[surjaonwheelz]

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

The only running of this sort is a 18k run VStrom here on teambhp

Seems you've missed an excellent thread

He has done 60k and 50k on his V-Strom 650 and 390 Adv respectively within 4 years of overlapping ownership! Our Mile muncher, rb2399

Happy riding,
surjaonwheelz

[100Kmphormore]

Thanks for referring me to the thread! I’m still getting to know other bhpians and am a intermediate newcomer to ADV owners here yet. Please share any other similar threads

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Seems you've missed an excellent thread

He has done 60k and 50k on his V-Strom 650 and 390 Adv respectively within 4 years of overlapping ownership! Our Mile muncher, rb2399

Heck even I had missed his recent updates although I’ve seen this thread long ago.

That is incredible running indeed over a four year period. Thanks for linking this here. Did a speed glance on it and I’m going to enjoy checking this thread in more detail and re-reading some older posts.

[camitesh]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Weekend 1:
Went with my ADV biking group to Tapola (near Mahabaleshwar) with the Tiger. This was an all ADV crew with a lineup comprising a 1200 GS; a 1250 GSA; Africa Twin DCT; a Tiger 900 Rally Pro; Multistrada 1200S and my trusty Tiger 800 - now come to think of it, the “junior most” in the line up on sheer cubic capacity.

What an amazing lineup of almost all the top of the line big ADVs.

Wondering what's your thought process like here to not pick up the keys to your Multistrada, which would have been arguably a more ideal match-up in this lineup. Though Tiger 800 isn't exactly out of place either.

Originally Posted by Axe77

We went to Tapola on Saturday and on day 2, crossed over to Bamboli village via Ferry, riding from there to Kaas and then returning to Mumbai via Satara.

Did you mean Bamnoli village?

How are the restrictions like these days in Kaas? Still need the prior permits for visit?

Tapola Kaas etc. has been one of my favorite riding/driving destinations if I have 2-3 days in hand. Have explored this region quite a bit but never knew about ferry to Bamnoli. Will plan to explore this soon. Do you have any more information on ferry timings, availability etc.

If you guys are in that region again, I suggest visiting Thoseghar falls, Chalkewadi wind mill farms if you haven't already. Cheers!

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by camitesh

What an amazing lineup of almost all the top of the line big ADVs.

Wondering what's your thought process like here to not pick up the keys to your Multistrada, which would have been arguably a more ideal match-up in this lineup. Though Tiger 800 isn't exactly out of place either.

Well I was supposed to do a very similar ride on both weekends. Just decided to take the Tiger for this one and the Multi for the next one.

Did you mean Bamnoli village?

How are the restrictions like these days in Kaas? Still need the prior permits for visit?

Haha - sorry that was a typo. Indeed I meant Bamnoli (corrected it now in my post - thank you). We just did a fly by for Kaas since we didn’t want to stop. But you need to park a little distance away and then there are shuttle buses to the plateau.

Tapola Kaas etc. has been one of my favorite riding/driving destinations if I have 2-3 days in hand. Have explored this region quite a bit but never knew about ferry to Bamnoli. Will plan to explore this soon. Do you have any more information on ferry timings, availability etc.

I think it starts early morning around 6 am and there is one every 30 mins.

If you guys are in that region again, I suggest visiting Thoseghar falls, Chalkewadi wind mill farms if you haven't already. Cheers!

Absolutely. In fact, I had spoken with fellow Mod Libran a few weeks ago and thanks to his inputs, this is the exact route I had mapped out for my group ride on Weekend 2 (its now postponed to a weekend to be decided in Nov). The route I had planned was Bbay to Khed, short detour to Necklace point (Bhor), back on the road to Satara and turn in for Thoseghar waterfalls and Chalkewadi windmills. Back track for lunch at either Heritage wadi or Manas, and then ride up to Mahabaleshwar with possible halts at Baghdad point or even Lingmala entry point (not the trek up to the falls, just the point).

