Ducati. Really.

[whynot]

That's a great example, actually. Kawasaki built that bike unchanged for what, 20 years?, without ever addressing that well-known doohickey issue.

--mark

I think that some of these reliability problems are not design or manufacturing issues per se, but management decisions to keep the price of the bike down, whether these well-known KLR issues or Triumph using an obsolete regulator-rectifier til late 2010.

[Epee]

From your original post, looking at a Ninja, Multi and the Tiger, it seems you want a fast, fun, sporty bike that you can sit upright on and take off the pavement if the need arises.
MY Answer: Multistrada.
Mine is a 2011 1200ST bought 07/11. Currently 7000miles. No issues, repairs needed. Ride the piss outta it, raced it, gone down gravel roads with it (even into a ditch once... oops, but it didn't blow up like ADVrider would have you believe) program the suspension and switching it constantly every single ride LOVE THAT... The Traction control has literally saved my ass.
But I love TECHNOLOGY, understanding and USING technology, traction control, ABS, throttle by wire and electronic suspension DOES NOT SCARE ME. (if I hear, "I don't trust all those gadgets" one more time I'm gonna scream) It's called progress people, don't like it? GET A HARLEY! Yes, some may glitch, it can be fixed, duh?
Sure I've seen all the whining; center stand in the way, steering lock glitch, non existent rear brake, false neutrals, undersprung for anyone over 150lbs, fairing makes wind blast unbearable, hand guards snap off if you look at them wrong, blah, blah, blah. I noticed some of these, some are very rare, some don't really matter to me. Bottom line most amazing bike I've thrown my leg over, would buy it again, would pay way more $ for it, if I had to. I own a bunch of bikes; Jap, German, Brit, they all have issues from time to time.
Bottom line on the Ducati decision, There is a price of admission. You will not find anywhere that can, with 1 test ride, show you what this price will get you. pm me, I would love to..
No bike is perfect. Dude, seriously, this MOTOR, SUSPENSION, thrill, power, wheelies, technology, character, "club" (ok snob factor).
Go for it, shop it and research and poll it to death, if it doesn't give you a b0ner, then go buy some lil' girl bike that will give you 2 million care free miles at 55mph and 60mpg, for $5K.

[DucDave]

Well Tim....you've pretty much said what I'd have said if I weren't so lazy!

[Garandman]

//(ok snob factor).
Go for it, shop it and research and poll it to death, if it doesn't give you a b0ner, then go buy some lil' girl bike that will give you 2 million care free miles at 55mph and 60mpg, for $5K.

You were doing so well until here.

[Epee]

Gotta throw that in, or someone will think I'm normal.
Just driving the point home that after you really research this out, leave a little room for the "I just gotta get X bike". Don't settle, it's not something you need, it's what you want that will make all the little niggles easier to deal with when they surface on whatever bike you get.
Anyone who has their panties in a wad over the "lil girl bike", I loved my FZ6 and buzzed out 45K miles on her, great fun, great commuter. Just stirrin' the pot.
Let us know what you end up getting, come ride with us.
I got out for a great ride yesterday, no wonder I was so full of piss and vinegar when I wrote that.

[Garandman]

Kook aid? There wasn't a bigger skeptic than myself. Them orange dudes, they build a quality machine. At least the thumpers and smokers.

Kurt wants a 950/990adv I think. He has a sweet ass mts1100. You may know him as Bbqer. MSG that fool.

Saw Kurt this AM at the YB breakfast and he is selling it - 2007 MultiStrada 1100.

[Chippertheripper]

Was he on it? Or the 640? I like that dude alot, despite him full on t-boning me for no reason. But it was pretty good for a laugh for everybody, and neither of us got hurt.

[Garandman]

He was on it. And mentioned some lunatic was trying to get him interested in getting a Supermoto. I told him those are girly bikes.

[Chippertheripper]

Not me. I only push turds on guys that whine about being cramped on sportbikes.

[Garandman]

Not me. I only push turds on guys that can fog a mirror.

FFY

[number9]

I had a bored & stroked 748SP and a 900SS, i.e. pretty much both ends of the Ducati spectrum. They are not as reliable as Japanese bikes and are probably never going to be, but that is part and parcel of owning one. That said, the spare parts prices seemed to me to be about comparable between Italian & Japanese buys. Availability isn't as good as the Japanese guys, but in 2010 I bought a new throttle cable for a 1995 Ducati and the factory had it to me from Italy in <10 days. Seems hard to argue with that.

That said, a lot of the joy of ownerships come from the different experience they are to ride; "character" and all that. You can't put a price on that until you've ridden one to discover if it's for you or not.

Keep in mind that although they are an Italian manufacturer, they are by no means a small one. They are easier to deal with and easier to get parts for than the smaller manufacturers, such as Aprilia, Benelli, MV Augusta, Moto Guzzi, Bimota etc.

[Garandman]

I've ridden a few.

Ducati is for sale for approximately a billion dollars, so no, not small....For example Apple could pay cash, and not even notice.

[PinHead]

I would like to add.

No one has taken my bike for a ride and got off without a huge grin from ear to ear. I have let lots of people take it for a spin, some on this forum, road and track.
I have a 2000 900ss with a bit over 32k on the clock, the only problems with the bike are things I have done to it, or just wear and tear parts.
It sure as hell isn't the most powerful bike out there, I'm up to about 90hp. But it sure as hell is a lot of fun and I don't ever see myself getting rid of it. I will add something else beside it at some point and build the stable up to keep her company, but she is a keeper.
Wait on your purchase and try out some different bikes this spring to see what really gets you a permagrin.

