I don't get it, that numerous Ducati owners have so much interest in a BMW? I loved my 2010 mts and I think my new DVT is awesome, I never once considered the XR, and I certainly wouldn't have any notion now. I previously owned a 2004 1200gs, which I had 30000 miles worth of joy, then along came the Multistrada, and I haven't looked back. Surely it makes more sense to cherish all the things that make Ducati so good, instead of digging around for excuses to put it down. BMW produce some fantastic bikes, but not enough for me to walk away from what I regard as something special. For those who have changed to the DVT, if you have so many doubts that you need to check out reviews post purchase, what's the point?
Freedom of choice ? Ducati is not an indoctrination and limiting yourself means you miss out on some exceptional bikes. My best bikes have never been the most powerful or technologically advanced.
In my case i never owned a Ducati or a BMW yet. Only had a Honda VFR and a Kawasaki ER6F. Both were very reliable and good bikes but are outdated by the bikes of today. I remember struggling with the VFR the first time i took it out in some serious turns. With the seating position on the MTS and XR the turns seem to go almost effortly And man do these bikes have power
I see you point if we were talking about the older models which have that special Ducati character in spades, but for those folk who have only ever ridden the newer bikes like the Panigale and the Multistrada then sadly Ducati really isn't much different to the BMWs and Yamahas of this world. Apart from being red of course ;-)
JC, I was in Riders at Cardiff with my mate (who owns a 1200 GS). Whilst I went out on a test ride he remained in the shop looking at the bikes. When I returned, he asked me what I thought of it (blah blah and so on). Then he said come and have a look at these, so we had a look at the second hand BM's in the shop. I couldn't believe the paint bubbling on the engines, I was surprised. I can't honestly say now which is the better finish but I'd probably edge BM's but not by much.
Mate of mine just had his 2014 GS engine swapped for a new one due to paint corrosion/bubbling. Nice way to get a new engine every few months! I went into Bahnstormers BMW today while out on my DVT in order to have a look at the XR which I haven't seen in the flesh before. I had a sit on it and didn't like it. Riding position is very similar to the Multistrada, but it just looks a bit tacky. Doing the 10-yard appraisal it's not a bike I could love unlike the Ducati. It just looks a bit crap. I didn't bother asking for a test ride, and I'm very happy I cancelled my XR deposit a while back and chose the Multistrada instead. I have two mates getting XRs so we'll see how they get on when theirs finally arrive in a few months. And I think the reason people on a Ducati forum are interested in the BMW is because it's similar to the DVT in power, riding position etc so you're bound to get comparisons. Same with the KTM Super Adventure. I looked at all three before choosing the Multistrada and I'm sure others are doing the same.
As promised here is my report after test driving today. I drove 1 hour with the BMW S1000XR and 2 hours with the Ducati Multistrada. In the end i chose the XR above the Multistrada and placed my order this evening. Delivery end of July My thoughts after the test drives: both bikes are extremely close together. If you put it in points i would say the BMW gets 95% and the Ducati gets 92%. They are both great and as owner you are going to enjoy both. Engines have both a lot of power. If you put the Ducati in Sport mode then the power delivery is comparable to the BMW. Both handle extremely well and are very nimble through the turns. If you look into the turn you are already going the right way without much input needed. Of course they make a different sound but i like both. The BMW sounds like a sportsbike and the Ducati has a darker sound. Suspension wise the Multistrada has the softer suspension and soaks up extreme bumps better. The colour TFT dashboard on the Ducati is beautifull, has a good layout and offers a lot of info. In comparaison the BMW has a simple dash. The Ducati dash is however not very scratch resistant and needs an aftermarket display protector for sure. The BMW has vibrations in the handle bars and in the saddle. They start around 5000 rpm and are more present at 6000 rpm. Since 6000 rpm is 130 km/h this is an issue since in Belgium this is the perfect highway speed. According to the dealer BMW says that this will dissapear after break in of 1000 km's. I'm not quite sure if this is going to be the case but it should get better. The bike i drove had only 860km on the tach so the engine surely is not loose yet. The revs were also limited to 9000. Another great point about the BMW is the quick shifter up and down. This works fantastic and if you get on the Ducati after the BMW you miss this luxury option. It is not essential but you get used to it very quickly. In the end what made the decision for me where two facts: + the wind protection was different on the two bikes. On the BMW i had no problem with turbulence around my helmet. The Ducati had a lot of turbulence around my helmet with the screen in the highest position. If you put the screen down on the Ducati the turbulence goes away but you get full wind blast from the shoulders up. + don't know if this point has anything to do with the previous point but the BMW felt more stable on highway speed. The Ducati was by no means unstable but the BMW just felt a bit more stable and inspired more confidence to me. In the end you have to drive the bikes for yourself and it is going to be a very personal choice. As said in the beginning they are both unbelievably good bikes !