[Yash390]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Hi. Thank you for the kind words but just to clarify (you may have missed my opening post where I reported the purchase details), while the 25k on the 2018 Tiger is all mine, the Multi I bought used in end March 2022 when the odo already stood at about 53.xx kms (I’ll clarify that in the previous post as well). So about 3 - 3.5K of that total running is mine, with the bulk of it in the hands of its previous owner who pretty much used the bike as a daily. Everything from daily work commutes to regular Bombay - Bangalore runs in his hands.

Hi Axe, such an enticing garage you have !

If I may ask, is this the Multistrada Shumi (moto journalist, ex-Powerdrift) previously owned ? If yes, I am quite sure the bike has been taken care of like a baby and used exactly how such a machine should be, not just a garage queen.

[sukiwa]

Originally Posted by Axe77

In fact, I had spoken with fellow Mod Libran a few weeks ago and thanks to his inputs

77 seeking help from 87 .

Originally Posted by Yash390

If I may ask, is this the Multistrada Shumi (moto journalist, ex-Powerdrift) previously owned ?

Let me tell you a secret, it isn't. In fact, Axe77 doesn't even know anyone with first name starting with S.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by Yash390

If yes, I am quite sure the bike has been taken care of like a baby and used exactly how such a machine should be, not just a garage queen.

Thanks Yash. Yes it is, although I purchased it from the Ducati showroom folks who had taken the bike off him for the V4S trade in. I had taken the Multi for an L1 track day with T.W.O. though a few months ago so was nice to do sessions with him and Anand with the Multi with me. He’s maintained it immaculately, as one can imagine. I also maintain all my vehicles really well so that aspect gave me serious comfort in pulling the trigger on a bike with high running.

Fun fact: The Multi is still running the revised sprocket that he had installed which makes it even more brutal on low end acceleration.

Originally Posted by sukiwa

In fact, Axe77 doesn't even know anyone with first name starting with S.

I positively deny that Sukiwa. I know all the famous people from Pune who’s name starts with S.

[100Kmphormore]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Thanks Yash. Yes it is, although I purchased it from the Ducati showroom folks who had taken the bike off him for the V4S trade in. I had taken the Multi for an L1 track day with T.W.O. though a few months ago so was nice to do sessions with him and Anand with the Multi with me. He’s maintained it immaculately, as one can imagine. I also maintain all my vehicles really well so that aspect gave me serious comfort in pulling the trigger on a bike with high running.

Fun fact: The Multi is still running the revised sprocket that he had installed which makes it even more brutal on low end acceleration.

Exactly, what a question I had asked and what an answer! Shubhabrata is someone I have been following since I was a teenager 12 years ago on power drift. He has maintained it very well and has documented its ownership on Instagram. He did not know who purchased his bike as he had traded it in.

[Axe77]

Odo is currently a little over 26,500 kms and I thought this is as good a time for an update as any.

1. Major service and AMC

Got the major service for the bike done at just over 25,000 clicks, about a month or so ago. The bike is feeling great. Its on brand new tyres since 24,300 kms or so and now the injectors and throttle body cleaning has been done amongst other things. I’m really unsure whether I’ll be selling this bike in the next 4 - 6 months or 8 - 12 months. Finally decided to just get the AMC done anyway on the small chance its the latter because the savings would be well worth it. If I sell it sooner, so be it - hopefully a potential buyer appreciates the savings in the immediate term.

The detailed job card break up is in the image below. The job itself was smoothly undertaken as always. I wasn’t happy with the throttle setting the first time around and sent it back and Shaman sorted that out promptly to my satisfaction.

xxxxx——-xxxxx——-xxxxx

2. Off road training camps:

I did some nice riding as well since the bike has been serviced. Did a Sunday Level 2 training end of October with Off Piste Racing (Ashish Raorane). He broke down the day really nicely piecing together riding skills on loose gravelly surfaces for both ascends as well as descends to build the day towards taking a long steep sloping & banked gravelly embankment all the way down which immediately immediately then turns into a similar steep but narrow climb up. The day ended with us goofing around the enclosed dirt track jumping around the bike and what not for pics.

