Rider magazine review here. http://ridermagazine.com/2017/12/13/2018-ducati-multistrada-1260s-touring-first-ride-review/
Here too....... http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ducati/2018-ducati-multistrada-1260-first-ride-review.html
The price quoted for the model tested, the 1260 s touring comes in around £17,200 on the exchange rate. It will be interesting to see the actual price U.K. dealers actually charge. I'd rather when they do new models, they have a back to back with old models to see if the upgrade/extra cost is worth it. Some will want the latest all singing all dancing, some would rather buy a decent sorted strada for around £10k then spend the remaining on actually riding it further than their local bike meet. I think Ducati are putting a lot hope on tis selling well so will be interesting to see how it goes.
I think prices have already been released, indeed £17.2k for the 1200s. Curious to have a test ride to see how different the new model is to justify the difference vs. an "old" DVT. Multistrada 1260 - Red £14295 Multistrada 1260 S - Red £17195 or Iceberg White / Volcanic Grey £17395 Multistrada 1260 S D Air - Red £17895 Multistrada 1260 S Pikes Peak - Livery £20795 http://www.ducatistore.co.uk/ducati-multistrada-1260
The american s touring version comes in at around £17,200 but the U.K. pricing shows the s as around £17,200, would that mean the touring package that appears to be included in the u.s. cost, is an added cost on U.K. bikes?
Noobs, if you go on Seastar superbikes site the prices are there, and yes, add a grand for the touring pack !! https://www.seastarsuperbikes.co.uk/ducati/models/multistrada/multistrada_1260_s Red touring at £18145
I was seriously thinking of buying one next year, now after riding one, i honestly cant justify the extra outlay over the current 2017-18 Pikes Peak. The only noticeable difference is the quick shifter and a slightly different dash layout. Considering i have already had a quick shifter added, i kinda think the extra £5K i'm going to have to add on top of my current bike isn't really a worth while expense considering the potential difference in the 2 bikes is very small. If it was a BIG difference in power, economy, ride-ability, handling then yeah...show me the bike and take my cash But i will wait for the complete revamp that is planed for 2020ish. Just my 2 cents worth
Aren't Euro 5 restrictions due around then? Even more weight so a bit more power needed to compensate. Probably be just a little bit of an improvement over the then outgoing model. Can't see where the "leaps and bounds" improvements are coming from. I was expecting the introduction of the 1260 lump to be a big step up but it seems not.
Everything I’ve read and seen so far indicates the 1260 is a DVT.5 which won’t tempt many out of 2 year old bikes (unless they’re pcp bound). Which as an owner of an 8 month old DVT is good news. Is it a missed opportunity for Ducati? Or are they playing the Porsche 911 evolution game?
Everything I’ve read and seen so far indicates the 1260 is a DVT.5 which won’t tempt many out of 2 year old bikes (unless they’re pcp bound). Which as an owner of an 8 month old DVT is good news. Is it a missed opportunity for Ducati? Or are they playing the Porsche 911 evolution game? Keeping customers happy.
Well I was going to wait and by a 1260 but at well over £17000 I don't see the point compared to just £15999 for the 2017 DVT Touring 'S' model.
If you read between the lines of the motorcycle.com review, I think there are plenty of reasons to keep riding your current Multi. The spec that gave me the most concern was the wheelbase increase. While I have no doubt that it makes for a more stable ride, it also will slow the handling - no free lunch. I have the GSw if I want stable, the Multi I want flickable. The QS gets a so-so comment, and I'm willing to bet it is on-par with the one on my GSw which is...so-so. Great for downshifting 6-3, not usable 1-3, and upshifts are a crap shoot. Given the money I dropped on the Termi tax, I doubt the engine is going to do much more than my DVT other than move the torque curve lower - which is just like my GSw. My take is they are trying to turn the Multi into more touring, less sport, in part to go after BMW. Since they didn't seriously bump the motor they still are losing to KTM in the HP wars. I don't think that will change until they put the V4 into the Multi which I guess won't happen until maybe 2022 at the earliest (if ever). Did a short 2-up ride today. Still love the bike after 5K+ miles. It isn't going anywhere other than garage-ride-garage-ride-repeat.
Very good comparison - to go for the new, hugely competent model or to stick with the previous generation that is arguably more involving. So that’s 997 vs 991 and original 1200S vs 1260. I’ve already made one of those decisions - now to work out the latter.
Dynamically speaking, things move on, so it stands to reason that the 1260 will probably be a better bike than the 1200, just like the 991 is a better car than the 997, but the big question for me, is not if one is slightly better than its predecessor but at what cost ?? Is the 1260 going to be 5, 6 or even 7 thousand pounds better than the 1200, and personally I think not, just like the 991 one is better than the 997 (cue the folks talking crap about hydraulic steering etc etc etc), but is it worth double or even treble ?? For my money, the 1200 DVT is the better proposition.
As someone who used to club race a '79 911SC, the Porsche references take me back to myriad complaints by the faithful with each generation. Biggest affront of course being the 996 using water to cool the motor. I certainly could turn quicker track times on the more modern cars, but there was something particularly soulful and satisfying about flogging my 172hp tracked prepped (but still street legal) car on hot laps. That said, on the track we were all going in the same direction (mostly) and no one was on their phone. For street use, tech certainly helps with survival. The trick is that balance of nail-biting excitement and nanny state safety.
The Overdrive "1260 first ride" review makes interesting reading as the writer makes a number of comparisons to his 1200 MY2016 Multistrada.
A good write up. Shame he didn’t throw us hand in and state if he’d change his 2016 for a 1260. It sound like they’ve moved the Multi 10% towards the GS end of the spectrum. I suspect many who tour 2 up will thank them. For me, I’ll happily stay on the sporty side.
When i rode the 1260, it seemed slower in the turn, but weather wise it wasnt great so i took it easy. The extra length swing arm has a lot to do with the handling characteristics and that was driven by customer focus groups mainly based in the *german* market place. So im guessing the instability of short swing arms (or what we call flickable and fun) didnt gel the bike with the European (read German) touring riders. The ONLY reason i bought the 2017 PP was its a sports bike, ultra loony handling beast, that just so happens to be comfortable and a great all rounder. Remove the Ducati trait of flickable and fun...then i wouldnt buy one, if i want dull and average i would have bought a GS. Oh that and because the 2018 bike was due out i managed to get a good price on the outgoing model No disrespect meant to GS's though, just not my cup of boiled piss to drink
