Always a great review as usual. A couple of extra points (as an owner), the metal bracket in the toolkit is an insert that indicates whether the chain needs adjustment or not. And if you press and hold the suspension button down, the bike will lower to its lowest possible rear preload height and remain there until it's either pressed again or the bike reaches about 70mph - helping the short of leg. This was an update in the latest software version, which also included improvements to the heated grips selection (doesn't use the menu, just the button now), and also keeps the Ducati Connect app-connected for up to 20 mins after you turn the bike off. the trick with the panniers is that when you release the flap, the clasp catches the pannier lid partially open to stop the contents spewing out everywhere and if you then push the pannier lid 'inwards' the pannier lid then opens fully; its just technique. Also, the valve checks are only every 36k, which is well worth a mention. Anyway, just thought a few of your subscribers would like to know these things too! 👍
why do motorbike built-in sat navs always come up with disappointments. Andy just use his Wing on his first major tour and came back with the conclusion even that wasn't worth the money. I do believe you're at £30,000 that particular bike.... so I guess we're all fitting separate brackets to take different makes of sat nav. Thanks Tim.
Thanks for another excellent review. FYI, a software update in Feb 22 addressed the grip heaters issue 😁….all you have to do now is press the button to cycle between low, medium and hi temperature. I owned my multi v4s since June 2021 and covered more than 18000km, the bike has been excellent with no issues at all. Keep up the good work 👍
Thank you for another excellent review. I've had my V4s since last September and I don't regret buying her at all. Yes, it's a lot of money, but the pleasure I get makes it all worth while. I've just had the software update, which eliminated the heated grip and connectivity issue. My phone fits in the cubby hole, but I either keep it in my tank bag or my pocket. No problems with Bluetooth connection. I've not been on a tour with her yet, so I can't comment on the long distance mpg. That said, you know when you buy it it's not going to be the most economical, but I could have done without the massive fuel price hike 😬 I agree about the looks, as I only have to walk in the garage and she puts a big smile on my face 😁
Great review Andy. As to your comment about the low-end torque, or lack thereof, I found that if you go into the engine mode settings you can change the responsiveness of the engine in a way that makes a massive difference in terms of how it responds. On mine, I found that even in sport mode, the engine was not set to “dynamic”. I had to do that manually. Once I changed it I was blown away by just how much more powerful and responsive it was. Cheers.
Great review...thanks for sharing. I recently purchased a 2022 Multistrada V4S two years after my R1250GSA. My wife signed off on the purchase after I promised after 1 year I had to choose between the two bikes and sell one. I think it will be a tough decision. I think I'm gonna miss her.
Thank you for your down-to-earth reviews! You hit on points that no one else does and that really speak to the experience of living with a bike! This is a beautiful motorcycle if one for only a few. Really appreciate what you do. Also wondering whether you’re going to do any airplane flying videos coming up. I apologize if i’ve missed something but anyway, keep on doing all the things you enjoy! you’re doing us a fine service!
Being 2 1/2 weeks into Multistrada V4S ownership myself I think your review is about spot on, as others have said the new update fixes the heated grips issue and also enables you to leave your phone connected for 20 minutes which goes some way to addressing the faffing about, it also introduces a “minimum” suspension setting for us shorter fellas (I’m 5’9”) As I’ve yet to update my phone from an iPhone XR despite being out of contact for about 6 months I’m tempted to keep it now as it just fits in the storage compartment, the nav app I’ve yet to reach a conclusion on, I quite like it although it is a little bit awkward to set up, I may invest in an alternative set up in time. Love the bike on the whole.
