Just to see what the competition is like, I took up the offer of a few test rides on Saturday (thanks go to Riders of Bristol and Fowlers of Bristol).
I wanted to see what the hype was around the new 1260 Multistrada and also check out whether the Yamaha MT10 in "Touring" trim would be a worthy replacement as an all-road (no off road) sports-tourer to the GS, or at least whether either of these would tempt me off a GS.
The day kicked off after an invite to join the Ducati Roadshow 2019 for an extended test ride in groups accompanied by the California Superbike School.
I thought I'd look at riding the most comparable to my GSA in style which was the 1260 Multistrada "Enduro". I really wished I'd picked the lower touring model as the 34.6 inch seat height felt taller than my GSA (even though it wasn't), but this was down to the much firmer suspension and low sag meaning I was on tippy-toes!
Long story short. Although I gelled with the Multistrada, I didn't love it. It felt less stable at low speed than the GS, the engine I expected so much from needed over 2.5K revs low down or it could get a little rough around town with one or two people stalling at low revs. It was lovely and smooth though and the suspension was top notch....way better than my 2016 ESA equipped GSA. Handling was good but with the larger front wheel, it felt a little too slow on some bends but held a line well. Brakes were excellent. Riding position was also quite comfortable.
Engine was muted but pleasant sounding and quite linear from 2.5K to 7K revs. After that, there was a noticeable peak in power before it went bats at 9K...going from sleepy kitten to wild cat. I was surprised how little grunt it had lower down though tbh.
Instrument panel was great and screen, whilst adjustable and not bad, still left me with some buffeting. The height though was too much for me and loaded up, it's not a bike for 5'8" shorties like me. The touring model was much lower and I got on way better with that, but both bikes just left me thinking....Meh....not in love enough to drop 16K to make a switch. It was great getting back on to the GSA which felt so much better at low revs and I don't know if it's an age thing, but I like the fact it doesn't go mental at higher revs...it just isn't something I was looking for in an everyday bike or tourer....or was it?
....queue the MT10. This is a bike I've been wanting to try for ages and finally I got the chance to throw a leg over one. I know this is more naked muscle bike than sports tourer, but chuck a set of panniers and a screen on it, and a comfort saddle (you'll need it...the standard one is a plank!) and it is comfortable enough I'd say for all day touring. I was out for an hour and a half and loved every second of that ride. The high points were the firm but excellent suspension...this bike was ridden briskly over some pretty rough roads but nothing seemed to unsettle it. It sliced its way through traffic in town thanks to being half the width of my GSA and was one of those bikes that handled intuitively well...where you looked is where the bike went. Engine note from the re-tuned Crossplane crank R1 engine was the star of the show...absolutely mind blowingly superb! The gobfulls of torque this thing churned out in any gear at any revs meant it was far more usable and tractable than the 1260 Multistrada or the GS for that matter.
On paper at least, the specs were similar to the Multistrada with about 160BHP and 88ft-lbs torque...it just felt a heck of a lot more than that. I think this was down to the engine tuning bringing that power down from the peaky heights of 15K revs of the R1 to "just" 12K revs but the spread of torque was everywhere. Lovely gearbox too. No feeling of having to rev it to get to the performance, like the Ducati. The MT10 astonished on throttle response every time you open the throttle from any revs in any gear...it just takes off. As the revs climb, power seems relentless...it's like having someone try and rip your arms from your sockets on full beans, and as the revs climb (any gear really) you have to be mindful that irrespective of what the speedo shows, that front wheel is in danger of lifting if the beans are kept on.
I seriously loved the MT10 and wasn't expecting to. It's probably one of the best motorcycles I've ever ridden...highly addictive, well screwed together, fantastic handling and could easily make a great everyday bike or sports tourer although luggage space is quite limited. My only comment on the downside are that the standard saddle is unconfortable and the brakes are a little wooden, although effective enough...this seems to be a Yamaha trait on any I've owned or ridden. If I had a spare space in the garage though, I'd buy one in a heartbeat, but two things would stop me....one, my wife and 2) my licence would last possibly a week!
Riding home on the GS though and I didn't feel let down or short-changed. It is what it is and the journey back was effortless, comfortable, safe and familiar.
Great fun though and I may just persuade myself that I need an MT10 in my life. In fact we all need an MT10 in our lives! For anyone who hasn't had the chance to ride this utterly bonkers, yet very likeable bike, I really recommend you take any opportunity that comes your way to try one. As for the Ducati....no thanks. I can see why some might like it, but it wasn't for me.
