Took the Mrs out with me today to try a couple of bikes which she'll be happier on the back of, the Multistrada dvt and the S1000xr Firstly I'll be going back to ride both solo next week so can update further then, but for now both performed pretty bloody well. I rode the sport se 1000xr (top spec) and the 1200s. I'm not sure which I like best at this stage, the Beemer felt better for me in riding position as I'm fairly tall and the Mrs also preferred that for pillion. However in fairness the dvt seat was set on low and Tony (smc) has promised to rectify that on my return solo ride. I just felt too low and fairly uncomfortable as my arse was hurting after 2 hours riding. Toys wise I prefer the beemer as the QS pro worked beautifully up and down the box, even when I dropped down far too quickly,and a gear too much, the slipper clutch works it's magic and everything is kept well in check. Both bikes felt good through the bends and with the new dvt engine almost both as smooth, neither are slow bikes and although the dvt doesn't feel quick off the line (almost flat and lifeless early in the Rev range) it soon starts kicking and giving it a fistful made a beautiful noise, so much so the Mrs told me off for a little hooligan riding I don't think I'd buy the 1200s if I went for the dvt as I sincerely couldn't justify the £2500 for the suspension and a colour screen, I'd go for a standard version and probably get things dialled in nicely for me and fiddle the preload when the Mrs comes on the back. However with the beemer I'd have to get the sport se simply due to it only costs £1100 more, unfortunately that starts making things expensive. What don't I like about either? Well I don't personally find either particularly attractive, the Multistrada looks better head on and from certain angles but in others I think it looks a little low slung and low ended. The beemer looks odd from the front but again from certain angels I prefer the taller stance, honestly they're both much of a muchness to me. I'm hating the way both look to be impossible to fit a tail tidy, the Beemer 'may' have a chance but I doubt it, it's strange both have been designed to continue the light fitting in to the long bloody plate hangers (fools) Colour screen on the dvt was scratched to buggery so now I understand all the moans, silly mistake that from Ducati and another reason I'd rather not pay for bells and whistles and simply get the standard bike to keep things simple. Must say I'm honestly amazed at how smooth that new dvt engine is though, it's really nice and buttery, I reckon a tooth off the front sprocket might liven it up a bit early on and of course it still needs a louder pipe for me. Dvt seat is pretty pants though but again I'll just take it to my guy in Sheffield and get it sorted, needs more height for a start but a better quality cover, £100 or so will sort that. I'm really looking forward to riding both back to back next weekend solo, it's gonna be a tough call but ultimately money may come in to it To be continued.....
It'll be interesting see how you get on next week. I'm sure the 14T conversion will make a massive difference.
Keep in mind both come with manually adjusted suspension on the base model. The DVT S also adds the full LED headlights, which are pretty good. The low beam and cornering lights are particularly excellent. The high beam is a bit disappointing as it turns off the low beam and is basically a spot light. The cornering lights still work when leaned over, but there really isn't any light on the sides of the road to look for animals with the high beam on. For as much as you are paying for either bike, I don't see the point of opting for a stripped bike, as things like heated grips, center stand, quick shifter, etc. will make the bike much more desirable when you eventually sell it. The rear fender on the DVT is quite sleek (as far as OE rear fenders go) and looks good with the LED turn signals (Ducati Accessory Catalog). I really don't see the point of deleting it; between the fender and the stone guard there is nothing thrown into the cockpit by the rear wheel. I've had the fender and under seat plastic caked with mud and not a spot on me or the seats.
I hear what you're saying when it comes to a stripped bike but it's not really like that. The standard DVT Multistrada has a value in itself and depreciation is all relative Paying for the S Model doesn't guarantee better return, dealers will tell you that but it's simply not the case as the depreciation will be similar in terms of percentage across either model. Also there's always somebody out there who can't / doesn't want to afford even a 2nd hand 1200 s , therefore any saving against a standard dvt is preferable. Other things I always consider is how you intend to move a bike on, for example in my experience people buying second hand privately don't tend to want to pay a lot over £10/11k. Sounds stupid I know but it's like there's a ceiling for easy private sales. The problem with owning expensive bikes is that your more likely always going to be forced down the trade in route. If you spend £15k on a bike and then want to move it on with 24 months or so i'd imagine asking prices will still be above £12.5k, if you've spent £13k I'd imagine your looking at £10.5k (of course all dependant on mileage and condition) My conversations over this last few weeks with both bmw & ducati dealers have been quite enlightening. It would seem that the Multistrada is in fact selling very well in standard trim, SMC in sheffield just purchased about 6 of them and they're moving. It's been suggested that's due to a few previous 1200S owners (such as myself) not bothering with the opting for the bells and whistles this time. However it's the complete reverse on the S1000xr, most have sold only the top spec SE model and I get that due to the pricing structure, the 'base model' is a bit rubbish as from what I gather you don't really get proper TC That then punts your choice up to the 'Sport' model, that's pretty well specced as you get all modes and QS etc but miss a few other bits such as luggage racking, centre stand and of course electronic suspension. They dangle that carrot for an extra £1100, as such you go from £13600-£14700.....Just keeps trying to creep up. The Multistrada is only two models so easier to pick, the bmw 3 all be it realistically still the two. Still not convinced on me needing the suspension to do 'on the move' stuff for me, I just need it to stay how I set it. I think if I was going 'top end' I'd probably go for the BMW, however I'm happy to look at either bike for £13k (ish) which leaves me with either the standard DVT or the Sport XR Bugger......