I had a BMW GSA - Ducati copied the riding position, but the seat is more comfortable and slightly narrower and the tank does not force your knees out so much. Basically - more comfortable to ride. The low speed grunt had me disappointed at first, thought I had made a massive mistake. But it actually helps at low speeds around town and filtering. But, a quick twist of the throttle and it definitely goes. Recommend riding it in Sport the whole time, unless in town or raining then Touring is fine. Get the bigger screen. Get a proper coated aftermarket chain immediately, shocking, but the Ducati chains just rust up really easily. Now have coated chain, just use WD40 on it for lubing and clean regularly with a proper chain cleaner - works very well. Heated seat is great for winters. Blind spot detection has actually saved me twice in a year...but from people coming up the inside. Quickshifter best I have used. Brakes seem a bit tame after BMW biters, but changing pads should help that. It is a pain to clean, particularly the front behind the front wheel. Tyres excellent. Not joking...keep eye on speedo. Can get to 3 digits effortlessly. The tank could be bigger as the bike thirsty and comfortable, so stopping to refuel before you should. Great bike for a Sunday morning blast. Very flickable, unable to tell it has a bigger front wheel, the counter rotating crank does help. Panniers are a bit of a faff, but just the right size. Also recommend the extra fog lights for night riding.
Thanks again for a great and detailed review. 37 mpg is pretty poor in this day and age...a lot of cars of similar power would do that. With petrol at £1.69 per litre, It's something to consider more nowadays. On a practical note, why don't more manufacturers routinely fit right angle tyre valves. Surely they would only cost a tiny bit more and would make life so much easier. My Scrambler 1200 has straight valves and the combination of this and wire wheels make tyre inflation an unpleasant challenge. Looking forward to a review of the Tiger 1200 to see which one you prefer.
Many people are used to straight tyre valves and use pressure gauges that fit just fine when they need to check the pressure, changing them to right angled valves is not ideal for everyone and you can buy adapters that screw on to make them angled for filling and testing.
@@ian-c.01 I've had many bikes with straight valves and a few with right angle ones. Most garage air lines I've used, don't fit straight ones very well, particularly on the rear wheel. I've never had one that didn't fit on a right angle one.
Multi is certainly a thirsty girl! I see about 150-160 US miles of range before the bike gives me the fuel light. I find that when you’re putting around town fuel economy is much greater in Urban mode, if that matters. I’ve also held 65 indicated US mph and fuel economy can reach the mid 40s if you leave it in cruise. Something to note if you’re on a very long leg of travel with limited fuel availability!
Amazing review ... Enjoyed watching. The details you share are amazing and ones which you cant find after an hour long test ride, such reviews definitely help in making purchase decisions for potential customers...
Thanks for a superb review. I like Ducatis, lovely bike, but not sure I can live with 36 mpg. My BMWR1250R literally gives 60 to 64 mpg, and at today's prices. Also for peace of mind on the tyres, there is now a range of rechargeable tyre pumps. I carry one on my bike
Hello Mr flyer. So I had ridden this bike back to back with the bmw 1200 rs and the tracer 9gt. Although of course the ducati and bmw are much better bikes more refined with better tfts and so on. They are not worth 8grand more than the tracer in my opinion. Of course this comes down to affordability but with the right spec ducati and bmw coming in at near 20k + they are the same price as a bmw saloon car.
I found the soft off idle take off power quite satisfying, where as my Multistrada 1200 and he BMW 1200 a bit rough and over torquey. In traffic the V4S is so much nicer and easier to manage at slow speed stop and go than either 1200 twin. Then when you need it, the power is there with a little more revs.
This beauty has more features than Disney, which I might be concerned about going forward, if I was planning on keeping it longer term. I could see the potential for garage bills ramping up just servicing the electrical issues. It's a great looking bike though, certainly one of the best looking in its class, but wow, the fuel economy for an ADV that is primarily road focused is pretty dismal. Also, as much as I like the TFT and backlit controls, I would want to dim all that right down at night and pay attention to the stoopid deer running out in front of me!
These are outdated concerns… Ducati since being taken over by Audi have sorted their quality control and engineering out. Service intervals have been extended out and comparative costs plus a good warrant and excellent electronics, they use the same electronics as all the completion with the likes of Bosch and Ohlins etc. All manufacturers have occasional issues, Ducati really upped its game over the last 10 years and really can compete with the Japanese or BMW.
