Arse as tight as a Nun's chuff

[agnes]

Well, keep it shiny sides up if you're commuting in this weather, I almost lost it twice due to ice. My road (and 3 roads after that until I hit salted roads) hasn't been salted.

First butt clench was as I was coming out, I had the rear step out on me and my TCS start to flail it's arms, which didn't help actually. The second was the worst, I was going along a straight, the last road to my work and I applied a TINY bit of power and the rear stepped out on me again, but this time the bike drifted with it! On a straight road!!! Needless to say, I clenched yet again.

But, little tip for those new riders amongst us, do NOT grab at your brakes, let the bike find grip.

Anyway, be careful guys. I'm actually starting to think about getting the train... Never succumbed to the weather before on previous bikes, ice or snow. But this is over £11,000 that I'm playing with...

 

[agnes]

Yea, the Multi has a little ice symbol on the aux dash to let you know the chance of ice is high. Which is nice and annoying as it's also the part of the dash that reads out other useful info lol.

But I think I will create a new rule for me, if the symbol is on when I start the bike, I get the train.

 

[agnes]

I rode my 748 all through the year of 2008 including the INSANE snow fall we had... Really I should just man up.

 

[agnes]

You should buy a 600 quid scratcher to get you through the winter rather than risk 11k of lovelyness.

I know, I should know better, but I can't stop riding the thing! It's well protected with ACF 50 with no rusting.

I bought it for a commuter as well as a sports tourer, so I didn't have to spend silly money on trains and take over twice the time to get to work.

I wouldn't mind a second bike that I couldn't care less about, but I don't see the point now. Winter has maybe a month or 6 weeks left at best?

How's the Multistrada working out agnes? I'm still on the hunt for mine - wedding costs are making the search a little more challenging at the moment, but I've a ride out to Germany planned in April and I'd dearly love to have one to replace the Shiver which really isn't suited to that sort of trip.

It's brilliant mate, I'm so glad I went for it over the Panigale 1199. It was a close choice, but ultimately, I'm glad I went for the Multi. It was cheaper on the wallet leaving me with some cash to buy goodies for it as well.

I have NO gripes so far, not a single one. The alternating modes work amazingly, I often use a mixture of urban and touring. Urban mode to get through and out of Reading. Then touring for the M4 to my work. The modes really do feel different. Urban mode allows you to really throw the bike around as the sluggish throttle, soft and low suspension and ramped up traction control really let you just rag it from lights and weave with ease between traffic. Touring also shines when cruising, easy throttle response but with all the power if you need it.

Actually, one gripe, although it's not a gripe, is it loves to wheelie when you give it the beans lol. Specially when 2 up! I learnt my lesson... "DID YOU JUST WHEELIE!!??!!!?" "No dear?"... *Sudden beating in the sides* "DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN YOU ****!"

I've not used sport properly yet, simply as I only bought it maybe 2 months ago now, I've done over 2,000 miles on it since then though.

Bring on the dry weather! I have a trip up to Scotland for the end of February and then the spring meet with you lot at the start of April.

On top of that, I have a week away booked to go to the Moto GP in Catalunya with my girlfriend. We will be going in a group of bikes.

I strongly recommend it, you won't be disappointed!

 

[agnes]

Really, what time of year did we get snow last year mate...?

I know Anyway, just put an offer in on a few bandits online...

Multi purpose, cheap bike (around £1k) I don't give 2 shades of poo about and also, my gf wants to get into biking, so can take her to a empty car park and give her some lessons on it and not care if she drops it. Then if she does the test, she can have it

 

[agnes]

I am pro Ducati, but I will admit faults when there are some.

I've been lucky with mine, none so far.

And personally, it's like that with most bike forums, most of the posts will be about issues as people want others with the same bike to fix them.

I think that Ducati's still need extra TLC over other Jap bikes, that's a given. But they are much sturdier than they used to be.

If you're coming to the meet, you can jump on mine if you like for a bit. The biggest thing people don't like is the vibration and raw feedback the frame gives. It's very jerky and rough. Not like a IL4 which is smooth.

 

[agnes]

Thanks for the update agnes - good to know it is working out so well for you. They certainly can't have too many problems - there are so few out there in the market! My search continues...

I got a cracking deal, 2011 1200S Touring with 5,900 miles on the clock (now 8,300!!!) 2 months ago. It came with the top box (official Ducati colour coded one) with the panniers and all the normal touring extras (heated grips, centre stand etc). MRA screen (vital in my opinion, standard one is cack) as well as the original.

It was in mint condition, clearly never seen rain. It's filthy now. I paid £11,000 for it. So glad I bought it

And yes Bakes, the speed it can achieve and the sheer power it puts down often catches me out, but for the good!

Going from the really sluggish, low down power (100hp from 150hp), low soft suspension to sports mode is mind boggling on how it's the same bike...

 

[agnes]

You're really selling it, it sounds fantastic. I'd love a bike to be so versatile like that, but also handle well! Something I could take to Europe and rag around for fun, at the same time.

What's the tank range like?

Ah, the question that turns me off on the bike...

I've not really had much of a riding experience away from commuting. On average from the 20l tank, I will get 120 miles. Cruising on the motorways, pushing near to 180.

HOWEVER! This is the 2010-2012 with the **** fueling, which can be sorted from a dyno run. Which I will get once I sort the termi out.

The 2013 version with the dual ignition has a MUCH better mpg.

Back on the good points, girlfriend was on the back today. Hit some twisties but mostly urban mode in town. Again, the suspension system working wonders, before setting off I put it into 2 up mode on urban mode, bike adjusts all the suspension for me! Easy as pie. Also, 6k rpm and she was rather enjoying the vibrations...