Ducati Multistrada 1260 S - Review - As good as they all say? 

Try a Multistrada Granturismo they are great and the panniers are cavernous.

Great, thanks for the details which others will find really helpful. It is a great bike for sure. Interesting about the seat. Mind you, I have a small cyclists bum and slim legs so maybe it was just me! :) Sounds like you are really enjoying it. Have you tried the Adventures from Triumph and KTM, or the usual BMWs?

I have tried the 1200 Triumph, nice bike but I found it a bit top heavy. I also had a 1200 Super Tenere before the Multistrada - good bike but that really was heavy! Not interested in BMW or KTM. To be fair on the seat thing, I'm really fussy about seat comfort, but I do quite a lot of miles so it has to be just right for me. I wonder if the reason you found the 1260 tall was because the seat was on the high setting? For prospective buyers I can't emphasise enough how much the engine/gearbox loosens up after a couple of thousand miles. For instance when it was new the motor just didn't feel happy at motorway speed in top gear, it was much happier in 5th. 6th felt more like an overdrive. I was even considering changing the rear sprocket from 40 tooth to 42 to shorten the gearing. But after a couple of thousand miles, and even more so now at 4000 miles its so much better. The gearing now feels spot on. I genuinely struggle to find many negatives on the bike. The only things are - for me the screen is not brilliant I changed it for a MRA one which I find better. There is too much free play in the throttle but there's an easy fix for that. And Ducati parts are slow in coming. I had to wait two months for my touring pack. But that's about it.It's worth mentioning it's my first ever Ducati and I had a few concerns about reliability, but I think Ducati have upper their game a lot in recent years. I have had no problems. I've never had a bike wghich puts such a smile on my face every time I ride it :-)

Excellent, many thanks for the details. No doubt it is a cracking bike and I reckon the pick ofthe unch on a long tour. Certaily, Ducati are now regarded as much better built these days. You can;t sell in these sorts of numbers and have their previous level of comeback. It would never put me off one. Am still a bit worried about KTMs but even they have gotten a lot better.

@@77archibald ---> 6th gear 'is' an overdrive... it has a 22/25 ratio...

Totally agree about loosening up after break-in. Maybe 900-1000miles in - I just love riding it and I tried the BMW GS1250 and Triumph Tiger and just couldn’t pull myself away from the Ducati - 5th gear is like all ya need and 6th is definitely like having a little overdrive! Just love it.

Certainly the bike was comfortable and it gave back enormous confidence on the usual bumps and crevaces to be found on UK roads. Definitely a cracking bike and for me, it is close between this and KTM;s Super Adventure S. I have not been out on any other contenders this season.

Hahaha. Looks alone would discount the KTM from consideration for me. I'll never get used to the headlights on them. I sat on one last week, and thought the seat felt like a razor blade.

Ah, do you mean the edges on the side of the seat when your feet are down? If so, then I wonder why manufacturers do that. They should all be rounded.

It just felt hard and narrow. That doesn't bode well for touring comfort. Probably better if your in-seam challenged though.

Yes totally agree , big noticeable difference in suspension from Sport to Touring Mose especially on New Orleans streets possibly the worst in the USA. The engine setting and other features like wheelie and traction control can be adjusted in each mode to customize each setting. They are almost perfect the way they unless you just can’t resist wheelies then lower DWC to 1 which is nice!

It was a cracking bike. Ade

Cracking bike but i still maintain its a bit scary trying to walk it around or turning at very low speed.

Ha, The bike made it easy for me..

It is top heavy, unwieldy, at low speeds or trying to wheel it around your driveway manually. Once it picks up speed it is perect. best touring bike I have been on so far. Yet to try the BMW GS, etc.

Totally disagree it is not at all top heavy and not at all unwieldy

It did want to fall over at super slow speeds and moving it arounf the forecourt was tough. Then again, I had just come off a 1200 Monster so it would feel extra tall and heavy to me at that point. Once I got going the bike was great. In fact, I am sure if I had the bike for a week then this initial impression would change. Hey, nobody likes beer the first time but soon gets used to it and then its the best thing ever! :)

Which Bike I know what u mean .. had mine for 2 weeks now , 2013 model.. came off a Buell xb12 r .. I think it’s the height of the bike..

Sorry, absolutely no idea!! :) I should hope it comes as standard.

@@RevMonkey ---> Looks very similar to my Navihalter... mounted in same location also. The mounting bracket that was supplied with my GPS was to be mounted at the handle bar mount... not good, as the GPS would be obscuring some of the dash. Finally found a GPS bracket in Germany... it's called the Navihalter. The Navihalter mounts very much the same as on that 1260 you are demoing...

I love them. Tight fit and look the bollox! :)

Aye, shocked me.

The one to avoid is the 1200 Enduro and probably the 1260 Enduro when its released. I rode my mates 1200 and its too tall. I'm 5' 10" and my 1200 Multistrada GT is fine but the Enduro was a bit intimidating it had me on tip toes.

I'm 5ft 9in and can virtually flat foot on my 1260s

I’m 5’ 10” and am trading a KTM 1290 SA S for an Enduro 1260. I never have a problem with the height of the bike as always stop with my left foot on the ground, right foot covering the rear brake as I was taught to 26 years ago. Getting on using the left peg while on the side stand, and holding the front brake, also works well. Safe riding chaps.

Ha. Of course. It is almost a running joke that i keep mentioning my height and inside leg. I must have missed it on this one. 5' 10" and 30". The GS ans KTM SuperAdventure are higher and the new Africa Twin can be the loest of all - seat wise. Ade

@@RevMonkey Thanks for the info.

In the same way Ferraris are the car of choice for taxi drivers 😁

you are kidding? whos gonna use one for courier work?

I cant argue with that. Cars and bikes were so much simpler back in the day. I am mechanically inept and not a good rider so I personally welcome the safety aids aspect of the new tech. Your point is very valid though, I had a electrical ECU issue with my old RS3. I have an Audi main dealer, I kid you not, 400 yeards from my house. They couldn;t deal with it and said it would have to go back to Germany as they didnt have the equipnment to deal with the particular issue!!! WTF. In the end, I got the ECU replaced by a specialist.

better get a Royal Enfield mate

I didnt find the vibration as bad as the XR. Mind you, i was probably concentrating too much on ragging the hell out of it! :) I assume all of these bigger bikes are worse at depreciating than other types.

Big T Don’t forget high servicing costs too.

Low speed lumpiness (but that's all big bore V-twins), not much vibration, but damn you right about the depreciation. I think my next bike will be a KTM Adventure 1290.

I thought the 1290 Super Adventure S was the pick of the bunch so far. Amazing acceleration and a better experience. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_bWI4EIKWV0.html

Big T I've not found a bike that does not depreciate yet dear friend, Ducati is not deer to service either , worse bike I've had for deprecation was a bmw GS