To be fair modern Ducatis are a lot better made than what they used to be, I'd be much more comfortable having a modern Ducati in the garage than a BMW, HD, Aprillia or Triumph.
Have to agree. My second-happiest day of biking was buying my Ducati. The very happiest was selling it after countless mechanical problems and an electrical glitch that stranded me far from home (with no cell phone service). Of the 15 bikes I’ve owned, the Ducati presented more mechanical problems than all others combines. Of course that’s only my experience and YMMV.
Thanks for nice and detailed reviews, as always. I am taking delivery of one in a couple of weeks so needless to say, looking forward to spring here in Norway. I test rode one last year and have owned a 1200S for 3 years. A few issues in your review that maybe surprised a bit but I guess it depends what you compare to. First, the need to change gears more often due to less (relatively speaking) grunt at low revs. Probably true compared to the GS (which I haven't ridden), but compared to the old MTS V-twin it is the opposite, for two reasons: Shorter gearing and much smoother engine. I typically found myself in one gear higher than I used to on the 1200. Second, the windscreen: In my opinion, the screen (standard) is way better than the old 1200 which was really noisy. But again, there could be better bikes out there and also this seems to depend a lot on rider height. Regarding the lack of rain mode: I think touring mode is adequate, but one can certainly use Urban too, which softens the throttle response even more and reduces full power to 115 bhp (I think). Fuel consumtion: Agree that this is a bit disappointing, but some reports I have seen on Ducati forums claim that it gets better with some mileage on the engine. We'll see. Finally, the panniers: The new system is much better than the old one (that is still retained on the 950 I think), which had a rather flimsy mounting mechanism. Thanks again and looking forward to your next review.
Having owned a 2016 V4s I agree with everything you have noted. It’s extremely comfortable, blazing fast. Hope they sorted the rear brake failure disaster I experienced which led me to sell mine.
The rear master cylinder was too close the exhaust, according to the tech at Ducati Anchorage Alaska and ultimately NoCo powersports in Ft Collins. The fluid evaporated. Some complicated fix was suggested. There was a “technical bulletin” at the time but Ducati wouldn’t issue a recall or fix it for me. 23k for that beauty. I was disgusted and just sold it at a horrendous loss to NoCo Powersports. Admire Ducati from afar. What an amazing machine. Until at 3000 miles, it wasn’t
You would have thought Ducati had learned, my then new model 2012 Multistrada 1200 had repeated rear brake failure (total fail!) The master cylinder positioned to close to the exhaust. Eventually part fixed 6 months later with re designed brake system. Sold it soon after.
Absolute beauty, and has some features that I wouldn’t mind on the GS (lit switchgear, adaptive cruise). Only downside for me here is that I know the GS is more capable off road (mainly because of its extremely low centre of gravity) and here down under, off road is a must. Actually, even if it was just as good off road, I would be scared to take the multistrada from fear of damaging its stunning looks
Enjoyed that review. I’ve had mine for around 6 months now - I live in the south of france, and this is just the perfect bike, both for long runs and then tight or fast twisties through the hills. I’m sure someone else has mentioned these things, but you can access the nav app whilst your phone is in your pocket, doesn’t need to be in the phone slot, nor connected. They’ve also fixed the fiddly heated grips in a recent software update, so you just use that single button now. You were right though….what on Earth were they thinking to present the bike that way?? First and foremost though, for a tourer, I found the GS and V4s equally annoying in that they could be even more relaxing if they just had a taller 6th gear. They both have the torque to sit 500 or 1000 revs lower at 80mph, and would probably be even better on fuel. Do they do it just so that they’ll Rev out in top when flat out, or cope better on cruise control without changing gear? I’m getting better economy than that, and it’s improved even more since adding the full akro. In the hot weather, that screen is just about right, to let some air in, but I don’t like how big and clunky the black plastic mechanism is.
nice write up Mate. Fyi the heated grips issues are fixed with the latest software up date, and urban mode on all modern Ducati’ is rain mode. Ride safe!
