Not being biased or anything, but....I saw a couple of 3000 mile old S1000XRs at Bahnstormer today. They had horribly corroded front radiators and the lower sides of the engine looked similarly nasty. The milled (and seemingly uncoated) holes in the frame also had the same white alloy corrosion showing. Just a bit scabby TBH. What they'll be like in another year is anyone's guess. If you have one I suggest keeping the bugger very clean and coated in something anti-corrosive.
That's not really a fair indication of the XR tbh, a fair reflection would be to treat any other bike in the same way for 3000 miles and then compare them! Come on tobers lets keep this thread going in a fair manner! Me personally I cosset my bikes because that's part of owning them for me. What other people do with theirs is their business. I don't use mine for commuting just pleasure so it is a pampered machine!
My thinking also. KTM did not make the GT to take on the Multi - they already make three upright adventure bikes. As you say, if those bikes are not competitors for the Multi why would they think that a fourth bike in a completely different format would be? They made the GT because KTM owners asked them too. So many people who had bought or test ridden the 1290 SDR said it would make a fantastic fast sports tourer with a bigger tank and a screen that KTM said OK and built it. But KTM are like that. They are purely a manufacturer of motorcycles and they are run by people who make motorcycles. They are not a corporate car firm making bikes on the side. I've decided, despite all I've spent on it, that I'm going to sell my Ducati. I'm not going to sell my KTMs. I may even buy another. A 690 Enduro would be fun. And an RC8R would make a wonderful track bike...
@Gimlet I think that is the exact reason KTM made the GT to take on the Multi, and XR as well and some of the others, same as Ducati made the Enduro to take on KTM Adventurer, and Gs's, and Africa Twins of the world. I have not seen a KTM GT, they seem pretty rare on the ground atm, but reading the spec, it is a better version of a multi, ON PAPER in my view. as per my other posts what it is actually like on the road / in the flesh is a different matter. I might add Looks for me are not everything.
Between 2010 - 2014 the Multi WAS the fastest and sportiest adventure bike. These were the reasons it became famous and sought after. And many riders, including myself bought the DVT expecting it to be faster, better, and at least as sporty. I could overlook some reliability, and quality issues if it delivered what I expected. It didn't. Fueling is mediocre, power is not as promised (20 wheel ponies less than the XR - both claim 160 at the crank), gearing is so long that renders the bike breathless at high speeds, it takes twice the XR rider's energy to go as fast. The Multi WAS the fastest and sportiest adventure bike! It isn't any more, and it hurts.
I am sure some people must be riding a Different DVT than me. Cannot say my DVT is breathless at any speed in any gear, it is at least as quick as my 2013 MS, I think it is actually quicker now it has the Termi on it. Maybe the Termi and running it on Super unleaded makes it so much quicker than a standard DVT. It is as sporty, and Handles better, Lower (perfect for me) than my 2013. I do not care it might not be the fastest, it is plenty fast enough and the only real difference between the bikes is how the riders ride them. I like the gearing, cruising on the motorway for miles in the EU makes easy riding, and good gaps for fuel stops. People have changed the rear sprocket, that is suppose to make a far difference, I suggest you do it @costis I was at Bury Hill Sunday afternoon my only real disappointment at Ducati, is they seem so common now, when looking around I would say there were more Ducati bikes there in total than any other manufacturer, if not the most certainly the 2nd most.
If the rider makes all the difference then why not buy a monster or a scrambler? We expect certain things from a bike, right? Like a 1200 cc superbike punch from a V2 maybe? If I buy a € 22k bike and then go for rear sprocket and chain, buy a € 3k Termi, and run 100 octane, go through houndreds of pages in Ducati forums to solve problems Ducati engineers should have done, then something is wrong. I am not asking you to agree, but only to consider. We should ask Ducati to try more because nothing in this everchanging world is for granted. To make a top Tier bike Ducati should try more than marketing promises (check advertised torque curve) and high pricing.
We should all gather drink beer and be proud for our bikes. Oh and for our houses, jobs and spouses. Cheers
You're right of course Costis. Ducati's are FAR from perfect! I've been fairly lucky with my 2010 Multi but even so have had some expensive and inconvenient problems. Would I buy another Ducati? Yup!! Damned right I would. Because there's nothing out there with the combination of performance, handling, cachet and character of a Ducati. Not yet anyway, not quite.
@costis I own a monster as well. I meant in my case, (and a few others if they are honest) my riding ability is far from reaching the MS true potential, so my owning an XR is not going to get me to go any quicker for such a little difference at the rear wheel
I've read all these posts, and resisted the urge to comment as I'd just be seen as a biased DVT owner, but........why complain about an adventure style bike not being 'sporty' and not having '160 bhp'? If you want those things, surely buy a sports bike, or a proper sports tourer, no? The DVT is a better all rounder than the previous model, YES it's down on power, YES it has its flaws, but no more than any other marque, we just don't hear about it so much. I've owned my DVT now for 8 months, and, other than the trip reset issue, which was sorted at first service, I've had absolutely zero problems, and I'm sure there are plenty of others out there in the same boat. The reason we hear about the DVT issues is because people inherently love to complain, it's what we Brits do best, and let's be honest, it's a reasonably small minority compared to the number of bikes sold. I do feel for those effected by the issues, and fully support the argument that they've paid a lot of money and expect better reliability from a premium brand. I'd be exactly the same, but I'd speak to my dealer and sort the issue.....if the bike isn't fit for purpose..... Ultimately, test ride & buy what's right for you, if you find it doesn't suit you, change it, if it's unreliable, get the dealer to sort it, but why believe what MCN report, we all know they sell out to the highest bidder these days....... The Multi is a fabulous bike, but so is the BMW, and SO is the KTM.....
I 100% agree - my bottle goes long before the Multi - there is a nice long uphill left hander near my house - I use to pull 110 on my VFR1200 - that has 170 HP before I shut off. I now pull 135 on the Multi - it has less horses - but handles so much better - and 135 is me shutting off not bike. I will do the same on my scrambler and shut it down at 105 because that's its aerodynamic limit - that has 75BHP - so my 75BHP scrambler is nearly as fast as the VFR1200 was that had 170 BHP - not because the engine - because of the confidence it gives. My scrambler does have fully upgraded suspension.. Yes I spend close on £2000 on a £7000 bike then probably another £2000 on farkles too. My DVT has had some of the niggles, trip, side stand, fuel sensor, heated grips - but so F what..T I just love it. - And would happily buy another Ducati (maybe X Diavel?) I have not ridden BMW - so can not say anything about it good or bad. But have had various Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki over the last 30 years and these 2 Ducati's are by far the most fun to use. The best Engine was the V4 in my VFR - but the rest of the bike just did not match up. My annual mileage was 2500 for last 6 years - I am on 7000 in last 10 months with my Ducati's - so they must have something right??
Ahem!! That's clearly 110 and 135 KMH Officer!! Or do you live just around the corner from an Autobahn? ;-)
Having had an ST2, so same chassis different motor, the multi doesnt feel heavier if anything lighter