The day before this training I took a nice long ride from Bombay to Pune breaking out from Lonavala towards the back of Aamby Valley, from some no roads to broken roads coming out at the incredible Tamhini ghat tarmac. From Lonavala onwards I was accompanied by my pal who’s just got himself a 1250 GS triple black.

More recently, over the last weekend went to Panchgani for some L1 / L2 (mostly L2) training via Goodwind Moto Tours (GMT) with Adib (of Prospect Panchgani and this year’s GS trophy finalist), Kamran and Vishal and their fantastic friends who crew for them.

Adib and Prospect are like a home away from home for me - it is by far my go to place in Panchgani. I just love everything about it, the vibe, the food and the lovely riding that region offers. And the GMT boys are also absolutely fantastic fun. So loved the 2 days of banter, insanely good food and some smashing training. They had created lovely mud tracks, an entire slush pit, a 70 degree incline to climb and descend from and some stone and gravel paths to practice those skills with some tight U turns thrown in.

Some pics below from each of these sessions. Special shout to @ay_viisuals for that cracking pick of the bike going through the slush while these boys were spraying us sideways with water hoses (right into our eyes and overall) to unsettle us on that stretch.

The special surprise was that they had lined up the Harley Pan Am and both the 1200 Tigers (GT Pro and Rally Pro) for all the participants to have a go at as they pleased on the track. I took a few rounds on all these bikes and I must say the 1200 Tigers - both of them were pretty darn impressive - specially the quality of their suspension and the incredible balance they sport despite the weight they carry. I was reasonably at ease on both these bikes despite the Rally Pro specially being particularly tall for me.

I love these training sessions in a controlled environment because these help simulate some of the technical portions one encounters while riding these big ADVs up in the mountains. Always good to practice when you can so have that little extra edge of confidence when you’re in similar conditions in real world riding.

Will let the pics tell the rest of the story.

Part 1: The ride from Lonavala to Pune via Aamby and Tamhini.



Route map recorded via Garmin


A little before Khandala. Catching the lovely sunrise.








Ending the nice long ride with a super late lunch at Malaka Spice - very close to the lovely Conrad Pune where I was put up for the night.

Part 2: At Off Piste Racing



Just outside the briefing area before the day’s training.


The day’s final exercise - the downslope which was immediately followed by the climb up.



Above and below - general end of day tomfoolery now that the obstacles were done with.




Part 3: At Panchgani with GMT



Above and below - the cracking line up.




Staring into that gorgeous landscape



Above and below: Going through that crazy slush pit. They’re busy jet spraying your face and body as you navigate through this.




The tractor pulling the water tanker actually got stuck in the slush pit and had to be towed out by their Isuzu.


Group at the base of the slush before the first round. Who’s going first boys!


Stunning capture by @ay_viisuals. I just screen grabbed this off insta so forgive the low quality res.


What’s left of the boots at the end of 1.5 days of some fun filled hard riding.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Odo is currently a little over 26,500 kms and I thought this is as good a time for an update as any.

Postscript: Some Multistrada updates

The Multi hasn’t been quiet either in this time. Other than the routine Sunday rides, the Multi did a long one to (Meridien) Mahabaleshwar as well. We returned via the spectacularly beautiful Medha route (did that on Saturday evening ride as a standalone ride and also used that route for our return to Mumbai). Its an incredibly scenic route and I recommend it to anyone riding to Mahabaleshwar specially by cutting out the Wai entry.

I had got the bike in the end of March at about 53400 kms IIRC. Its now just crossed over past 58,000 kms or so. Just finished my 60k Desmo service as well - I already had front brakes with me so while they were due for change my bill didn’t include the cost of those brakes. The chain and sprocket still have some life left in them so that will be the next expense. The tyres too will last another 3 - 4K kms but again, I have already purchased the set. Just a matter of changing these now when these give up.

Overall the desmo service, with some friendly discounts on parts and labour set me back about INR 61,000.