Excellent review Mr Flyer, and a nice bike, but lack of shaft drive for a bike in this class is a fail for me. Moto Guzzi did it with the old Stelvio 1200 (an underrated bike, might be good for your classic series?) Look forward to when you get the new Triumph 1200 to compare it to. Chocks away!
Excellent review. Trying to decide between this and the BMW R1250RT. I know they are completely different bikes but I've had two GS's and I want something different. I have ridden both and think the Ducati is amazing but I don't think it as premium as the BMW and little things annoy me like having to pay extra for completely keyless (need the key for the filler cap) and tyre pressure sensors. On a £25 grand bike (full spec with top box) I expect all of that. However it was comfortable to ride and amazing performance. I liken it to having a Porsche over a Bentley. Problem is I think I am now getting to the stage where I would like a Bentley :-)
If you're planning to tour, and it sounds like you are, you might want to consider the BMWs superior fuel consumption figures especially with today's prices. The right hand pannier on the Duc is seriously compromised as well.
@@stevecade857 I am planning to tour (first outing will be Germany in June). These days I like to stop more often so range of the Ducati not such an issue but your right about the cost. Good point on the pannier too. Bit like the standard GS as well.
@@andrewwallwork8297 My R1200RT is currently getting 62 mpg average and I don't spare the horses when I feel like it. 50 mph = 80 mpg, 60 mph = 60 mpg, 70 mph = 55 mpg. I don't know of any other tourer with a massive fairing that gets close to those figures. If you're happy letting the other half have the larger pannier while you get the small right hand one it wouldn't be a big issue but I've had days out where, when we get to our days visit, we pack our riding gear (boots included) in the panniers and top box and walk about as non-bikers. Not sure you could do that with the Duc.
Great video again. Enjoyed watching. I had a GSA. I bought a V4S last year. I just sold it back to the dealer and bought a new GSA again. I look forward to picking it up this Thursday. I missed the BMW. The Multistrada is a great machine, but it wasn't the bike for me. Really irritating I found the fuel consumption in combination with the small tank.
I'm a bit too old school for a bike with such an extensive menu. I just like to ride. What I do like is the blindspot warning though and agree it is one of the true safety devices that should be on many more bikes. Your review format really helps with sizing up a bike.
@@anxiousappliance Yes, I’ve done that on multiple BMWs and a Ducati for suspension and power and such. I had an RT that you could just press a button and work your heated grips. The next one I needed to go into a menu. That’s what’s maddening.
Am I right in suggesting this bike ticks every box as not just a good all rounder but an exciting one too. We all know the GS is the do it all bike that does everything with ease. But does the Multistrada do the same but with a load more excitement and style? So it does beg the question. When are you getting rid of your old GS and putting the Multistrada in the garage?
Thanks for the review Mr Flyer. For saying how big a thing Ducati are making about these new Multis being more accessible to shorter riders (like me 5'6") it didn't look that low to me. Also 36 MPG, ouch, maybe a bit of local long distance touring pehaps. Lovely looking mind, just wish they were really more accessible (-:
Nice to see good headlights with a wide high beam. I find almost every LED headlight setup has a very narrow high beam which means you're completely blind in corners. That fuel economy is abysmal though, worse than my 220hp car with AWD (A250).
Like the review. As an owner I can say that there is a software update which fixes the painful heated grips operation so it now just works off the button like a BMW. Also I suspect you haven’t ridden in bad weather without the panniers otherwise having to wash your riding kit every time you so this would be on your dislike list. Lastly try riding with riding jeans as opposed to textiles or leathers and you’ll discover cold shins from those front lower wings. I’d love a delete kit to take them off. They freeze your shins in cold weather and do little to cool anywhere else in hot weather.
