I did back to back test rides on the 2014 and 2015 Multistradas today. Both had normal suspension. I preferred the 2015 engine over the 2014. It sounded better (both bikes had standard exhausts) and was a lot better at lower revs. I preferred the ergonomics of the 2014 machine however. I found the seat more comfortable, there was less mass of bodywork in front of me, I preferred the 2014 switchgear and found the dash clearer. Overall though I think I still prefer my old ST4s to either of the Multistradas - between them they had about as much character as a fridge
The 2015 causes the leg to be bent a little more at the knee, I found; apart from that I like the riding position. The 2015 switchgear has more buttons, so less of each button having multiple functions. I love the improved menu-ing system. The cruise control is great, I'll be using that a lot. At low revs and small throttle openings the 2015 DVT engine is so soft and tractable, even in Sport mode, that it's hardly necessary to use a lower mode. For Ducati to have deleted the rev counter from the display in Urban is really stupid, but the colour display is great apart from that. The brakes are noticeably better. I didn't get a chance to try the new panniers and top box, unfortunately. Steering lock is improved, making low speed manoeuvring easier. Apparently the electronic fuel filler flap is unavailable at present, which is mildly annoying. More seriously, there is no third-year warranty extension at present, and if one is introduced later it is not clear if it will be retrospective.
If money wasn't an issue and they said to you we will give you 2014 or 2015 multistrada will you still choose ST4s? With no desrespect to ST4s or your bike or to you but you can't even compare the new gen1,gen2 or gen3 multi to ST4s , either you have to be mad or don't have enough finance to effort one. Multi 1200 is evolution in motorbike industry . 4 bikes in one. I am not saying it's the best bike out there but common .
Money isn't an issue, and it is just my opinion of course but yes, I think I would. I love the old Desmoquattro engine in the ST4s - and the modern Ducatis are a bit too sanitised for me. I haven't made up my mind completely - I'm going to try to get a longer test ride to get a better idea of the handling but I think I generally prefer the older, more characterful machines. I'm also going to try the various KTMs - I'm looking for something for a trip to Morocco next year - and I reckon I need to include the old 990 Adventure as well as the new bikes. I already have a 990 SuperDuke with the same LC8 engine and that is a peach.
I have the 2012 S Sport. Rode the 2015 S from Snells on Thursday. Overall I think they have made a great bike even better. I did find the suspension much firmer on the 2015 in sports mode. Almost too firm on our 3rd world roads. In Touring it was much more in line with the old bike. very impressed with the skyhook and felt planted even with the scorpions around the bends. The DVT engine is ultra smooth and there in sits a potential problem for v-twin lovers. The bruttish ness of the old bike has gone. We now have a refined almost inline 4 feel to the engine. Its gone from a Subura impreza to a Mercedes amg, still full on but more gentlemanly about it. The only other downside for me is the horrid black plastic rather than nice glossy carbon, otherwise the bike is spot on. Hopefully mine will arrive late May, I will miss the thug, but cant wait for raffles.
You have ridden the very same test bike I rode. Good, innit? As for the new model being more civilised than the old, this is like (back in the day) the later Laverda triples being more civilised than the Jota, or the first beltie Ducatis being more civilised than the preceding 900SS bevels. So it goes.
If I were you I would not bother with 990 it's tall and bulky and I don't know if you would like the twin tank filling thing. 1190 adventure or adventure r will be the best shot for the Morocco trip. I had a 1190 before it's great bike on road and off road !
Pete1950: Yes I agree, as bikes develop, they do tend to lose their character. That KTM 990 adv is full of character. A question. How many MS riders go off road? Any bike can go off road, its just how well it does it. I don’t see the point in taking a bike with forged alloy wheels off road! never mind an exposed radiator and bark busters with indicators embedded, and carbon fibre panels. The name Multi Strada is some what misleading, just my opinion! I enjoy my MS as road/touring
I would personally would never take multi for off-road. The bike not design for off road, even the off-road package is kind off embarrassing. There is a lot better bikes to take off road then multi. I think multi is 3 bikes in one, you can tour on it, you can commute if you like also you can have a Sunday blast with friends got serious sports bikes but off road no matter how many items you put on this bike it's not an off road bike. Just gravel roads not off road yes it is not a road or Tarmac but it's not off road. Ktm and bmw got serious bikes in that league. I mean off road enduro !
I think the Mutley is way too heavy for a real off road bike. I'm of the school that a 400cc is probably all you need for off Road, but am I missing an important point? We've got a Husky Supermoto Carbon NOX that's 110Kg wet and has 75Bhp...that is way too mental of off road, so a 250Kg 150Bhp machine is off the scale.
@ AirCon...No not enduro riding, PS that Husky must be a blast. I guess what I am saying is the MS is not and adventure bike, in that sense it not fit for off road. In all fairness I don’t believe it would compare with the BMW GS1200 or KTM 1190 Adv. Still would like to know if any ones uses it for adventure riding! To me, the MS is too much of good looking bike to have it hammered; which will happen after its hit the floor a few times. I do think Ducati got it right with the MS, as lets say a "cross over" bike segment. BMW have jumped on the idea with S1000RX. I do think the KTM 1290 super Adv (have not ridden it, its not out here is SA just yet) is too much of and ape off road. Too much power having to be electronically limited to make it useful and too heavy to make it manoeuvrable ....maybe its a "super cross over" bike, another market segment
Guess it depends on what off road means to you. Gravel paths obpver mountans or light desert type stuff (Not Dakar!) big bikes may make a bit more sense given you may need to cover large distance on reasonble surfaces in between. Otherwise lighter the better I'd imagine.
OK got that. Makes sense. I tried taking (under 10mph) the Mutley up an unmade road, some puddles, loads of gravel with trial tyres (whatever the standard ones were) and it felt as planted / safe as a fireblade in the same conditions.....NOT SUITABLE FOR OFF ROAD USE. As a youngster I was forced to ride off road, mainly farm tracks and fields (anywhere the tractors went) and falling off was a daily occurrence. Doing that with a Mutley daily would bankrupt even those of us with the deepest of pockets.
+1 - I dug my ST4s out recently to have its MoT done. Oh gosh: of course it doesn't have the hair trigger response and lunatic power of my MTS1200, but what a lovely, finely balanced machine with gloriously subtle throttle response. And, at 12 years old and 55k miles its finish is way better than that of the Multi. Food for thought and I'm definitely going to be looking very closely at the Super Duke GT and the new Beemers rather than just ordering a DVT.
