Ducati Multistrada; Funky Design Exercise or Real McCoy?

[DH2ML]

This last weekend I stopped into Nault's of Manchester to check out the latest Ducati collection. Sitting on the floor was a wide assortment of the usual Monsters and full-fairing sportbikes, but in one corner there was a funky looking creation called the Multistrada.

I wasn't sure what to make of it. It looked like a cross between an on/off-road enduro and a naked sportbike. The strangest feature of all was the front half-fairing. The lower half was attached to the frame of the bike, while the upper half pivots with the handlebars (good for aiming the headlights when turning).

Overall it looked like a nicely crafted machine (typical Ducati fit & finish, with the eposed trellis frame). However, the styling is definitely a love it/hate it affair.

Has anyone heard anything about this bike? It seems to have a nice comfortable riding position, but I was wondering how it performed in the real world. It appeared to be air-cooled, which seems to be taking a step backwards, in my opinion.

[RandyO]

not a new bike, just new to the US. Adventure bikes, very popular in Europe, are starting to catch on here, you can keep the desmo valve maintenence, I've got my eyes set on a V-Strom

[PinHead]

Right here yo!

[02SuperHawkRdr]

The Multistrada is a totally new bike. The reviews that I have read have all been very positive. Ducati is actually calling it a sort of real world sportbike. Ducati now has free maintenance included, I believe, for the first 2 years. Maintenace costs on the air-cooled 2v Ducatis aren't all that bad anyway. I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of liquid cooling. There are plenty of Ducati 900SS's about with quite a few miles on them. Ducati has spent decades refining their air-cooled engines. And, heh, no draining engine coolant for track days!

[SEVENSGT]

Originally posted by RandyO
I've got my eyes set on a V-Strom

Seen nothing but good write ups on the V-Strom

Just don't like the name STROM, do you think they were tring for storm??? Hell I called it the V-Storm for the first year and a half, which was bout a month ago

[Jank]

Oh yeah!
Everthing i've read so far has been good!
It has a lighter front wheel than the 999.
Single-sided swingarm.
And one half of the front fairing is storage! I think it's pretty cool!
Upright seating and big bars always scores high.
Just too high in the old price tag.
Make mine SV1000.

[lee955i]

Pierre Terblanche: Man, I'm-a bored outta my-a skull. What's-a those a-small-a rocks over there. Musta be summa crack.
(pulls out lighter) pffffffft, aaahhhh, good-a shit. Musta go draw summathing.
Result: Ducati Multistrada
Cheers, Lee S.

[Stoneman]

Personally, I'm not at all a fan of the direction Ducati's going with their designs. Even after taking the advice of so many and going to see 'em in person, my feelings are the same. I just don't like where they've been going...

[TLRMan]

I think it's time for Terblanche to get his walking papers...and bring back the original 916 look...A got used to the 999, but he's really screwing everything else up you seen the Supersport?

Ed, hang on to yours..it'll be worth a lot of money...

[zombie]

I really like this thing but no big surprise there as I think my tiger looks good and most people think it's ugly..

[PinHead]

Ed, hang on to yours..it'll be worth a lot of money...

I plan on on it