Ducati Multistrada 1200

[Groover]

It's something I'd like to add sometime soon (hopefully) but it would be a used one for sure. Liking the matt grey looks of the 2012-2013 models, but I'm probably going to need a better seat for 2-up and seems the 2015 and up may be better for that? (Corbin has a good one - https://www.corbin.com/ducati/dmulti15.shtml ).

All I know of these bikes is from YouTube videos and Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_Multistrada_1200 ), so hoping someone here has more to add and maybe some knowledge of years to stay away from, I used to have 1987 Honda XL-m 600 back in the day and I was really comfortable with the style of bikes, so this seems a logical step I think. I don't need all the bells and whistles, actually prefer the more simple ones (I think the older ones).

Let me know what you know 

[fotoguzzi]

What I know is nothing is simple about modern Ducati's. They are about the highest tech in the industry.

[blu guzz]

my son had a 2013.  i hated everything about it.  not all of the electronic things worked.  it felt twitchy and nervous most of the time.  he had a sargent seat that had a higher rear than front and you slid toward the tank and constantly had to push back on it and that seating space was very cramped front to back, so you better be thin.  the times i rode it, i could never just relax and think about the ride, always had to think about the bike.  he sold it for an africa twin that he finds much less hard edged. 
i would not ride one without a 2 hour test ride.

[LowRyter]

I don't think any new bike is simple, at least given electronics.  But my 939 Supersport has been reliable until I binned it.  Hope to be on the road with it soon. 

The 1200 is also an 11 degree Testastretta engine.  Very nice engine, and the 1200 will have more kick than my 937.  I think the big deal is the dashboards are subject to breaking and failing, the Desmo adjustment is 18k miles.  Gas gauge are considered crap as well as the mirrors.  Personally, I've not had these problems with 14k miles, other than stuffing some vibration material in the mirrors, and BTW, you can't change the turn signal LEDs in the mirrors.  Some of the early models had TPS issues (whatever it's called).

Trivia: The reason it's called an 11 degree engine is because of the overlap between the cams.  The sport engines have a 40 degree overlap.

You'll also need some special tools, particularly if the MS has a single sided swingarm.   A centerstand will make things easier.

[flip]

A few weeks ago, I went to a dealership and test rode an MV Agusta 800 Turismo Veloce. It was a very nice bike and was surprisingly comfortable but it felt small to me. The engine was lively and felt like the fly wheel weighed about 2 ounces.

The salesman that led me on the ride was on a 2011 Multistrada 1200. He suggested I try it which I did. A couple of times, I short shifted to 2nd gear and grabbed a handful of throttle and the front wheel came up a few inches and stayed there until I shifted to 3rd. That engine was smooth and had loads of torque.

Though the MV in person was a piece of art, I was strongly tempted by the Multistrada but passed on both.

[Lannis]

What I know is nothing is simple about modern Ducati's. They are about the highest tech in the industry.

I'd like a Ducati, but if I get one it's going to be as simple a one as they make - air-cooled 2-valve Monster or something like that.   I considered an ST4 before I bought the Triumph Trophy but they make the Triumph look simple in comparison!

Lannis

[jrt]

I bought a 2011 Multi in 2012 and I finally sold it earlier this year to buy the V85tt.  Talk about a frame shift!
I really, really enjoyed the Multistrada.  It was smooth, super fast and had the electronic Ohlins suspension-- and I put on the Ohlins adaptive SCU unit. 
I had the Termi exhaust and 'race' ecu as well.  Don't know how much that helped, but mine seemed to go pretty well from 3K rpm on up.  Below that, it was jerky-jerky.  Of course, it really liked being on the pipe at 9-12K rpm.  I didn't do that very much...

The handling was confidence inspiring-  mine was (almost) always very composed and followed a line well.  Accelerating out of a corner was a lot of fun.
Front brake was great. The rear brake sucked.  And had to be bled on occasion or else it would go flat (about once a year).  Expensive maintenance.  It is a tall motorcycle- I have 32" inseam and it was a stretch to reach the ground or kick my leg over the seat.  Not a big problem, but annoying.  I disliked the aesthetics- I thought it was an ugly motorcycle. 
Some people had issues with the tank swelling.  Mine did not have that (I used plain old premium gas when I could- I am sure it has ethanol in it)

I thought the stock seat was....able to be endured.  Not great, not bad.  The gearing was too tall for me-  cruising at 90 mph was not much more than idling, it seemed.  I also liked the upright seating position, but the seat mostly locks you into one spot.  I had an ST4 before- great bike, but hurt my elbow.
I took it from St. Louis up and around Lake Superior; wat is a good long-haul bike. 
The range was not all that impressive- 120 miles or so?  before I would start to get nervous. 
Driving back through the U.P., I drove through a frog-drowner- as in there was an inch or so of standing water in the road, because it couldn't run off fast enough.  No place to get out it, so I drove (45 mph) through it.  It was so heavy that it washed my inspection sticker off the front fork!  But I didn't have any issues with electronics- all the buttons and controls continued to function properly.

