Very random but I found this: I don't normally like American stuff but I thought that this was quite interesting. They test adventure bikes in an adventure setting - rather than the UK mags who would truck them to Spain to thrash them round a race track, and tell you, errr, absolutely nothing - except that they would of been faster than any GP rider but Mummy wanted them home for their tea..... I've always has a soft spot for the Stelvio - having done the Stelvio pass, which I so need to do again! Interestingly, the third bike that they took was a KTM but not really to test, but they reckoned that the KTM was the best bike out of the Multistrada, MG Stelvio, and the KTM. My first ever bike was a KTM (that never worked properly) and so maybe it's time to do the full circle... but the V85 TT Travel still is the one for me!
I was effing right!!! I did a quick Google for a review of this bike and the first one that came up was 44 effing Teeth! And yes, unlike the review above, between the Multistrada and the Stelvio, what did tthey do? Yes, straight to the race track to show their knee down skills! It's a f***ing adventure bike that you would be crazy to ever take to a trackday on! The American review that started all of this above, test adventure bike on mountain roads, err as in "adventure"... 44 Teeth take it to a race track in Spain FFS!
If you still have a little bit of hooligan in you, the Multistrada, if you want pipe and slippers go for the Guzzi. I took a KTM 1290 out for a ride while my Multistrada was been serviced and I was glad to get my Multi back, but nobody can make the decision for you, you’ll know which ones for you when you ride it. My multi The KTM I test rode
My next door neighbour had a Stelvio and it was shit, really shit. Cams made of cheese and various indefinable problems. Last time he checked, the dealer who took it for cash, still had it for sale 18 months later. Andy
So, you've ridden the KTM and thought the Multi better? When I looked at pricing, the Multistrada Pikes Peak was flipping expensive - over 23 grand I think. The KTM is about 17 and the Guzzi 12 (all brand new prices without discount). If you were buying now would you still go Ducati? The Pikes Peak one that I was looking at is the most expensive Multisrtada in the range. My prime use willl be touring. Would you gust go for a cheaper Multistrada variant?
The Multi 1260s with panniers is about 18,500. That is probably a more realistic comparison. So, Multi 18,500, KTM 17,200, and Guzzi about 12,000 (V85 TT Travel). Out of the three, what is the verdict?
Useful. Thanks. Although they didn't 44 Teeth it and just take them to Laguna Seca to show their "fast" lap times. I'm warming to American reviews now in that they are so much more useful than Brit ones. They test the bike everywhere and not just at the race track.
As though the clincher in a decision to buy a Multistrada would be, "how well does it go in a van to Spain and set a grand prix winning lap time. I could always ask the guys with a big mouth with 44 teeth, "They'd be able to set me right....
Quite a few V85s on the secondhand market already and several under £9k, admittedly not the travel model. I imagine come autumn you could pick one up at close to £7k. Is that approach worth considering or has it got to be a new one? Blade Swindon have a nice looking 2 tone one for £8990, is that close enough for a test ride when the lock down is lifted?
The 17k bike is a 2020 1290 Super Duke GT. The bike SHarper rode was a pre-2020 1290 Super Adventure S. I bought one just before this f-ing lockdown for under 14k including full luggage, heated grips and foglights. For the price and spec, nothing else comes close in this class. I’ve only been able to put 500 miles on her, but man, she’s clean!
Thanks for the info. In the brief time that you've had the bike, and the few miles that you've been able to do, how would you rate the bike?
No, it does not have to be brand new. In Fact, I dunno where I got the nw obsession from. I would guess that I've owned about 20 bikes in my days and have only ever bought two new ones. The first was when I was a teenager with a summer job at a Honda dealer. It was a CX500. My goodness, that was a pile of shiiiiiiiii! Second one was over 30 years later and a Ducati (that was written off in my accident last year!) and so, there is no real reason to go new.
I love it. I should add the caveat that I went from a very unreliable 2011 Multistrada (see here and here) to a Honda Crosstourer for five years, and now the KTM. The Multi was great when it was working, but spent far to much time at the dealers with issues. The Honda was absolutely fault-free and oozed quality, but a bit bland. It was powerful but not bonkers, and weighed in at 275kg. It was a bitch to move around, but fine once on the move and surprisingly nimble. It was also quite basic in the tech department. Basic traction control, ABS and not a lot else. The KTM is a revelation. It weighs a mere 215kg, has 160bhp, traction control, semi-active suspension, cornering ABS and handles like it's on rails. It soaks up bumps that I know on familiar routes as if they weren't there. Part of the weight saving is down to use of plastics. Time will tell how well these fare. It has a fancy LCD screen which is large, bright and easy to read. It also has bluetooth functionality to hook up to your phone and headset for controlling music, and can also interface with KTM's MyRide satnav app to display directions (not maps). I tend to favour my iPhone mounted above the clocks, so don't use this function, but it works as described. One of these days when the lockdown is over I'll get her back to the dealer for its first service, then I'll be able to put it through its paces properly - a day I'm very much looking forward to.
That has been helpful. Nothing is ruled out and I've got many months to think about it. It still comes down to Multistrada, Multistrada, Multistrada (did I say Multistrada, again?), KTM, or V85 TT travel. I don't need to decide right now and when the lockdown stops, it might go with which dealer I prefer. (and so it will be another Ducati!). I was a bit influenced by a mate who hates chain drive. He used to have a BM Shafty and now has a rubber belt BMW. Dunno why I was that influenced as chain is not a problem - and has advantages in that you can play with the gearing!
Good point about weight. As I've f**ked up one of my legs that will always be a weak point, then weight is an important fact. The KTM 1290 is 215kg. I was very tempted by the KTM and it is the lightest bike out of the three that I was considering.
I owned a Stelvio and had the cam follower problems. It was a heavy bike but a hoot to ride. Comfy and fast enough. The dealer kindly leant me their demo for my trip to Austria, Slovenia and Italy. 2700 miles in 10 days through some serious rain. It didn't miss a beat. My mate had a GS and everyone ignored it and loved the Stelvio. The later ones are have roller followers. These were not available when I had mine unfortunately. It had a big tank too
