| Author | Message | ||
     Hangetsu |
No, I'm not planning on ditching my Uly any time soon. I just happened to stop in my favorite Euro bike dealer to ogle what they had on the floor and they happened to have a new Multistrada available for demo rides. Unfortunately this dealer is located in down town Denver and at 3:00 in the afternoon, my ride was limited to stop & go urban traffic and a short run on the freeway – nothing like the wonderful demo ride that was available to Dr. Greg. As short as the ride was however, I have to say, it is an impressive machine. Worth 20K? Well, value is a subjective thing, but after I log another 30K miles on my Uly, or after the first time I’m majorly inconvenienced with a replacement part issue, I could be tempted. My impressions are limited to the environment I was able to ride in, but the first thing I became aware if was the engine and it’s abundant power. I always thought the Uly had plenty, but the presence of a very immediate 150hp was enough to make me grin even more than what the Uly gives me – and that’s already a pretty big grin. The wheel base, rake, and trail of the multi are a bit longer that the Uly’s so the handling was a bit more sluggish. Not that it doesn’t handle well, but I felt the Uly has a quicker and smoother turn-un than the multi. The Uly just feels more nimble to me, but I am more accustomed to the Uly, so that may be the only difference. I was able to play around with some of the different driving modes, the Urban more being very applicable to the environment I was riding in. I really can’t say that it became any more manageable to ride in traffic in Urban more than it was in sport mode, but the decrease in power was very noticeable. In urban mode it was quite sluggish off the mark, but I putzed around town quite a bit in sport mode as well and I didn’t find it a bit unmanageable. In fact, it required a lot more clutch slipping to get off the mark in urban mode, so the advantage of having these different driving modes may be negligible. Off road may be a different issue though and I didn’t have an opportunity to take it off the pavement. Probably the only place I would have problems adjusting to the Multi after so many miles on the Uly is the seating position. I’m 6’-2” and a bit over 200lbs and like the 1100 Multi, though it is a comfortable fit, there is only one position for me. Sitting totally upright, my tailbone is pressed firmly against the front edge of the pillion seat and I have no space to move in either direction. The seat is comfortable, but I know after an hour or more in the saddle, I will be wanting to shift around a bit and the seat on the Multi allows for no movement what-so-ever. Before even considering one of these, I would also want to wait a few years for the inevitable bugs to be worked out of the Munti’s elaborate electronics. The original Multi was plagued with electronic issues in things as simple as the fuel gauge, so I think if I’m going to drop 20K on a bike, I’d rather not be the guinea pig that these are worked out on. Thanks Doc for stepping up. Anyway, limited as they are, those are my impressions. The Multi is certainly a sweet bike, but after my ride, when I sat back upon my Uly and fed some gas into that sweet torquey motor, it felt more like home. This bike is going to be with me until there is an undeniable reason to part from it. | ||
| Jespo_m2 |
I bet having 150HP on tap is pretty exhilerating.. but 20k??? I can buy 3 used low mile Uly's for less than that. Hmm.. not a bad idea.  | ||
| Dr_greg |
After a second test ride up to Sandia Peak (30 miles of sportbike heaven) in SPORT mode, the turn-in and general pavement handling of the MTS 1200 is second to none. And that 150 HP comes in handy when overtaking. It is a "special bike." Trust me. At 5-9, 140 lb, the ergos of the MTS 1200 fit me very well. All that said, when I remounted the Uly---like you---it felt like I'd come home. However, I've put over 80,000 miles on the Uly(s), so it oughta feel like home. An observation on electronics (and technology in general): in my research area (robotics), the Italians are very much big-time players. The most active of any European country. Second place is the Germans. Not sure if this translates to vehicle technology, but I hope so! --Doc | ||
| Charlie_zulu |
I hope it does, I want one of those Guzzi's (that other Italian bike) someday. | ||
| Conchop |
I wonder how this would have matched up against the Duckatee?  | ||
| Motorbike |
Cool! I'm just trying to imagine that in a Racing Red 1125 XT with Journey bags. Nice job with Photoshop, Conchop! | ||
| Jonsocal |
nice pic Conchop. I think I wet myself. | ||
| Hooper |
Make it black, add the tall seat and luggage, improve the handguards and windscreen, and I would too. That is my bike. And it wouldn't cost $20,000. Is there enough room behind the flyscreen for the CPU? | ||
| Conchop |
Ain't a photoshop - It's real and it's hidden - somewhere in WI or Canada. | ||
| Hooper |
Well, I'd still put some risers on the handlebars. Conchop, I like your profile's philosophy! As a manager of people who I need to maintain the highest quality under difficult circumstances, those are the people I wish I could find more of. Have a good weekend! | ||
| Snowscum |
I mentioned to Erik at Miller about the idea of the rotax in the Uly frame and that this board had plenty of supporters. I wonder if it sunk in...... | ||
| Motorbike |
Conchop, can you please explain? Is that an actual prototype that Buell WAS planning to build? When I first started considering the XT in 2008, I kept trying to convince myself that they would eventually build an 1125 Uly and I should wait for that, as many of you probably thought too. When Buell was shut down, I thought I better grab what is available and I feel I got a great deal on the bike that is almost exactly what I wanted. If they had come out with the 1125 Uly like the one in Conchop's post, I would have bought one in a heartbeat. That is the coolest bike I have ever seen! Thanks. | ||
| Conchop |
Nothing is sure - certain speculation at best - statistical close calls - then the BS. Hooper - You have a good weekend too.- All Uly's need risers. By the way, how can anyone explain the pipes? |
