I can only speak from experience, but after having covered 3,500 miles in France last year, two-up, with luggage in about seven days of riding while on a 10-day holiday, I found it the best distance bike I've ever ridden. And I don't like motorway riding either but always manage to find alternative, interesting routes when time is not of the essence. Anyway, each to their own... But I'd love to know which bikes you've found more comfortable over distance than the Multi. I hope you find a good tuner closer to you.
In that case follow the advice that said "return to standard and go back to the dealer who sold you the bike".
Some harsh comments. Surely anyone has just as valid reason to buy a Multi as the next person. Ive always found this forum open minded to date.
I'm with you - winter riding on Uk motorways is about as far away from fun as it's possible to get! Interesting routes in the summer is fine and the ride of choice - but the same road in the wnter can be a complete nightmare. I've had better distance bikes than the MTS, but wouldn't be keen to ride any of them this weather. Keep us informed re: solving your wee conundrum. I'd still recommend return to base and getting everything checked over though?
I have had a chance to get out on the bike today to try and refine my understanding of the issue I have, and I might have led you learned people astray slightly The issue is definitely a hesitant throttle from the zero throttle position. In other words when you pull away the throttle doesn't do very much at all, in any mode, If you give it a handful then yeah, things go mental but just a normal pull away and the revs don't really change much from idle until the bike is moving and then it seems to catch up with it self somewhat. Slow speed second gear corners are the same, somewhat dis-concerting actually. The throttle just doesn't do much at all at first and then it sort of catches up with itself. It is like the opposite of the early, good old, KTM 990 Adventures, they had a wicked throttle, the slightest movement would launch the revs, where as this is very tardy. It is like it just blipping the throttle as well, there is a very definite lag before the revs pick up. I know this is kind of weird and it is quite tricky to explain to be honest. Now that I have got a bit more of handle on this, I recall it was exactly the same when I picked the bike up, but I was very quickly on to the motorway so it was quickly forgotten and you are always a bit off the mark when you jump on a new bike aren't you. So, apart from 'Take it to CJS', and before I go back to the dealer, which is a bit of a PITA as well (a couple of hours from me), has anyone got any pointers as to what the issue might be please?
I hope you are finding my comments useful. I didn't mean to sound flippant with return to normal and get back to your main dealer. As you rightly point out the bike should work fine out of the box. Perhaps I and others have jumped to the conclusion that you are suffering from poor fuelling( Like we did). Pointer...Lets remove the exhaust valve from the issue (assuming your have returned the bike to standard). Wire it open 100%. This is easy to do by just removing the cowling and using a paper clip to keep it open. On a twin spark no fault is shown or detected by the ECU for a stuck open flapper valve. New Air Filter or High flow (circa £40). Sports Mode. Turn off 100% DTC (ducati traction control)...just to make sure this isn't causing any issues. How does that feel?
Sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to teach grandma to suck eggs but what about the throttle cable free play?
I am thankful for all the replies, and I don't find your comments flippant or harsh. I haven't returned the bike to standard yet so the exhaust valve isn't an issue I guess. Currently sports mode has the same issue that urban mode has so I will turn off the DTC to rule that out but it might take some time for a weather window. I am still convinced it is running to too lean, it especially explains the hesitant, then recovering throttle from low down. I will report more as I can. Thanks.
Sounds like a fair comment but the initial hesitation is recovered without the need to twist the throttle any further.
How did you isolate the exhaust valve spring when you fitted the decat? It may not be showing the exvl fault on the dash, but it may still be fooling the ecu if it's not adjusted or isolated correctly...?
It seems so long since I rode mine, but it does need a reasonable twist before it picks the revs up. I put this doen to a big twin having a heavy flywheel
The MIVV de-cat comes with a little spring and clamp that allows the ECU to think it is operating the valve even though the valve isn't there.
So if you let the bike warm up though and blip the throttle do the revs rise straight away without hesitation? Mine does not, there is noticeable hesitation before the revs recover. Exactly how it feels when riding it.
Compared to my gixer or my old 848, which have light flywheels, yes. Not splutter splutter hesitation, just as if its taking the slack up in the cable hesitation
Mine just starts to splutter, just. Just strange that I had no such issues with my previous MTS, or GS(s) or GSA(s) or KTM twins. Anyway I think a trip to my (not so) local Ducati franchise is looming.
I'd do an overnight stay and use A roads, stopping off for lunch and multiple coffees in towns and villages. I love any excuse to meander on my Mutley! Weather permitting of course. Interestingly I was surprised that using the heated handgrips didn't make as much difference as I thought they would. But that was until I mislaid my winter gloves, couldn't be arsed to look for them because the sun was out, and wore summer gloves instead. What a revelation: warm hands - a first for me in a British winter! Anyone else found that the heat gets through from the grips better if unlined gloves are worn?
