Help needed I've been a watcher mainly but I m needing some advice I've had all the pikes peaks. I've got the new one on order for the 1st march. The problem I have is I'm 6'3 with a bad back and knees. Do I stick with the PP or change to the rally. I do more touring plus the wife wants to do more touring. I'm getting the PP for a good price as I ordered it early before the price increases.
Neither,,,, bad back and knees plus you like touring with a pillion: V4s is the only answer. PP is a little more sports focused and practically a waste of time unless you’re doing track days or riding all day over the speed limit, the truth is (and many will argue) it’s bought for its looks. Rally is focused towards off-road capability so unless you’re going to ride across a desert or live on forest tracks it’s not aimed at you. I’ve just swapped from a 1260 PP to a V4s & I’ve ridden the v4 PP, so I’m biased but with good reason.
Need to at least sit on them, ideally ride them to know what works for you. I'd go for the rally personally but then I'm a fashion victim and I like the off roady type styling (currently riding a 1200 Enduro which frankly is all I could ever want in a bike).
Agree , but the PP is no faster, same bike same engine, yes it has the track function, but it's no good on the road as its way to twitchy and your running high all the time, great for a track as you can keep dialling the bike in , lap after lap. on predictable corners and surface. The beauty of the V4s is it adaptability and ability to make all roads fun and fast. The new Rally will suit some who like to venture off road a bit , but Im a clean freak and also have a dedicated off roader but I m sure it will be a seller.
V4S unless you really need the Rally's larger tank & longer pillion perch. As to V4S versions luggage, if your wanting to do long haul /more than a weekend I'd avoid the oem plastic panniers as I've found two up they are only fit for weekend trips and thats with a 38l SW motech alloy topbox, though the huge /fugly (50l?) factory plastic topbox will help a bit I still think you may want more pannier space if not traveling light. Deffo not the PP if two up touring is your aim , most comparison road tests state PP is a worse road bike than the V4S in everyday use due to the PP's stiffer/less compliant sussies.
I agree with the V4S recommendations, and you'll probably be able to get one sooner as, I suspect, there will be plenty of people putting orders in for the Rally and handing in their V4S. I have done three UK short tours on mine so far and the ride is both comfortable and thoroughly engaging in terms of sporty handling, bags of fun to be had. My only gripe, is that right hand pannier is rubbish, it's just too small and not well designed. I think Ducati need to copy BMW and produce expandable luggage.
Good point about the luggage, I went for the Ducati Aluminium Panniers and top box for the Euro / UK trips with the wife and they work very well, as for solo trips just stap on 28 ltr dry bag, perfect , but remember to strap it on lengthways as it catches the wind post 130.
Yeah, I have an Oxford Aqua 30, which is great. I wasn't aware of the Ducati Aluminium Panniers before seeing them on the new Rally. Do they fit the V4S or do you need additional brackets?
The ones I have fit the V4s so would expect them to fit the Rally and the PP . They have separate brackets ( frame) which attached via the mounting points of the bike. They can be set as fixed or swivel.
I’m 6’ 5” and the V4 PP is at least as comfortable as the 1260PP I had before. It’s a better road bike than the V4S if you enjoy making ‘good progress’.
Thanks for all the advice I know the v4s would work but I find it a little plain that's why I've always had the PPs. I was only considering the rally because of more room for wife plus the larger tank I do more of the back roads country lanes. Some days I can roughly do 150 to 180 miles without seeing a petrol station so what I've been reading the v4s would struggle.
ie 150 in a 60 if you’re on perfect dry tarmac, however on UK pot holed roads makes absolutely no sense at all . But it does look gorgeous.
I live in North Yorkshire, whilst the roads are great, the surface often isn’t. Having ridden the 1200DVT PP and 1260PP extensively and a few decent rides on a V4S, I’ll take my V4 PP every day of the week. But usually weekends, because I’m working my bollocks off Monday to Friday!
Go for the PP, you won’t be disappointed. Just set the suspension up properly, and it’ll float over anything you throw at it.
How is this done as some will ask so some pointers will be good as this does seem a point some have found to get the PP compliant , set up tips or suspension shops .The standard Skyhook needs no setting up and also floats over everything really well.
RTFM There's a lot of settings to play with, you just need to find the right setup for your bodyweight. It took some doing, I'm an impatient bugger, but it was well worth tweaking to get the best from it.
