After two GSAs (a 2012 TC and 2014 LC), I decided that my advancing years merited a lighter bike, so I swapped my LC for a Triumph Tiger 800. It was a nice bike and had a great engine, although after a year, I did get fed up with the turbine-like whine of the triple as the rpm climbed. However, I missed the power and torque of the GSA and, while still wanting a lighter bike, I swapped the Triumph for a Multistrada 1260S. I had test ridden a KTM 1290 S and a 1290 Duke GT as part of my research but decided the 1290S was a bit too tall for me and the GT was a bit short of touring cred for my kind of riding (long European tours preferred). The Mutley seemed to tick the boxes. I could flatfoot it, the engine was excellent, the quickshifter was superb and the seat, though not great was bearable. However, what my enthusiastic test ride had not properly alerted me to, was the heavy steering.
The Multistrada needs an excessive amount of counter-steer to get round bends in my opinion. If I relaxed pressure on the inside bar, the bike immediately stood up to run wide. I tried lots of suspension set-ups, including getting sag and pre-load set up for my weight by an Ohlins expert but nothing seemed to improve it - the effort required was tiring and caused muscle and nerve pains in my neck and shouloders. The geometry is just not right for me; I rode a friend’s Multi to check that it wasn’t just my bike but his felt identical (and he is very happy with it, so I may just be feeble). After a three-week trip with mates to Corsica and Sardinia where we rode mostly very curvy roads which although enjoyable, thoroughly knackered me, I decided to go back to a BMW. Whether it was down to me or the bike, the end result was the same, I like the way the BMW performs for me and I just could get on with the Multi.
My 1250 GS (TE Exclusive) is lighter than the GSAs I had previously (so ticks that box) and above all, the steering is perfect. In a bend, once set up, I can lift my hands off the bars briefly and the bike stays tipped-in, beautifully neutral with no effort required. A 300 mile day produces none of the soreness that 150 miles on the Multi did.
I don’t know how long I will be able to continue riding the 1250 - it is not a lightweight after all and still needs to be pushed around once off the bike, but provided it continues to run nicely, I don’t see myself hankering after another bike as long as I am physically capable of riding it.
The Multistrada needs an excessive amount of counter-steer to get round bends in my opinion. If I relaxed pressure on the inside bar, the bike immediately stood up to run wide. I tried lots of suspension set-ups, including getting sag and pre-load set up for my weight by an Ohlins expert but nothing seemed to improve it - the effort required was tiring and caused muscle and nerve pains in my neck and shouloders. The geometry is just not right for me; I rode a friend’s Multi to check that it wasn’t just my bike but his felt identical (and he is very happy with it, so I may just be feeble). After a three-week trip with mates to Corsica and Sardinia where we rode mostly very curvy roads which although enjoyable, thoroughly knackered me, I decided to go back to a BMW. Whether it was down to me or the bike, the end result was the same, I like the way the BMW performs for me and I just could get on with the Multi.
My 1250 GS (TE Exclusive) is lighter than the GSAs I had previously (so ticks that box) and above all, the steering is perfect. In a bend, once set up, I can lift my hands off the bars briefly and the bike stays tipped-in, beautifully neutral with no effort required. A 300 mile day produces none of the soreness that 150 miles on the Multi did.
I don’t know how long I will be able to continue riding the 1250 - it is not a lightweight after all and still needs to be pushed around once off the bike, but provided it continues to run nicely, I don’t see myself hankering after another bike as long as I am physically capable of riding it.