[Axe77]

Had a work trip to Goa last week - was the perfect opportunity to ride down with a few other colleagues as well.

We were staying around Bambolim so took the Nipany - Amboli route. The roads are absolutely fantastic barring really very small patches of bad roads in between. I've ridden twice to Goa before this - both times on the Tiger. So I was really looking forward to riding down on the Multi at least once. Also got to test my SW Motech semi rigid saddle bags on this ride, (combined with the Kriega 30L) as well as the new riding gear (Revit Sand 4 suit and the adventure touring helmet).

All in all, uneventful ride (in a good way). The Multi was fantastic, particularly given that its hot off its 60k desmo service from just around end of November. Leaving a few pics below from the ride.

This one is actually from the return journey.


With luggage loaded up at the hotel lobby


A breakfast outing at Padaria Prazares is now almost mandatory for any trip to Goa.



Above and below: A quick early AM ride out to near Raj Bhavan to catch sunrise.

[Axe77]

4 years and a few months, 27,000 kms and just like that, as of last night, she’s gone.

Put her up for sale just over the weekend and already had 4 - 5 serious inquiries flow in just through word of mouth network to start with. Had a brief bout of flu on the weekend and then a serious medical emergency in the immediate extended family so couldn’t show it the first half of the week but the first chap who came home day before night, loved it, wired the full money yesterday afternoon and took it home last night. A dealer helped broker the deal on a commission basis.

It already had all the protective add ons one can think of and I sold it lock-stock with literally everything conceivable, including the entire luggage system, even one set of Aux lights of the two I had on (which many sellers remove). Primarily because I don’t have the mental bandwidth for strip selling individual parts and secondary reason being I’d actually like the owner to receive it with all its add ons so its genuinely ready to use to the fullest in every respect. The bike has a running AMC till end 2023 with a general check up and full service remaining to be availed, less than 3000 km run tyres and a relatively new battery (Nov 2021). All in all its pretty much ready to roar for its next owner.

Sold it very close to what my expectation was of a fair value for an end buyer and seller both.

I have to confess, it all happened so fast that at the point when the bike was finally handed over, I could feel a lump in my stomach - I was surprisingly overwhelmed with emotion when the reality hit me that the last time I’d ride my Tiger was already done.

I have the most incredible memories with this bike - its been a fabulous riding companion and I could just as easily have kept it for another 4 years as having sold it now. But I don’t foresee the time for an off-road biased trip to the mountains this year and if my riding is going to be tarmac biased in Maharashtra, the Multi will serve me perfectly fine.

Thank you for the memories, little Tiger - I’m gonna miss you!!

26th Jan morning. The last long ride on the bike




Parting shot, just pre-delivery

[sukiwa]

Originally Posted by Axe77

4 years and a few months, 27,000 kms and just like that, as of last night, she’s gone.

Bit strange, was of opinion that with MuktiStrada in Garage you will keep Tiger 800. BTW, are you heading this weekend to Savoy Chambers for Ducati DesertX?

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by sukiwa

Bit strange, was of opinion that with MuktiStrada in Garage you will keep Tiger 800. BTW, are you heading this weekend to Savoy Chambers for DDX?

The Tiger was my only weapon of choice for any serious off - roading and originally I had planned to do Zanskar later in 2023 before popping the Tiger. But I don’t think I’ll have the time to do that this year. With serious off-roading plans out of the way, the Tiger was surplus to needs and the Multi will do just fine for any weekend or long weekend touring needs. If that changes and I decide to do a mountains ride up North, I can always do that with xplorearth using their rental 310 GS.

In fact it’s more likely I might do a few track days this year since that just takes a couple of days at a time (unlike the 9 - 10 days min that the mountains take up) - easier to manage getting away from work. Was even looking for an RC 390 briefly to that end but didn’t pursue that seriously so if anything is added this year it’ll most likely be something other than an ADV.

Eventually I will upgrade to a new ADV that will effectively replace the Multi as well as the Tiger. But that’s not an immediate priority - most likely mid 2024.