Is it just me

[Zombie Master]

or is the new Mutistrada 1200 touring making sense?

A Duck with heated grips, luggage rack and bags, center stand, and 24,000klm major service intervals.

Please explain why I shouldn't even think about this.

http://www.ducati.com/bikes/multistrada/1200_s/index.do

[Garnet]

As much as I lust after a Duc I just can't see myself heading off into the middle of nowhere with one. I know that they have improved dramaticly in recent years, but I came across an interesting thread on the Multi Strada forum.

A memeber had just turned over 100,000 miles on his 1000DS, and was planning on a new 1200MS. He got tons of congrats from the rest of the members and some went so far as to say that Ducati should buy back his bike and put it in their museum or use it as a national advert campaign.

Around here every other member has at least one BMW with a 100,000 miles or more.

Of course that may say more about the ridders than the bikes, but........................

[00weel]

Like Garnet I probably wont buy one.

So I would like to help you out.

I think it is time you quit thinking about one and go out and buy a red one and do a long term ride report for us.

The bike is bitchin!

The throbbing and the sound alone are an "E" ticket.

So when you getting one?

[Major Softie]

The only thing wrong with it is the price - oh, and the fact that it is a Ducati.

It is one hell of a motorcycle, but, it is a Ducati, so you should expect a lot more chance of reliability issues popping up. It's not at all unheard of for people to ride Ducs for 50k - 60k miles without any real issues, but the difference is, when one does it on a Duc, one was lucky. On a BMW, people bitch and whine if they have any major issues in "only" 50k - 60k miles.

The more consistent problem is parts availability. Now, it's WAY better than it used to be, but you are still dealing with Italy, and Ducati has NO parts warehouse in the U.S. - they air-freight everything over from Italy. Sooooooo, if you need something in August, you probably can't get it for 6 - 8 weeks. BMW has better parts availability than any other bike manufacturer, especially for older models, so we are all pretty spoiled. Ducati is one of the worst of the "major" manufacturers (if we can call them one of that gang), so that will be quite a conversion for you. Again, not nearly as bad as in the old days, but nothing like BMW.

[gspd]

...with heated grips, luggage rack and bags, center stand...

WOW ! I've never seen SO many great accessories all in one package.

and 24,000klm major service intervals.

This isn't a typical 'pop a beer and sit on a milk crate' Saturday afternoon airhead service session.
It is a nightmare that will re-occur many times before that bike reaches 100,000 miles and merits museum status.
If you are not predisposed to blindly and without consternation entrust it AND your credit card to your Ducati dealer at regular LESS than 24000kms, I predict it swallow you whole.
Did'nt you learn anything at all from your recent Soozook adventure?

[Zombie Master]

..
This isn't a typical 'pop a beer and sit on a milk crate' Saturday afternoon airhead service session.
It is a nightmare that will re-occur many times before that bike reaches 100,000 miles and merits museum status.
If you are not predisposed to blindly and without consternation entrust it AND your credit card to your Ducati dealer at regular LESS than 24000kms, I predict it swallow you whole.
Did'nt you learn anything at all from your recent Soozook adventure?

Yea I know Ducati ownership has traditionally been an expensive PIA. I've been reading that they are trying to change that.

What I did learn form my Shitzuki adventure, was that by buying a popular model, I was able to get replacement cams with matching rockers delivered to my door for less than $200. Try that with a Beemer! Now that I have put a bunch of miles, and several valve clearance inspections later, and there are no problems or lobe blemishes, I feel somewhat validated that I made a good decision buying that bike. When I want to upgrade there are lots of well know suppliers who know the formulas. Too bad Shitzuki doesn't look after their customers. Could be why their business is tanking in the USA. After owning a number of exotics I yearned for some conventional equipment. I guess I've had the brunette. The fire crotches are calling me

PS Thanx for your opinion!

[Major Softie]

GSPD is kinda right, in that the 24k service is NOTHING like an Airhead service. If you have it done by a dealer (and no one else will have the tools and knowledge if you aren't in a pretty big city), then you are probably looking at between $800 - $1200 for that service, which will primarily be for a valve adjustment and replacing the timing belts.

On the other hand, have you checked out the price of dealer service on a new BMW?

If you have the ability to do it yourself, about $500 for a shim kit and special tools will set you up for doing the valve adjustments for the life of the bike, and timing belts will be around $100 - $125 in parts every time they need to be done. A good home mechanic can do those two jobs in a weekend. A mediocre home mechanic should keep his hands out of the valve train, but can still do the timing belts.

[Deleted User 287]

A mediocre home mechanic should keep his hands out of the valve train, but can still do the timing belts.

wot about me?

[Major Softie]

A mediocre home mechanic should keep his hands out of the valve train, but can still do the timing belts.

wot about me?

The Not-A-Mechanic should keep his hands in his pockets.

[Zombie Master]

A mediocre home mechanic should keep his hands out of the valve train, but can still do the timing belts.

wot about me?

The Not-A-Mechanic should keep his hands in his pockets.

Confucius say: Man who keep hands in pocket, feel cocky all day.....Rob!