[narula123]

The Need for Comfy Speed:

As I age, the body demands a motorcycle which is more comfortable but the mind demands the adrenaline associated with mad brute power. I am also an advocate of safety tech on motorcycles (No 'Real men ride raw bikes" fundas for me).

My 10R was now even more acutely setup for the track and it was a royal pain to ride her on Sundays through the city traffic. Shes a mad banshee on the highways but her current tune doesnt make her a happy puppy in traffic or on broken roads. The engine heat and committed ergos arent good friends with my back beyond 100 kms either. Net-net shes not something I look forward to riding on our broken roads or through traffic.

My Ninja 650, though old, was still a pleasure to ride and made sure I was comfortable whenever I swung a leg over her. But shes still a basic 650cc twin and has limited dynamic capabilities. Make no mistake, shes a very capable machine but I had outgrown her a few years ago (thats why the 10R for the track). She still remained with me to take me everywhere else but the track. Riding her was no doubt fun but she made me miss the 10R's surge and safety net. Every fast highway run on her was us winning "Fear Factor" seasons in my head. Not a good feeling when you come home from a ride realizing you are pushing your luck.

Hence, the need (want?) arose of finding something which is comfortable, safe and yet powerful enough for me to replace the 650 with and use everywhere without yearning for the 10R's power. My mind zeroed down on two options - the Ducati Multistrada 1260S and the BMW S1000XR. I am not an off-road buff hence ruled out the BMW GS1250 and Africa Twin (both extremely competent machines in their genre) and the need for strong power (150bhp+) kept me away from the Tigers, and the Versys. The new Ninja 1000 was very tempting at the price and I did think about it a couple of times. If buying pre-owned, I was typically looking for something that was not more than 2-3 years old.

I was in no hurry to buy so was very picky about evaluating all the used options I saw on forums. Ducatis are mercurial machines and a badly kept one will be grumpy for a long time. Plus, both the 1260S and the XR are very rare to find though I did come across few which were either discarded for registration concerns or the crazy prices being quoted. Few of these options were very tempting specially a 2021 XR and a 1260 Enduro being sold by NS1 but they would have meant me breaking the bank and going way out of budget.

Divine Intervention:
They say patience pays and boy did it! Got talking to the Mumbai Ducati dealership and found out that there is a pre-owned BS4 (mid-2020 registered) Multistrada 1260S for sale under the Ducati Approved program. For the uninitiated, Ducati Approved is Ducati's pre-owned bike program where they verify the bike on various check points and then back it with warranty for the new buyer. The bikes obviously have to qualify an age and mileage criteria to be listed on Ducati Approved.

Spoke to the showroom and got some details on the bike. It sounded very very tempting on paper and looked super crisp & clean in the pics. The bike was also under warranty (important for Ducatis I am told) and had just been serviced a week ago. I blocked time with the dealership team to inspect and check out the bike in person.

Prompt as a swiss watch, I was at the dealership on the assigned date. The next 3 hours went about like a blur - Saw the bike, skipped a heartbeat, rode the bike, skipped another heartbeat, saw all details, agreed on the price & terms, gave deposit, had coffee, got back home.
It was only when I was back home did the enormity of what had just happened hit me. I had finally found a bike which was loaded to the gills on tech, carried 160 bhp (Yummy!), looked like a supermodel, had a personality that I loved and more importantly at a price I could stretch and afford.

The bike had done about 9000kms and was clean as a whistle. Ordered some Evotech (radiator guard, engine guard, oil cooler guard), Barkbusters (handguard protection) and Eazigrip parts from my mates at LazyAssBikers and then some SW-Motech bling. Got a fresh pair of Michelin PR5s from Torque Block in super quick time too. Everything installed, inspected and bike was ready for delivery. Next to go on were R&G case savers, Shocktube for the rear spring and a bit of trinkets here and there.

Being a bit cheesy, I decided to coincide the delivery date with my birthday in August. Finally, The Greyhound was home among the wishes and blessings of all loved ones.

The Greyhound's First Sprint:
Post the bringing home ceremony and adding a few fast Sunday ride kilometers, I decided to test her for what she is made - sports touring. Zeroed in on a 1600km round-trip to Udaipur from Mumbai. Why? Because Rajasthan is beautiful, weather is nice and the last 150kms from Shamlaji to Udaipur is probably the best riding tarmac I have witnessed in India so far (must go and thank me later).

