multistrada

[abeer]

Yeah, I like the shorty carbon screen. A bit less wind protection, but more than I expected really. And no buffeting

[Garandman]

I like the turn signals in the mirrors, do drivers see them better?

Had similar OEM bags on the Tiger, which were keyed to the ignition. But I found the irregular shape hard to pack and they wouldn't hold my computer bag. They are also fairly heavy: 10lbs each. So I switched to the blocky but usable Trax bags.

Shorty screen for summer is a great idea.

[Rosco61]

If you do buy it I have the heavier 100 nm Öhlins rear spring I would let go for short money. It's brand new essentially less than 1000 miles.
Stock they are under sprung and need a boost. It's sitting in my garage unused.

[abeer]

The LED blinkers are SUPER bright. My fellow riders have noted them on group rides. And I notice them reflecting off everything around me when I use'em. So my guess is, yeah drivers probably see them better

Those trax cases are pretty cool though.

[Garandman]

Anyone have a Multistrada with traction control? I'm a believer in ABS, wondering if TC comes in handy for street riding.

[Rosco61]

All 2010 and on Multistrada S models have Abs and traction control. I'm not sure about the standard model.
I don't know if it intervenes as when I'm in the throttle that hard I'm looking at the road. A little traction light blinks on the dash when it activates I'm told. Also each riding mode has different levels of intervention. You can also tailor the level in the menu's to suit you. Each riding mode is adjustable for electronic suspension control and traction control. There's also a suspension control unit available that manipulates compression and rebound as you ride. Accelerometers and such voodoo control the shock and forks as you ride.

[SVRACER01]

even though i can get the bike under retail, i think its gonna be out of my price range at the moment. ive got a wedding coming up and thats taking up most of my finances right now. still gonna take it for a spin 2 up on wed just because i can and get an idea if its actually something that id want for the 2 of us.
so if anyone is interested in a great deal on a 1200s let me know

[markbvt]

If finances change and you start thinking about the Multi again, make sure you test ride it before you buy. I test rode one and didn't like it at all. Nothing about that bike appealed to me. The ergos were terrible for me (6'4" -- the top edge of the windscreen was disconcertingly close to my face, making me feel like I'd impale myself on it if I braked too hard; seating position overall was way too compact). Yeah, the engine is powerful, but somehow it wasn't as much fun as it should have been. Bike just didn't do anything for me... which I have to admit is also true of every other Ducati I've ridden except for the Sport Classic 1000.

Same day I test rode the Multi, I also test rode a BMW R1200GSA. Starting out, I felt like I was riding an aircraft carrier, but by the end of the ride I had to concede that it's a great bike to ride. I'd never even consider buying one, but I can understand why other people do.

Of the 1200-class ADV bikes, the one I've liked the best is (unsurprisingly) the Triumph Tiger Explorer. I really want to ride a KTM 1190 Adventure R (but I'm a little afraid I'd have to have one). And my friend Roman loves his Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX. Even the new V-Strom 1000 is a pretty attractive option. Any of these would be higher on my list than the Multi if I were in the market for a larger-displacement ADV bike.

--mark

[abeer]

Heheh, it's funny how peoples tastes vary. It's good advice though. If you are going to plunk down that kind of money, test ride before you buy.

I've never been as happy with a motorcycle as I was with the MTS, ergo's are brilliant for me, but I'm a shorty.

I had a ride today with a buddy on his Tuono. Lots of back roads from Holliston, to Wellesley all the way down to Bellingham and Foxboro. Lots of power wheelies, lots of grins. We did about 4 hours of riding.

BTW, anyone checking out the KTM adventure, consider whether you'll be on the street more or off-road more. The R designation bias' it more to the dirt than the standard adventure 1190, and it has the huge wheel up front (plus way more suspension travel) which is kind of lame for freeway and twisty riding.

[Chippertheripper]

Heheh, it's funny how peoples tastes vary. It's good advice though. If you are going to plunk down that kind of money, test ride before you buy.

I've never been as happy with a motorcycle as I was with the MTS, ergo's are brilliant for me, but I'm a shorty.

I had a ride today with a buddy on his Tuono. Lots of back roads from Holliston, to Wellesley all the way down to Bellingham and Foxboro. Lots of power wheelies, lots of grins. We did about 4 hours of riding.

BTW, anyone checking out the KTM adventure, consider whether you'll be on the street more or off-road more. The R designation bias' it more to the dirt than the standard adventure 1190, and it has the huge wheel up front (plus way more suspension travel) which is kind of lame for freeway and twisty riding.

Trust me, you can still get retarded with a 21" front wheel and plenty of travel.

[nhbubba]

Street rubber selection kills anything with a 21" front for me.
At the same time the 17/17 setup on the multi may be harder to find bad-ass adventure/dirty type rubber. (I don't know.)
Maybe something setup 19/17 is perfect for you. Maybe it isn't.

The point is pick the right tool for the job. Something like the multi is far more street biased. Something like the 1190R is far more dirt. Fortunately there is a spectrum and there are options.

[Chippertheripper]

Me? No way, I can guarantee getting arrested with a 19 too.
There's a set of scorpions on my bike now, they've done everything I've asked of them (streetwise).

The new multi is just a ridiculous motorcycle to me. It just doesn't compute in my brain: wanting/needing that kind of power. And for my bunses, the ergos weren't as good anyway.

