Normally at this point I’d be introducing you to a Bike that came home with me in a van, either in bits, bent, with known faults, or simply a non-starter, but this time it’s different, I purchased a bike that’s not only in good condition, but appears to run and ride well. It’s the right colour, has some nice accessories, the Belts and Desmo service were done a few months ago by Snells, and it was a good price. In fact I could just leave it exactly as it is and use it, but you know I’m not going to do that. Flicking through the owner’s manual really brings home how much the on bike tech has moved on. It’s 14yrs younger than my next youngest bike, my 999, so as you can imagine it’s all a bit mind boggling. She’s home: But due to family commitments today all I’ve done is tuck it up nicely in the garage. The rest of the images in this thread are from the last owners advert.
The PUIG screen and Headlight protectors are nice, the feeling of sitting in a pocket of still air behind the screen at, Cough, 70mph on the way home was a revelation to me, being more used to having my head buffeted around and straining my neck muscles. But the standard screen came with her, so I might try it. The PUIG screen is a few inches longer than the standard one and sat on the bike my eyeline is just above the screen, so the top of it is a bit distracting and in just the wrong place for a clear view forward, but I’ll see. Apparently there are Evotech radiator and Oil cooler guards fitted, so I’ll have to get a better look at them. I’m not sure about the Evotech levers: I’ve never liked short levers so might try to get hold of some standard ones.
There’s a Satnav bracket fitted and a TomTom Rider42 was supplied with it, so I’ll have to give that a go: That side of things is where I’m going to need some help and advice. I’d like to fit my helmet out with the gear to be able to hear the SatNav instructions, and possibly listen to music, but I’ll investigate a bit first as I don’t know where to start. I needed it upright to save space and having not had a bike with a centre stand for 40yrs I struggled a bit to use the one on this bike, but I suppose it is a bit of a lump. There are threaded holes for paddock stand bobbins, so I’m going to try that instead. And talking of paddock stands, my favourite style of under headstock ones won’t fit this bike to lift the front wheel, so I’ll have to go with the type I don’t like under the bottom of the forks to get the front wheel out. Question – Front paddock stand and Rear Paddock stand, or Front paddock stand and fitted centre stand? I’d rather the former, but the later might be more stable. The first thing I need to do is get the wheels out to get the tyres changed, so I’ll need to make my mind up quickly. Oh yes, the tyres. The Michelin Anakee Wilds fitted handle better than I’d expected but vibrate and are noisy. Yes they look great: But they are being replaced with a pair of Continental Trail Attack 3s which I hope to get done on Friday.
And now for the things I don’t like: The Lucky Explorer stripes and Ducati Logos on the panniers will I think have to come off. The tank bag is useful being a Ducati specific GIVI one on a filler cap ring. And of course you can plug it in to the power socket below the dash to charge a phone etc, but it looks like an afterthought, a ball balanced on the tank. I might see what I can find that’s smaller and lower in profile that I can possibly modify to accept the GIVI clamp and power connection. Also, despite specifically wanting the Sand coloured version of this bike I don’t like the body coloured panel in the seat. I’ve already sourced a fully Black riders saddle from a Red bike and now need a Pillion pad to go with it. Can anyone confirm if the Enduro Pillion pad is unique, or is it the same as the other 1260 Multistradas? I think that’s enough for now.
Re. the front stand. If it's anything like the other DVT Multistradas then there's a plastic panel with three small Allen cap headed bolts that you remove to use a pin type stand in the hole in the headstock.
Also ref front stand and taking front wheel out, once the wheel is out it'll sit on its back wheel when it's on the centre stand. I just wedge a piece of wood under the bash plate while I'm taking the front wheel out (on a 1200 Enduro). Quick and dirty I know
Thanks EC That's really useful to know for the future. This time I need to get both wheels out at the same time to take them to the tyre fitters, so will need to support the front somehow. Talking of which, getting bike tyres fitted round here is getting daft as several places that did it have closed completely or have stopped doing bike tyres alongside their usual car tyre business. I did consider doing another first for me, riding the bike somewhere and having them remove the wheels as well, but the two places I've called this morning couldn't do that for 2 weeks. I'm even struggling to find somewhere to change the tyres on loose wheels this coming Friday at the moment. Need to hit the phone again at lunchtime.