She went about her business without a fuss the entire trip and the beautiful roads gave her ample opportunities to stretch her legs and make that 1260cc pot sing. The Skyhook tech really is a work of art and if you haven't experienced it on a motorcycle yet, trust me you need to do so atleast once. It just transformed the way I enjoyed the whole ride. The comfort, performance and convenience that the motorcycle gave me throughout the trip was exactly what I had in mind when I was thinking about what to buy. It just ticks all the right boxes on your list and then adds few other bonus ones to it. The ability to switch ride modes on the fly is oh-so-convenient when you move from a broken road section to a fast, winding highway and vice-versa. I have done Rajasthan before on the 650 and I can tell you that doing this trip on the Multi has been an amplified sensory experience vs the previous trips. The bike is almost intuitive in how she moves with you. (Remember the English movie Avatar where the rider connected neutrally to the bird-ish thing?)

The LED headlamps on the bike are probably the best OEM stuff I have seen on any motorcycle. They are highly effective even in pitch darkness and were a boon riding back from Udaipur where all the other bikes had halogens which were turning out to be useless. So far, I havent felt the need for Aux lights so thats one major expense off the list for now.

What I like so far:
1. That engine. Its a torque hammer and you can easily connect the 160bhp on paper to how the bike feels in real life. Specially on the Sports mode, the bike is proper hoot and easily catches the average-ridden-superbike on highways. The engine is very tractable even in the low power model with nice & crisp fueling but being an L-Twin it does feel a bit grouchy below 2000 rpm at crawling speeds. It revs clean all the way to the redline and the Desmo Valve system gives this engine a diabolical nature. Paired to a very smooth bi-directional quickshifter, the engine feels pleasant in any scenario. My favourite is the Touring mode unless I am in the mood for some fast fun (Sports) or crawling on broken city tarmac (Urban).

2. That suspension. I have no words to describe how awesome that Skyhook suspension is. Its a magic carpet ride which instantly transforms the bike into a pseudo-supersports handler if needed at the switch of a button. The front pre-load is manually adjusted but everything else is done electronically and you can fine-tune it through the console as well. The system gives you the option of choosing the level of load you are carrying as well - pillion/luggage or both.
Its a very very smart system and I have never experienced a two-wheeler suspension better than this. Period.

3. All that tech. You name it and the bike has it. The TFT is crisp. The cornering-enabled LED headlamp is wow, the electronic aids are well-tuned and the overall feel of riding the bike is proper premium. Ducatis are known to throw an electronic fit from time to time and the sensors arent really cheap. So far, so good. Keeping fingers crossed.
The drive-modes are very very nifty and allow you a zillion permutations on the suspension, engine & throttle settings and these can be shifted on the fly. They completely transform the way the bike feels and behaves. I am not even getting started on Hill-hold, cornering abs, 6-axis IMU, Brembo hardware etc.

4. That look. I love the way the bike looks and feels, specially in the matt-grey colour. Very stealth and classy. Honestly, the colour of the bike wasnt a decision input for me as usually Ducatis sold in India are the trademark Red. I was just plain lucky that this particular bike turned out to be the very rare Volcano Grey. Paired with the light golden alloys I just love how premium the whole bike feels vs the sporty looking Ducati Red.
Every angle feels well-chiseled and every part feels beautiful. I specially love the headlamp and tail-lamp design and only time will tell if I need aux lights to compliment the stock LEDs. The down-side of these tight looks is that everything on the machine is tightly packed and that doesnt give you too much room to install after-market parts (eg. Denalli horn).

5. Love the customer experience at both the Infinity Ducati showroom and service center. The teams are very courteous and accommodating and try their best to live upto your expectations.

What I think Ducati can do better:
1. I know people crib about heating on a Ducati but honestly, the Multi heats up lesser than my 10R in stop-go traffic. The only problem is that the rear cylinder is right under your buttocks and it makes it presence felt. It only becomes very noticeable when you are in the city traffic and hot enough to ensure you cant ride the bike in shorts. Its not unbearable, just uncomfortable.

2. Half the nuts and bolts need special tools which are rare and expensive. Imagine being unable to remove the rear wheel on a trip because neither you nor the road-side mech have the required tool for the single sided swingarm.

