjustable traction and suspension, full LCD display and the Touring model as came with a centre stand, heated grips and panniers. Indeed, it pretty much came with everything you need in a bike. 2013 saw a significant upgrade to the whole range and features such as an active suspension system were introduced. This gave the new wave of Multistrada bikes that are coming out this year the ability to control the suspension by the wheel movement as opposed to just determining it by the surface on the road; hence why the new generation of 1200’s have a better handling and quality of ride than the previous incarnations that did not have this active suspension system in place. This is often referred to as ‘Sky-hook’ suspension or technology as Ducati have coined it. Basically it does what we have described above in addition to altering the damping settings by the use of sensors on the actual suspension. The most versatile motorcycle has become the best in the world. – Daily Telegraph review of the 2013 Ducati range These were not the only upgrades however. Also present on the 2013 range were an engine upgrade with twin-plug cylinder heads that allowed for a 5% increase on the torque level and also boasted better fuel consumption as well with many people reporting that they experienced 10% better efficiency and performance. The widescreen was made larger to, as Ducati explained, reduce noise when riding at a high speed. If the 1200 range wasn’t already adaptable and incredibly versatile then it was after these upgrades and the 2013 era has allowed the Multistrada 1200 series to take a giant leap forward in terms of its technological capacity and performance. Riding the 1200 What is the 1200 like to ride however? You can have all the technology you want on board but that doesn’t mean that it will perform well on the road. Because of the different riding modes and the versatility of the bike range then different people use the 1200 series for different purposes in terms of where they ride and on what terrain. For the long roads and open spaces then Touring is considered the best option although some have complained that the suspension can feel to soft on this mode. Equally, the Enduro mode has been criticised for the DTC kicking in much earlier than most riders would like which prevents you from any rear wheel spinning if you are so inclined. However, one major element that came in for a lot of praise was the urban mode. You can really feel the bhp drop down from 150 to 100 when you switch and this can be perfect for a laid back riding through towns and busy areas. If recession-hit potential customers’ wallets can stretch to the £14k asking price of the S-model, and judging from pre-orders they can, the Multistrada 1200 just might spawn a new breed of Ducatisti. - Visor Down While it does have certain drawbacks the 1200 series of bikes all handle and ride extremely well especially given the wide range of riding modes and options that are available. The 1200 in perspective So, how do we class the 1200 series of bikes from the 3 original models to the significant upgrades this year? While classed mainly as an adventurer tourer type model the reality is somewhat more complex. While it is true that this is primarily the purpose of the range and some of the riding modes are there to actively encourage this sort of riding, the versatility of the 1200 range means that it is so much more than that. Rather than being a range of bikes that can just go off road or on long routes, the 1200 Multistrada range is equally at home riding through urban areas and it isn’t exactly recommended to take nearly £15k’s worth of motorbike through jagged and rugged terrain. That being said, it does have the ability to go off the beaten track to an extent and with the 1200 range you get an incredible diverse and essentially all purpose bike that is one of the most popular that Ducati have produced – in fact, they sold over 10,000 in the first year alone making it one of the most profitable for the Italian company. Whether or not it has spawned a new generation of Ducati enthusiasts is difficult to tell at the minute however the bike itself continues to be popular given its multiple riding modes and forward thinking design and technology. Specifications Multistrada 1200 S (Sport & Touring) Price: £15,195 Engine: 1198cc liquid-cooled, 8-valve L-twin Power: 150bhp @ 9,250rpm Torque: 87.5ft.lb @ 7,500rpm Dry weight: 192kg Seat height: 850mm Fuel capacity: 20 litres Top speed 150mph (est) Multistrada 1200 Price: £12,395 Engine: Liquid cooled, 4 valve per cylinder, L-twin, Desmodromic, 1198cc Power: 150bhp @ 9,250rpm Torque: 87.5ft.lb @ 7,500rpm Dry weight: 189kg ( Seat height: 850mm Fuel capacity: 20 litres Top speed 150mph (est) Read the original post here.
went for a test ride today what is the fuss all about ? .its nice enough but i was expecting soemthing different proper stand out above the crowd ..slightly underwhelmed and for all that money uhmm i will keep my wallet in my pocket
I couldn't disagree more Paul. After more than forty years on two wheels and having owned or at least ridden most of the bikes considered desirable around over that four decades, I would say the Multi is head and shoulders above all of them. I've never enjoyed the riding experience more than when I'm on my 2013 S Touring. I can't comment on the new GS because I haven't ridden that but after having ridden the old one three thousand miles down the West Coast of America I would say that it's not even half the bike the Multi is. Get hold of one for a weekend and put some serious miles on it. You'll change your mind.
depends what you want. If its mind blowing acceleration like a ZZR1400 it wont do that. But I'd back it be be as fast over a given (non /4 mile) distance, more comfortable and has a mode for any mood. Urban for pottering around, touring for decent progress and sport for track...then there is enduro with everything turned off and its a 150hp no tricks and toys old school bike (sort of) is it exciting? not IMHO but then its not a sports bike
Maybe it just needed thrashing more Honestly, put it in sport mode and get the tyres warmed up, then start really chucking it about and see what you think then.
This report has me confused. Firstly, since it's posted on the main site, why bother to post it in its entirety into this section too, when most of us will know this. Just a link would suffice. Second, why a sticky ? The first page of posts on my mobile are now stickies, none of which I actually read... Now the report itself. It misses the major difference between the base model and the sport / touring, which is the adjustable suspension (ohlins on 2010-2012, sachs for 2013 on). The original base bike did not get ohlins, and as it happens there was both an abs and non abs version of the base bike, so the report is actually incorrect. In 2013 they dropped the Non abs model. The report also makes no reference to the pikes peak, and the fact that the bike won this onits first outing, hence the pikes peak rep the following year. It also gives a picture of a pikes peak, but doesn't mention it, it's specs, differences to the others, or it's price. There is also no mention of the GT, introduced in 2013. So. My confusion is, what is this report trying to say ? It's not giving us the current model line up, or the evolution, or the differences between the variants. My opinion: 6/10, more research required and could do better Sorry if this sounds like a moan, but if your gonna write a report Rob, please get your facts right, and complete Oh, and yes I do love the bike, had one of the first in the country in 2010, on my second now, and think this one is a keeper regardless of what comes next. I use the bike for solo scratching, two up touring, plus the occasional dirt road / forestry track. There are bikes that do each of these better, but nothing that does them all as well, and with passenger comfort.
@John W Thanks for the feedback. It was written a while ago hence the models missing. Anyone that wants to edit it to make it complete is welcome to and I can make the changes to the article Like a Ducati-Wiki.
not saying its a bad bike far from it ..just for 16 and a half grand and you looking at a plastic windshield in front of you and a plastic beak not a looker ,i will get one if i won some money
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that - I actually quite like the looks but it's the all round versatility (for my needs anyway) that sold it. Panniers off and spirited ride up the Coast Road with the mates on their sports bikes? Sorted. Panniers on and 3000+ mile touring trip to Austria? Sorted. Everytime I park the Mutley up in the garage and walk back into the house I'm always smiling and thinking money well spent rather than the reverse.
Nail, head, hit!!! I honestly don't think any other bike out there currently fits this bill. I absolutely love my bike, I can more than hold my own with my mates on the litre sports bikes but when I want to travel 2 up with luggage I can, very comfortably and in style rather than looking like a McGregor wannabe!!!
