Interesting read in MCN this week, test between 1200S DVT and BMW 1000XR, bit biased in my view, but was a little disappointed on the power outputs from MS, I guess being a twin the engine is tighter being new and takes quite a few miles to loosen up more. Thoughts
I wasn't particularly surprised. Having ridden them both, the DVT was fast but the XR felt ballistic! (Even restricted to 9k). This impression may have had something to do with the quick shifter or the difference in engine types maybe, but I got off the DVT feeling a bit underwhelmed and got off the XR feeling scared! More interesting is the big hole in the DVT torque curve resulting in it making less than the outgoing model. Sounds like Chris at CJS needs to work his magic and then we might see the true Multistrada.
Agree with your thoughts on mid range in particular. I'll be keeping my Pikes Peak and see what they come up with in 2016. After test ride thought nice bike but a bit too Hondafied. Not for me yet.
I am guessing you can mess with BMW suspension electronically, but I would have thought with their comments on the Handling of the MS that they might have added we tried different settings to improve it, and that was the best we got it, or I bet they never even bothered setting anything up in the first place to suit different riders, and weights, I do find these quick tests so uninformative, always think they have a favorite thus do not want to try and improve anything to balance it up if they could.
I had a ride on a XR today and, yes, it was very fast but I found it too manic (admittedly I'm not used to an inline 4) and I suspect it would be great if what you really want is a sport bike and like revving the nuts off your ride - I found it was very viby and I was searching for 7th gear all the time! I don't think I would find it a relaxing long distance tourer, unlike the MTS.
No idea what they were on about with the rear wallowing. I am considerably heavier, std skyhook springs, and had no wallowing whatsoever on track or if I wind the wick up on mine. Unless the new system is softer and less controlled in sports mode?! Maybe they should have played with the settings...
ahh reminds me another comment how in top how much quicker the XR was to what ever speed, well it would be the gearing is hugely different, shame they not compare 5th on ms and 6 on XR
Good point, top on a multi is more overdrive than get up and go. Again sport mode, aggressive throttle
Doesn't matter what MCN, or any other magazine says. We buy Ducati because they have a soul and give us passion for our bike. The BMW XR might be quick but it's pig ugly, looks really cheap. And it will never be a big thundering, engaging, emotional piece of bike love with the letters D U C A T I on the tank. BMW XR......no bloody way! Love my Multey
Think there is around a £1k difference in price also. Comparing feel (buzzy , vibes etc)is not really fair between the two bikes as they use two completely different engines and as such there are different physics involved. Both bikes offer different things. The Duc would make the better tourer as it has more of a refined character in the way it moves and feels. The XR is clearly aimed at sportsbike riders looking to move into a more comfortable seating position for whatever reason. Given that the bulk of these people are already coming from buzzy high revving race reps none of it will really matter to them. I guess it comes down to what you do most of the time. If you tour for two weeks of the year and hoon the rest, you would not want a bike that caters better for the minority of your ride time throughout the year, or vice versa ? Not that either aren't capable of filling both roles, but I do think there are two distinct demographics buying in to the bikes.
I fear that journalists who ride a different new bike every week are highly resistant to adjusting any settings on anything. They just ride the bike which they are given as it comes, and write about what they experience. Trying out a wide range of possible menu settings and evaluating them properly is outside the envelope.
You can bet that, if DUK start pushing ad revenue their way, a full in depth write up will be done which includes setting changes where the same guys conclusion will be 'the BEST thing out there!' Or am I just being cynical...
Anyhow Bad News for You Bradders a little off topic, well I started this topic so I don't care In Urban mode lowest settings feel both planted full on floor, touring with a sort of 40% preload, both feet very close to being flat on floor, when it comes to slow maneuvering and first gear smoothness it is a very very different bike, so much more manageable for us short asses. maybe not want you wanted to hear even the weight feels lower down when moving the bike off side stand.
I have found it difficult to compare the "speed" of a V twin and a IL4 by feeling alone. I spent a couple of years riding an S1000rr on the track, after my 1st ride of my Panigale R on the track I got of the bike and said where is the engine. It seriously felt like there was an 899 engine in it by mistake. It felt really, really slow. So then I look at the laptimes, exactly the same as the BMW. I then look at the data, speed up the straight, exactly the same as the BMW. I have since had a +300 system, filter and remap done to the Panigale and it is now 9mph faster up the straight than the BMW was (local track). At Almeria, the BMW screams up the straight and you hold on for your life, on the Panigale you feel like lighting a fag and having a smoke while you wait for the braking marker, but guess what, that BMW in front is no further away from you that it was at the start. Totally weird but that's how it is for me. Now sold the BMW and loving the Pani.
reckon its because of how the power is delivered and how much sooner gear changes occur am wondering if I can go back to a sports bike full time again...
Well after that write up I was thinking I wonder how much trade in I would get for my S GT? But I also think it would make a big difference if like said you got rid of the Cat and valve exhaust and may be a bit of a remap, they even said in the write up that they think the Duke may have had it's wings clipped to comply with next years emissions laws in some country's. Although I have to say, if I had just rushed out to get a 2015 Duke and traded my 2014 in I think I'd be sulking now after reading MCN's findings.
Why JC? Do you really think the review of a paid journo, who's main job is selling column inches and ads, has much of an impact on most?
Sadly, most people want the "biggest and best" and believe others perspective. I was talking to Jeremy McWilliams a few weeks ago who had only that day tested 11 of the latest superbikes on track, and he said that they were all within 1 sec a lap of each other. Shows what the journos know......or are paid to know.
