If I could have owned this bike as a 30something I'd have been very happy. The question is; do you buy a bike because of what you think of it, or what your bike pals think of it? You know the right answer.....
A lot comes down to what you want out of a bike, my first bike was a 748, i loved that but with a short fuel range, which to be fair suits the riding position, i cannot imagine doing the mileage i do on a day out on that ! I am not into the power ranger sports bike thing, i like a good day out with my mates and like something that can play with the power rangers on one of those rides, the multi does that easily, also the Mrs is happy on the back so thats always a bonus. If money was no object that we would all have a selection of bikes that tick different boxes, for now i am happy and will stick with the multi.
The only real downside to the Multi is this: Imagine you are at the Milan show and you've never seen one. Do you see it and go, "Oh, wow! That is so gorgeous. I MUST get one of those!" or do you cogitate about it and come to the conclusion that it is a sensible purchase because it is fast/comfy/practical/a Ducati/ etc.? The Multi for me is a head over heart purchase (doesn't make it wrong). Most bikes, almost by their very nature, are a heart over head purchase. The Multi does not fill me with lust. But I can see it would be a great thing to have for a holiday to Provence. All I'd like is a Ducati that filled me with lust but which was as practical as the Multi. And I don't care if it won't off-road, because, like most owners of 4x4s, I'm very very unlikely to.
As Mr Cooper says. I've made a few changes, short tinted Puig racing screen, termi stubby and I think it looks great. Just changing the screen really changes the look, and though it's the short screen, when it's raised up it's still pretty much the same height as the standard screen. I think the first version of the Pikes Peak looks stunning and just wish it had been available when I bought mine.
I didn't buy the fuglystrada on looks alone... Quite agree Glidd, it ain't a heartstring bike, and when you think about it very few non-sportsbikes are, a few nakeds look really good but the rest are eight-pinters at least My question is this: Why can't anyone make a bike that looks fantastic, has full welly (not 'retuned'), light weight, ace handling, but is still comfy and fairly practical? Surely it must be possible?
So agree. That's what galls me about the Fugly. They've got top brakes, engine, suspension etc. You're not telling me that they can't just put that in a "normal" road-going Ducati with a comfy seat (à la Paso) and get it styled with typical Italian flair (i.e., without extraneous beaks). What, really, is so hard about that? It could be a parts bin special apart from the bodywork - they already have everything. But oh no. It won't fit in some ludicrously trendy category like "adventure sports". It'll just be ... er..... a "comfortable motorbike". It won't "redefine" anything. Can't see the proposition setting the marketing dept. alight.
You could be on to something. Now you've defined another trendy category for it to fit into, they might get interested in building it. Yes, I can see it now: "Roadsports" could be the next hot thing. And YOU invented it!
Wasn't that long ago that sportsbikes didn't have clip ons and young lads still rode them, I'd have had a multi when younger no problem. I prefer a pair of 'mandlebars' on my road bike and a lot of the time on my track bikes. A multi will hold it's own on the road and the track so not sure what the problem with it is. I'd imagine those passed by one on track would have more of an issue with it than the guy riding it
Twisties - Yep Textiles - Yep Schuberth (Bluetoothed) - Yep 33? - Sadly no, 48 years young! :wink: I had been a sports bike owner from the off (Many moons ago - AP50 anyone? Oh, all right then I went on to an RD250LC after that :biggrin and you would have been hard pressed to convince me there was any other option than a head down, arse up screamer on the Coast Road over here in Northern Ireland for example. The Multi has been a revelation and I doubt I've ever managed to get along that road any quicker, smoother or more relaxed. Each to their own but I love the looks, the performance and the quirks that Ducati have presented in the Mutley; it makes me feel like a youngster again and that's what counts.........isn't it? All the best, Mark H