I wanted to see what the hype was around the new 1260 Multistrada and also check out whether the Yamaha MT10 in "Touring" trim would be a worthy replacement as an all-road (no off road) sports-tourer to the GS, or at least whether either of these would tempt me off a GS.
The day kicked off after an invite to join the Ducati Roadshow 2019 for an extended test ride in groups accompanied by the California Superbike School.
I thought I'd look at riding the most comparable to my GSA in style which was the 1260 Multistrada "Enduro". I really wished I'd picked the lower touring model as the 34.6 inch seat height felt taller than my GSA (even though it wasn't), but this was down to the much firmer suspension and low sag meaning I was on tippy-toes!
Long story short. Although I gelled with the Multistrada, I didn't love it. It felt less stable at low speed than the GS, the engine I expected so much from needed over 2.5K revs low down or it could get a little rough around town with one or two people stalling at low revs. It was lovely and smooth though and the suspension was top notch....way better than my 2016 ESA equipped GSA. Handling was good but with the larger front wheel, it felt a little too slow on some bends but held a line well. Brakes were excellent. Riding position was also quite comfortable.
Engine was muted but pleasant sounding and quite linear from 2.5K to 7K revs. After that, there was a noticeable peak in power before it went bats at 9K...going from sleepy kitten to wild cat. I was surprised how little grunt it had lower down though tbh.
Instrument panel was great and screen, whilst adjustable and not bad, still left me with some buffeting. The height though was too much for me and loaded up, it's not a bike for 5'8" shorties like me. The touring model was much lower and I got on way better with that, but both bikes just left me thinking....Meh....not in love enough to drop 16K to make a switch. It was great getting back on to the GSA which felt so much better at low revs and I don't know if it's an age thing, but I like the fact it doesn't go mental at higher revs...it just isn't something I was looking for in an everyday bike or tourer....or was it?
....queue the MT10. This is a bike I've been wanting to try for ages and finally I got the chance to throw a leg over one. I know this is more naked muscle bike than sports tourer, but chuck a set of panniers and a screen on it, and a comfort saddle (you'll need it...the standard one is a plank!) and it is comfortable enough I'd say for all day touring. I was out for an hour and a half and loved every second of that ride. The high points were the firm but excellent suspension...this bike was ridden briskly over some pretty rough roads but nothing seemed to unsettle it. It sliced its way through traffic in town thanks to being half the width of my GSA and was one of those bikes that handled intuitively well...where you looked is where the bike went. Engine note from the re-tuned Crossplane crank R1 engine was the star of the show...absolutely mind blowingly superb! The gobfulls of torque this thing churned out in any gear at any revs meant it was far more usable and tractable than the 1260 Multistrada or the GS for that matter.
On paper at least, the specs were similar to the Multistrada with about 160BHP and 88ft-lbs torque...it just felt a heck of a lot more than that. I think this was down to the engine tuning bringing that power down from the peaky heights of 15K revs of the R1 to "just" 12K revs but the spread of torque was everywhere. Lovely gearbox too. No feeling of having to rev it to get to the performance, like the Ducati. The MT10 astonished on throttle response every time you open the throttle from any revs in any gear...it just takes off. As the revs climb, power seems relentless...it's like having someone try and rip your arms from your sockets on full beans, and as the revs climb (any gear really) you have to be mindful that irrespective of what the speedo shows, that front wheel is in danger of lifting if the beans are kept on.
I seriously loved the MT10 and wasn't expecting to. It's probably one of the best motorcycles I've ever ridden...highly addictive, well screwed together, fantastic handling and could easily make a great everyday bike or sports tourer although luggage space is quite limited. My only comment on the downside are that the standard saddle is unconfortable and the brakes are a little wooden, although effective enough...this seems to be a Yamaha trait on any I've owned or ridden. If I had a spare space in the garage though, I'd buy one in a heartbeat, but two things would stop me....one, my wife and 2) my licence would last possibly a week!
Riding home on the GS though and I didn't feel let down or short-changed. It is what it is and the journey back was effortless, comfortable, safe and familiar.
Great fun though and I may just persuade myself that I need an MT10 in my life. In fact we all need an MT10 in our lives! For anyone who hasn't had the chance to ride this utterly bonkers, yet very likeable bike, I really recommend you take any opportunity that comes your way to try one. As for the Ducati....no thanks. I can see why some might like it, but it wasn't for me.