It is your choice, but my points are screens are interchangeable, on my 2014 screen was horrendous so I got a givi screen, problem solved, also most of time I used pp screen. On the new DVT the screen is perfect this time round I can ride at motorway speeds + with visor up quite comfortable The DVT sky hook system is so adjustable you can set up one of the modes which is better for high speed motorway riding. The dvt does Rev lower so motorway riding will be more relaxed. As you say both bikes will be excellent. With pluses for both
Congrats Pat, at least you went with your heart and reasoning and not but it's a Ducati. I can understand them being close in comparison and I do think the Ducati even my 2014 model looks better, but you wouldn't marry a woman that looked awesome if she was constantly in the hospital getting her bits fixed after every other ride, would ya.
Very nice evaluation Pat, you have made the choices that you need and came to a conclusion. In the end its personal choice, you are the one that will ride the machine. Only thing I would add is at the end of the day I wanted to be on a Ducati having been on a BMW for 7 years. They are both great bikes with different personalities, if we meet on the highway somewhere, somewhen, we can chatter over the good and bad, ultimately we share the love of riding two wheels. Thanks for coming back to the forum with your thoughts on a great day riding.
The good thing is that there are two fantastic bikes to choose from, so whichever you pick you'll have a massive grin on your face.
Yes it was a fantastic day of testdriving on both bikes. I wouldn't mind if both were in my garage also, one day BMW, one day Ducati LOL if only i would win the lottery good luck to all you multistrada riders, when we meet on the road we can certainly have a beer together and talk about how much we all love to ride
I have ordered my Ducati DVT and am awaiting delivery, I also own the BMW S1000R, The XR is using the same engine and gearing as the S1000r and I think thats a big mistake. Yes it will be fast and it will handle very well, my s1000r makes my average riding look like a superhero...But the BMW will be too vibey and high revving for many, especially if you have previously owned a V twin. Riding it is the same as owning a high revving sports bike. I have the best of both worlds especially when the Ducati arrives. The XR will appeal to sports bike fans wanting a more sit up type position. I have ridden the XR and I decided to order the Multistrada instead. The XR feels cheap and looks rather crude when you put it next to the Multistrada. The XR will be a massive success for BMW on its sporty pretenses alone but I think they would be better of with the S1000R, its cheaper has same engine and gearbox and with Rox risers fitted can be ridden in comfort all day long.
Who buys these bikes with such analytical precision scoring?! Sorry to say, but the vibes on the XR do not go away after running in. That's just salesman BS. I've ridden a 1200+ mile XR and the vibes through the bars are fantastic if you plan on getting RSI! The engine is a characterless and unsuitable engine for making smooth OR slow progress, touring stylee or for fast road riding. How many actually ride their Multi in the top 25% rpm ALL the time? If you do, then you'll love the XR because that's where it makes its power... Just ADD another 2-3000rpm compared to the Multi, because it believes fast touring road riders should ride their bikes at 8-13k rpm everywhere. The XR is a hateful machine as it pretends to be generous, but isn't. It's a non spacious sportsbike on stilts and nothing less. FWIW, the new R1200RS corners faster than the XR...
Buying a bike is a lot about heart. If you're resorting to precision scoring of bikes between the BMW and Duc, then for sure the XR is the right bike! <tongue firmly in cheek>
It is a personal Choice, I can imagine a few will buy the XR for many different reasons, if coming from a sports bike they may opt for a sportier version of a sports tourer, many GS riders sticking to the BM Brand, riders score differently to each other in priority of needs, as he Said it was a close run thing but you have to make a desicion in the end either way, I still hanker for a GS in my mind and wonder how I would have enjoyed it over my 2014 MS for the 11.5k Miles I did on it for 14 months. I saw a GS in a Ducati workshop that had been traded in for a new MS DVT, and I still was attracted to it, and its ruggedness etc. I think if I had been a few inches taller I would have gone GS route. "Buying a bike is a lot about heart. If you're resorting to precision scoring of bikes between the BMW and Duc, then for sure the XR is the right bike! <tongue firmly in cheek>" Lets face it, when you have made a decision with your heart, generally ends up in divorce these days
I ride a GS and it is highly unlikely that many GS owners will be attracted to the XR. The pluses of the GS are many, and they are neither provided nor compensated for by the XR.