The Ducati luggage is pretty (panniers- I did not have a top case) and large enough for me, but they are a bit delicate.  I never had a problem with them. 
I really liked the Givi windscreen for it- it was just the right height for me

I do not know how comfortable it is for a passenger, but my daughter fell asleep on the back one time.  Good thing for monkey-instincts.  .

[LowRyter]

Yeah, the old air cooled Ducatis aren't in the same sentence with Testastretta bikes.  You might as well talk about a Guzzi or air cooled Triumph. I haven't ridden the new air cooled Ducs.

[coast range rider]

I bought a 2011 Multi in 2012 and I finally sold it earlier this year to buy the V85tt.  Talk about a frame shift!
I really, really enjoyed the Multistrada.  It was smooth, super fast and had the electronic Ohlins suspension-- and I put on the Ohlins adaptive SCU unit. 
I had the Termi exhaust and 'race' ecu as well.  Don't know how much that helped, but mine seemed to go pretty well from 3K rpm on up.  Below that, it was jerky-jerky.  Of course, it really liked being on the pipe at 9-12K rpm.  I didn't do that very much...

The handling was confidence inspiring-  mine was (almost) always very composed and followed a line well.  Accelerating out of a corner was a lot of fun.
Front brake was great. The rear brake sucked.  And had to be bled on occasion or else it would go flat (about once a year).  Expensive maintenance.  It is a tall motorcycle- I have 32" inseam and it was a stretch to reach the ground or kick my leg over the seat.  Not a big problem, but annoying.  I disliked the aesthetics- I thought it was an ugly motorcycle. 
Some people had issues with the tank swelling.  Mine did not have that (I used plain old premium gas when I could- I am sure it has ethanol in it)

I thought the stock seat was....able to be endured.  Not great, not bad.  The gearing was too tall for me-  cruising at 90 mph was not much more than idling, it seemed.  I also liked the upright seating position, but the seat mostly locks you into one spot.  I had an ST4 before- great bike, but hurt my elbow.
I took it from St. Louis up and around Lake Superior; wat is a good long-haul bike. 
The range was not all that impressive- 120 miles or so?  before I would start to get nervous. 
Driving back through the U.P., I drove through a frog-drowner- as in there was an inch or so of standing water in the road, because it couldn't run off fast enough.  No place to get out it, so I drove (45 mph) through it.  It was so heavy that it washed my inspection sticker off the front fork!  But I didn't have any issues with electronics- all the buttons and controls continued to function properly.

The Ducati luggage is pretty (panniers- I did not have a top case) and large enough for me, but they are a bit delicate.  I never had a problem with them. 
I really liked the Givi windscreen for it- it was just the right height for me

I do not know how comfortable it is for a passenger, but my daughter fell asleep on the back one time.  Good thing for monkey-instincts.  .

I also had the Ohlins version with the optional SCU, decat pipe, and remap. @jrt that was an excellent summary. My experience was the same except for the 120 mile range you mentioned. That must have been at a good clip. For my all around riding (panniers removed) I had an easy time getting 200 miles per tank. I never minded the tall gearing, in fact I liked idling along on a freeway cruise. The option to downshift was always there. I must have also "really really enjoyed the Multistrada," or else I wouldn't have ridden it over 90,000 miles. Build quality was impressive. I only sold it because I was tired of the maintenance burden. Moto Guzzi has solved that problem for me.

[LowRyter]

I'm impressed with JRT's fuel mileage. 

Someone said that all the Duc models are set so have the fuel light come on at 125 miles.  There should be another gallon in the tank.

Of course the Sportbikes get worse mileage.

[Bpreynolds2]

I briefly owned a 2011 standard model without the electronic suspension.  I have and will always drink the orange kool-aid so it should be no surprise to hear me say I think the 1190 Adventure I own now does pretty much everything better with the slight exception of slower steering due to the 19” front wheel (Ducati has a 17”).  I feel like my 1190 pulls much harder, has way more character, and is just an animal in comparison; however, the Ducati does have such a greatly even spread of power that it’s deceiving how truly fast it is.  So smooth too.  It goes about its business in a very undramatic and solid way.  As per handling, I didn’t have the Ohlins version and the front end always felt vague to me; yet, what it lacked in communication it more than made up for in delivery as I gained confidence in the bike the more I rode it, going wherever I pointed it, being stable, and changing direction quickly (though it’s not a bike you can “toss” around so much).  It had great wind protection and unlike some reports here, I thought the bike was pretty comfortable over miles though it did vibrate a bit through the frame and pegs.  Gas mileage was decent especially for a bike of such power, always 38-42ish.  My KTM gets better mpg and much longer range with a bigger 6.1 tank.  The keyless start on the Multi is still in my book one of the most annoying things anyone can put on a bike.  Make sure your fob battery is relatively new and make sure it’s not too far from your pocket or the front end of the bike, or else the bike won’t sense it.  Hated that feature, wouldn’t want it on any motorcycle.  For giggles google Multistrada 1200 Rear Brake and look over your results.  It had one of the absolute worst rear brakes of the 30 or more bikes I’ve owned.  Seriously, guys complain about brakes all the time but no, that’s not what I’m saying; I’m saying it was barely a brake at all.  I tried all sorts of the “suggested” fixes and nothing much worked, and nothing much works for anyone really.  The Ducati/Givi luggage matched the bike nicely and “okay” in function though it’s not built to say, Hepco Becker standards - I say this though now in my older riding days I just plain prefer lighter, softer dry bags.  But I’ll say that luggage actually made a nice bike even sharper on the Multi. 

