About to take the plunge with a new toy.
Any personal experience of either?
Any other comments?
Any other choices spring to mind?
Ducati seems more fun, and lighter on its feet, isn't a LWR clone but is more expensive than the BMW, and the BMW has been the go-to for this category of bike for years.
Depends. At heart, are you still a boy, or a BOF?
Wot's a BOF?
Think I might be a boy at heart, but want to live to be old in reality. I am a bit worried I would get carried away (eventually in an ambulance!) with the Ducati!
Boring Old Fart
Ah, definitely not a boring old fart, but I do quite like the classic appeal of the GS.
if the money isn't a stopper go with the ducati. they really do look nice and sound very capable.
Do you actually want it to do any of the things it's designed to do? The GS really is brilliant but you can get a lot of bike for that money. There are better tourers IMO, and definately better commuters, and better play bikes, but the GS is an amazing allrounder.
A mate has a GS and has taken a couple of Multistradas out for test rides. He loved the Ducati and is very tempted to buy one, except the dealer has told him it will be next year til they can get one in the spec he wants....
His ultimate verdict: Ducati for a toy (second bike or weekend plaything), Beemer for a workhoorse (commuting, long distance touring).
Northwind, that's partly my fear. It's going to be used for daily commuting (30 miles, urban), light touring and general buggering about, but never off road. Don't want to end up like these clowns you see commuting in London on 8 inch travel mountain bikes, but I am tall, and need a big bike which is also agile, which puts me off tourers.
The Ducati seems to fit the bill better, and is considerably lighter and more manageable about town than the GS, but I had always hankered after the Beemer. I guess neither bike would be disappointing though.
Gilo, my local dealer has a few Ducati's in various spec's, so the wait isn't a factor, although I have heard that they are thin on the ground. Not sure if this is a demand thing, or typical Italian new model ramp up problems in meeting output.
The Multistrada makes a lot more sense if you won't be riding off-road (and who would bother on something as heavy and expensive as a GS anyway?).
The old stereotypes still seem to be kicking about but are a long way from the truth - a read of ukgser could put you off the 1200GS entirely, a long list of common problems and few people with trouble-free ownerships. On the other side, modern Ducatis seem very well built indeed - my own Monster is over 3 years old now and has been (touch wood) absolutely faultless despite living outside and being used in all weathers. I know a few people who've put in decent mileage all year round on the previous gen Multistrada and the bikes have handled it very well indeed.
If you're not using it off-road at all, then you might want to sway towards the Multi (I had an 06, which was ugly as hell but pretty nice for a few years).
I'd also consider looking at the new Super Tenere from Yamaha. Rumours are around of a new 1400 Honda coming too.
Triumph tigger. Took mine to isle of man yesterday for a day trip. What a blast.
For what you want to do they both seem over the top (though there is always a temptation to buy with the heart rather than the head)- what about a 650 V Strom if you want a taller bike? But I'd avoid a Versys if the one I tested is typical.
The SV has done me well for a decade, well able to carry two with camping gear for a fortnight round Europe, scratch round track days or disappear from big bikes on real roads with corners in 'em.
Treat yourself to a new full susser and still have change left from the £5K+ price difference.
Touring...
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Commuting...
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General buggering about
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And spend the rest on hookers.
Any experience of the 800 GS? Maybe a cheaper and day to day manageable size for round town. Or the KTM? Seems a bit smaller and more manaeable too.
How about KTM SMT? Always get well reviewed, and a hell of a lot cheaper, or as sola says, 800GS if your not bothered about being a cheapster in the BMW world!
Or you can tour onone of these!! It will hurt, but you can have fun when you get there, but off road capabilities aren't to good 😆
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Current Bike magazine has a group test of the F800GS, Dorsoduro, Duke 690 and Versys. Verdict: probably best off saving the £2k and getting the Versys instead. But the 800 is very good despite the 21" front wheel.
KTM Adventure. Cracking bike and I couldn't stop myself misbehaving on it. But I bought a Triumph Sprint - excellent bike, just like the VFR750 it replaced in so many ways.
No experience of either specifically. But had a ducati st4s tho and went round europe with wife on the back. It really made me smile and that's what swung it for me when i tried it against others inc the blackbird. Then it's engine management computer went TU, fortunately for me a month before the warranty ran out.
Always did fancy the GS with its do anything practicality and supposed reliability so interesting what simon-g says about long list of probs. I did hear the shaft drive last about 50k miles
Had a triumph tiger before that (when still an 885) I didn't like it much. I'm 5'11 so averageish height but my head was always in the turbulence. Aftermarket screens can be an expensive trial and error affair.
It's been a while since i had a bike (with engine) and i'm a bit out of touch. but did like the thought of a fazer tho or current equivalent as a bike do most things pretty well and make me smile.
(Mr MC posting)
toying with the idea of swapping the R1 in the not too distant future for something more pillion friendly. Also miss the instant v-twin grunt response that my old aprilia had. Trimix an occasional poster here spent all last night extolling the virtues of the KTM Adventure which he's ridden all over the place. Bit of a marmite bike with high saddle (though trimix isnt particularly tall) and big front wheel. The SM-T looks an interesting tool and possibly closer to the multistrada. Bike did 3000 miles in 72hrs on one with no problems and I dont remember them having many issues in a year of having it on the long term test fleet.
I think GS's are dull, overpriced, overrated and bought by a certain type of rider (ie mid life crisis born agains who've seen LWR and get all the matching kit). The new multistrada looks amazing and from a technological perspective a different league to the GS.
Top of the list despite being an IL4 though is the Fazer 1000, effectively my R1 in a comfortable suit.
Gratuitous picture whoring of current bike in Elan Valley in the middle of a 400 mile day.
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I've got a F800GS, it's a great bike but it's just gone pop and resulted in £3000 worth of engine damage
I have only good things to say about my GS. It's the older model 1150 Adventure but does everything I want. Or perhaps I am a boring old fart.
Before that I was using a ZX9R for everything (commuting, vacations, fun). The Beamer does more better, especially the commuting.
I have owned the 1150 and have ridden the Multistrada and GS12 for a good few miles and to be honest the Duke was more fun on the road but you could load up the BM, ride to the Alps or pyrenees and then do a surprising number of tracks up the mountains. If you want a road fun bike to do occaisonal longer trips-Ducati, if you want a serious tourer and a not bad considering off road bike-BM.
I test rode the current/original multistrada when I bought my Monster. The Monster was more fun (and cheaper) but there's a very good chance my next bike will be an 1100 Multistrada. At the time I was riding a Triumph 955i Speed Triple and that 1100 twin made my Trumpet feel flat, wooly, and lifeless. It seriously is one he'll of an engine and one stonkingly capabe motorcycle.
Recently, Ducati have BMW beaten in the reliabilty stakes too. BMW top th UK recall table..... In case you didn't know. They are churning out a lot of bikes and the quality has dropped through the floor.