- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,544
- 924
- 126
It is a red S model with 150hp of 4-valve, liquid-cooled, L-Twin goodness!
The 2012 Ducati Multistrada is quite a machine. It feels quite a bit different than my bike simply because of the riding position and the fact that it is so tall but once you get used to that the bike feels quite nimble and holy crap does it have power! Feels like you could lift the front wheel in the first 3 gears easily. I opened it up a couple times on the freeway and it felt like the front wheel could come up with just a little more power (the bike has plenty of power, I just didn’t have the nerve to jam it all the way open). Zero to jail in no time at all. It has a great exhaust note too. Very throaty and just a hint of the Ducati valvetrain clatter.
Talk about smooth too, the engine feels happy anywhere above 4,000rpms but even at that level it doesn’t feel lumpy at all and the higher you rev the harder it pulls. Very linear power delivery. Clutch pull is light and engages smoothly, the bike is just easy to ride and easy to turn.
My only complaint is the windscreen. It sends air right into your helmet so on the freeway there is a lot of wind noise. I found that if I tucked down a bit it was much better but the windscreen could stand to be a little taller. One other minor issue was the rear brake lever, it seemed just a little out of reach of my right foot when my feet were positioned with the ball of my foot over the pegs. With those big Brembo binders up front it really doesn’t need a rear brake though.
I liked the multiple riding modes but pretty much just left it in touring mode most of the time. That softens up the suspension and smooths out the power delivery but gives you the full 150hp. Sport mode tightens up the suspension and gives a more aggressive map but same power output. There is urban and enduro mode which cut power to 100hp. I didn't try out either of those modes.
Heated grips were welcome as were the grip guards at keeping wind off your hands. The bike is super comfy with a nice upright and relaxed riding position and a very comfortable seat. I felt like I could ride 500 miles and not get tired.
This is the first bike I've ridden with keyless start and I really like the dashboard. All the information is presented in a logical manner and is easy to read on the fly. It even has a gear position indicator which my bike does not have.
I could flat foot the bike at stop lights… barely. It definitely sits taller than my bike but it doesn't feel like a big heavy bike. I think this is probably the lightest touring bike made. It turns in effortlessly and rough roads don't seem to upset it at all. The Ohlins suspension probably helps.
The luggage system is very well thought out too. It just clips into two openings in the rear of the bike. No extra hardware to mount the side bags. Very clean and very easy to mount and remove from the bike.
I love the bike but with an msrp of $20,000 plus tax, title, lic and dealer prep I don't think I'll see one in my garage anytime soon. What a great bike though. If I could have any 2 bikes on the planet this bike would be one of them.
Edit-For clarification, it was not a rental. It was a loaner bike provided by the dealer free of charge while they replaced my rear wheel due to a recall.
Thought I'd give a bit of a long-term update:
When I wrote this I had owned my Monster for almost a year. I owned that bike for 3 1/2 years and put 16,000 miles on it but the Multistrada was always there lurking in my thoughts. Especially when I spent more than an hour or so on my Monster in any one day. Ducati made my dream a reality when they announced the 2015 Ducati Multistrada and I inquired if they were offering any discounts on existing 2014 inventory, they were, and so I traded my beloved 2012 Ducati Monster 1100 EVO (it was a 2012 model but I bought it in June of 2011) for a 2014 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S back in late November. The discount basically allowed me to buy a brand new Multistrada 1200 S for base model pricing. Add the trade in amount from my bike and it made the deal very hard to resist.
Anyway, I have had my 2014 Multistrada 1200 S for a few months now and have put almost 2,000 miles on it between commuting and a few rides into the local mountains. Really, this is the type of riding I was doing on the Monster but it really wasn't ideal for this type of riding. No wind protection and not very comfortable for anything more than 2 hours. The Multistrada eats up the miles and leaves you feeling refreshed when you arrive.
I've done a fair bit of commuting on it, some 2 up riding with my wife (she loves the pillion and says it is very comfortable), and some solo longer rides into the local mountains with friends. Longest ride to date was just under 200 miles and about 4 hours in the saddle that left me with a slightly sore bum which tempted me into buying the Ducati Comfort Seat. So far so good with that but I haven't done any long rides with that seat yet as I've only had it a couple weeks.
