Ride Report: 2009 Ducati Multistrada 1100S
Most Ducati reviews contain similar elements. The reviewer talks about the stunning, sultry looks of the Italian beauty, marvels at the available performance envelope and then invariably complains about the committed (translation – neck creakingly uncomfortable) riding position. None of this applies to the 2009 Ducati Multistrada 1100S. Is this quirky machine really a Ducati then? Read on and find out.
With the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 due to be unveiled in a matter of days, I thought it would be worthwhile acquainting myself with the original. It’s hard to know what to make of the Multistrada at first glance. If I’m being generous then the styling is challenging, another one of the Pierre Terblanche designs that seems to exist only to juxtapose against something truly gorgeous, like Pierre’s own Supermono or Sportclassic efforts. It does however look its best in white although that is really damning the Multi with faint praise.
Just climbing aboard sets off the weird alarms. The riding position is comfortable but in a way that feels unnatural for anyone accustomed to the rest of the Ducati range. You sit quite upright and are almost Germanically (is that a word?, is it now!) locked in a position guaranteed to be comfortable until the generous by Ducati standards 5.3 gallon (20 liter) fuel tank is exhausted. Of course the Multi has that whole upper fairing moving with the handlebars thing going on which you would think would be very distracting, and it is for all of the first 2 minutes, but you don’t notice it after that when on the move.
Firing up the engine isn’t any more inspiring. This incarnation of the twin spark, Desmodue 1,078cc L-twin is particularly anodyne making me feel like I’m on a Honda Africa twin rather than a desmo delight. Perhaps it is the particularly restrictive stock silencing system. If so, it would be the first thing to go if I owned it. Things look up as I engage first and move off, the wet clutch much better in real world use than the iconic dry clutch used on other models, heretical though it may be to say so.
The engine stays sleepy and frankly too weak until 4,000rpm- I thought the point of these older technology engines is supposed to be bottom end lunge- but quickly becomes more than potent enough to be exciting as the engine clears it’s throat and begins to make more noise to go with the thrust as the needle winds rapidly around the clear and attractive analogue tach. It might be this particular application but the engine didn’t seem to run out of breath as readily as the termignoni slip-on equipped version I tested in the Ducati Monster 1100S earlier this year.
No complaints can be laid at the suspensions feet. Ohlins might seem like overkill on this bike but quality suspension is useful in every riding application and the firm but compliant forks provided great information about the front tire despite the high center of gravity and upright riding position. The rear suspension didn’t even come into my consciousness it was that good. There is no doubt the Multi can be made to hustle. The bike enters turns confidently thanks to the leverage from the wide handlebars but you can feel it roll rather than flick in, rewarding smoothness and forward planning. The brakes have plenty of power but lack some feel compared with the latest radial and monobloc offerings.
Despite this I amused myself sticking with a 1198 in a few turns, he all hanging off and World Superbike like and yours truly sitting bolt upright and just leaning over. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t be going up the inside of any sportbike at a trackday anytime soon, but if you are in the mood the Strada can boogie and surprise in the mountains. At highway speeds the bike is geared for just a little below 5,000rpm at 80mph where the fairing gives good upper body protection from the elements but the tradeoff was a fair amount of head buffeting of my Arai Corsair V for this 6’2″ rider.
Is the Multistrada a true Ducati then? The first question has to be what is this bike for? It has a comfy seat and good protection from the elements but at US$14,995 it makes for an expensive commuter and annoyingly the mirrors which unusually for a Ducati are in a good position, are too small and have a funny shape to be truly useful. You certainly can scratch on it in the mountains but this is certainly not it’s raison d’être. It has enough range and optional luggage gear to tour on but there are other choices if touring is your thing. A true jack of all trades then? Well yes, but I have to ask myself is that the position Ducati should be trying to occupy?
I really thought I would like the Multistrada. It isn’t any oil painting but I thought just maybe it’s all around abilities coupled with Ducati charm would make it the ultimate every-man’s Ducati. It wasn’t and I was very disappointed. If you want an all rounder go buy a Yamaha FZ1 for 2/3rds the price. Afterall, that’s what you get if you take a Ducati and strip it of it’s passion. There, I said it. Flame on in the comments below.
This bike is for you if:
- You are a committed Ducati fan who rides to work everyday in all weathers
- You want comfort and European but won’t go all the way to a BMW
- You are a contrarian who goes your own way and the hell with how it looks
You want to keep looking if:
- You have two functioning eyes
- You want to experience what makes a Ducati special
Ducati Multistrada 1100S in a sentence: A good all-rounder that you could easily rationalize but a bike you could fall in love with. And isn’t that the point of a Ducati? (I know that was 2 sentences!)
The Ducati Multistrada 1100S and fuel was supplied by BMW Ducati Motorcycles of Atlanta
What do you think? Have I been too harsh and missed the true allure of the Multistrada? Chime in with your views in the comments section below.
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Ugh, no you’re dead on. This is a Ducati for the BMW GS/Triumph Tiger crowd. It’s too upright, and I didn’t feel as comfortable on the S as I did even the Monster 696. There’s something about the riding position that makes me feel disconnected.
Having said that… if the price was right, I think I’d still take one. A new handlebar, different seat, some pipes and I could be happy with it as a tourer/commuter.
Good write up! I can see the Multi putting some off as not being a bike that’s good at one thing. For me it’s more of a…and I hate to say it this way…UJM type of bike. The thing about the Multi that sticks with me each time I ride it is how effortless it is to ride the bike fast. It gives me a sense of confidence in a bike that I rarely get.