Ducati Multistrada V4S and BMW R1250GS - I'll preface this by saying I am not a GS fan boy and also own Ducatis. My friend and I were lucky enough to do a tour of Scotland in September 2021. All the key things you highlight came up +ve and -ve. One of the biggest was the fuel economy, not in terms of cost (it was close to 40% diff though!) as you say we can afford it, but the decreased range of the V4s despite a slightly larger tank 23L vs 20L which became quite a bit of a chore but also the opportunity to tease my mate especially as there was a fuel crisis at the time! I know the pub numbers of 175BHP come up but in the real world performance was pretty much comparable due to the torque of the 1250 out the corners it would sling shot out with the V4s playing catch up by the end of the straight. So actually even stevens here. For me the looks of the V4S are great, but I miss the looks of the single swingarm of the old multistrada, back in the pikes peak though :-) The blind spot detection is great. I wish this option could be retro-fitted to other bikes. One thing you did not mention is things like the pannier choice and the plethora of aftermarket equipment is limited for the Multistrada compared to the GS which helps tick the touring box for the GS compared to the V4s. Either way both awesome bikes and I already do own one but would be happy to own either.
It sure is a handsome bike - to me much nicer than the previous versions. Unfortunately the V4 tends to gulp fuel (Honda V4 bikes returned much the same mpg) but they’re awesome at speed. Why on earth did they not set the heated grip levels with, er, the heated grips button! The “phone” socket seems pointless as it’s likely many people have a large Apple/Samsung phone that won’t fit, and having it pop open on every restart would wind me up quite quickly. I agree with you about a dedicated sat nav. Overall it does look like a high quality bit of kit. Nothing quite like a Ducati but I’m guessing over £20K fully kitted out :(
Andy great review as always. You mentioned the poor fuel consumption but as I do a lot of long distance touring the actual tank range would have been interesting as others have been quite critical in this regard. All the best
As always another great review thanks 👍👍 I own a 2021 950s Multistrada and interesting about the comment you made on heated grips. Ducati definitely gone backwards there. I have the same switch on the right side control for mine but one press and it’s on straight away and when you stop the bike the setting remains the same when you switch back on. Odd they would go the way they have now 🤔🤔🤔
It is amazing how many motorcycles with screens do the exact opposite what they are supposed to achieve and that is the screens causing wind turbulence.
Of all the modern advancements I’d like to have a blind spot detector but fundamentally other bike characteristics such as low speed grunt are more important to me
Great informative review and you've convinced me to buy one. I was thinking about buying a Royal Enfield to go with it. Can you recommend any must do mods?
Thanks for the review great as always...... swapping me h2sx for an adventure bike .. top of the list is the multi v4, the 1290 adv s, new triumph 1200 and the bmw 1250gsa... High class problems 😆
This bike has knocked the GS off as the supreme touring bike. This Ducati offers just so much more in technical advancements, comfort, practicality, design. The GS has had it’s time as top dog. Go on TMF just go ahead and buy the Ducati.
Great review of what looks to be a very good bike. 38mpg though...wow...that's pretty bad isn't it, and let's face it, you're quite a lean fellow, so it's not carrying too much. MPG aside, it looks the absolute business
Here are my additional notes as an owner. I’ve had my 2022 Multistrada V4S for 6 months now, with just under 5K miles on it. The mirrors: yes, I love the blind spot detection integrated into them, that’s one of the reasons I purchased this bike. However, at So Cal freeway speeds (70 / 75 mph), my mirrors vibrate enough so that I can’t tell if the car a few hundred feet back is a CHP or not. At a Gold Wing price point, I would expect the mirrors to be as good as the Gold Wing’s; they are not. The seat: I personally don’t find the seat very comfortable for all-day rides. For a few hours it’s OK, but for an all-day-in-the-saddle outing, I find myself shifting around. Yes, I know Ducati sells a more padded seat, but I’m barely flat-footed when at a stop, and I have to cowboy-mount the bike as it is (my 61-year-old body doesn’t flex as it used to). I’m evaluating options and would love to hear from other owners who have replaced their stock seat and what they went with. The phone cubby: I haven’t noticed my phone cubby door pop open as you mention when starting the bike, nor have I heard that before in owner forums…that is an odd behavior! Personally, even if my Google Pixel 6 Pro fit in the cubby, I would not put it in. It’s useless to me there. I have always preferred to have my smartphone handlebar-mounted. The phone cubby is where my cheap pair of sunglasses live (can’t afford expensive ones after buying the Ducati!). My phone obscures my view of the right side pee-sample container (a.k.a front brake fluid reservoir), while a Garmin Zumo XT blocks my view of the left side pee container. I don't use the Ducati navigation app. I prefer to dedicate the beautiful V4S display to motorcycle functions. The exhaust note: Yes, totally agreed. It is not a lovely-sounding bike, especially at idle. I’ve heard lawnmowers that sound better. Seriously. It does sound fantastic when you crack the throttle wide open, but that’s really the only time. As petty as it may be, if I could change anything about the bike, it would probably be the exhaust note. Something deeper, please.