3. Every Ducati certified accessory is obnoxiously expensive. I understand that its made by brands like Rizoma but its still shockingly overpriced. I would sincerely recommend looking at after-market accessories as far as possible.

4. The build quality is decent but if you have ever felt/seen a GS or S1000 upclose you will realise that this is a slight notch below the BMWs. It feels better put together than my Kawasaki but at this price point the Italians could have probably matched the Germans a bit more. The Kawa's switches and instruments ofcourse are less flashy than the Ducati but the former feel slightly more reliable in the long run. Keep in mind, all the sensors and parts on the Ducati are expensive so warranty is a big plus on these bikes.

5. Small oversights (intentional?) like the bike has keyless ignition but the fuel tank lid needs you to use the key to unlock it. Ducati sells the keyless tank lid as an accessory though. Heck, I wish at this price the optional TPMS was standard fitment.

6. I knew what I was getting into when you buy a 1262cc L-Twin engine. It will guzzle fuel. But I was a bit taken aback to see the real-time consumption figures in Sports mode being nastier than what my 10R delivers on a track-setup tune. When is fuel coming under GST now?

The 1260 L-twin is a torque monster. So much so that it can be a proper handful in less-than-experienced hands. Infact, the first time I gave it the beans in sports mode it sort of woke me up as I did not expect this ferocity of torque to come in so early and in never-ending waves. Just a heads-up for the first time you experience this engine and challenge it to a showdown.

People always have polarized opinions about Ducatis, you either love them or hate them. There is no middle ground compromise the way you would do for a Jap brand. I for one, have always been excited by the proposition and personality of a Ducati, specially a Multi. So after having lived with two Japs for almost a decade, I wanted a different flavour. And trust me, Ducati and Kawasaki are chalk and cheese. Except the fact that both are motorcycles, there is nothing similar in the way they ride, behave, handle or perform. I am loving this dichotomy everytime I ride either of them and it gives me a feeling that for the moment my garage is complete.

Will keep updating this thread with more adventures of the many-roads oriented Greyhound! Adios.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Mr.Ogre]

Originally Posted by narula123

The Need for Comfy Speed:

As I age, the body demands a motorcycle which is more comfortable but the mind demands the adrenaline associated with mad brute power. I am also an advocate of safety tech on motorcycles (No 'Real men ride raw bikes" fundas for me).

.

I never knew it could be fun riding an adv until I got my Versys 650. Boy, she is a hoot to ride, and I can easily keep up and in some cases surpass averagely or better than averagely ridden bigger bikes from sports category. The fact is you are so comfortable even after pushing yourself trying to go fast, you are left with lot more energy than you anticipated. I will be keenly following your thread as I want to understand joys and pains of owning an exotic like a Ducati, Aprilia and BMW. The bikes from these manufacturers just make you go weak in your knees to the point of feeling hypnotised. I am keen to understand how reliable are these mechanically as I am now used to absolute bulletproof reliability from Yamaha and Kawasaki. I never had to visit service centre outside regular service even though I never baby my bikes. That's the kind of reliability I am looking forward to.

[narula123]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ogre

I am keen to understand how reliable are these mechanically as I am now used to absolute bulletproof reliability from Yamaha and Kawasaki. I never had to visit service centre outside regular service even though I never baby my bikes. That's the kind of reliability I am looking forward to.

I think more than Kawasaki its the Versys650 which is the epitome of bulletproof reliability. I have lived with both the Ninja 650 and the ZX10R for half a decade and the 650 has never seen the service center except for regular maintenance. That twin motor may not be the most exciting but is definitely the most trustworthy workhorse in my experience. No wonder Kawasaki continues to sell volumes based on that engine platform.

My Ducati experience so far has been faultless but Yes, I do get a feeling that the Japs can take a lot more abuse and still smile vs the Europeans. So whenever you are thinking of bringing home a Euro brand, do invest in max warranty and some more frequent TLC vs the Orientals.

[krishnaprasadgg]

Congrats on the tasty acquisition @narula123! She is such a beauty and Ducati somehow looks so much menacing in black! Can't wait to see the future ownership experience posts.

