It's still fugly.

The new Multistrada that is:
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/2010-ducati-multistrada-1200-leaked-photos/

 

<gloom>
WTF are they still messing around with an ugly POS nobody wants rather than
putting the 1098S or last 998 engine into the late ST4S package and
improving an already brilliant bike.

 

At the beginning of last year, Ducati marketing said they would
"unveil 10 new models by 2010". So far we've had:

2008:
Monster 696
1098 Superbike [1]
848 Superbike

2009:
1198 Superbike
Streetfighter 1100
Monster 1100

2010:
Multistrada 1200
Hypermotard 796
#9 ??
#10 ??

So that leaves us with two empty slots to fill for new model
revisions. Looking at what Ducati have always done in the past,
it wouldn't surprise me if we saw a smaller-engined Streetfighter
as one of those, the obvious choice being the 848 engine.

I'm sure I also read that three of these releases would be all-new
bikes rather than just updated models, but I can't find any reference
to that atm. If that's true, then this last slot needs to be something
new, as we've had the Streetfighter and the new Multistrada so far.

So will there be a new ST? It's certainly likely as there's a new
engine for it, the 1198, and it's the last of the old models
(excluding the Supersports) that needs an update.

But, then again, they may throw in a curve-ball and release a
cruiser-like bike which is highly unlikely, IMHO, although rumours
about a "Vyper" have been circulating for a while, and a similar
thing happened with the Hypermotard. We may also see an updated
SportClassic or even a SuperSport, but I would like to think that
the new ST will be next, and that the SuperSport will come back
in 2011 (or be announced next year) with the new Hyper 796 engine.

[1] Although the 1098 was available in late 2007, Ducati referred
to it as part of their 2008 releases.

 

Why are they still messing around with the Multistrada concept? I've
only seen two on the roads, seems like.

Unless they're a lot more popular on the continent?

I dunno, first they ditch the 916 styling for some abortion, then turn
the Monster into some dog's breakfast. and now this.

I wish they'd produce a bike that returns to the Ducati roots: light,
basic, simple. Like my 750SS, in fact, only a bit less Jurassic.

 

NO. As in "no".

Target for the Multistrada prefer the BMW 650/800/1200 GS, by far. Or Suzuki
V-Strom 650/1000 when budget is a must. Honda Varadero 1000 (based on the
thirsty engine of the old VFR1000) was also popular to some extent.

 

If they want to attract people into the Ducati "thinG', they need more
entry-level bikes.

Take the 848, maybe detune it a fraction, lob it into a basic trellis
frame, cheapo suspension (if the frame's rigid enough, it'll still
handle OK), no frills, no expensive CF or magnesium bits, no
super-lightweight wheels, no floating radial brakes, and pitch the price
right.

Then watch the pennies come rolling in.

 

All for the same reason. One word - Tamburini.

 

Heh. My mate Niall had a Varadero. It did 30mpg: the thirstiest bike
he's ever owned.

He now has a 1000 V-Strom. And a ZX9R.

 

Hm. Good point.

 

916 - unreal in every way. Stunning, handles like a fucking dream & is quick
enough for most road riders.

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue

 

Ain't that the truth.

I think Ducati wobbled a bit in the mid-2000s with their
999 model. The loss of Tamburini, taking the F4 design with
him (which was going to be the 916 replacement) meant they
had to come up with a stunning design to make an impact. Well,
it did that alright but for all the wrong reasons. Yes, it's
a stunning bike to ride but it's fugly too.

Terblanche tried to fill his shoes (given his success with
the Supermono design) but obviously couldn't do it. Some of
his designs are great though - I own a Hypermotard ffs - but
it's taken him a while to get there. And that included
the Multistrada, but ended up with the Sport 1000 too.

Ducati seem to have had a change of philosophy lately with
their designs, more likely down to market forces more than
anything else. The latest bikes are starting to go back to
the design days of the 916. The Streetfighter has some really
nice touches in it (although it's very reminiscent of
Tamburini's Brutale design), the Hypermotard and even the
new Monster is a good evolution of the design.

But don't forget that Tamburini also had his fair share
of fugly bikes, including the Paso.

 

I've read in several places that the economic downturn has lead to the
manufacturers delaying investment - ie. going to a 3-year cycle rather
than a 2-year one, or releasing updates rather than all-new models. In
fact I'd be quite surprised if Ducati made good on what they were
promising at the beginning of 2008.

 

I would expect that a lot of the plans made for any new
motorcycle(s) were started long before the economic downturn,
so a lot of the investment would have already been made. Some
of it may get delayed, but Ducati's fortunes have been on the
upturn with the introduction of the 1098 and the new Monster.

If you look at what they're doing, and indeed what they've
always done, is simply to take existing engines and put them
into existing frame, bolting on existing front and rear ends
but dressing them slightly differently to arrive at new models.

Very rarely does a whole new model come along; they all borrow
from other existing models with a constant evolution rather
than revolution. Every so often you'll get something new, like
the 1098 motor, but even internally that is merely a bore &
stroke change to the old 999 motor which was the same as the
998 motor, which was a head redesign of the 996, which was a
bore & stroke change on the 916, which was a bore & stroke
change of the 888 which was a bore & stroke change of the
815... etc etc.

Most of the big engine changes have been in the 2V family
of engines, with bigger capacities and innovations such as
the triple valve of the ST3 and the Dual Spark variation
used in the later Multistrada and SportClassics, the Hypermotard
and the new Monster 1100. But again, a lot of this is simply
fitting a different crank (and usually from something else)
to give a different stroke and upping the bore to make a
bigger variant of an existing engine.

Although it's out of date after the 999 line, this table
shows the reference points for most of Ducati's recent engines
and how they've simply evolved:
http://www.bikeboy.org/duccapacities.html

 

Well you've certainly "gotten" that right.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

But not our Nige?

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

D'ja know whut, cowboy? Having seen the video, I'm actually
warming to it quite a bit! It will probably need to be seen
in the flesh to be certain though.

 

Oh it looks far better than the current model but TBF the worst thing is
the riding position.
The new one looks nicer than a Tiger but I bet the Triumph engine aces
that POS 1200.

The really key thing about the 4S is the 996 engine. The late ST3S is
almost the same bike in terms of brakes, suspension and bodywork (all
fabulous) but I wouldn't dream of owning one. It's that thing of having
a proper touring bike with sprotbike handling/performance rather than a
damp squib.

 

Hmm... 150hp? Adjustable settings for Sport/Touring/Enduro/Urban
mode which electronically adjust the suspension, power output,
traction control and ABS?

Sounds pretty cool, actually!