One other important note about the recent software update that “fixed” the heated grip control and added the Minimum Preload setting: not all Ducati dealerships know how to execute this update properly. When the software update is installed, the function of the heated grip is automatically changed. The new Minimum Preload feature, however, requires that the technician enter into a dealer-only accessible sub-menu to activate by following the steps explained in the SRV-SRB-22-004 Ducati Service Bulletin. The problem is that some Ducati technicians skip this, likely because they didn’t read the service bulletin themselves. This failure to activate the Minimum Preload feature happened to me recently. The Ducati service technician at the dealer I go to here in San Diego didn’t activate it for me. When I asked them about it, they were oblivious about what the update even was supposed to do. They said they just "plug a bike into their computer, enter the VIN, and it presents a software update…or it doesn’t". He said the Min Preload feature will be coming for my bike at the end of the year (that was totally wrong). I did my own research by contacting the largest Ducati dealer in SoCal (Ducati Newport Beach), and their service department immediately explained that the service technician needs to perform some additional steps outlined in the service bulletin. The person I spoke with even emailed me the service bulletin PDF. Now I need to carry this PDF to my dealer to help them get up to speed. Unfortunately, my story is not unique. When reading the owner forums, this happened to other V4S owners. The bottom line is that not all Ducati dealers are equal when it comes to the proficiency of their service department. That is something that I would recommend any prospective Ducati owner research a bit before making a purchase. This may be an issue with US Ducati dealers. Perhaps European dealers are more on top of things. Aside from the negatives, the bike is absolutely phenomenal. It is a blast to ride. I’ve never owned a bike that handles so well, feels so planted and stable in a variety of conditions. I do not regret the purchase one bit.
Hi , Very good review. I appreciate your time and effort to cover all of the attributes. One thing I wish my 2020 1250 GSA was better at would be getting it on the center stand. Personally, I tried the KTM 1290 and it goes right up with ease along with my Aprilia 1200 Caponord and Guzzi EV11. Perhaps the new 1300 BMW will be easier.
Strange with the heated grips. On the previous models it is total opposite. One only push the "heated-button". Push 1 = low, 2 mid and so on. The bike also remembers which level you had the heated grips on when you turn on the bike again. Strange that Ducati parted ways with these functions with this new model.
Hi Andy, I have to ask you, if you own a Multistrada 1260 s will you consider to trade it for the V4 Multistrada? Thank you for the great information on the Multistrada, keep up the good work 👍
Well the V4 is definitely a huge improvement over what has gone before, but I personally probably wouldn’t change no….same reasoning why I haven’t “upgraded” my “old” GS1200…
One thing people never seem to talk about when reviewing touring type bikes is panniers; how big are they? Can we see inside? Are they easy to get on/off ? You briefly mentioned they were fiddly but could you show us? All the other detail stuff is great.
The mpg figure for the V4 is disappointing, but if you can afford to buy or lease one then I guess you can afford the extra fuel cost. What is more important to me is the range of the bike, how many miles before the light comes on and you need to stop for fuel. Perhaps 130-150?
