Bought a Multistrada - here's why I chose it
Discussion
I placed an order for a new Ducati Multistrada V2S Travel about ten days ago. It's to replace my trusty Honda Crossrunner which is going to the Facebook Marketplace in the sky. I thought that people might be interested in what I test rode and why I ended up with one of the more expensive options.
TLDR - it was just better.
About a year ago I was starting to get that new bike itch. I'd signed up for a FEC Tour in Scotland and if there's one major issue with the Crossrunner, it's the wind noise from the screen. I didn't want to do 2,500 miles in a week and be battered around if I could avoid it plus the old Crossrunner was beginning to show it's age.
So my criteria:
- As close to 200kg as I could reasonably get (the Honda is a heavy lump)
- Luggage capable
- Comfortable
- Cruise control (so many average speed cameras on the commute)
- Over 100hp
- Decent modern dash
- Adventure style riding position
- Needs to be able to manage a London commute without feeling too wide
I started looking at the obvious place - Honda NT1100. On paper it looked perfect. In practice it was unattractive, clunky dash and I hated the engine. Not sure what it was - maybe it was the DCT one that I borrowed - but the power delivery was a bit twitchy and not at all relaxing. Also the buttons to get you to the relevant things like rider modes were far from usable.
Winter got in the way and then I saw the BMW GS1300 - lighter, nowhere near as physically big as the 1250 and all the toys were available. having never ridden one I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about. Hugely capable machine but not for me. It sounds like a sewing machine and I just couldn't get on with it. A shame in some ways but it wasn't to be.
The new Triumph Tiger 900 was released and I tried out the GT Pro and i was pleasantly surprised. Great engine, comfortable, smooth. It all seemed to do what I wanted. The downside was that I didn't really like the looks and the luggage needs scaffolding which is really ugly. The same dealer had Suzuki's too and while I quite liked the 1050 it looked SO budget that I didn't waste their time by test riding it. It would have had to be obscenely good to get past the very basic build.
After that I paused for a bit. I was a bit stuck as the other options weren't that appealing. The Tracer is supposed to be amazing but it looks unfinished and the KTM was a bit tall and suffered too much from the ugly stick for me.
The Kawasaki Versys is one of the most comfortable machine's I've ever sat on and I love and inline four but it's so heavy and also not that attractive.
So a few weeks back I tried out a Multistrada. I don't need a 1200 - total overkill for me as the present Mrs SteelerSE is allergic to being on the pillion seat and that's the only reason I'd go larger capacity - to get the extra torque.
The new engine is peppy, very rapid and had a great feel to it that I didn't get from a parallel twin. The screen is superb and really removes the turbulence which was a huge deciding factor. Add in the electronic suspension and the clever dash with simple access to rider modes etc and it was really tough to beat.
But so expensive. I actually went back to Triumph and tried the GT Pro again but the difference is significant. And huge kudos to the salesman at West London Triumph - he wanted me to love it but if I didn't love it then told me to go and buy something that you do love.
Which is why I ended up at Pro Twins near Godstone. They did a bit of a deal and I'm waiting for a delivery date in early October.
TLDR - it was just better.
=============
About a year ago I was starting to get that new bike itch. I'd signed up for a FEC Tour in Scotland and if there's one major issue with the Crossrunner, it's the wind noise from the screen. I didn't want to do 2,500 miles in a week and be battered around if I could avoid it plus the old Crossrunner was beginning to show it's age.
So my criteria:
- As close to 200kg as I could reasonably get (the Honda is a heavy lump)
- Luggage capable
- Comfortable
- Cruise control (so many average speed cameras on the commute)
- Over 100hp
- Decent modern dash
- Adventure style riding position
- Needs to be able to manage a London commute without feeling too wide
I started looking at the obvious place - Honda NT1100. On paper it looked perfect. In practice it was unattractive, clunky dash and I hated the engine. Not sure what it was - maybe it was the DCT one that I borrowed - but the power delivery was a bit twitchy and not at all relaxing. Also the buttons to get you to the relevant things like rider modes were far from usable.
Winter got in the way and then I saw the BMW GS1300 - lighter, nowhere near as physically big as the 1250 and all the toys were available. having never ridden one I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about. Hugely capable machine but not for me. It sounds like a sewing machine and I just couldn't get on with it. A shame in some ways but it wasn't to be.
The new Triumph Tiger 900 was released and I tried out the GT Pro and i was pleasantly surprised. Great engine, comfortable, smooth. It all seemed to do what I wanted. The downside was that I didn't really like the looks and the luggage needs scaffolding which is really ugly. The same dealer had Suzuki's too and while I quite liked the 1050 it looked SO budget that I didn't waste their time by test riding it. It would have had to be obscenely good to get past the very basic build.
After that I paused for a bit. I was a bit stuck as the other options weren't that appealing. The Tracer is supposed to be amazing but it looks unfinished and the KTM was a bit tall and suffered too much from the ugly stick for me.
The Kawasaki Versys is one of the most comfortable machine's I've ever sat on and I love and inline four but it's so heavy and also not that attractive.
So a few weeks back I tried out a Multistrada. I don't need a 1200 - total overkill for me as the present Mrs SteelerSE is allergic to being on the pillion seat and that's the only reason I'd go larger capacity - to get the extra torque.
The new engine is peppy, very rapid and had a great feel to it that I didn't get from a parallel twin. The screen is superb and really removes the turbulence which was a huge deciding factor. Add in the electronic suspension and the clever dash with simple access to rider modes etc and it was really tough to beat.
But so expensive. I actually went back to Triumph and tried the GT Pro again but the difference is significant. And huge kudos to the salesman at West London Triumph - he wanted me to love it but if I didn't love it then told me to go and buy something that you do love.
Which is why I ended up at Pro Twins near Godstone. They did a bit of a deal and I'm waiting for a delivery date in early October.
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