Originally Posted by narula123

As I age, the body demands a motorcycle which is more comfortable but the mind demands the adrenaline associated with mad brute power. Shes a mad banshee on the highways but her current tune doesnt make her a happy puppy in traffic or on broken roads. The engine heat and committed ergos arent good friends with my back beyond 100 kms either. Net-net shes not something I look forward to riding on our broken roads or through traffic.

My Ninja 650, though old, was still a pleasure to ride and made sure I was comfortable whenever I swung a leg over her....Every fast highway run on her was us winning "Fear Factor" seasons in my head. Not a good feeling when you come home from a ride realizing you are pushing your luck.

Hence, the need (want?) arose of finding something which is comfortable, safe and yet powerful enough for me to replace the 650 with and use everywhere without yearning for the 10R's power. My mind zeroed down on two options - the Ducati Multistrada 1260S and the BMW S1000XR. I am not an off-road buff hence ruled out the BMW GS1250 and Africa Twin (both extremely competent machines in their genre) and the need for strong power (150bhp+) kept me away from the Tigers, and the Versys.

I spent a good 5 minutes before deciding to share this, but here goes.
These lines you wrote spoke to me on another level. I had a very similar feeling during one of my rides on my brother's Tiger800. I was riding from Kerala to Goa and once I hit the Tumkur Highways it was just 200-300kms of open arrow-straight highways that I had to munch up and I found myself thinking "Damn!! the tiger feels underpowered!" and almost immediately I got offended at myself, I started having an internal conversation that went along the lines of "You spoiled brat, how can you even say something like that" to "Do you even know how ridiculous you sound right now" and finally to "Consider yourself privileged to even get the chance of riding such engineering marvels before nitpicking!".
I felt so much ashamed of myself for thinking like that, that I did not even discuss this with my closest riding buddies until very recently.

Later I realized it was a product of having been used to an ungodly amount of power at tap. Having ridden my R1 the amount of km I had when I reached the really wide-open stretch of highway where I had to cover more than 300-400kms in a day(this was 600 km) I really missed not having that kind of power available to me. For example, I never felt the Tiger to be underpowered on Kerala roads or even during my 400kms shuttles b/w Palakkad to Bangalore, that was because of the nature of the roads available to me for these rides the bike has enough power to keep the ride exciting(unless I am playing catchup to a freight train like accelerating superbike), it's only when I had a bigger km number dangling in front of me that I had to cover and I had enough open and visible stretch of road in front of me I felt it lacking. I do realize how still some people might ridicule the idea of 80-90bhp not being enough on our roads, it's just hard to explain and I feel @narula123 has explained it optimally here.

Anyways, let me end my rant here.

Originally Posted by narula123

Will keep updating this thread with more adventures of the many-roads oriented Greyhound! Adios.

Can't wait!

Cheers
Krishna

[narula123]

Originally Posted by krishnaprasadgg

I do realize how still some people might ridicule the idea of 80-90bhp not being enough on our roads

Thank you for your wishes!

I know exactly what you're talking about. Trust me, I did face few well-wishers telling me that a KTM 390 Adv has more than enough everything to keep me happy or that the Tiger 900 is a more reliable machine vs the Italians or that I will never use 160bhp while touring. I honestly did think about their suggestions for 12.62 nanoseconds but then my heart knew what I wanted and I know my riding feels better than anyone else.

If we go by the most practical yardstick then we dont need anything over a 390/400cc for our roads plus living with KTM/Bajaj will be peanuts on costs vs the big boys. But then, since when have motorcyclists been buying what they need vs what they WANT!

PS - The Shamlaji-Udaipur stretch made the Multi feel underpowered too and all of us were wishing we had got our Superbikes along for this stretch atleast! I am just hoping more such roads come our way in the future. (Before folks misquote me, its not about the speed but the acceleration associated with a full-bore engine)

[Cyborg]

Congratulations narula123 on a B E A U T I F U L bike and a great write up! Love your reasoning and heart mentality in picking up the 1260S.

Somehow Ducati’s really do evoke the “poetry in motion” kind of vibe which makes one go weak in the knees. Plus if you live in central or south Mumbai, I think it’s the only big bike manufacturer which has their service centre at Worli, please correct me if I am wrong. Not that it should matter, but it does make it a tad bit more convenient.

All the best, ride safe and please keep updating your ownership journey.

