To be truthful, of all the big capacity adventure bikes I rode when I was looking for one, my favourite was, and still is if I'm honest, the 1200 GS. I rode a 2014 skyhook Multi and felt disappointed by too many flaws, most of them silly and very Italian. The GS isn't the most powerful but the way it makes its power (and torque) make it feel much punchier than the figures suggest. It was supremely comfortable, the fuelling was flawless, the ergonomics perfect and the whole thing exuded design and manufacturing quality in spades. It wasn't trying to be a sports bike or any other sort of bike in a different guise; it didn't feel like a platform build or a parts bin special, it just felt like the finished product, something that was always designed to be that way. I didn't buy one simply because it was out of my budget so I bought a simple SMT for half the price. But if I had the money, although I would have missed the acceleration of the KTM 1190 (1290 A wasn't out then) or the bottom end stomp of the Ducati, it would have been the GS I'd have gone back to. I am a bit of a power freak, I admit, but when a bike feels so complete it ceases to matter and you can just enjoy it for what it is. Polish, that is what the GS has, and what despite its conceptual brilliance, the Multi IMO lacks.
Re ergonomics on thr GS, I keep cracking my shins on the Cylinder heads which f@ckin' hurts!! Other than that, yeah, great bikes.
Very interesting thread this one! I have a love/hate relationship with my MTS. Last week I hated it and this week I love it. I've had one major problem, and the same problem occurred twice (seized exhaust valve). I have come across lots of little minor issues - such as poor seat fit, snatchy throttle response, rattling screen, appalling rear brake - that I wouldn't expect to find on such an expensive piece of kit. And I have frequently taken it up with the dealer who have always been very helpful. But I have ended up putting it down to the quirkiness of Ducati. The snatchy throttle, which I find snatcher than I would expect is usually at 3/4,000 rpm when in a situation where I have to pootle along. So I have come to the conclusion that I have to put it in urban mode in such circumstances, and it's not snatchy. All other times I have the engine mode in high, even in touring mode. And it works best when caning it. Which is what we should be doing most of the time anyway (within legal speed limits of course). At a point of particular hate a month or so ago I did revisit the XR which I test rode before buying the MTS, and didn't like it. The buzzy bars weren't as buzzy as the first time I rode it, but they are at such a point in the rev range that it would annoy me and I couldn't tour on it. It felt like a weekend blaster for me. I also rode a GS on the spur of the moment, and thought it was really good but just not quite dynamic enough. So concluded that I made the right decision. The GS may be my next bike however.....
I love my Multi but this is whats dissappointed me, its done 37k miles , the two dealers been to don't want it in px, its high mileage. You get sucking teeth , mentions of better off on eBay . So they want me to spend 17k on a bike that in 4 years nobody wants. Yet the engine is amazing and it puts a smile on my face every time but the rest of the build leaves a lot to be desired. Cylinder head gone, warranty job , let them off this. Dash gone ( seems common ) Clutch Slave Cylinder gone paint peeled of engine ( seems common ) paint peeled of radiator paint peeled of metal at bottom of mirrors fuel sensor gone ( seems common ) wheel bearing gone exhaust value sticks often. However had a GS and it was off road for 9 weeks as they couldn't get a replacement suspension unit and thats why i sold it and brought a ducati.
