Well perhaps not altogether. The Multistrada does have a throttle cable which connects the twistgrip to an electronic sensor under the tank. The throttle butterflies are opened by stepper motors instead of directly by the throttle cable. The operation of the stepper motors is moderated by the ECU, depending on the mode in use, and the amount of opening is not directly proportionate to the movement of the twistgrip. I'm not sure one could call that 'more precise'.
Really, since CV carbs came along, the bike has been deciding what is best without the riders intervention. They only gave the amount of fuel the engine needed rather than what you thought you wanted. Anyone who has ridden with flat slide, Dell Orto pumpers, or any 2 stroke off the power band knows how horrible those carbs can be. Fly by wire is just a progression of that via normal fuel injection. I would take fuel injection over bevel carbs any day. Not too sure about the rest of the crap that is coming along as baggage though.
My only ride on the MTS1200 was at a Ducati open day just after they came out. I did not like the 1/4 of free play in the throttle which I put down to slack in the cable. I commented on this to the demonstator who said that it depended on the mode the bike was in, it was set to 'Touring', and that there was a lot less play in 'Sports' mode. Seemed like a funny way to alter the power characteristics to me
Thanks for reminding me how my back brain works - its so hard wired into my head and right hand its unnerving to see the breakdown of what i do in milli seconds hundreds of times. A day. For years.
if you can match revs precisely every time, then down the box is fine but I would only do it now if had to get home with failed clutch. If you allow vehicle speed to drop way low for the gear that you are in then you can prod it down clutchlessly without noise or damage.
Bikes should be mechanical things for men or women with hairy chests and dirty finger nails, I want to feel part of whats going on and rather than part of the Joy stick generation.
