Interesting Observation - I have had all 4 generations of Multi (so far) and found the 1st generation 2010 1200S - single spark with Ohlins - to be the quickest on turn in but could be twitchy on longer corners . Twin Spark and DVT were good but not as quick to change direction and still could be a bit twitchy on longer fast corners. The 1260 is different - much more stable on long fast bends due to longer swing arm and less steering angle, however it still will turn in fast, with a bit of effort, and stays where it is put with no issues at all. It took a while to get it set up to how I like it, in Touring and Sport it is set to Harder front and rear and when solo I ride with the rider plus luggage setting. Front forks are set at 2 turns in from the factory setting, so a bit more preload. Tyres are Road 5's running at 34 front and 38 rear (cold setting) the lower pressures don't affect tyre life as it goes up by 2 psi after a mile or so in any case and I get between 5 and 6K on a set of tyres. Obviously the above is how I like the 1260S set up - others may differ.
Thanks for a useful précis, interestingly I used to run around on 38psi front and 42 rear, recently changed on pro advice so now pressure similar to you and a much more comfortable ride ( I find 2013 skyhook very inferior in ride quality to DVT onwards) . More planted with quicker turn in than before less understeer than before, better than before.
I have had two adventure styled bikes with 17inch wheels and they both felt as though they were going to tuck in slow corners. I think the weight being higher up doesn't help with the smaller wheel either. I have gone the other way to a 950 Multi which is a lot better.
It will be interesting to see how the larger wheeled V4 performs. (Apart from all the folk on here who refuse to ride anything with a larger wheel...)
I’ve only ridden a 950 when mine (1260PP) has been in for a service. It was a bloody nice bike, very neutral handling. I found it particularly confident on corner entry and at a reasonable pace it felt better than mine. I’ll say this though, pick up the pace and it soon started to show the limitations of what I thought would be the front wheel size. It went from very assured to a little bit vague. Only my opinion and I’d have no hesitation in recommending one, but overall, I’d take the bigger bike everyday.
If I hadn’t had mine set up properly I’d fully agree. I had a 950 as a lone bike when my DVT was in for a service, very nice. My PP certainly didn’t handle anywhere near as well when I first had it. Different story now. Like riding on rails!
This is my next task, hoping to get it done when I'm next in the UK. 1260 S GT, but it's always been the biggest 'mod' anyone can do to a stock bike. Of which, where did you get it done? I imagine most places won't want to touch the skyhook setup.
Anyone thought about gyroscopic forces? Cannot comment on 950 vs 1260. However, on enduro bikes there is a noticeable difference between a 250 2t and a 300 2t handling. Same stroke, different bore therefore the only difference is piston size and flywheel weight. Going even further, a modern 250 4t is the same weight as 250 2t...yet the 2t feels much more easier to turn. (less engine internals = less gyroscopic forces)
