Nope it is actually not higher The sump might be higher, but I have just measured both bikes, and my old Ms is actually 30mm higher from the base of the foot peg on the out side point to the ground. Of Course there may a slight variation, as only held bikes upright, also both bikes ignitions were off, although I guess both turned off with touring mode set. To really check, need both bikes engines running I guess in same mode, and even then am not sure if there are differences with pre load settings being equal.
The engine is higher but pegs should be there or thereabouts. Certainly not lower. Its basically a lot of repackaging. The sump and crank case is higher and behind. At the top end, the battery is flattened. So things are more stretched out lengthwise. the result is a higher engine clearance and lower seat. They say its for offroad. Maybe the touratech boys. Maybe for Pikes Peak. Or their own testers. Few owners really do. The more forward bars make standing less comfortable anyway. The main advantage is to centralise the mass towards the rider, improving the balance and handling. That's why its easier to lean.
In the old skyhook, the damping is set to max when ignition off. so there is less static sag. The new one seems to retain the last damping setting before ignition cuts.
Pegs are mounted different on the new bike. I was actually being quite conservative about 30mm difference. as I said the only real sure way is to start both bikes and set in same modes and same preload to get a real true setting, what started this was it was odd that on old bike my foot never touched the ground, on new one it did too easily. Another variation is tyres, pr4's on old, OEM on new, but that said I did have the original tyres on the old bike.
I think a bit more ground clearance would be useful, as I did once bang the cat when going up a kerb. I didn't think the kerb was particularly high, and before you ask is wasn't outside any of the well know brands of coffee shops As for going off road on the Multistrada, I get nervous stopping on a gravel layby especially when two up and fully loaded.
On a different note, I noticed it you press the ignition (Power on) on button while engine is running it cuts out engine and turns off ignition instantly, what is the point of the engine cut out switch? I wonder if the power on button is suppose to turn off everything instantly while engine is running??????
The red switch stops the engine leaving the ignition on and as you say the power button stops everything. I guess some may want the engine off while fiddling with the computer.
Power off turns everthing off and engages steering lock. Engine cutout keeps the battery running so you can keep the lihts on, play with settings etc. Hardly use it