Cheers

[narula123]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Congratulations narula123 on a B E A U T I F U L bike and a great write up! Love your reasoning and heart mentality in picking up the 1260S.

Plus if you live in central or south Mumbai, I think it’s the only big bike manufacturer which has their service centre at Worli,

Thank you!

I wish I lived in "SoBo" but unfortunately no such luck and I live in the "burbs". Fortunately, the service intervals on the Ducati are 15,000 kms and that is a boon to an extent. I usually dont go by mileage and change bike fluids more frequently basis usage conditions and time lapsed (for eg. my 10R will possibly see 2-3 oil changes in a year considering the sort of usage I put the engine through). That aside, the Infinity Ducati service experience has been really good for me so far so I dont really mind going there to say hello and grab a coffee with them for small TLC on the bike at times.

[Rachit.K.Dogra]

Originally Posted by krishnaprasadgg

I was riding from Kerala to Goa and once I hit the Tumkur Highways it was just 200-300kms of open arrow-straight highways that I had to munch up and I found myself thinking "Damn!! the tiger feels underpowered!"

Cheers
Krishna

Originally Posted by narula123

The Need for Comfy Speed:

Riding her was no doubt fun but she made me miss the 10R's surge and safety net. Every fast highway run on her was us winning "Fear Factor" seasons in my head. Not a good feeling when you come home from a ride realizing you are pushing your luck.

Hearty Congratulations Narula123 on the beast!!
In my view, Ducati is kinda redefining sports touring, the way Porsche kinda did SUV with Cayenne!! Multi is the Cayenne of bikes for me!!

I have recently bit the ADV bug too. I was always of the opinion, that I would like sporty bikes even to tour, because in my mind I was ready to compromise on comfort a bit but not on the sporty aspect on twisties.

A ride on 390 ADV, totally forced me to question my opinions on motorcycling almost making me question whether I can even call myself a biker. I realized I am not doing motorcycling, I am just enjoying the ownership of a special motorcycle and this resulted in a chain reaction of new dreams and wants in my head.

Now, I also want an ADV. However, my preference (for now in my head) is a smaller bike. Primarily maybe because, we always go to hills for trips where smaller lighter bikes can feel more fun and most highways around Delhi are not necessarily empty stretches of roads, rather hugely traffic infected chaos. And also, I am not able to go on these trips that often, so want to keep a relatively inexpensive bike as the 2nd bike.

My heart wants a CB500 as owning a Honda has really made me love what the brand stands for and I absolutely love the CB500 for what it is. However, if only somebody can hit them on the head and make them price it rationally. I don't mind overpaying for something that I want, however at its current price it is not a matter of me wanting to pay, rather me being able to pay.

For me the fight is between the BMWG310GS and the 390 ADV. I want the 390 ADV, but it is bit tall for me. I can manage it in city, but on broken off road conditions, I am not that sure. Will test ride the 310GS.

But both of you are now making me think otherwise. My bank account is not going to like you both.

CHEERS!!
Rachit

[narula123]

Originally Posted by Rachit.K.Dogra

Hearty Congratulations Narula123 on the beast!!
In my view, Ducati is kinda redefining sports touring
My heart wants a CB500
However, if only somebody can hit them on the head and make them price it rationally
For me the fight is between the BMWG310GS and the 390 ADV.

Thanks Rachit. Coincidentally, Cayenne is also on my wishlist although it’s very rare for a salaried chap to buy and live with a Porsche in India.

The CB is such a lovely sorted machine but like all things Honda recently it is overpriced beyond reason. Between the KTM and the BMW, my vote would go to the 390 every single time. Its a superb VFM bike which gives you way more motorcycle than what you are paying for.

The heart vs head tussle you find yourself in right now will eventually settle either way and in hindsight you will look fondly upon this conundrum. Happy shopping!

[forty6]

I have long been troubled by the choice between the Multi and S1000XR. To me they were the only two options because when the good roads arrive, I want to get out of the corners faster.

I cam close to getting the Multistrada 950, but I don't think I was ready to let go of the Street Triple RS. And apart from the pain in the hind and wrist, the street triple took me nicely to the bottom of the country from the capital.

So, it isn't that it can't be done, but yeah on a Multi I would have gobbled miles faster without needing a hot water bottle at the end of the day.

