There are countless reports all over t'internet about the crap lights on the standard 1200DVT. If you don't ride at night on your bike, how can you comment and say they're good or okay? I've ridden a standard 1200 DVT at night and they're appalling, lenses fogging up and poor beam spread. It put me off buying one completely. If you stump up mega bucks for a "premium" product irrelevant of what spec it is, it should be right and well designed, no excuses. The Multistrada section on this site is beginning to sound like most BMW GS forums. I'll get me coat and revisit when I can afford a 1200DVT/S.
I can say because I said "I don't ride much in darkness" but when I do ride in darkness the lights are okay, no foggyness and plenty of spread. I don't visit bmw gs forums so I can't comment on that
I don't remember the headlights on the original 2010-12 Multistrada 1200s being that bad and they used halogen bulbs for dip and main. To improve the headlights on the 1200 Standard and maybe the new 950 as well there are a few things worth trying: Use a connection on the headlamp relays using a simple cable to have dip beam bulbs stay when the high beam is switched on. See the Motorcycle Info Pages article. Change the bulbs (H11) to something better (e.g. Osram Night Breaker Plus). Keep the original as spares, they fit nicely in an old 35mm film tube. Replace the dip beam bulbs with HID units, see the Motorcycle Info Pages article or you could just eat more carrots
I do ride with ST headlights, owning both a 2 and a 3 and I also eat lots of carrots, like the basic 1200DVT the 2's are appalling but I haven't spent 11/12k and If I did I'd be pretty miffed, the 3's are much better BTW. I was not singling you out, or quoting you my Man, please don't presume as much. It's a nice bike but has crap headlights period, good luck if you're willing to put up with that or think they're "okay" after spending a g'zillion quid on your purchase.
Happy to realize that other riders besides me noticed the poor headlights of the DVT Standard. Back to the topic I again recommend to never buy this model and never buy the M950 which carries all the issues of the DVT Standard and has none of the valuable enhancement of the MTS DVT generation (one on top the others is the Advanced ABS). Who already owns these two bikes should (like me) spread the info as much as possible because Magazine do not report such truths because Ducati provides often only S versions and the tests are never done in poor visibility conditions! Moreover (like me again) who owns this bike should write to Ducati's Customer Support and describe/complain about the low quality in relation of the price paid! I own the DVT Standard since January 2016 and I complained all last year with Ducati describing all the technical problem of the DVT's lights. I see Ducati ignored the issue and the decision to install the same projector at the M950 and new MTS1200 also in 2017 it's a shame. For this reason I don't want anybody to fall in the mistake to give Ducati their money and not getting what they paid for!
There are always trade-offs between price & features. I didn't want the Skyhook, so opted for the base model with a touring pack & urban pack. More value for my specific needs. The suspension is very tunable. I've eliminated front end dive to a acceptable amount and don't mind turning a knob to set pre load. As for the lights, just get the Denali DR4s or something in that league and you won't complain. Top end Harley's which cost much more still dole out crappy lights and expect people to spend a $1000 upgrading to the LED unit & aux lamps. Roads are full of compromises, suck it up and enjoy the good parts of the ride. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
I agree. If you're not happy with your bike, sell it to someone that will appreciate it. My standard DVT with touring pack is a fine bike. If the lights need fixing, then fix them. Telling many of us that our bikes are rubbish is inconsiderate.
Nobody has said the bikes rubbish Mate, the Guy who started the thread is saying if you pay top dollar you should get top quality and I for one agree, I for one cannot sell bikes on a whim as every purchase I make has to be considered, that statement is pure cop-out any-hoo and it's presumptuous of you to think folks can take massive hits on a twelve month old bike. Perhaps helping the Guy get to the bottom of his issues would be much more constructive as that's what these forums are supposed to be about. As I've already said, this section of the site could be mistaken for a GS forum......
Quote from the thread originator.... "Neverbuy such poor products for such a high price! The only MTS which are really valuable arethe S and PP version, DISREGARD ALL THEOTHERS THEY ARE RUBBISH." Pretty clear to me.
2013 standard MTS had great lights, though they were pointing at the sky when purchased! Front forks were terrible and I ended up having Andriani internals fitted. Massive improvement. BMW play the same game. Basic GS, basic suspension and rubbish lights. Buy the TE and its like day (at night!) time. To be fair so many of these bikes are now over priced. BMW are masters at making everything an extra package of some description. Ducati and other manufacturers have headed the same way.
So in effect the thread starter is endorsing Ducati strategy by urging people to purchase the more expensive product by claiming the cheaper product is rubbish. In the end everyone has their own opinion based on many different circumstance and experience. Ducati or any manufacturer will provide what the market is willing/prepared to pay for. I would like to see the dvt standard to dvt s sales figures to see if the indeed meet the 80% s model to 20% dvt standard model. Btw I saw the new 950 next to an enduro and at first glance I thought the were both enduros. The 950 is not to be discounted by anyone as rubbish, ok adjust the suspension and upgrade the lights if you want and moaning is over. Or is it ?
I stand corrected, he did say they where rubbish but the Guy is entitled to his opinion so instead of jumping down his throat and getting all offended because of a comment he feels justified to make, help him out a little Guys, perhaps offer him some advice on alternative bulbs, headlight aim and suspension set-up etc... As a foot note, it's odd to see people spending daft money on a bike that's got issues from being down on power compared to the previous model, poor fit & finish as well as CRAP HEADLIGHTS and justify it by explaining it away as character or stating some parts of owning the bike are good and having a "go" in a pack mentality at anyone who doesn't tow the line. unbefookinlievable.......
When the OP said perhaps my English isn't very good I glanced at his flag and thought this Irish guys been on the Jameson's all day! It's the Italian tricolour!
Hi all, another nice news on the M950. Ducati is holding the delivery of some of these bikes and is recalling some already delivered for replacing the fuel tank. A stock of fuel tanks, in production since three years already, has having fuel leak from the junction with the fuel quantity sensors. This problem is also affecting the MTS1200 DVT series which share the same fuel tank. Check with your dealer if you have a MTS MY17. Don't wander if rout new bike will be instead delayed. ....at the end one more reason for not buy the MTS950... https://www.facebook.com/groups/4166...9451463595600/ This is another case showing the reduced care that Ducati is putting in the quality checks. This was my complain from the beginning of the thread (Thanks Pete, you got my points beside my English not prefect). The goal of this thread was not to convince anybody or to do marketing for DUCATI. I just wanted to underline defects that in my opinion a Ducati with the price it costs should never have. Unfortunately these problems are often hidden (maybe on purpose) and since I discovered what in my opinion it's a kind of fraud, I decided to share my thoughts. I used the bike one year and I tried to fix the issues but if I pay for those fixes I would maybe reach the cost of the S version never reaching the same level and in case of the lights, I'm now forced to ride with HID with the danger to get a fine from the Police.... Pay 17700€ and be force to pay to fix the headlight and also get then fines seems to be a paradox!!
Sorry, I don't understand your reference to "fines". What fines? Why would you be fined? What would be the problem with the police?
The whole idea of headlights to light up the road in the direction you're travelling in, correct? What I'm trying to get my head round here is the logic in paying anything upwards of 10k for a bike that can't light up the road, it's completely lost on me. How on earth are Ducati supposed to make these things right with attitudes like the one quoted, I suppose you put it down to character, you know not being able to see where you're going?? Some of you Guys think on a completely different level LOLs Now where's the nearest KTM dealer.....
Mine does light up the road, without dazzling oncoming cars too much. Unlike those who add spots to their bikes...