[nhbubba]

I've never ridden a motorcycle that didn't give me "perma-grin".
Hell, I can get off reving a chain saw.

[NHFighter S]

Bought my streetfighter new last year. I put 2800 miles on it without any problems. I am in the bike biz and I don't sell Ducati's. I bought it because it is different, it's Italian, and its pure sex on wheels! I am having more fun riding this bike than any other bike I have owned in the last 30 years! The brakes are spot on. The engine has tons of power. The suspension is outstanding, and it's light weight!

[TheIglu]

I think that some of these reliability problems are not design or manufacturing issues per se, but management decisions to keep the price of the bike down, whether these well-known KLR issues or Triumph using an obsolete regulator-rectifier til late 2010.

True, but most are easily resolved. I probably have under two grand into the bike in the form of nice tires, fork valving, brake upgrades, Scottler, the "doo", etc. Oh, and the price of the bike.

It is my #1 when I head down to the garage to decide which bike I'm taking out on any given day.


I think the real issue is test rides. The op needs to throw a leg over a great number of bikes to come up with a viewpoint beyond someone else's. Then the issue will be down to which of a short list of bikes instead of a more broad open question.

If I were you, I would ride a Triumph Adventurer, a Multi, a GS, and maybe even a Super Tenere just to keep things varied.

[Garandman]

//
If I were you, I would ride a Triumph Adventurer, a Multi, a GS, and maybe even a Super Tenere just to keep things varied.

Right now I'm planning to keep the V-Strom so those bikes don't have that much appeal. They're "more, more, more" when an adv bike should probably be "less, less, less." Mine has upgraded suspension, Jesse bags, heated handgrips etc etc, has 230-250 mile range, and I can pick it up from the dirt by myself. It could use more boost but then I wouldn't be getting over 50mpg on regular. I found it amusing that there was 21 bikes at the Yankee Beemers breakfast Sunday and two of them were V-Stroms. There is a very strong V-Strom community in New England but it's a lot different than most owner groups: I sometimes refer to the V-Strom as the "Ultimate post-consumer era motorcycle."

This is really to replace the SV650S I bought to use as a street-legal track day bike and for goofing around. My left knee has degraded to where I can't really ride it. I'm starting PT tomorrow to see if I can get some range-of-motion in flexion back, but I may never be able to ride anything at all sporty again.

Never previously considered the Multistrada for a number of reasons. The Ninja 1000 ABS seemed to be aimed squarely at what I was looking for. The MS also has a very upright and relaxed riding position, has a lot of power and performance and the S has technology like the adjustable suspension and programmable levels of traction control. It was only because the Riverside salesperson had one sitting there that I even looked at it.

I rode a 900ss for a day at a Penguin School day, rode an R1200GS and R1200GS-A on lengthy test rides, new Triumph Bonneville, Triumph Sprint, rode a BMW S1000RR for two days at CSS, and a Moto Guzzi. Also owned an HD Roadster (XL1200 with dual disks, tach and full travel suspension) for a few months last summer.




When I get the chance I intend to ride an R1200R, the S10, and the 800 and 1200 Triumphs. But any of those would really be for a different purpose.

[nhbubba]

For what my uninformed opinion is worth, the multi seems really up your alley. Way more sport than adventure, from where I sit.

That said, I've never ridden anything Italian, never mind the multi.

[Garandman]

Forgot another bike I've ridden in the last couple seasons.

[Garandman]

Nearly 200 page Multistrada thread on Advrider.

[DucDave]

Nearly 200 page Multistrada thread on Advrider.

That's where you should go to get a reasoned opinion on the Multistrada. Or should I say, 5,234 different reasoned opinions.

Honestly, I can't imagine trying to make a decusion about something as wildly subjective as what motorycycle I should purchase by going to a forum like this...or that! All you actually do is filter those opinions that already match some emotional quotient you've already established.

However, having bought one, I'd absolutly go there to find solutions to particular problems and recommendations for particular additions...!

[sully749]

Forgot another bike I've ridden in the last couple seasons.

That looks like a BMW . . .

[Garandman]

That's where you should go to get a reasoned opinion on the Multistrada. Or should I say, 5,234 different reasoned opinions.

Honestly, I can't imagine trying to make a decusion about something as wildly subjective as what motorycycle I should purchase by going to a forum like this...or that! All you actually do is filter those opinions that already match some emotional quotient you've already established.

However, having bought one, I'd absolutly go there to find solutions to particular problems and recommendations for particular additions...!

So make it 5,235....

I am never surprised people like the motorcycle they bought.

[whynot]

I am never surprised people like the motorcycle they bought.

So then maybe you are asking the wrong question. No doubt you meant to ask, who considered a Multi but passed, or who got rid of one, and why.

[markbvt]

So then maybe you are asking the wrong question. No doubt you meant to ask, who considered a Multi but passed, or who got rid of one, and why.

I'll say this much... I test-rode a Multi and didn't like it. Great engine, but the ergos of the bike were all wrong for me. Just too small/compact. I felt like the windshield was inches in front of my nose.

Obviously the best thing to do is arrange test rides on all the bikes you're considering. And look at what owners have to say about each bike's particular strengths and weaknesses.

--mark