We have a winner, you gest it right! http://www.ducati.com/news/ducati_a...e_multistrada_d_air_/2014/03/21/3147/index.do
Ha, if that works as reliably as my electronic fuel cap, I could see my jacket exploding just as I am about to order pie & chips or similar!
There is always room for improvement, after owning a BMW K1300R, and doing 700 miles on my new MS I miss the shaft drive, purely on a long trip no need to touch or the worry about a chain. 1st and 2nd gear ratios for traffic and city work etc, is a little to much like hard work I miss the tyre pressure sensors as well, again on a long trip it is nice to monitor tyre pressures with out touching anything. Engine could be a little smoother up to 3k revs Screen, though this can be rectified with after market adjustment I wish there was a little more seat height adjustment, being so short, and the low seat makes no difference as it is the girth that is the problem. Side stand odd to put down I have to push down on the spring On the whole it is just adding or the option to add things Great bike really pleased so far
Tyre pressure monitoring was mentioned prior to the bike being released, just it didn't seem to materialise. There is a ducati TPMS that was offered for the older MTS, albeit not integrated. Not cheap though, and not sure if it is still for sale. I most certainly DONT want shaft drive. For how much effort it is to put a bit of oil on a chain, and adjust it if necessary, i would rather have the better response, less unsprung weight, and the option to change gearing if I desired. If there was to be an MTS with shaft drive to satisfy the GT brigade that is fine, but please leave the chain option for the sports bike riders on the non GT bikes.
John W it is not that I am lazy to oil, I am having a scott oiler fitted anyhow, but the fact that I do not want to carry out maintenance, or carry the tools to do on a 2k trip, question is will I need to adjust the chain in 2k miles? I will no doubt be close to doing 10k a yr on the bike. The MS purchase for me is an all round bike that can do everything
Factor in cost of a new c&s kit every 10,000 to 15,000 miles don't forget. That's fully comp insurance for a year plus cake!
Here's a radical idea but how about the concept of less is more. Bikes are being laden with electronic gadgets, rider aids. For example power modes ! OK fun to begin with but after a very months what mode do you always stay in? Are they really necessary ? I say no, surely the right hand is your power mode control. Built in GPS god I hope not, how about just making the instruments waterproof. Keyless ignition necessary no, does it make the bike more fun to ride, no, is it a gimmick yes. I want a KISS bike.
MadProff, I know what your saying. The problem we have is the MTS is a great bike, and does so many things well, but that means it has attracted a more diverse following. That means some want a pure sports bike, some a sports tourer, and others a grand tourer. Its a compromise and I'm sure most would agree, a pretty good one ;-) Personally I think integrated satnav is a good thing, but only if it is done right. It would be better to include a mount to allow existing companies kit to interface to the bike, and integrate it in a better fashion than current offerings. Also, it needs to be capable of being easily and regularly updated, and also adding pre-planned trips and downloading logs. If all this could be done easily, it would be great. If it were a plug in module that would be even better, because those that want it can add it easily. Same goes for TPMS. I would like it but only if its properly integrated, and not at a daft price.
John W, good point ref satnav. I've used Garmin Zumo for years on various bikes and wouldn't tour without a satnav. Got integrated satnav in the car and it's a piece of crap, most the time I'll stick the Zumo in the screen. Seriously doubt Ducati could do a proper job, your comments regarding uploading trips, map/software updates and log downloads are the very reasons (along with a few others) why the car satnav is so useless. Would be nice not to have to remove the satnav everytime you park up though! Been thinking a vid-cam would be nice, but yet another gadget to remove each time you stop....not made my mind up yet. Something else to add to the spec sheet perhaps?
The satnav in the wifes latest car allows for routes to be uploaded, points of interest added, and trip logs downloaded (also does mileage records, for company car users). This is all great, and if it can be done on a bike its good. We often email around the gpx files prior to a trip so more than just the run leader have the route (shit happens sometimes, so this has proved really handy in the past). As long as whatever system they use will allow these common formats to be used, and potentially provide a USB or SD card interface for sharing the files, it should be fine. Another thought is how they will provide navigation instructions. Screen only, or maybe a bluetooth interface for voice instructions ? If so, there are so many things the bluetooth could be used for, such as fuel low warning, low temp (ice) warning, tyre pressure warning, or even an integrated intercom. As long as its configurable (enable what you want to know about, and maybe at what volume) that would be cool
Fair point my car's an '08 MY so things have obviously improved since then, but my old Zumo550 pre-dated that and was far better (now on a Zumo660 - the 550 still going strong on sons bike), so if GM/Vauxhall managed to get it wrong at that time, what's the betting Ducati can. I also use Bluetooth intercom connection to satnav and wife (sometimes pillion, sometimes on her own bike) which works great, so agree connection to bike for warnings would be really useful too (add beeper for indicators to your list). Seeing Ducati haven't managed to make the present dash water tight so far (mine misted up for a while the other week), I think they might find adding USB / SD ports a challenge.....remote ports under pillion seat perhaps. The down-side of including this type of techno to a bike is that it will probably date / become obsolete more rapidly than the rest of the bike, great for Ducati - encourages owners to buy the "latest" model sooner than they might otherwise have done......perhaps not so good for the consumer?
Good points John W & Col_C regarding the idea of the bike 'talking' to you through Bluetooth. I have a Gamin 660 and use it all the time. It has lifetime updates, is easy to use, plenty of useful features and normally very accurate. My car, on the other hand, although less than year old, has a pretty crap Sat Nav (in terms of features) and the company wants 170 quid for each update! I suspect something similar would happen financially with an integrated Ducati system?
Another point to keep in mind - I bought the Mutley because I wanted a bike that was capable of touring Europe 2-up in relative comfort for a few weeks each year but was still reasonably light and sporty for the rest of the time when having fun riding 1-up (had a SprintST1050 previously). It would be all too easy to throw all the toys at it (+ earlier comments ref. shaft drive) and before you know where you are you've got another BMW RT/LT or Triumph Trophy............NOT the sort of bikes I would buy.
Maybe this is the way ahead? Carplay If they could come up with a system that allowed you to sync your phone (whether Apple or other) to the bike through the dash, then this might be a neat solution? I'd prefer a Bluetooth setup (but that could come in time) and I like the voice command idea but not too sure if reading text messages on the go is the way ahead! My last car has a disable function on the TV which meant the driver couldn't watch it when moving so maybe this type of function could be built in as well for various functions when on the move? If nothing else there's plenty of new stuff appearing and it's only a matter of time before it reaches the bike market I reckon.
