2005 Ducati Multistrada 1000DS

[jrandom]

Righto, folks, a certain curmudgeonly old forum member has browbeaten me into test-riding something utterly awful for him.

I've only agreed out of pity; he lives in the middle of nowhere and can't get to a proper bike shop.

I'll make some calls this afternoon and book my ride for next week.

Now, where's my pipe and slippers?

[Crisis management]

Oi! What happened to the Postie bike test?

Jantar tried and failed.

Steam tried and failed.


We're relying on you......

[jrandom]

Oi! What happened to the Postie bike test?

A. I'm not going to review bikes that everyone's already read about ad infinitum. You won't see any Hornets or ER6Ns being written up here by yours truly; no point spending an evening slaving over a hot keyboard to simply reiterate opinions that are already universal. If I can't provide a fresh perspective on a bike, I'll just take it out for a blast and keep my own counsel about it.

B. Want to sponsor me for a Postie Bike Challenge then?

[Crisis management]

B. Want to sponsor me for a Postie Bike Challenge then?

Ok, as long as its a reciprocal deal.


2008 Wooohoooo.....

[jim.cox]

Nice write up

Now go ride the Hypermotard

Which is basically a MultiStrudel in a much prettier set of clothes..

[jrandom]

Now go ride the Hypermotard

Which is basically a MultiStrudel in a much prettier set of clothes..

Yup! I saw a Hypermotard sitting daintily outside Haldanes and thought precisely that.

I'll ride one in due course

But I can't really afford to buy one.

[limbimtimwim]

And the tank is smaller.

[jrandom]

And the tank is smaller.

Mm, yes. I left with a full tank, but the fuel gauge on the Mouldy Strudel was showing empty and the light was on when I got back to Haldanes. Richard assured me that that particular bike was a bit fucked up, and that in fact it had plenty of gas left. You'd hope so; I did less than 150km!

So I gave it the benefit of the doubt and didn't mention that in the review.

What's the tank size on a Hyper Retard?

[vifferman]

I left with a full tank, but the fuel gauge on the Mouldy Strudel was showing empty and the light was on when I got back to Haldanes. Richard assured me that that particular bike was a bit fucked up, and that in fact it had plenty of gas left. You'd hope so; I did less than 150km!

Oh dear.
I used to be lucky to get 150km/tank on the VTR1000. Those 48mm carbs sukt petroleum distillates like...
like...

- like the BigSuckyThings they were.

[limbimtimwim]

What's the tank size on a Hyper Retard?

Oh man, I'm your intarnet slave.

Hyper Ripoff = 12.4L
Multi Weirdo = 20L

I don't mind the looks for the MultiStrada from most angles. There is a bit to much space between the front wheel and the engine though. Apart from that, I quite like it.

If I had a go on the Hyper Motard I might not think it was a ripoff. But I still can't fathom how it could be 3x more fun than my slowtard.

[jrandom]

If I had a go on the Hyper Motard I might not think it was a ripoff. But I still can't fathom how it could be 3x more fun than my slowtard.

I completely agree.

Anyway, like you said, the Mouldy has essentially the same engine (well, the 1100 does) and bouncy bits, but a bigger tank, hard luggage mounts and a screen.

And, as I found, it handles (probably) almost as well.

Why oh why did Ducati have to make it so fucking ugly? Seriously, if it was a pretty bike, I'd just buy one, but you can't ignore the fact that a motorcycle is like a girlfriend - no matter how much of a great personality she's got, you still have to be able to do her with the lights on...

[AllanB]

Ducati = lotto win on my budget - still don't think they are worth that much. 1000 cc Monster with 110 hp = $22k, SV1000 =$12.5 k etc etc. Apparently its a Duke thing.....
Yeah the Duke is spunkier but $10k affords a lot of bling!

Mind you if I had that lotto win I have always liked the Monster range.....

Re the ugly duckling - I couldn't buy it - just too dam ugly - the pleasure of the bike is part physical in my books - always has been since I was a little chap watching that CB750 with the four mufflers out the back tearing down the road somewhere around 1970.

[jrandom]

$$$$ arrgh

Yes, of course. One can buy a brand-new SV1000 for less than the price of an old Multistrada, etc.

But I prefer, when possible, to approach motorcycles the way I approach dinner at a great restaurant. The price is immaterial. If you can't afford it, you don't bother considering it, and if you can, you accept the necessary cost and simply enjoy it for what it is, without agonising over arbitrary concepts of value.

You only get one life to live, and a Ducati is to a Suzuki what the O'Connell St Bistro is to Nando's.

Bear in mind, of course, that this is coming from a happy Suzuki rider and regular Nando's customer.

[James Deuce]

Why oh why did Ducati have to make it so fucking ugly? Seriously, if it was a pretty bike, I'd just buy one, but you can't ignore the fact that a motorcycle is like a girlfriend - no matter how much of a great personality she's got, you still have to be able to do her with the lights on...

You could just think of it as a Wife.....

[jrandom]

You could just think of it as a Wife.....

If I was to carry that analogy through, I'd say that I'd be smart not to swap my Suzuki for a Ducati, because it'd be likely to cost me shitloads to keep on the road and then get stolen as soon as I had it running right.