1200 DVT 1200 -1260

Your ‘15 DVT is an entirely different bike to the 1260 with, IMO, little in common to compare. The 1260 is a bike aimed more at the grand tourer with much better performance in the lower rev range. A slightly longer wheel base makes it feel more stable and more comfortable at real world speeds. Whilst the DVT rounded the harder edges of the first generation 1200 Multistrada, the 1260 has rounded it even further. What you lose in hooliganism, you gain in poise. Andy

 

It takes you 4-5years to do 18,000 miles for the big desmo service?

 

Test ride a 1260, take it from there. If you find it an improvement, it fits your needs and you feel like indulging yourself then fill your boots. Cost of change might be the decider.

 

I had a ride on a 1260 while my my 1200 was in for service the 1260 is more refined than the 1200 would I change don't think so
I still prefer my twin spark PP for me this is the best Multistrada

 

A £1000 service is still a lot cheaper than a new £18,000 bike.

I must confess I prefer the rawer edge of my 1200 to the 1260.

 

I also loved the rawness of my 1200, and was afraid I’d miss that when I changed to the 1260

But I actually enjoy the 1260 even more now,it is more refined as previous people have said, its rock solid stable in all conditions, I don’t feel it steers any slower than the previous model despite the longer wheel base

I actually find I’m riding quicker and feel more relaxed than my previous bike

 

I think whats happened to the Multistrada is typical of what's happening to all the models in the range basically there being sanitised and loseing there edge there being Hondaised , there still all amazing machines but not what Ducati were once its an attempt to appeal more mainstream market

 

The Audification of Ducati’s mass market models

 

Thats not a bad thing if it generates better products.
Imo Quality is definitely better, as is fit & finish.
If only we could persuade them to wind tunnel test them before we all go deaf

The down side is they will sell more and so be less exclusive

 

We will up with a Ducati in name only and a Honda under the faring

 

Hopefully not, It is entirely possible to produce well engineered and designed products and still be full of character.
Personally I like the better engineered panels of the DVT without all the exposed screw heads, better back-lit switchgear, better display, etc. compared to the earlier bikes.
Now they just need to fix some of the practicality issues that most of us could do without, and which would make the bikes even better.

That said, I love the power delivery of my 2012 bike but it won't stop me buying a 1260 too some time soon

 

I'm gonna chime in with my point of view here, not that of Ducati Glasgow, Ducati UK or Ducati in Italy - just wanna pass on my view as i'm lucky enough to have had the chance to ride all the Multistrada models extensively since they were released.


I'm a big fan of the whole Multi concept, used them on track - instructed from them, toured on them alone and 2 up (albeit not more than 300 miles a day or so), Sunday blasted on them and been a bit of a hooligan on them, even been proper off road on the Enduro in Italy. Generally done thousands of miles in all conditions so i've got a reasonably good background with the model.


I'm also in the fortunate position where i've ridden just about everything in the market since the late 90's so have a pretty wide range for comparison.


And for those that don't know me, i'm 6'1, carrying the weight of a few too many pies but in generally ok condition. (I hope!)


I do a lot of track days, done some amateur racing etc so defo have a sport-based background but have done thousands of country road miles on the Multi up here which honestly is the perfect environment for it.


In my honest opinion, there's just no stopping the march of technology and each model that comes out trumps the previous, it's pretty much that simple and frankly I love it - I love the constant improvements but please let me elaborate


In layman's terms: - I've properly ragged the arse off the 1260 and it's significantly improved and different to ragging the arse off the 1200!

Handling:

It's at least as agile but notably more stable in every way whilst not losing a sports feel. The extra swing arm length is offset by the faster steering angle - a simple but extremely effective solution.

It changes direction with ease and solidly leans to the edge of the tyre and stays bolted there until you flick it back over the other way. It's wholly a more stable proposition from the first lean on the bars. The feedback through the front tyre on max lean gives you true sports bike levels of feel - that's guaranteed.

Whilst the brakes are basically the same on both bikes when comparing like for like, the stability on the way into the turn if you carry a little too much pace is notably improved. You don't feel like you're on a long-legged adventure bike, it feels taught like a sports bike / superbike.

The longer swinger does exactly what it does on a Superbike, helps to keep the front wheel down under max acceleration and the back down under super-hard braking however the mid corner mechanical grip of the 1260 is another step forward.

Some of the older models had the tendency to waggle the bars when pushed around in this way, the 1260 has this nailed and stays super-planted beyond where the older models would become a little too exciting!!

Engine:

I've heard some say it's not as raw as the older twin sparks. I understand what people are trying to get across there but I don't necessarily agree with that. The early bikes are perhaps more visceral because they're more mechanically involving and you're a bit more exposed to the moving parts. However, I think the spread of torque across the new bikes coupled with the DVT throttle response and pick up is unmatched - it's grunt, drive, power - faultless drive and turbine like power with that recognisable twin vibe leads me to feel that the new engines are a bit more "grown up" but they are decidedly more flexible and exciting at the same time.

