I was trying to illustrate where the bikes really shines. I suppose you can use just about any bike anywhere and I edited my post to reflect that. Both the V4 Multistrada's can carry a load with ease, have a smooth engine at higher revs which makes them ideal for fast and broad sweeping curved roads. The 1260 would not be as smooth under the same circumstances and the M1000XR cannot carry luggage.
The V4 is also much smoother and easier to ride around town than the big V2. In my opinion of course.
The MCN article comparing the Pikes Peak with the RS is a good read albeit I initially thought that it had perhaps some BMW exaggerations (fat mid-range and low-down grunt???). IMHO, I also thought it was the wrong shoot-out. Should have been the S1000XR vs the MTS V4PP. Alternatively M1000XR vs the MTS RS. However, I've reached-out to Micheal about this where the he stated that the choice of Ducati was one of relative price. Not necessarily in so many words but he mentioned that the horsepower numbers does not do justice to the M1000XR where it has loads of mid-range power. Moreover, his following words were as follows: "These two bikes are rapid beyond belief on the road and you can’t even get to with a few percent of what their engines are capable of. The things that separate them is the other, less tangible stuff, like character, grip, handling, comfort etc. The Ducati was the more rounded bike and the BMW the balls-to-the-wall superbike on stilts." Cheers M
The shift cam motor on the M is better than the standard XR . But it’s still high revs , great on open roads but the bike is designed for all roads , hence the Multistrada name . Good points tho . The PP and the V4s will , in my humble opinion, be a better bike if you like the challenge of different roads . Aka ALL ROADS .
Having owned an S1000XR a few years ago, it was only at its best when at the top end of the rev range. And let’s face it, how often can you use that in the UK, without fearing for your licence, or life. I wanted to like the M1000XR, as that could be a next bike for me, but it sounds like more of the same, so I’ll be sticking with the V4 for the foreseeable.
Interesting observation. I have never owned one but did own the s1000r and found the engine ridiculously flexible and could pull 6th at 40 no problem, where all my multis (incl the old fuglystrada) needed at best 3rd, worst 2nd.
Literally every review I've read is that the XR just feels manic, constantly. That's why I moved away from the sports bikes, I don't need that anymore. However, I can still take the PP out, hit 140, take a decent bend and arrive at home without my eyes on stalks and feel fairly relaxed.
The standard XR reminded me of racing a 125 mx , up and down the box till your foot hurt and always chasing revs , exhausting . Nice chassis but not my cup of tea on the engine , that’s why I mainly raced 450 , torque and power all the way thro .
What years and where did you race? We may have met on the track being of similar age and location, although I was Enduro/Motoduro for the last 15 years to retirement in 2015.
1981 thro till 89 mx , then Enduro from 94 till early 2000 / off and on till around 2010 Rallies / moto Enduros , green lanes from then on . Injury’s over the years took its toll , no longer ride now as getting a bit too old and neck damage has stopped competition. Midlands area .
