Been looking at this in the press so booked a session today. Dealer went through all the electronic wizardry first and it's pretty impressive. 4 modes like the Multy when you key into the bike passengers/luggage etc and a fifth one which takes constant readings and adjusts the bike constantly. It knows when you are relaxed and softens everything and when you wants to get a shift on stiffens front and rear independently, constantly adjusts traction control etc. very clever, an electronic version of Skyhook basically. The bike looks ok in the flesh but its incredibly none aggressive. A little old manish really. It looks well put together and solidly built but with its fair share of cheep bolts as with the Multy. The engine pulls ok as you would expect from a 1200 machine and the ride is plush to say the least. The seat is incredible. You know when you sit on a very expensive leather armchair and you don't want to get up, it's that nice. The suspension is also superb. You get the impression that you could hit a speed bump at 50 and you wouldn't notice. So far so good, then you get up to 40 mph and the problems start. We all know the screen on the Multy is bad but compared to the Aprilia it's sublime. I have never known anything like it. The noise as the turbulence hits your helmet from all angles is truly horrendous. The only part of the body which is protected is from upper chest to lower chin area. It was as if the screen had a turbo like effect on the air as it regrouped and came back together after hitting the screen. The sides and back of the helmet and the upper shoulders were particularly affected and it basically made the whole riding experience a misery. I lasted 20 minutes only before I'd had enough and took it back. Deaf!!! So the engine is ok but not at all like the Multy. It just all seemed a little soul less to me. No character to it. It pulled ok but no hooligan element. You know when you wind the Multy on in third and its violent and that stupid schoolboy grin comes on your face and you look round for the next ten minutes expecting to see the rossers. When I took it back the main man said he knew I wouldn't like it. It's an adventure bike as they were originally designed to be (but without the protection). The mutley is a super bike with a good view. He even said that he would be enquiring what the clients were riding at the present time in the future to stop waisting everybody's time. He also said he knew the screen was going to be a huge problem and Aprilia were working alongside Givi to come up with a solution. So it's the KTM next week but I don't think I'll bother. Suppose it would be nice to check it out but it's not going to float my boat because I'm well and truly hooked on this incredible machine. I will run this for another year and then order a new one. I'm not saying you shouldn't check out other bikes, quite the opposite, cos they remind you just how good the one is that you own already!!
Seen one out earlier this week near Masham. It is one of the bikes that was on my list tbh but Aprillia couldn't even get the bike ready for the NEC (it was on display but you couldn't sit on it). Engine plumbing looks a mess. They are always thirsty and I know dealers that don't want to supply Aprillia down to rubbish parts supply problems and apathy from Aprillia. The KTM looked more interesting apart from the spoked 19" front wheel and what I perceive to be high oil consumption on KTM bikes. Road tests read well for the 1190 bike though. It came down to Multi or 1250GS for me.....and I'm not ready for pipe and slippers
ROFL :tongue: I wonder what bike(s) he will find acceptable? presumably he will reject BMW riders and Triumphs as well as Multis.
You misunderstand sir. Apart from the Multi and perhaps the KTM the rest he will take on with pleasure. Hooligan element is the thing.
Had a very short 10 minute blast on a KTM today, so not enough time for anything conclusive, but it felt all very familiar to the Multi (2010) apart from the slow speed running, very smooth indeed. And boy has it got some punch, very nice engine. If I was coming to Adventure bikes fresh, it would be well up the list.
Whilst at Ducati Aylesbury this morning a guy was taking the Caponord out for a test ride after a ride on a Multi. Had a quick chat with him and he liked the improvents on the 2013 Multi but I went before he came back on the Caponord, however it was on tick over in front of me and sounded like a bag of nails, looked boring too. No contest in my eyes :wink:
The only area the Caponard really scores from what I could see was cost, with semi active (same as sky hook) suspension it comes in considerably cheaper than the Duke. In all other areas, apart from the sea,t I think it will fall a long way short.