Electronics:

These get better year on year without doubt. I owned the first bike with proper traction in 2008, the 1098R, an amazing piece of technology that utterly blew me away for the 4 years I used it until the Panigale came along.

However, the new traction system is absolutely light years ahead of what we had a decade ago. When it cuts in, it does so with so little drama you barely feel it, I could line up a hundred customers that will testament to how it has saved them from a serious problem.

Cornering ABS introduced for us on the DVT in 2015, is constantly evolving. I have no idea why this hasn't had a far bigger fanfare around the world than it has. It's nothing short of mind bending for someone like me who's been riding for 33 years and was always taught don't brake hard whilst leaning over. Admittedly, on track I trail brake all the way until maximum lean but never at 100% lever pressure!! That feels like suicide and I still struggle to perform the action even when testing. I can assure you i've tried this system out and it really really works beyond anything you can possibly comprehend - it will save lives without doubt.

Wheelie control - Ducati say makes wheelies safe and i've experienced that. Dial in a setting from 0 - 8 inclusive and you've 8 levels of front wheel height during a wheelie or of course you can just turn it off.

The Skyhook suspenders are constantly updating and are almost infinitely programmable - they've been on the go so long that they’re a tried and tested piece of the armoury.

The dash interface is constantly improving, the Bluetooth is better, the wind protection is improved, the comfort is better long distance, the list goes on and on.


Of course some of you are thinking this is just a sales pitch - it's not but honestly I feel as tho i've grown along with Ducati and I hear what riders say the like/dislike about the bikes and most of the time those get amended to some degree.


I don't know what Audification means but Ducati are still building about the same number of bikes that they've been doing for the last few years and they're never, ever, going to be mass market. To help you with that perspective, Honda build in a day - what Ducati build in a year. In fact, there are more model variations for our clients to choose from so in reality of the bikes sold in the UK, they are actually less mass market than they used to be. And actually what is wrong with being linked to Audi? or more specifically Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Man, Porsche, SCANIA, Seat, Skoda, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial. Some of the best brands in the world to learn from - all of which have kept their own identity.


And I can assure you they're a billion miles away from a Honda under the skin in all the ways that matter.


Anyway, long post but I thought worthy of writing. i'm away home for beer.

Mart

 

Only Been riding for 3 years and a bit and on my 2nd Multi, 1260 from 1200 dvt and love it, thanks for eloquently conveying how I feel about the bike.....awesome, roll on some sunshine

 

Indeed - roll on the sunshine.

You’ve got, in my humble opinion, the best adventure tourer by a considerable margin that you’re gonna have many thousands of smiles per miles. It’s gonna be a long long winter, especially up here!
Mart

 

Nice post Martin.

The Multi 1200 is a superb bike, in all forms, but as with anything that has evolved over time some people will prefer different generations.

With regard to the power delivery, you are correct in the torque being a wider spread, but that is actually the thing that makes the difference. Open the throttle on a pre DVT and the way the bike responds below / above ~7k is what gives it a more defined power band.
The only way I can explain is it is a bit like comparing a smaller cc turbo'd car with a v8 engined one. The v8 may produce more power, torque, etc, and could well be faster point to point, but the turbo car will have a more exciting feel to it. I suppose you could liken it to playing with the power band on a 2 stroke, its just more involving.

Since Ducati replaced the ST4S (which was a cracking bike at the time) with the ST3 there was nothing on the market that had the same mix of sport and touring, with the practicality and performance I wanted.
If Ducati bought out an ST style replacement with the MTS engine in it rather than a tall-rounder then I could possibly be persuaded by one, but until then there will likely be at least one MTS in my garage
If anything this just goes to show the MTS may be a compromise for many of us, but its the best compromise out there (the BMW XR comes close for me in terms of riding / performance, but not for the wife in terms of comfort).

I just hope they add improvements rather than changing things just for the sake of it. And maybe they could give a thought to service access, if you fancy dropping that into conversation next time your in Italy

By the way, its nice to see a dealer taking the time to post on the forum (I know we have others on here, but far too many stay quiet)

 

My 1260 is my first Ducati so I'm not really in a position to compare although I test rode a 1200s and a 1200 Enduro as well as 1299 and 959 Panigales (albeit on track). Having come from a long line of Honda VFRs and then an MV Turismo Veloce I needed something less frenetic and flighty than the MV (which I loved) but with decent power for two up touring, previously having been a solo rider. The 1260S really does satisfy all of my requirements, including solo riding too, and marginally more than maybe the 1200S would have. Maybe I fit the Audi demographic?