Almost everything I said about this bike 3 years ago is still true today. Wind noise is still an issue even with the redesigned windshield, although, I do like the height adjuster on the '13-'14 model, it is much easier to adjust and you can do it one handed while riding. I don't know why I said the rear brake lever was too long, seems fine on mine, maybe Ducati changed this. Oh, and I cannot flat foot my bike. I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam and I'm on the balls of both feet when I'm sitting on this bike. It is tall. So if you are vertically challenged this bike, and the ground, might be out of reach for you. ^_^
The skyhook suspension works really well. For those who don't know, Ducati Skyhook Suspension uses a number of sensors and accelerometers on the front and rear suspension and frame to make micro adjustments electronically on the fly. It also allows you to change preload, compression and rebound at the touch of a button. It all works very well and is very easy to make adjustments on the fly.
I've set the bike to Touring Mode but with the Sport Mode throttle mapping. The difference between Sport and Touring mode mapping is very noticeable. Touring mode you still get 150hp but the mapping is less aggressive. Sport mode is holy crap this is taller, more comfortable 1198 mode. They should rename it Hooligan Mode. Touring mode also softens up the suspension a bit. I found a nice balance with touring mode and the bike setup for 2 up riding. It's not too stiff but it really feels planted. I tried urban mode once but honestly can't see much of a reason to ever use that mode. It softens up the suspension even more and cuts power to 100hp... WHY??? I haven't tried enduro mode.
I've had a slight problem with the fuel gauge recently and Ducati has ordered a new sending unit but it seems to be intermittent as it is working properly again after I filled up this morning. Everything else about the bike has been flawless.
Still haven't used the panniers (luggage) yet. When I rode it home from the dealer I removed them and they have sat in a closet at home ever since. They will remain there until I get a chance to do some overnight rides... plans are in the works. Anyway, the panniers are very easy to mount and remove from the bike and fit and finish is very nice. I doubt they would hold up well if you drop the bike but most parts on a motorcycle don't do well when the bike is on its side.
I haven't done any off-road riding nor do I intend to. This bike is so brilliant on the road and that's the reason I bought it. That is the type of riding I do and it excels at that. It is smooth, quiet, comfortable but it is also wickedly fast and capable in the twisties. I've done nothing to it other than a smoked Puig shorty windscreen and the Ducati comfort seat. I like the short windscreen for summer riding as it allows more cooling airflow over me
This is the best bike I've ever ridden and certainly the best bike I've ever owned. I would like to try the new 2015 Multistrada as I'm sure it will be even better but I don't want to be tempted either... that's ultimately what got me on this bike. :biggrin:
The 2012 Ducati Multistrada is quite a machine. It feels quite a bit different than my bike simply because of the riding position and the fact that it is so tall but once you get used to that the bike feels quite nimble and holy crap does it have power! Feels like you could lift the front wheel in the first 3 gears easily. I opened it up a couple times on the freeway and it felt like the front wheel could come up with just a little more power (the bike has plenty of power, I just didn’t have the nerve to jam it all the way open). Zero to jail in no time at all. It has a great exhaust note too. Very throaty and just a hint of the Ducati valvetrain clatter.
Talk about smooth too, the engine feels happy anywhere above 4,000rpms but even at that level it doesn’t feel lumpy at all and the higher you rev the harder it pulls. Very linear power delivery. Clutch pull is light and engages smoothly, the bike is just easy to ride and easy to turn.
My only complaint is the windscreen. It sends air right into your helmet so on the freeway there is a lot of wind noise. I found that if I tucked down a bit it was much better but the windscreen could stand to be a little taller. One other minor issue was the rear brake lever, it seemed just a little out of reach of my right foot when my feet were positioned with the ball of my foot over the pegs. With those big Brembo binders up front it really doesn’t need a rear brake though.
I liked the multiple riding modes but pretty much just left it in touring mode most of the time. That softens up the suspension and smooths out the power delivery but gives you the full 150hp. Sport mode tightens up the suspension and gives a more aggressive map but same power output. There is urban and enduro mode which cut power to 100hp. I didn't try out either of those modes.
Heated grips were welcome as were the grip guards at keeping wind off your hands. The bike is super comfy with a nice upright and relaxed riding position and a very comfortable seat. I felt like I could ride 500 miles and not get tired.
This is the first bike I've ridden with keyless start and I really like the dashboard. All the information is presented in a logical manner and is easy to read on the fly. It even has a gear position indicator which my bike does not have.
I could flat foot the bike at stop lights… barely. It definitely sits taller than my bike but it doesn't feel like a big heavy bike. I think this is probably the lightest touring bike made. It turns in effortlessly and rough roads don't seem to upset it at all. The Ohlins suspension probably helps.
The luggage system is very well thought out too. It just clips into two openings in the rear of the bike. No extra hardware to mount the side bags. Very clean and very easy to mount and remove from the bike.