I have to disagree with you on this one. I owned a 2003 Multistrada 1000 for a while (unfortunately, it got destroyed courtesy of a pickup truck driver in the NC mountains) and I absolutely loved it. The Multistrada may be a bit homely, but it does everything well. I commuted on it, played in the mountains on it, toured the back roads around my house, went to the store, etc. Over the same period I owned the Multistrada I also owned a 2007 1098S. I put 4000 miles on the 1098 and almost 10K on the Multistrada.
The bike definitely has it’s issues but it does far more right than it does wrong. Comfortable (once the stock seat was replaced with a Sargeant), long-legged, convenient, handles very well if set up right, and generally just fun to ride. I still miss mine and want very much to add a Multistrada 1200 to the 2008 Monster S4RS currently in my garage.
@Noel My objection is mostly a philosophical one, I’m a marketing guy and so I take brand values very seriously. The Multi is just too dull for me but the world would be a terrible place if everyone agreed with me!!
@ducatisarge I still think a 4 cylinder engine makes a better UJM for a lot less money. Thanks for your comment.
I think you missed the boat after your short stint on the Multistrada.
I’ve had multiple Ducati’s in my garage for years, and the one that gets ridden the most is the Multistrada. Typical rides in Utah involve long highway stretches to get to the twisties, and then long highway stretches back. Road construction is ongoing here. The Multistrada is perfect for these types of rides.
You say the Multistrada is not good for commuting? How is a tall upright seating position, on a (relatively light) torquey V-twin, with great visibility not ideal?
And as far as touring goes, Gary Egan has set plenty of distance/speed records on the Multistrada.
I think you need a little more time on one before you write it off the way you did.
@Brad Thanks for your comments. I said the Multi was an expensive commuter not that it wouldn’t be a good one. As I pointed out in the article, I really expected to like the Multistrada and was surprised by my findings. I have already been offered a ride on a modified Multi with over a 100bhp at the rear wheel I’m guessing I’d probably like that one
I aquired a 06 Multistrada in 07. Brand new, last one in the show room. We now have 82000 TX miles together. This is the first Duc I’ve owned. I would love to own a 1198 but it would be harsh on the various roads I ride. You guys go ahead and enjoy pure street bikes, I envy ya, but when it comes to gravel,dirt, pastures,potholed back roads tight parking lots and miles of straight, no cop highways I’ll take the ugly Duc any day over a sportbike. There is a need for this category. I feel now that everyone has learned to ride hogs and race reps they will discover the all around pleasure of owning an all around do it all anywhere practical motorsickle. Ugly Ducs need love too. My Multi is my magic carpet. I didn’t like SUVs when they invaded, now we have one.
I hope to have 100k by the time the 1200 arrives in North TX.
I check your site everyday for updates about this new to me world of RED. It was the Multi that brought me.
While I’m sure the FZ1 is a good bike, for what it is. I’m certain for many models of Ducati one can find a similar Yamaha at 2/3′s the price. And what do you have? A Yamaha. I had one of those in high school. It was nice then, but I’ve grown up. I’m not sure if the Multistrada is for me but the choice between a Ducati and a Yamaha at 2/3′s the price is a no-brainer.
Please Note: I’m not picking on Yamaha. Insert the name of your favorite UJM and the answer is the same.
I have an ’06 Multi S with nearly 19,000 miles on it so far. I’ve has several issues with the bike that have made me want to sell it but there are few, if any, bikes out there that so effectively combine agility, comfort, usability and utter fun in a stylish (to me!) package. I’ve had sportbikes (CBR929) and sport-tourers (VFR800Fi) but the former was fun in a narrowly defined area while the latter excelled in lower to high speeds. Great bikes both but the Multi seems to shine in the areas that I ride and enjoy most: twisty roads and medium sweepers. It’s easy to ride around town and I’ve done 18 hour stretches in the saddle and was still able to walk! I think one really learns to appreciate the Multi after you’ve lived with it for a while.
@Joe, thanks for commenting and being a regular reader! 100K mile is pretty impressive. I’m looking forward to seeing the Multistrada 1200 too.
@Marc I can’t argue with those that say you time on the multi to fully appreciate it.
Ah-hah, another one fooled by the Multistrada. I too was unimpressed when I first saw and rode a multi several years ago. After many more miles hunched over on sportbikes, I had the occasion to test ride an ’08 model, and things just clicked. Within a week I had traded in my ST3 on a brand new one, and never looked back.
The multistrada is definitely a sleeper. It takes a few thousand miles (and a few mods) to appreciate the bike’s true performance, and several months to realize what a beautiful machine it is too look at as well.
But not to worry, you are not the first to be fooled.
I’m takin’ the plunge on a 1200S Sport (red, Please). It’ll be my first Duc & I’m bracing myself for the maintenance costs etc. Screw it, I’ll ride one of my hogs while it’s in the shop gettin’ groomed every now & then. Always wanted a Duc and this one’s the one for me!
Have put roughly 40K miles on a multistrada in the last 2 years, mainly communting into the city and the occasional blast at the weekend. In this time I have become a complete convert to this bike. Is it the fact that I am one of the few people who are riding one when pretty mcuh everyone else is on a GS1200 (or any other variant of that boxer engine). Or the fact that it handles like a supersports bike. It has its issues, the fuel tank gauge, cutting out when cold…..but ride one for any length of time and you’ll grow to love it. Can’t wait to see what people think of the 1200….currently negotiating the purchase of one with the wife….wish me luck
Eoin, I’m pleased you enjoy your bike. Many commenters have said that to truly appreciate the Multistrada requires lots of seat time which I didn’t have. Good luck with the marital negotiations!