I test rode the Multi 1260S, with my wife on the back, and gave it a bit of beans and her hands dug in my shoulders like a monster's in a scary film. That was worth a giggle.

Good call with this one, even better to be honest because the new Multi isn't coming with the 17inchers, except the insanely pricey pikes peak version. I am sure you will travel more with this one. Maybe enjoy track days enough on it to keep it as your only bike.

Happy riding. Keep us posted.

P.S: I think we are also on the Ninja 650 group on FB. That bike still makes me realise you don't really need more than 70-80 odd bhp on the highways in India. Only good chassis and brakes.

[vignesh.cv]

Hearty congrats on the acquisition Narula ! The multi is a wonderful machine and she makes for a really good long distance mile muncher. I've seen Shumi make Pune - Bangalore trips multiple times and commented on how comfortable the bike is as a daily commuter as well as touring. Wishing you many happy miles of riding

[narula123]

Originally Posted by forty6

I have long been troubled by the choice between the Multi and S1000XR. To me they were the only two options because when the good roads arrive, I want to get out of the corners faster.

Both bikes are amazing sports tourers with their own strengths & weaknesses and there are some good comparo videos on Youtube (check Chaseontwowheels) between them. I suggest ride both before you decide because they are quite different in their personalities.

Originally Posted by forty6

I cam close to getting the Multistrada 950, but I don't think I was ready to let go of the Street Triple RS. And apart from the pain in the hind and wrist, the street triple took me nicely to the bottom of the country from the capital.

It's a tough call mate. I know what a gem the RS is and an all-rounder at that. My suggestion is to go for the 950S if you do end up choosing the Multi 950. The S is worth the extra dough you will need to shell out.

Originally Posted by forty6

Good call with this one, even better to be honest because the new Multi isn't coming with the 17inchers, except the insanely pricey pikes peak version. Maybe enjoy track days enough on it to keep it as your only bike.

Spoke to a couple of journo friends who rode the new V4 and they had all good things to say about that 19 inch front. Said it doesn't handicap the dynamics on road at all and I concur with them after having briefly ridden a Multi V4. Ofcourse the Pike's Peak will be a different breed but will cost a leg and an arm.
I have seen Multis at the racetrack earlier and they can really move. That said, will I use the Multi for track-duties? For the kick of it maybe but it wont replace a dedicated track-bike for me for sure atleast in the near-term horizon.

Originally Posted by forty6

That bike still makes me realise you don't really need more than 70-80 odd bhp on the highways in India. Only good chassis and brakes.

Honestly, it was very very hard for me to let go of the 650 (she eventually went to a friend's house) because there is very little missing on that bike. Except maybe the suspension and the brakes there is not much that she falls low on. I would have honestly kept her if I was sure I will do justice to her despite the Multi being in the parking lot. Was extremely sad for me to bid her goodbye considering the decade of love we enjoyed together.

Originally Posted by vignesh.cv

Hearty congrats on the acquisition Narula ! I've seen Shumi make Pune - Bangalore trips multiple times

Thanks mate. Shumi's experiences with the Multi gave me confidence at some level of what the machine can do and how it is to live with one.

[RohanDheman]

Originally Posted by forty6

I cam close to getting the Multistrada 950, but I don't think I was ready to let go of the Street Triple RS. And apart from the pain in the hind and wrist, the street triple took me nicely to the bottom of the country from the capital.

Ooh this is interesting as i am also facing the same dilemma. I have the RS too and have done 18k km on it and really really love the bike and just not sure about selling her. But I now want to ride further and do longer rides and was seriously looking at the 950s and to me it made a lot of sense. I am not sure if i want to maintain 2 bikes given the usage.

If ok- can you drop me your number on my gmail- since i cant send you a pm and i would love to chat a lot more with you about this since we are pretty much in the exact same boat.Ride Safe!
Cheers
Rohan

PS- sorry for hijacking the thread Narula and many many congratulations to you on the 1260! I have been drooling and lusting for the Multistrada range big time now!

[Tuborog]

Congratulations on a great buy! Riding Multi is like enjoying a two wheeler in car like comfort, with awesome wind protection, great engine and top tier electronics. That is the reason most of the bikes in my Ducati group here are multis or diavels (another great tourer, multi is too tall for you). Happy riding