What a magnificent machine,disireability is of the charts !,and a great review to boot.Sadly price and fuel economy take it out of my reach.Miliondollar question, would you have it over the mighty gs
....you forgot to mention the lovely Ker-Chunk! gear change the wunderbike GS has, which the Ducati sadly lacks 😁 Oh, you also forgot the fit and finish and detailing vis a vis your GS, too. As an owner of both brands, some aspects of BMW finish are not actually that good on closer inspection; their Ford XR3 style quality stickers always grate on even their most expensive machines. That said, Ducatis are not exactly cheap to buy or service, so they bloody well should be well finished! Wish you had taken it down some sweeping and twisty country roads at a decent lick, though! I also suspect, despite your doubtless genuine feeling, that if you were side by side with one of these on your GS, that amazing GS 'grunt' from start or out of a corner may not be quite as tangible as you think, and the V4 not quite as lacking as you make out. GS owners, despite sincere claims of objectivity, simply cannot resist putting it on a lofty pedestal that, good as it is, it doesn't quite deserve. Maybe this is due to the time honoured mythos of the GS affecting them before they've even bought one, and once bought, reinforced, and it's lesser qualities minimised or even ignored. When comparing any new ADV bike to the GS, it's worth remembering the GS has been steadily improved over many years, so in some ways it's unfair to compare a relatively new design ADV like the V4 MS for not instantly dethroning the GS. Personally, I do feel the V4 MultiStrada will supercede the GS sooner rather than later. It's main achilles heel currently being the consumption and tank range and niggly issues you point out. Then again, the new Triumph Tiger 1200 may be better than them both 🤔
Hi Andy, good review. Not sure I'd enjoy much karma with a busy V4 on a long trip; to me, sitting for several hours while nibbling the lower edge of that blitzkrieg powerband, would not lead to thoughts of Elgar & nice scenery. Electronic 'flywheels' that only allow usable torque once the mapping's spun up & happy, below that, lots of Italian chatter around the family table while they sort out who's turn it is to fire . . . & as for that Mediterranean thirst. Nah, big twins that only fire when they need to & don't mind running on Chinese weasle-waz at 12,000ft. in bad weather, they're the way to go, some of the better ones can even make American road trips seem tolerable . . . (Only jealous : )
Great bike but too thirsty and too expensive, loved my test ride on the V2S Travel so I bought one, after three GSs!! Light, quick and amazing handling, red of course😀.
It’s a big beast. Do you really need that amount of power for normal day use? Do you really need all the electronic gadgets although several are useful. You don’t want a thirsty bike with these petrol prices. Tyre toolkit is nice.
@@TheMissendenFlyer i definitely need abs, just for safety. I need heated grips in the cold season but I don’t need a heated seat. I want the hill brake system, cornering abs, tft screen.
Just gorgeous, for those eith deep pockets. But lovely and very comprehensive. Thank you. But. Services every 2 years? How wise is it to leave oil changes on something that complex, ridden hard, fir 2 tears, I wonder. I would worry that's a marketing ploy and not sound engineering practice. There is a reason high performance race bikes need regular maintenance, and that is no less high performance. Time will tell. But yes, it's lovely Happy travels 👍
Regarding screens ive had many bikes which were orrid ..noisy ..needed after market screens....but my 1050 vstrom xt screen at full height... im nearly 6ft is so good yesterday rode most of day peaked helmet visor up 50mph and one illegal speed burst....amazed it dosnt look special ....👍
I am 99% sure you were on the daylight running lights (thats why the cornering lights were not working) it happened to me when I bought it. the light switch is close to throttle (on the right)
Hi mate. I have just decided to move from my sports and sports tourers to an adventure style bike and narrowed it down to the bmw gs1250 and the multistrada v4s full. I will be commuting and looking for some fun also. I particularly like the A413 also. Which bike would you go for out of the 2?
A thirsty beauty, but do you ever need that much top end power on an adventure bike? For real world riding it's the low and mid range torque that matters and it's why BMW GSs sell by the boat load. The new Tiger 1200 has my eye, not as powerful but shaft drive which many would consider important on this type of bike.
Hi Andy, with those wide bars you might find it hard to filter in traffic. Also on the subject of bars, is this version multistrada any more adjustable than the last? I had a pikes peak and the lack of adjustability was a pain quite literally.
