How does the Ducati V4S Multistrada compare to my GS, my thoughts.

[Boxerlust]

Yofi I read in a german moto mag that the last orders for the 2022 R1250GS can be made in spring and will be fullfilled until production end in summer.September 2022 the new R1300GS will debut and then released for sale october 2022...So this will be definitely the last year for the current line of 2013 to 2022 R1200/1250GS-LC boxers ! 2023 will be all new engine and frame lighter,more compact,stronger and hopefully still with a good sound not like the MS-V4 that sounds like a Moulinex blender... Otherwise I hope Akrapovic comes to the rescue !
I think relisticly the bike will drop 10 kg due to the cast aluminum and other improvements , a 24 Liter tank would be great but I dont bet on it , a 17" M version with lower handlebar and CF-wheels ti compete with the MS-V4 Pikes Peak I definitely would bet on as also 155hp/NM to have more Torque but also comparable hp levels with the competition on the south side of the alps 2 Same size bags look also as a possibility as small as the muffler looks !
So far so good as I might have another 10 good years were I be able to crank that throttle !
I would even go for another S model being more forward leaning enjoying a R1300Sport-boxer as I did my R1100S on street and S1000RR on track in my prime...

 

[yofi]

 

[BigT]

I loved my K1600 GTL but after 2 engines, 3 gearboxes and an entire new frame in the first 18 months from new I was very keen to take my custom elsewhere. The Ducati was very appealing but the buts were just to many and too serious. I personally couldn't care less about the MPG but if it drinks fuel they need to put more than a thimble on as a fuel tank. Then there was the luggage. Sadly the Ducati luggage on the top of the range model I was told is mandatory. Well Mr Ducati, the luggage sucks for touring. Lastly a chain....really. I most certainly couldn't be bothered with all of that again having been spoilt by shaft drive. And so with those three big no, no's I reluctantly test road a GSA. That was that, the bike was a revelation. I'm 6'5" and had plenty of room. Luggage options abound, ditto accessories, MPG around 50mpg, 300 miles + per tank, shaft drive coupled to an unbelievably good suspension system and finally a TFT screen/communication/nav system that actually works (quite a epiphany for BMW). My 21 GSA TE arrived in May, since then I've put 13,000 very happy kms on the bike. I do miss the turbine power of the K1600 and the F1 howl it had when opened up, but apart from that the GSA is superior across the board. Moreover the GSA hasn't used a drop of oil. At one stage my K was using a litre every 600 miles.....if Ducati equip the 4S with a 7 gallon + tank, shaft drive and useable luggage then I may take a second look. Meanwhile the 1300 GSA maybe the next one ;-)

 

[Sneldog]

I was lucky enough to be asked help BIKE magazine and Roland Brown test the V4 Multistrada and a 1250 RT on a nearly 2 week, 2,600 mile test to the Bol D’Od race in the South of France to watch my old mates from Team Bike racing an RC30 in the classic Bol.

Stage one was 150 mile ride down to Bike’s offices in Peterborough on my 1250 GS to pick up the Multi then onto Portsmouth to meet Stan on his T7, overnight ferry and RV with Roland on the RT and Azzy on his KTM 890 duke R the following night in France due to differing time scales and routes.

Over the course of the trip the Multi clocked up 2,300 miles and I probably did 1500 of those miles with needing to take it back to Peterborough to collect my bike. Our route included the boredom of congested British motorways, empty French autoroute but mainly lovely French D roads via the Massiff Central and the Alps. So an excellent all round route with everything thrown in from fast smooth roads, bumpy back roads and some high passes in the Alps.

If I’m honest the RT wasn’t my cup of tea unless I was 2 up with Helga, or riding in crap weather. It does handle surprisingly well for such a big lump and it was hilarious watching Roland who’s an ex racer with far more skill than me throw it around like a toy on small back roads.

You’ll have to read BIKE mag for the full test but here’s my thoughts on the Multi. Stick may be interested as well as he’s just bought one.

Having done 20,000 miles on a 2010 Multi I was very interested in the new V4. The Multi is a riot, 170 Bhp, it feels small and compact but still comfy for me at 6’2” and the suspension was great and coped very well with it loaded up with camping gear for the trip. Lovely gearbox, streets ahead of the agricultural GS crash bang Massey Ferguson inspired box. The engine is smooth, tractable and hell, does it rev. It revs to the red line in top at 155mph. The things a rocket ship to can tour enthusiastically. Ergonomics are good though the headlight is pretty shite. The simplicity of screen adjustment and effectiveness is great. Ducati panniers were just fiddly in comparison to the vario’s.

