Author Topic: Any thoughts on the Ducati Multistrata? (Read 6544 times)

BBurton · « **on:** April 08, 2005, 01:41:28 AM »

I got new tires on the B12 earlier this week and the dealer also carries Triumph and Ducati. I sat on a Multistrata and basically slobbered all over it. I could see myself owning one of these fine italian machines. One of the sales reps said that he has ridden gixxers, r1's, Tigers Vstroms etc... and the Duc is by far the most fun bike that he has ever ridden. I think that they are beautiful and it would be sweet to own a bike that isn't a cookie cutter bike that everyone has.

And man does a Duc sound good!!

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2005, 02:39:21 AM »

Seems the styling on the Multistrada is a love it or hate it affair. I'm one who loves it. The press raves about what a great bike the MS is - except for the standard seat. The '05 is supposed to have a better seat though.

Desmodromic Ducs are notorious for valves that are a PIA to adjust, especially the 4-valve headed ones. The MS has the dualspark, 2-valve headed motor though, so it's the easiest to deal with. Like the B12, their valve check intervals are fairly short (IIRC, Ducs are @ 6K miles).

They do have a certain

factor that anything else in a similar class just doesn't have - with the possible exception of MV Agusta.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2005, 08:55:05 AM »

I love the "Duc-ness" of it - beautiful exposed frame and single-sided swingarm.

My apologies to V-strom fans but from the front, it reminds me too much of a DL1000.

I know the lights are different but the shape of that fairing just doesn't do it for me. It's too tall and skinny or something.

B12Teuton · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2005, 10:17:37 AM »

Fun, but the seat is terrible for longer rides and it's not very fast. But it sounds and feels great.
I like it.

I'd much rather have the KTM 950 Adventure

PeteSC · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2005, 10:28:33 AM »

I kind of like the Multistrada, but heard scheduled maintenance costs are high with DUCS. (Assuming you can't perform it yourself...)
They look better in person, than in a picture. I sat on one at a bikeshow.......
How about a Triumph Tiger? Almost as obscure, pretty decent bike.

B12Teuton · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2005, 10:37:09 AM »

True about the maintenace. Most non-Duc shops don't/can't work on desmo valve trains. The ones that do, charge a little more for labor. They are actually fairly easy to check and adjust once you know how.

gsxr400 racer · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2005, 10:52:30 AM »

I think the duc looks like its missing some stuff, thats just my 2 pennies. but id take a 998

B12Teuton · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2005, 10:57:30 AM »

Quote from: "gsxr400 racer"

I think the duc looks like its missing some stuff,

The swingarm, maybe?? It's suposed to look like that

Kamzilla · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2005, 11:17:08 AM »

Since the KTM was mentioned, what's their rep? Are they reliable? PIA to maintain?

I drool over the Duke. Beautiful bike.

BBurton · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2005, 11:37:53 AM »

Quote

Fun, but the seat is terrible for longer rides and it's not very fast. But it sounds and feels great.
I like it.

I'd much rather have the KTM 950 Adventure

[/b][/i]
I don't think that 130 mph is anything to say that is slow,"I'll never go that fast" and as far as a hard seat goes.... nothing is harder than a KTM seat.

Ducati fixed the hard seat for the 05 year. The Strada is one of the best bikes you can buy for tearing up the road. Valve adjustments are around the 6200 mile range, the dealer said that the strada's are very dependable bikes. I thought that the Bandits valve adjustments were around the 15k to 16k range

As far as the Triumph tiger goes, I like it but it is a really heavy big bike.

WEINERDOGBONE · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2005, 05:21:51 PM »

I love that bike. I have a buddy who rides a Monster and it spends alot of time in the garage for repairs. I find that the black is the finest.

Red01 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2005, 07:16:41 PM »

Quote from: "B12Teuton"

I'd much rather have the KTM 950 Adventure

Now there's a bike that was beat with an ugly stick, IMHO.
I think the 950 Supermoto looks much better!

Red01 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 08, 2005, 07:19:09 PM »

Quote

I thought that the Bandits valve adjustments were around the 15k to 16k range

Suzuki recommends 7500 mile checks.

After the 600 & 7500 miles ones, you can probably get away with stretching them out longer.
I do mine anually now, which amounts to ~10K.
Haven't had to adjust anything since the 7500 mile mark though.

Maniac · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2005, 12:12:00 AM »

Now thats what I'm talkin 'bout. Gotta love the naked bikes! Hmm... I guess I can see where people confuse the GSF400 with a Ducati on first glance.

I can see one of these in my garage someday.

[/img]

gsxr400 racer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2005, 01:28:59 AM »

Quote from: "gsxr400 racer"

I think the duc looks like its missing some stuff, thats just my 2 pennies. but id take a 998

NO I think the robot from lost in space looks put together better