It would of been nice to have the option to upgrade the lights to full LED on the base model. Leaving the colour dash & electronic suspension for the top-spec kit. Maybe someone will find a way of modding the standard dvt model soonish'
As it stands unless they offer some cracking deals for the 1200S DVT early next year, i'm inclined to wait to see if there is an updated model late next year. Hopefully that would have the seat revised and also add perhaps a quickshifter and autoblipper.
I think I'll look into a quick shifter for the base model, it's all fairly low tech nowadays and so fitting one should be no issues. The seat is also something I can get sorted within a week by the using chsame ap who did my last multi seat, that was a cracking job. In fairness the seat of the bmw will still need doing, that's just harder to do as it's one long panel with pillion and riders seat on the same pan.
It wasn't just the comfort of the seat that concerned me but also the poor way it fitted to the frame of the bike. I really wanted to be blown away by the bike but the couple of issues really let it down for me and having seen how the 2013 Multi was a big improvement on the 2010-12 bike, I'm feeling more inclined to wait. I also think an autoblipper is more useful on the road than a quickshifter. Out of interest why did you sell your last Multi, damodici?
Agree with the auto-blipper, that would be useful Isnt the gearbox a wider ratio hence no QS etc tho?
I sold it mainly because it looked like the year ahead was going to be purely solo riding. I guess with our little one still being fairly young the chances of days out together or weekends away looked bleak, however as it transpires those two things are exactly what we need a year later
Who's purchased a stock one? Perhaps that's a different thread as I doubt they'll look in here I'm also intrigued to find out about the mapping updates heading to the UK. Having read page upon page of the US forum it sounds like they've got loads of updates for various things, almost ticking off everything from fueling low down, flat spots and then stuff like trip resetting and heated grips
Updated : So today I had another test ride on the Multistrada dvt (beemer will have to wait) Headed back up to smc and they kindly set the seat back to the high setting, my first test ride with the Mrs it was set low and I didn't like the riding position. What a difference some cheap plastic spacers make, much better for me and even still I reckon I'd heighten it some more. I liked to ride my 2012 like a big supermoto and today I got to play with the dvt in a similar way. Really enjoyed it, the engine likes to sit higher in the rev range on this new dvt engine and it's happier kept up there. Had the throttle set in sports mode for the first half and it's far snappier, still sounds flat blipping the throttle but it soon picks up and gets quite aggressive especially when ridden in anger. After about an hour I switched to touring mode but decided to keep revs up and held on the gear longer, took it through some twisty roads out through bakewell and back through Darley dales and it performed brilliantly. I sincerely can't see how anybody will find the bike slow if ridden slightly different to the previous generation, if you keep this bike up in the revs it's a fucking missile I swear to god there were some occasions I looked down and couldn't believe the speedo, ###mph + just after nicking 4th :Nailbiting: What an engine Obviously this was the S Model and whilst the suspension was ok I still think it needed work for the fast stuff, I'm still of the opinion that the standard is the bike to have but I understand why people opt for the top spec. The real credit to the bike is just how familiar it feels after a while and I just moved in to riding it just like my old one but it felt more polished. When I took it back you have to ride back past the dealership and pull round a sharp left hander and almost hairpin back to their car park, I hooned round there cranked right over and pulled up. One of the staff came over and asked me to move 'my' bike as the demo would be coming back soon. I took my lid off and said this is yours buddy, he looked at me and said they'd just watched me hoon round the bend and assumed it was my bike as I looked like it was something I'd been riding for ages Great bike fellers, not without fault but a higher seat, smaller screen, louder exhaust and little farkle here and there will make it epic. Now then Tony..... If you're reading this tell your boss to up his trade in offer and we might get a deal done, if not then you'll have to wait as I'm not cutting my throat for it
Regarding Skyhook, well you can work on it, by adjusting the settings, also in sport mode, Solo Rider I have been told that the skyhook is disabled, only the active suspension part works.
Excuse my ignorance if I've missed the point but what is skyhook if not, essentially, active (semi) suspension?
I can only go on what I was told by my dealer, someone I would like to think knows what he is talking about, it is only solo sports mode that sky hook is disabled, any other mode can be changed to work to what ever you set it. Stanford, I assumed skyhook is what is changeable, as preset, and semi active is how the the suspension reacts when riding. I do not really understand it. maybe the whole lot is turned off, as in sports mode you are suppose to get a lot more dive under braking etc. to help the bike when being ridden fast, cornering etc. personally I have not really tried it or tried to compare it, Only going on what was told by Dealer, (and not by Sales person).