[e30addict]

Street rubber selection kills anything with a 21" front for me.

Check out the full bores. Dirt cheap, look more dirty oriented but doesn't give up anything on the street for the level we ride at.

[nhbubba]

I was speaking generically. Each of us is different in how we use these machines.

Me, I'm after a half-naked sport tourer. I would be on a full on sport tourer if it weren't for the cost, size, and gratuitous use of plastic. These 'adventure' things appeal because they have similar geometry and can be setup similar to a 'sport' tourer. Yet aren't 100% plastic clad. The extra suspension travel doesn't hurt my feelings either.

On paper I'm probably all about the multi. In reality I'm with Chip; too much bike for this dummy.
Run the other way and the Tiger 800XC, 1190R, and every other ADV type that comes setup 21/17 is just too dirty-bike-esque for me; that much kit is a waste.

YMMV. I'm happier than a pig in shit with what I'm riding and how I have it setup.

[abeer]

Heheh, Chippertrippper... wasn't saying you can't get retarded on the R. Was just saying, you might get more retarded than you bargained for since the geometry isn't designed for that sort of street riding. And if you test ride an R and wonder why it just doesn't feel so great on the street, test riding the standard Adventure 1190 might solve your concerns.

I can explain why the MTS makes sense to me

I am not planning on riding it off-road. (I may, it's just not why I bought it)

I wanted a sport tourer, but not something biased so heavily towards touring as an FJ. And I wanted it to be able to handle New England roads. I really wanted a Supermoto style bike, but something with a bit more range. And I really wanted something I could take on an occasional track day without being completely over run. (go on, click the links to youtube video's)

The MTS scratched my itch. And honestly, my only complaints are I wish it was priced more like the Aprilia Capanord, and had the tank range of a GS.

Anyhow, to each their own. What makes sense to me doesn't have to make sense to everyone. And honestly, *to me* the only other bikes I seriously considered over the MTS were the Hypermotard SP and the Adventure 1190 (Non R version)... well, I also considered the new Superduke because it's SO insane

p.s. check out these conti's

[lopycam]

even though i can get the bike under retail, i think its gonna be out of my price range at the moment. ive got a wedding coming up and thats taking up most of my finances right now. still gonna take it for a spin 2 up on wed just because i can and get an idea if its actually something that id want for the 2 of us.
so if anyone is interested in a great deal on a 1200s let me know

Details! Share with the group.....

[Spooler]

I was speaking generically. Each of us is different in how we use these machines.

Me, I'm after a half-naked sport tourer. I would be on a full on sport tourer if it weren't for the cost, size, and gratuitous use of plastic. These 'adventure' things appeal because they have similar geometry and can be setup similar to a 'sport' tourer. Yet aren't 100% plastic clad. The extra suspension travel doesn't hurt my feelings either.

On paper I'm probably all about the multi. In reality I'm with Chip; too much bike for this dummy.
Run the other way and the Tiger 800XC, 1190R, and every other ADV type that comes setup 21/17 is just too dirty-bike-esque for me; that much kit is a waste.

YMMV. I'm happier than a pig in shit with what I'm riding and how I have it setup.

Wish triumph was still selling the Tiger 1050 in the states. It fits almost exactly what you're talking about. Sport tours as well and more comfortably (for me) than a C14 or FJR. Lots of suspension travel. Half naked. Handles very nicely and has a pretty classic engine. Great do-anything kind of bike.

[nhbubba]

Straying way the hell off topic.. but yes, I agree. At least I think I do; I've never had the pleasure of trying a Tiger 1050.

[e30addict]

I go back and forth on whether or not I should switch to a 1050. Mostly I think that doesn't make sense now. It possibly would have been a better initial choice for me though.

[nhbubba]

Same. In '11 when I decided it was time to flip the Bandit for something else, I got talking to a dude on a Tiger 1050 at a burrito joint one day. He introduced me to the whole 'adventure' bike thing. After that it snowballed quickly. My only beef was that I couldn't justify the expense at that time. I did seriously look at the older 955's. But IIRC they are a bit more dirty-bike-like.

Used Tiger 1050's have come down considerably in price since then.

I nearly bought a Honda ST1300. Just 'magine that!

[abeer]

Heheh, the 1050 is so cool. Though I think my taste for it relates to how much it looks like this...

[reks95]

Thanks to the army of GS riders who never take their bike offroad, there's a pretty good selection of road-biased rubber in common big adventure bike tire sizes.

It's much harder to get good dirt tires for 17" and I can't find anyone who would recommend using it. That said, I might try this on my wr250x if I'm too cheap to buy another set of wheels.

Half faired sporty touringish motorcycle from 5 years ago: How about an FZ1?
I'm pretty sure the 1050 has always had street-bike suspension travel.

A KTM 990 SMT (or similar 900 series) seems like a good compromise for people who want more suspension travel & 17" wheels but think the MTS is too much.

[Spooler]

Tiger 1050 has 7 inch travel front and rear. It's definitely not meant for off roading, but it does have a fair amount of travel. FZ1 is also a very nice option.

[nhbubba]

V-twins (like the multi we are supposed to be talking about) rule, four cylinders drool..

Triples get a bye for being weird.

[SVRACER01]

Details! Share with the group.....

hows $1000 per cc?