DUCATI Multistrada 1200 S – 2013 – Ride Review

20.04.13 – North London : DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200S – As the name DUCATI is good enough to know what this post is going to be all about. Yes, DUCATI – the ITALIAN ingenious has struck us again with their upgraded but much advanced, lighter and more powerful all in one kind of motorcycle. I suppose everyone who is into motorcycle knows what DUCATI stands for – their fast – super-fast – ultra fast racing Superbikes.

Multistrada also known as MTS1200 – is one of its own kinds  motorcycle. No wonder that Italians have broken the barrier of its limitations and went on crazy with providing us something that never feels same in all rounder two wheels. I got an opportunity do the photos for the dealer and their own in-house catalogue – so there I was. Just on the job and this was not just going to end there. I know I wanted to open the throttle on this “STILL THRILL” motorcycle.  Within a couple of hours, once the job was done – I knew where I was headed to now satisfy my real lust of this beautiful beast.

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It left me with not enough room to ask for more for what it is made to do. This is one motorcycle which is made for those who want to live life on the extreme and also be able to feel the torque through the gears. For a moment, it did take me first few minutes getting used to the height and the well balanced high seating. The CG of the bike is at very sweet spot which allows you to take it for a real open thrill on the cornering too. Daring to get one with the bike only took me about first five minutes and we were just going to gel together for the rest of the ride. First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth – Oh YESS… this was turning on to be crazy “Mentally” satisfying experience.

I opened the throttle to a pretty good 8k RPM in the sixth and it just marked its top notch just about what you would love to see from a bike like this. It is very very stable at high speeds, the wind screen adjusted to give you a full clear view of the open roads also letting the wind not strike you on the face but aerodynamically overflowing your seating comfort – you are just concentrated to feel this flow and fly with it. Braking is superb with inch inch perfection at all the speeds – you know you begin to feel the trust once you step on it. It took me literally first five minutes to mould myself to the bike and bike to my likings.

One wheel through the First, Second and Third – you can turn it to be even a wheelie monster if you are capably able to control the torque under you. This becomes an instant love after you could feel the beats of the pumping power. To test it out of the smooth roads, I ventured to the little small B roads leading to one of the off road path – it just goes smooth through the gravel and make you feel you are totally safe in its capabilities. Turning this into a monster on the gravel would need you to stand on the pegs and open it full but I did not manage to get it to that far status as I didn’t own the bike yet. It makes you feel that power and asks you to enjoy it.

By the end of this ride, I was ready to do the ride review for it. Out of breath and full on adrenalin – this is a super bike for anyone with a budget of £13,000 Base model (OTR) and £15,500 Fully loaded (OTR) models. On the downside, it does gulps the fuel like a full guzzler ready to drink you all empty at the fastest pace. So other than two items – MPG/£££££’s – this is a bike for one who wants to rise above the rest and sit at the top to enjoy the riding world.

Ride Review (Out of 5)
Handling  : 5/5
Braking     : 5/5
Cornering : 4.5/5
Off-road    : 4.5/5
Touring     : 5/5
Pricing      :  4/5 (It is not every day commuter bike)

My adrenalin charged – after the ride – quick round of review. I had to do this – it was just the moment of adrenalin charged ride.

Interviewing – Carl Fogarty “FOGGY” – The Seven Time World Champion of SBK racing.

What set my pulses racing was a chance to take pictures and cover him during his recent visit to Stevenage, England at BIKE STOP.

To all those who don’t know about him – FOGGY the most successful World Superbike racer of all time in terms of the number of championships and number of race wins. Now retired, he is renowned for his high corner speed riding style, combined with an aggressive competitiveness, which netted him 59 victories and four World Superbike Championships (1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999). His greatest success came with the factory Ducati team. He was awarded an MBE in 1998’s New Year’s Honours List.

More shots from his meeting on MY FaceBook Page.

Feeling of caring

The feeling of sharing is the feeling of caring. What better way to express this than to express this by providing the heat to someone who may thank you in no better way than providing with their warm words even in the coldest of the cold conditions.

Just riding down the Tanglang La (17,582 ft) in heavy snowfall, there was instant traces of life. As we came across few shepherds who were looking after their cattles and they got the chance to take some heat from the hot engine exhaust pipes which were not hot enough even after being on the roads for past 4hours.

More Photos with stories @ ManiBabbarPhotography.
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