I love the bike but with an msrp of $20,000 plus tax, title, lic and dealer prep I don't think I'll see one in my garage anytime soon. What a great bike though. If I could have any 2 bikes on the planet this bike would be one of them.
Edit-For clarification, it was not a rental. It was a loaner bike provided by the dealer free of charge while they replaced my rear wheel due to a recall.
Thought I'd give a bit of a long-term update:
When I wrote this I had owned my Monster for almost a year. I owned that bike for 3 1/2 years and put 16,000 miles on it but the Multistrada was always there lurking in my thoughts. Especially when I spent more than an hour or so on my Monster in any one day. Ducati made my dream a reality when they announced the 2015 Ducati Multistrada and I inquired if they were offering any discounts on existing 2014 inventory, they were, and so I traded my beloved 2012 Ducati Monster 1100 EVO (it was a 2012 model but I bought it in June of 2011) for a 2014 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S back in late November. The discount basically allowed me to buy a brand new Multistrada 1200 S for base model pricing. Add the trade in amount from my bike and it made the deal very hard to resist.
Anyway, I have had my 2014 Multistrada 1200 S for a few months now and have put almost 2,000 miles on it between commuting and a few rides into the local mountains. Really, this is the type of riding I was doing on the Monster but it really wasn't ideal for this type of riding. No wind protection and not very comfortable for anything more than 2 hours. The Multistrada eats up the miles and leaves you feeling refreshed when you arrive.
I've done a fair bit of commuting on it, some 2 up riding with my wife (she loves the pillion and says it is very comfortable), and some solo longer rides into the local mountains with friends. Longest ride to date was just under 200 miles and about 4 hours in the saddle that left me with a slightly sore bum which tempted me into buying the Ducati Comfort Seat. So far so good with that but I haven't done any long rides with that seat yet as I've only had it a couple weeks.
Almost everything I said about this bike 3 years ago is still true today. Wind noise is still an issue even with the redesigned windshield, although, I do like the height adjuster on the '13-'14 model, it is much easier to adjust and you can do it one handed while riding. I don't know why I said the rear brake lever was too long, seems fine on mine, maybe Ducati changed this. Oh, and I cannot flat foot my bike. I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam and I'm on the balls of both feet when I'm sitting on this bike. It is tall. So if you are vertically challenged this bike, and the ground, might be out of reach for you. ^_^
The skyhook suspension works really well. For those who don't know, Ducati Skyhook Suspension uses a number of sensors and accelerometers on the front and rear suspension and frame to make micro adjustments electronically on the fly. It also allows you to change preload, compression and rebound at the touch of a button. It all works very well and is very easy to make adjustments on the fly.
I've set the bike to Touring Mode but with the Sport Mode throttle mapping. The difference between Sport and Touring mode mapping is very noticeable. Touring mode you still get 150hp but the mapping is less aggressive. Sport mode is holy crap this is taller, more comfortable 1198 mode. They should rename it Hooligan Mode. Touring mode also softens up the suspension a bit. I found a nice balance with touring mode and the bike setup for 2 up riding. It's not too stiff but it really feels planted. I tried urban mode once but honestly can't see much of a reason to ever use that mode. It softens up the suspension even more and cuts power to 100hp... WHY??? I haven't tried enduro mode.
I've had a slight problem with the fuel gauge recently and Ducati has ordered a new sending unit but it seems to be intermittent as it is working properly again after I filled up this morning. Everything else about the bike has been flawless.
Still haven't used the panniers (luggage) yet. When I rode it home from the dealer I removed them and they have sat in a closet at home ever since. They will remain there until I get a chance to do some overnight rides... plans are in the works. Anyway, the panniers are very easy to mount and remove from the bike and fit and finish is very nice. I doubt they would hold up well if you drop the bike but most parts on a motorcycle don't do well when the bike is on its side.
I haven't done any off-road riding nor do I intend to. This bike is so brilliant on the road and that's the reason I bought it. That is the type of riding I do and it excels at that. It is smooth, quiet, comfortable but it is also wickedly fast and capable in the twisties. I've done nothing to it other than a smoked Puig shorty windscreen and the Ducati comfort seat. I like the short windscreen for summer riding as it allows more cooling airflow over me
This is the best bike I've ever ridden and certainly the best bike I've ever owned. I would like to try the new 2015 Multistrada as I'm sure it will be even better but I don't want to be tempted either... that's ultimately what got me on this bike. :biggrin:
Last edited:
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