The tyres were a bit lacking in feel, the OE compound Pirelli scorpian Trail 2’s seems a lot harder wearing than normal Pirelli Scorpian Trail 2’s but as such lacked that bit of feel. Same issue with OE Conti’s on the GS compared to over the counter Conti’s but that’s another discussion.

I absolutely loved the Multi and was convinced I’d be buying one after such an extended test ride. All round I was very impressed with the V4 which was real fun to ride yet still practical. Comfy enough for long days in the saddle on twisty roads and up to 450 miles in a day. Great handling and a very amusing engine. Fabulous all round package. I’m not a GS fan boy, this being my first GS since an old 1100 years ago which I hated. I’ve been a Ducati or KTM rider for the last 20 years.

So back to Peterborough and switching all my gear to the GS. A few miles drudgery stuck behind lorries overtaking each other at 2 mph quicker meant the A1 was a fucking nightmare so off across country via Melton Mowbray and up through the Peak District on some favourite roads I know well. Not quite empty French roads with a bunch over over zealous lunatics. That KTM 890 Duke R is a real weapon.

The GS carried the same load better, steered and braked better. Though it must be said I’ve got better, fresher tyres and Touratech/Tractive suspension on mine as well which does help. The more instant low to mid range grunt and response of the GS made overtakes a bit easier as well. Ducati quick shifter is streets ahead though. GS with the Akra sounds better as well.

So having thought the poxy panzer would be up for sale, it’s subtle charms won me back over when I thought it was a lost cause. Close run thing, would be nice if the GS was a bit quicker on top end though the new version may sort that.

Overall the Multi is brilliant but for the moment the GS stays in my garage.

Excellent post. I have just done something similar and the conclusion was the same.

 

[Morety]

Thanks for the write-up BDG. I was invited to the Ducati superbike tour at Riders back in 2019 (it may have been late 2018) and trundled down there on my 1200GSA. I was initially intending on riding the new (then) V4 Panagali but it was taken, so I was offered the 1260 Enduro (multistrada on stilts). It was even taller than the GSA! After the briefing, myself and half a dozen other invitees took to the A and B roads. Getting out of Bristol proved to be a real pain as I was conscious of avoiding adverse cambers and potholes when putting my foot down. Another guy, a good six footer, kept dropping his (twice on the way back). At low speed, I found it pretty anaemic at low revs, needing a bit of a fistful for the torque to kick in and that made town work hard work, along with the cobbler cooking heat rising from the cylinders. It felt very stable and smooth though.

Once out of town and the pace picked up, I felt it needed some opposite lock to wrestle it through tighter bends at speed but it was most at home on A roads where once above 5500 rpm, it was ballistically quick. It made the GSA feel like a bit of a barge tbh. Fuel consumption (indicated) seemed pretty poor at 40mpg or less when ragged but it did handle well once you got used to it although I found it took some adjustment. The good bits were the suspension was excellent, way better than the GSA and out of the box it fitted me very well and proved to be quite comfortable. It just seemed to smooth out the roughest of roads for a magic carpet ride and reminded me of my old Tiger Explorer which felt very similar once properly set up. The Enduro used semi active suspension unlike the Trumpet I had but it was a generation on from what BMW had fitted to my 2017 GSA. I soon started to enjoy the bike until back in town, where tbh it was a PITA. I kept stalling the thing at low revs which was my own fault but it just didn't have the effortless and intuitive low down grunt of the GSA. The gearbox was miles better though, slick and precise. Overall, I may have preferred the standard multistrada, the lower seat height etc but decided it wasn't for me. Getting back onto the GSA and re-acquainting myself with the tractor like gearbox was just accepted as part of the bikes character although going up the box the gear assist was pretty decent on mine. After flinging the big GSA about 20 miles of B roads on the way back and around another 10 miles of A roads, including town traffic, it just felt "right" to me. Effortless in town, and very comfortable. It put me off interest in riding another Multi as did the chat with one of the Ducati mechanics....that's for a different day though.