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.

Kawasaki ER6F – Ride Review

The Reason why it all has to be done is because my real ride has gone in for a full engine job which leaves me with this courtesy motorcycle from the workshop.

So the full story on my bike unfolds here in this video. It is a bit more of emotional meltdown to know that I had to get this done at this stage but I am not left with any other option before I get myself killed if it locks up while riding !!

As of now,  since you know the whole story about my ride – Here is the additional story of the courtesy ride. I have been on it for 550miles when I did this review but by the end I return it back it would already have gone well over a 800miles in a period of 8days and here is the real review.

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I do not write what people do because I do not get paid to do these things but I get the pleasure to share these real opinions in the real world.  So for the full details of the why you should and should not buy a “Kawasaki ER6F” or rather also known as “Ninja 650” watch the video.

In all honesty, it is a city bike.  No hidden reasons but if you are light and small person this is the way to go and if you are riding it mostly in the city through the traffic.

I am myself not a big lad and too tall. At 178cms, I cant really enjoy this bike on the open roads or on the motorways.

“-“ The maximum top end is 110mph, the brakes are shabby – even though they are with ABS, Suspension feels really not meant to do two up on it ever and to add more – it is a beginners bike in all honesty.

“+” The good points, its a small, light(178kgs), compact, traffic friendly,  easy to filter through traffic, good mileage, thumper, two cyclinder parallel twin and Nifty Fifty bike.

Don’t expect anything more out of this bike – It is good  “A to B” bike ONLY.