Am thinking about going for a multistrada, i commute on my current bike in most weathers (its a bmw gsa).What are tne tips for keeping the multi looking good when ridden daily? I am guessing it aint going to hold up like a gs does, but is a good coat of acf50 good at keeping things at bay. I tend to clean the bike sparingly, usually just on a weekend. Cheers Simon.
Kevin Ash spoke highly about the Multistrada's ability to survive the worst the winter could throw at it when he ran one as long term tester.
I ride all year round, I've covered just under 15000 miles and the finish is no worse than other makes. Its as good as a BMW 1200gs. Yes some of the bolts are a bit furry, I've had the n/s engine case replaced under warranty because of corrosion. The clutch lever is showing signs of corrosion along with the brake reservoir cap. I don't cover it with acf50 or anything similar and I certainly don't wash it either.....well not that often, maybe half a dozen times a year. So it's held up well considering.
Mine is 2 years old and so far has done 26,000m, the finish is holding up very well - I do have the full venture shield kit fitted. There some stone chips and some bolts that are a bit corroded but still OK, all the paintwork and engine casings are just fine and clean up well (which isnt that often). It does seem to attract the dirt and mud and is a bit of a sod to get really clean. Jet wash does help but I dont like using one on a bike but at times have resorted to it. I use ACF 50 liberally on the bike over winter and lately in the wet, I also make sure the chain is kept lubed in all this wet weather.
pretty much same as above. covered 7k since october last. did the dragon rally in s..t conditions (snow & 0 degrees) in feb, riden thro loads of rain etc. kept coated in ac50 during winter & regularly washed. finish pretty much perfect apart from some fasteners & just noticed a flake of paint missing off brake res. i'd say overall, not as good as honda but better than kawasaki
Maybe you should read this post!: http://ducatiforum.co.uk/f6/flaking-paint-2420/ My clutch casing has a bit of paint 'lift' over a small area and I look after my bike very well, I have informed the dealers and they have taken photos and sent them to Ducati but nothing back yet....watch this space
I do use it all year around, but not everyday, i use the scottoiler protection spray, lot of guys on my previous sprint forum use the all year biker, which i think is the ACF 50 applied under pressure, and that always had excellent feedback from them.
Ive had quite a few Hondas before my Multi, and i think its fair to say its not holding up quite so well, especially on the fastners. But so long as you keep it clean, and use ACF 50 through the bad weather (wich is a lot here!) You should be fine. I dont think you would want to get it very wet n dirty, park it up and forgot about about it..? But then again at the price you pay, why would you want to..??
Fasteners are very poor quality, some of mine are rusting already and the bike is stored in a garage from Nov to March.
hi, ride all year - had mts since 2010, now on 16k miles, so 2 winters so far and its been bloody raining in uk most of the time, the girl doesnt get much in the way of sun nowadays. if you are like me and dont carry out not mega cleaning and keep the bike pristine then you can expect to have a few flurry bolts, the exhaust box to be a little brown, the exhaust valve to need regular lubbing but really the rest of it to be alright. They are all high quality components and I would dare say its pretty much up there with Honda-durability - even the paintwork comes up nicely. Obviously do the ACF50 and de-salting during winter and keep it in a garage overnight but I am certainly impressed. bugs
Love the bike - esp when it's gremlin free and a sunny day - but very disappointed by the way it's stood up to the winter, especially considering the price of it and that it's been a mild winter. Had it about 12 months, ride year round (I gave up owning a car that never got used) but only do about 15k a year on it. It's my first non-japanese bike. Wash it as often as I can in the winter, coat liberally with the ACF50 stuff, but rust and corrosion seems to be appearing in all kinds of places and the paint is starting to bubble on engine parts. Just waiting for a new exhaust - under warranty - since the exhaust valve has corroded beyond repair. On the plus side, despite finding it hard to ride slowly - especially out of 2nd and 3rd gear corners - and often riding 2-up, the chain is holding up well! Only been riding here a couple of years after 14 years in New England, riding as much of the year as snow allowed (even when temps stayed WELL below freezing!), lots of salt used there, and no bike I've owned looked as bad as this - even a V-Strom 1000 work-horse I had for 5 years/85k miles. Still can't think of a bike that does everything as well with very little compromise though! The stability in corners is addictive, and if you ride year-round I think you'll grow to appreciate the traction control on slippery roads with an engine like this - it's something I always thought was a gimmic on bikes until now. Not sure I could claim it's saved me - maybe it has, who knows - but it certainly reacts quicker than my old brain does sometimes and makes things less stressful, which has to be safer in itself?
my 06 s2r 800 has done 23k with lots of all year riding and looks pretty damn good tbh. acf50 is great stuff and washing the salt off with a cold low pressure hose when i get home helps too, few furry fasteners and my oil link pipes are a bit corroded and bit of paint flake on undersump prob from stone chips where water gets in, but with a few hrs cleaning a few times a yr she scrubs up lovely