I bought tyre changing kit quite a few years ago. Whilst it hasn't directly fully paid for itself yet in terms of money previously paid to places to fit independently purchased tyres to loose wheels, or getting tyres supplied and fitted by the same vendor, if you factor in convenience and travel I'm probably there by now. Probably changed 12-14 sets over that time. Time isn't really a consideration here as I take my time, protect rims etc. Added benefit is that only one wheel needs to be removed at a time.
I've been looking at that machine, way cheaper than the Rabaconda machine, how are you getting on with it? It looks like it'll move around on the floor a lot when you have to put force on it to get that last part of the bead into the rim?
That looks interesting Bumpkin. I always buy my Tyres online and then take them with loose wheels to be fitted, so might have to investigate that kit. It looks like it doesn't take up much space when not in use which would be good. I had a post type thing to change my trailer tyres for a few years which was supposed to be bolted to the floor as the force required with the lever was quite brutal. It didn't help I suppose that I didn't want to bolt it to the floor anywhere as I only used it occasionally, so used to bolt it to a railway sleeper and then park my landrover on the other end.
The video below echoes my method. Plenty of tyre soap and making sure that the opposite bead is in the deepest part of the wheel is the key to success. Yes, it does skate around a little. As per the video above I tend to sit on the floor and put my feet against the frame and pull the lever to get the stubborn last bit of bead over the rim. I bought the full kit with static balancer. I also purchased the cones for Ducati rear wheel for that. These also make keeping the rear wheel cantered when de-riming tyres much easier, the centre rod is the same diameter as that of the balancer. Yes, folds down and fits on a shelf in my garage. All the bits such as the cones, lever, nylon de-riming part, wheel weights etc. etc. fit into a plastic tub. on the same shelf. The plastic covering on the wheel locking pin got gnawed by rodents in my previous shed. Emailed the company and they UPS'd me a new one from Germany for $20 which I though was very reasonable.
Cheers Bumpkin, think I'll give that a go. Managed without one for years, just soap, levers, rim protectors and a bead breaker but, over the weekend I fitted Trail Attack 3's to my GS and it was incredibly difficult, side walls on those tyres are so stiff, I can fit a Road 5 to the rear of the Multi without levers on a warm day, TA3's not a chance!
Well, I've only fitted Michelin various Pilot Road versions, some Dunlop Roadsmarts and more recently the Road 5s and 6s. No idea how easy/difficult it will be with the TA3s.
I would give the centre stand a few goes. There is usually a knack to getting the bike on them. I was similar to you when I got my last ZZR1100 in not having had a bike with an centre stand for years.and then also found the Multi a bit strange at first, now I Chuck it up on there without thinking.
Thanks Guys The riders seat has turned up now so that will get fitted fairly quickly. I'll keep an eye out for a pillion pad. Moving on. Can somebody tell me where the Diagnostics port is located on this bike? I'd like to check what style it is as sooner or later I'll need to turn the service notification off. I've been very happy using JPDiag on my older bikes, and believe Melcodiag should cover this bike if I download it and request another license, but am not sure if my existing leads will work with it. On the other hand, especially if it's the later (Euro 5?) connector, I might splash out on an OBDstar, as the cost of it will probably be covered by doing one Oil change myself rather than going to a dealer. Yet another piece of Diagnostics equipment to add to the box alongside my Generic Foxwell OBD scanner, the specific GAP tool for my Land Rover, the specific scanner for my Mercury Outboard, and JPDiag cables etc.
I’ve found my headstock stand isn’t tall enough to lift the front of the Enduro model Multi clear of the ground , any other Multi (or any other bike), no problem, an under fork version will probably be better. I suspect it’s due to the longer fork travel on the Enduro version. It should be next to the LH side of the battery, under the seat. It’s a Euro 4 type. Finally, a word of caution, be careful about the level of the ground you park it on on its side stand. I wasn’t, I’m just under 6’2”, 35” inside leg, really really struggled to get the fecker off its side stand due to the angle of lean and its weight . Had to push it to more level ground and succeed there, thankfully I was unwatched
