Had my DVT nicked on Monday. Best bike I’d ever owned. Used for 5000 miles of commuting and fun in North Wales. Having just spoken to the dealer I could pay off the bank loan I had for the Mutley, then buy a new 1260 on a PCP with the same monthly outlay +£10...... Or get a new Monster 1200 plus heated grips for (PCP) -£40month....... Decisions decisions eh????? The Monster forum seems split 50/50 with some saying the Monster is more fun and the others suggesting I’d miss thevsll round excellence of the Mutley. Unfortunately my dealer doesn’t have a demo Monster 1200. Anyone on here experienced both? 95% of my riding is city centre. But I do enjoy a day out in Wales. I’m really torn..... Help
TBH I reckon monster would be better in town, given its far smaller footprint and less weight. Only way to know is try one for a few hours.
Unless you are doing big trips, i think the Monster would be the better buy. Have you considered a Hypermotard?
Gotta say 1200 monsters are epic fun, the S is really good, quick, agile, but the R is like an S on number 11! I’ve had an R for 18 months, best road bike I’ve ridden. Currently using an S while having warranty work done. The S is very easy to live with, the R rewards with more of everything the more you put in.
I’ve done 5k on multistrada and had a 1200 s monster for a week while waiting for my new 1200s Multi to come in and if it wasn’t that I do a bit of touring 2 up, I’d have the monster s! Comfy and fast, more tractable at low revs than the multi, def better behaved around town! I had one of the best 2 hours on a motorcycle ever on a monster, going to work one morning, may well also have been the best fun I’d ever had with my clothes on actually! Also extended time on motorways are a pain in the neck (literally) above 80mph! Although saying that my son and I managed a 200 mile motorway sprint to miss the rain on the way home from a 900 mile weekend tour and he didn’t complain! Although at 21 your are invincible lol.
I believe if the Multistrada hadn’t been invented then a Monster 1200 would be my perfect bike. Fast, fun and comfy. I think it’d be a “better fit” for me most of the time....but on my longer rides I’d be thinking...”why didn’t I buy a Multistrada”.......
I love my Monster and Multi equally....well, the Monster is a bit more fun riding solo. But the Multi is much more comfortable on longer trips.
Late to the party on this thread but perhaps good for others. I have both a Monster 1200R and a 1260 Multistrada PP. Totally different bikes for different purposes. The Monster's Testastretta II engine is a visceral hooligan. At 450lb wet, the bike is great in town plus a solo* weekend getaway. *The Monster can accommodate either a passenger or panniers such as the great SW-Motech Blaze, but not both. The 1260 Multi is a much bigger bike. It makes the Monster look like a dwarf. The engine is smooth, and the bike has all the features of comfort. Bottom line: the Monster is more fun, the Multi is more versatile.