Done around 2.5k on my used (2014) Gs te since November. Compared to the the Multi it feels a bit heavier, not much at all mind. Way more planted at speed, slightly less agile. Much quieter than the Multi for wind noise (2013 model) and way less buffeting at all speeds. The GS will sit at 120mph (autobahn test a few weeks back...) two up with full luggage with both rider and passenger in comfort. gearbox is clunky when tootling about, sweet when on the gas though. Clutch is lighter than the Multi. Front end has no dive on the brakes, again tested two up etc In Eifel national park when 'playing' with some Dutch bikers who were one up. No problems with performance, but I accept it would get blitzed at higher speeds on more open roads, up to the next corner anyway. The XR a none starter for me for a long termer due to lack of character (i-line4s compared to twins) and vibes. My S1000r had bad vibes when riding steady, didnt do much of that mind as the bike was a missile! Build quality/finish (not reliabilty, as not enough miles done) I would say is much better on both the BMWs. Things like stainless fasteners, an exhaust, chain (on S1) and various other parts that dont look like rusty Chinese steel at the merest whiff of exposure to the outside world. Been out loads on salty roads on the GS and not a mark. The Multi needed extreme care and still showed corrosion. Adventure bike maybe, but salty roads and even water.. Not looking to take away from the MTS with my comments here as its a superb package, but would be reluctant to invest in another due to finish and long term worries. Really do like them. 19k for a PP ?? Fcuk that, feel that the development for the new MTS should have been quality biased/tweeking rather than all new. IMO. The fact I bought a two year old GS, and wouldnt do the same with a multi summarises my feelings. KTM is very interesting, worthy contender to replace the GS once miles get racked up, maybe. For now though enjoying the GS, it still wheelies off crests when hard on the gas (didnt expect that!) and shows the back tyre to a sport bike or two. To anyone who thinks they are not fast enough I would say an extended ride is order and cane the damned thing, people have been suprised at the speed of it.
The newer GS must be like an s1000rr compared to the last then, as the limits of handling were found really easily when charging hard on the roads at 3 figs type speed. All my mates thought I'd crashed every corner.
Ditto on both counts. Much more comfortable than the FJR all round. Sort of wish it had shaft drive, but that would make it heavier. And less fun.
The water cooled GS is a completely different animal to the old one. They are fabulously good bikes. I know everyone and his mother has got one but having ridden one I can see why. And when you see really tidy ones still fetching decent money with 50,000 miles in them it does give you a certain confidence.
I'll add to that list... Side stand switch faulty Master cylinder cap peeling Heel rubs frame paint DES errors Steering lock works for 2 minutes out the factory Suspension seals blow often Rad replaced due to failure (common on early models) Centre stand hits foot Back brake doesn't work Indicator button keeps falling off (new replacement too) Switchgear hates rain and starts to be reluctant
Every ride where nothing goes wrong is an epic ride. It really is an awesome bike but the "niggles" are actually show stoppers when they keep coming. As has been said already, used ones are being refused at trade-ins and I would hardly call <50k miles high mileage. I find the whole bike/mileage thing ridiculous, why shouldn't a bike hit 100k miles with proper servicing etc...
My local independent who services my SMT has had 990 Adventures through with over 80,000 miles and no problems. BMWs boxers can easily top 100,000. Saw a 1150GS on a rideout last year that looked immaculate. It was on 78,000. BSA M20s will go to the moon and back between oil changes.
^^^^ kind of sums it up, superb bike, frightened to put miles on it. Thats why mine got traded in at 15k. Said it before, if Ducati had addressed quality issues instead of a re-design, I would be up for another. Not as things stand though.
I'm with you J. I've had an MTS for four years and loved it, but with 21k on the clock and a recent spate of niggles, it's time to move on. Didn't like the DVT as in my opinion they've solved a problem that didn't need solving. Going to try the KTM GT just to try something different, but still a big twin? May return to Ducati one day, and my return would be hastened by better fastenings, quality of finish and long-term durability?
Multi excitement, but easier to go as fast or faster, durability, quality of components and engineering, top tier brand, less cost, and a package that works flawlessly (ie fuelling, great QS, cornering ABS without lifting the bike...) is at this moment the XR. Missing looks (although industrial design look is more function oriented - whereas Ducati form look is eye pleasing oriented) and V2 sound (BMWs popping sounds when downshifting are exciting too). Bar vibrations are not that bad, the multi has it too, but at a lower frequency. High rpm touring with the XR, as in any I4, is not a problem since 6th gear is a power gear and not an overdrive. MCN sometimes is right...
^^ can confirm the XR is blisteringly quick, been out with someone a bit handy who had one when I had the S1000. Suspension 'works' on our bumpy roads. Allowing for serious progress. Might be the most sport orientated bike..
