Just to clear this 'stigma' thing up gents, all I mean is that the perception 'most' of the time is that adventure/touring type bikes are for an older generation of gents, that's all. It's not saying anybody's over the hill or anything and that I necessarily agree with 'them'. Besides I'm slowly getting to that stage myself i read in a recent interview that Ducatis initial target demographic for the multi was ex sportsbike riders in the age of 40 plus, perhaps that's underestimating the bikes wider appeal a little? If the 1200 Multistrada wasn't such a bloody good bike to ride then I'd not of even been thinking down this track in the first place, it fits me being 6ft 4" and yes i could stay in the saddle all day and probably still have fun doing it. Initially that's why I'd been looking the supermoto route simply because of 'fit' and while i still hoon around tracks on 1000cc sportsbikes i found when riding the more 'sit up' ducati range i was simply more relaxed and less folded in half for the road but as mentioned will the impracticality of a SM eventually break me...... Quite possibly. but its really quite eye opening to see the demographic spread of multi 1200 owners, clearly it shows that stigma is rubbish then eh
Yes, no & don't fret. Men Of A Certain Age? (MOACA's). Yes big appeal to the, er, more mature of us, HOWEVER; as Orish on this site recently & very saliently surmised and I quote; "a comfortable, fast, Superbike". Ponder that last word for a moment-Superbike. Because that is what it is a sit-up Superbike, that in the right hands, will shame other so called Superbikes. Admittedly it doesn't have that Uber Superbike "look" like the Panigale or the Japanese toys but who needs that 15 litre tank, knees up, rubbish riding position? Get on it, select Sport and scare the living SH*T outta yourself. Then you'll jabber to your mates like a loon. It's that good and I'm 1,600klms into a 3500klms road ride knocking this out on my laptop to you. View attachment 7599
Done. Audi (or Lambo to be really precise) promised unsold stock Desmocedici & R8 V10 in lieu of Euro's. I'm sceptical though ;-)
Me personally I am 28 and will be getting a Multi at the start of next season. I started on sports bikes an R6 followed by a 636 Ninja I then finally admitted that my 6'2" 15 stone body just wasn't enjoying it anymore. So I then got an Aprilia Dorsoduro Factory, sit up supermoto style riding position is awesome and semi comfortable only let down by the saddle, however filling up every 70-80 miles has just become tiresome! An example is that a few weeks ago I was doing a 100 mile return commute a couple of times a week, not being able to just fill up at one end and get there and back was a real annoyance! Also my other half wanted to come out on the bike with me, 2 up riding was just no fun for me or her. The Multi is a great bike that can pretty much do everything I want it to and that is how I am justifying the increased cost to myself!
In one of the Desmond Morris books, he makes the point that it was when the ape stood up straight that Man was born. Because of the upright stance, he was able to take in more of his surroundings (instead of looking at the ground). This made him more intelligent. On a sportsbike, you are focussed pretty much entirely on riding the thing. This is great if the primary purpose is the nitty gritty of the riding. But when you are touring or going on a longer trip, or are in town, being able to be more relaxed and seeing more of what is around you is not negligible. That is what a sports touring or touring bike brings to the party. I used to be very aware of that when I had the choice for a ride or my 851/916 and my 907ie. The 907 was better for less stressed, longer journeys, and better for taking in surroundings. My only gripe with the Multi is that you don't necessarily have to go as far as they have done with the sit-up riding position. I'd prefer something more half and half.
Always said they should have evolved the ST4s rather than create a high performance trailie from scratch. Of course the sales have justified the move!!
Think your right, did a pole on the old Ducati forum and the average age was 47 for the Multistrada rider. Guess it depends if you think 47 is old.
Which was partly why I started this thread, I think that age may have come down substantially since the launch of the new 1200 by the looks of it
Actually, if you looked at most sportsbike riders, or almost all riders full stop, you'll find most of them are middle aged. Legislation, insurance, cars and an ageing population are killing off biking.
Hardly surprising. Not only is the licensing system totally unfathomable, there's hardly any bikes to buy that fit their needs. If the manufacturers are worried about losing future trade, they need only look at their own doorstep; the lack of range from 250cc to 600cc is bloody appalling.
When you think how popular the 400/Four was. Now if they tried to reintroduce it, no doubt all the magazines would slag it off as being a learner or girlie bike. Seems we now all need at least 120 bhp. Even odder when you think that since it was introduced the roads have clogged up and are festooned with Gatsos. But this is a general trend in all products. Everything is now more than enough and people only use a fraction of all the gadgets and features they have paid for somewhere along the line. Frank's book Luxury Fever is brilliant on this phenomenon.
So true... I see 16-year-olds on chaved up twist&go's and middle-aged sportsbike riders, nowt else? Im thinking our inclement weather is making them get a car more than any licencing/insurance costs?? A couple of good soaking's and their hoodies are ruined! :biggrin: +1 on the lack of mid-capacity sportbikes & the reason why? Emissions.... no more two-strokes... a 250 nowadays would be a near-silent gutless wonder needing constant neck-wringing to get it anywhere?? Remember the RGV250 / KR1S? Get in! I STILL want one! GS500? Probably rusted solid by now, I broke one a few years back, it was in a shit state?! CB500?? YAWN. YAWN!! The motorcycle equivalent of the Morris Marina, riding one of those aint going to get you pulled is it? More and more kids are "starting" on Direct Access and a CBR600? My 24-year old mate did very well commuting in all weathers on his CBR6 for nearly a calender year until: :biggrin: Bless. The equivalent of passing your car test and getting in a Ferrari? Too Much Temptation... Bikes are now nothing but a Summer toy to a lot of people? :frown:
But that's exactly what's required to get bums on seats. As you said yourself there's virtually nothing between scooter and superbike, and there's enough commuters, dispatchers and newbies around to make a general purpose middleweight worthwhile. Looks like Honda will be making just such a machine soon, in the new CBR500, and that's what's needed, a sweet-looking but cheap middleweight do-it-all bike. The new license ruling could be a blessing in disguise for the bike industry.
I know two people who own Ninja 250's, both of them women? Apart from the Goose 350 its the only common bike which puts out the required 33bhp as standard? I agree Fig, some new sporty middleweights could restart the 500 category?
For some inexplicable reason the manufacturers decided that what every young gun wanted was a funky scooter, and sports mopeds died overnight. That's what's killing biking - no entry level. Thankfully bikes like the R125 and Duke 125 are making people notice the smaller classes again, but what's needed is some sporty-looking mopeds again, that way you can capture the spotty oiks before they're old enough to consider a car.
Well personally I don't give a rat's arse what anyone else thinks. I've had my share of sports bikes and in my opinion great if you are on a track, shite for all else unless, like most you just want to look like Stoner. It's all image. If someone wants to try to stay with me on their sports bike on a road, bring it on. I may be 47 but I ain't exactly slow. Having had enough of sports stuff I had a GSA, too slow, a Diavel, wow looks the dogs bollocks and what an engine.......but not enough ground clearance and with your feet that far forward and an engine that pulls like that meant bloody back ache.... therefore Multistrada..Simples.