As I read back over this it sounds really negative but it shouldn’t.  It’s a fantastic motorcycle and a lot of the things I love more about my KTM, someone would readily prefer the Ducati with the smoother engine and deceptively nice demeanor. 

As has been mentioned, it is not simple in any regard but at least Ducati has spread out the service intervals on it.

[ssrealty]

I purchased a 2014 1200 Multistrada base model new. Later, I purchased Ducati matching bags, top case, and heated grips. I also installed a non keyed gas cap in case I ever lost key fob. Just enter code, and you never need a key fob. I also use a blank non computer chip key for the Ducati side bags and top case. This eliminates the need for the electronic key.

The Multistrada is my two up long riding touring bike. I have done multiple 400-500 day rides from Austin to Twisted Sisters. Also rode to Big Bend in South Texas. Have 24,000 mi. on bike. Only problem I have had is the fuel sending unit. Fuel sending unit has been replaced a couple of times, but Ducati covered repair even after warranty expired. I think ethanol gas is the cause of the fuel sending unit failure. But BMW and other bikes have same problem. Never had any electronic problems. You need to ride Ducatis frequently, or you may need to bleed the rear brakes. My Ducati 796 Monster's rear brake was much worse.

The 1200 Multistrada overall is a great bike. My Multistrada does not have the Ohlins, electronic suspension, TFT color screen, cornering ABS or cruise control. Newer Multistrada model has these and more features. You can probably pickup a 1200 Multistrada for around $8,000 or less. I can't think of a better sport touring/adventure bike. It is also very fast, fun, and good for long distance rides. The only thing I don't like about adventure type motorcycles is the higher seat height.

When I did my Italy tour last year, I rented a newer 1260 Multistrada. Honestly, other than fancy electronics, it rode about the same as my older model. I think my 1200 engine had more character.

I also own a 2017 Ducati SS S and a 2017 V7III Stone. I just purchased the last 2020 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 (Trials bike) in dealer's inventory this summer. The Bullet 500 is no longer being manufactured by Royal Enfield. I love all of my motorcycles.

[jrt]

When I say '120 miles'- that's not 'out of gas'.  That's just me getting nervous.  I never ran it dry.  So- just to be clear, I have no clue what the actual range is.

[Groover]

Great replies guys, this is the exact type of information I was hoping for. In regards to the seat height and gearing, two questions - can the shocks be lowered say an inch, and also, can say the front sprocket be changed to maybe one with 1 less tooth?

[ssrealty]

Great replies guys, this is the exact type of information I was hoping for. In regards to the seat height and gearing, two questions - can the shocks be lowered say an inch, and also, can say the front sprocket be changed to maybe one with 1 less tooth?

Ducati has a shorter seat you can purchase as an accessory. I have it. I can flat floot with the shorter seat. Keep in mind, this is more of an adventure bike, so seat is higher than say a Yamaha FJR.

[Motormike]

I've been lusting after the 1260 Grand Tour as soon as it came out. Just much too pricy for me now that I no longer generate a paycheck.  I have the ugly first-gen air cooled version.  24,000 miles without so much as a hiccup.  But the fuel gauge on it is getting sluggish to respond when I fill up, ethanol or not.  The variable cam timing seems to have tamed the model from the earlier 1200cc versions.  Some miss the character.  Maybe after a couple of years depreciation, I can spring for the GT version.

[Groover]

Motormike, that does not look ugly! What year is that one?

[Motormike]

That's the new 1260S.  The Grand Tour version comes with bags, and a bunch of other smaller items standard.  Big bucks though, $23,295 retail.  Ouch!  I think it's a looker though.

[usedtobefast]

For a Guzzi guy, you might want to consider the Multistrada 1100s.  I call it the ugly-strada.  Air cooled engine, way fewer electronics, a bike you can actually maintain yourself, and fairly easy to find reasonable priced used ones.  Get one with all the stuff you want on it and then just spend maintenance money.

Some of the stuff the other guys on the thread added to their 1200s, wow, MEGA dollars!  And a used 1200 with no warranty, could getting into some pricy dealer visit for repairs. 

If you have plenty of money, then no worries.   

[Motormike]

The old air-cooled Multi's are a blast to ride.  Mine has been trouble-free except for one big issue...plastic fuel tank expansion.  All the Ducatis of that generation have the issue of tank expansion caused by ethanol gas.  Really sucks.  No work-around for an otherwise excellent bike.