As I'm on a day's holiday, and find myself reflecting on the last 12 months of ownership, thought I'd share my thoughts. MY13 Skyhook varient, with luggage so far unused. I cant quite believe it, but my tax and insurance renewal has come through and its time to book the first annual service! Where did that 12 months go… Its been an easy, uneventful and mostly pleasurable year. One I have done 6500 miles in, all weekend pleasure rides and no real trips to speak of, through the winter and into summer. So whats it been like? Well, first day I got it, I splashed petrol all over the front filling it up so not the best start!! Second thing I did was cover it is FS365, I couldn’t find ACF locally which I’d used on my old Bimmer and was excellent, but Snells sell it, dealers sell it, so must be good and recommended, right?! Er, wrong. So with summer’s end coming, and too much rain and wet around, I cracked on and rode the darn thing. That’s what I bought it for; all weathers riding. It was notocable as soon as I cleaned the chain to lube it, there was a tad of rusting on the plate links, so I lubed and told myself at least every other ride I’d lube it. I did, but it didn’t stop it turning a nice shade of been-in-the-river-for-months red…bugger. Actually, by time winter came (remember I had covered in FS and reapplied after each wash ala ACF) Most of the fasterers, the bellypan and the front cylinder was really start to show signs of corrosion. The casings are bubbling too. More cleaning, more ACF this time and some alkaline cleaner stuff to try and neutralise it and no better. Snells know about it, its in for a service next week and hope something will be done and Ducati will come good… So that’s the bad stuff. The good stuff. Everything else. Full stop. Skyhook is epic, it feels the same regardless of how you brake, accelerate etc in the same mode. This makes handling fantastic, like being on rails and not being upset by road undulations, gravel or many other things in the way. Its better the faster you go, and I reckon I could run over a small armadillo and not notice. The one thing it doesn’t like (found on track) is body weight movement corner to corner. Sit upright, towards the front of the tank and it flick flacks lovely. Start slinging yourself about ala Marquez and it wallows and ties itself in knots a little. Modes selection is easy, on the fly, and instant. Add preload at a couple of button presses and wow it makes a difference. In that I cant touch the floor at all difference! Power is more than enough for the road, I keep in touring all the time as I like the lazier throttle response, and point to point would keep with most stuff in the straight line stakes. The gearbox is nice, with a positive foot and a correctly adjusted chain. I’ve noticed when it starts to get a bit notchy, the chain is a little loose, and once adjusted is perfect again. 3rd to 4th feels a little push-pull (like its being sucked into gear) but very rare to hit any false neutrals. Recently the clutch has been right at the bar, a 2 min job of bleeding the MC and back to right out again. I’ve led rides, followed others, been slow, been fast, been stupidly fast flat out and the bike has behaved and worked perfectly. It really is a do everything to 80% bike. Even trackdays….to a point. Having used the Scorpions up in about 3k, after numerous recommendations I went for the new PR4’s. Not that I had any issues with the standard ones, but what a difference. Quicker turn in, grip galore wet or dry. Just better all round. And 3500 miles, two track days later still enough to do Germany trip before they are getting changed. On my old bikes I'd have been thru 4 sets of tyres by now! In the last month I have started taking a pillion. What pillion?! Luckily she doesn’t fidget and within an hour of our first ride I almost forgot she was there. By time we did a second ride, I started to notice how earlier you have to plan for things or your on the brakes harder or shortening reaction times too much. But riding, handling, all on the fly control changes easy peasy. And feedback is legs a little cramped (she's only 5' tall) but otherwise snoonzable comfy And to trackdays, and its limitations. OK so I have raced a little, bottom end club racing and often bottom end of that so not Shakey Byrne or Nicky Wilson. But I can ride fairly quickly on road and track and have always carried lots of corner speed and lean angle. On the road, this suits the bike perfectly, as you rarely go over the 80% threshold. On the track, where its 90% plus all the time, it starts to struggle. With the PR4’s on at Donington, and very wet, I was actually holding my own mid pack with guys on full wets on the track and road bikes. Bike was immense, tyres, ABS, DTC all working in harmony, was just like a fast road ride not a track day and was almost pegs down then. Silverstone, which was dry, I was more nervous about. It’s a very fast circuit, one of the few a 1000cc bike can get all its power out, and with allegednly 150hp ( @andyb ) on tap it should be ok…erm no! Mates 115hp 996 outpulled it on the straights. 1200 monsters flew off. The fast guys almost rocked the bike as they went past so quick! On the warm up laps first session I was dragging toes…dry, warm, slicks territory. But I still overtook a few, held on to a lot thru the corners (and had to back off early as many brake waaaay too early, to be polite you understand). A few times when I was decked out the racer guys came round the outside, which as I can't tighten wasn't the best move but hey, my bike is bigger and so am I so what will be will be...But I found my self every lap, every second of every lap, wanting a sports bike. When you are dragging your toes, at full throttle in fourth gear about to change to 5th through the apex, you don’t want to go any faster. So would I recommend one? In a heartbeat. Am I pissed at Dave for selling me one? Absolutely not, great job well done. Am I disapoointed at all? With the finish, totally. Ducati need to sort this, its garaged, cleaned more than I have ever cleaned a bike and was my first brand new bike and has not stood up to a few winter runs and some moisture at all. If I wasn’t always planning to chop in at year 2, I’d be kicking off at DUK and be very unhappy. If I was going to use a commuter, I'd look elsewhere. But am I satisfied with the bike, the engineering, the electrics, how it rides and would I buy another! Absolutely! Here’s to a 12k mile service, trip to Germany and another 12 months of biking pleasure (just no more track days @Desmo Dave ! )
Racer friend chasing me in the wet at Donington, he's on full wets and loves the rain and takes a while to catch me.
I like your write up Paul (and I'm even in one of your pictures). I agree on the finish, especially the bolts. The ride position means that you are presenting a huge target for the air to hit, hence anything above 40mph is going to need loads more power. And at 350kg rider n bike wet that's a lot of weight for the corners / braking. Get a cheap track bike, you'll be gutted if you slide a mutley down a track.
Yes Sir how may I help... Can of diet coke and that diet pie please....lol haha Great read Mr Bradders, glad you still enjoy that Multi. You do know you don't have to keep it at 100% throttle lol
Aircon, I have a gixer track bike but alas no good on Ducati days although it wasn't cheap...oh and I didnt mention how easy this thing wheelies either... Art - wheres the fun in that? Pmsl
Good review mate and I've had mine for coming up 12 months now and my experience is very similar. I had mine cleaned and treated with acf50 with all year biker in first week of owning it but despite being promised they stand up to winter well, my chain went rusty virtually over night, as did the rear wheel nuts, sprocket bolts and various other screws and fittings. Love the bike but some of fitting are poor. Will be pushing for replacement at first service
Nice write and being a new owner just what I wanted to hear. As for the fastener quality think that goes for almost any make....blame the bean counters, me I'll just swap them out with pro-bolt stuff as and when (and yes I know you shouldn't need to on a high end product but that's life), which could be sooner than later :Meh:
Great review Bradders, wish I was on mine right now Seen a couple of them so far today and neither ridden like they could / should be
Nice write up. Totally agree, the Multi is a great road bike, but there are better track bikes. mind you, some of the fun is embarassing the sports bikes
I've just come from a tour of the Ducati factory, there was one half finished Multi on the assembly line, the guide said there not due to start making any more for a few months. She said there seasonal and orders seam to stop this time of year for the Multistrada. Nice write up Bradders. I'd love to do a track day but cant find leathers that fit me that I don't look stupid in.