I ride it in traffic every day and filtering is not impacted by the bar width. Actually, the wide bars make it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, you can do u turns much easier than most other bikes I have had. The Tracer was like turning an oil tanker in comparison. As for adjustment, I believe they have made it easier so that it accommodates off road riding a lot better.
Always a great review as usual. A couple of extra points (as an owner), the metal bracket in the toolkit is an insert that indicates whether the chain needs adjustment or not. And if you press and hold the suspension button down, the bike will lower to its lowest possible rear preload height and remain there until it's either pressed again or the bike reaches about 70mph - helping the short of leg. This was an update in the latest software version, which also included improvements to the heated grips selection (doesn't use the menu, just the button now), and also keeps the Ducati Connect app-connected for up to 20 mins after you turn the bike off. the trick with the panniers is that when you release the flap, the clasp catches the pannier lid partially open to stop the contents spewing out everywhere and if you then push the pannier lid 'inwards' the pannier lid then opens fully; its just technique. Also, the valve checks are only every 36k, which is well worth a mention. Anyway, just thought a few of your subscribers would like to know these things too! 👍
Thanks for that Richard!
Thanks for the added info, it's much appreciated.
Always good to hear tips from owners 👍🏻
@Richard Dunn - What's your thoughts on the Nav app system for the bike?
why do motorbike built-in sat navs always come up with disappointments. Andy just use his Wing on his first major tour and came back with the conclusion even that wasn't worth the money. I do believe you're at £30,000 that particular bike.... so I guess we're all fitting separate brackets to take different makes of sat nav. Thanks Tim.
Thanks for another excellent review. FYI, a software update in Feb 22 addressed the grip heaters issue 😁….all you have to do now is press the button to cycle between low, medium and hi temperature. I owned my multi v4s since June 2021 and covered more than 18000km, the bike has been excellent with no issues at all.
Keep up the good work 👍
Yes a good software update by the sounds of it!
Thank you for another excellent review.
I've had my V4s since last September and I don't regret buying her at all. Yes, it's a lot of money, but the pleasure I get makes it all worth while. I've just had the software update, which eliminated the heated grip and connectivity issue. My phone fits in the cubby hole, but I either keep it in my tank bag or my pocket. No problems with Bluetooth connection.
I've not been on a tour with her yet, so I can't comment on the long distance mpg. That said, you know when you buy it it's not going to be the most economical, but I could have done without the massive fuel price hike 😬
I agree about the looks, as I only have to walk in the garage and she puts a big smile on my face 😁
That’s half the battle!
Test rode one of these bikes yesterday as a replacement for my Tracer 900GT and its going to be my next bike.
Great review Andy. As to your comment about the low-end torque, or lack thereof, I found that if you go into the engine mode settings you can change the responsiveness of the engine in a way that makes a massive difference in terms of how it responds. On mine, I found that even in sport mode, the engine was not set to “dynamic”. I had to do that manually. Once I changed it I was blown away by just how much more powerful and responsive it was. Cheers.
Great tip! Thanks George!
Great review...thanks for sharing. I recently purchased a 2022 Multistrada V4S two years after my R1250GSA. My wife signed off on the purchase after I promised after 1 year I had to choose between the two bikes and sell one. I think it will be a tough decision. I think I'm gonna miss her.
Hi Andy, great in-depth review. I absolutely love these as you make buying decisions much easier. Keep up the great work you do. 👍😎🇦🇺
Thank you very much Marcus, appreciate that!
Thank you for your down-to-earth reviews! You hit on points that no one else does and that really speak to the experience of living with a bike! This is a beautiful motorcycle if one for only a few. Really appreciate what you do. Also wondering whether you’re going to do any airplane flying videos coming up. I apologize if i’ve missed something but anyway, keep on doing all the things you enjoy! you’re doing us a fine service!
I hope to Gray now summer is just around the corner!
Being 2 1/2 weeks into Multistrada V4S ownership myself I think your review is about spot on, as others have said the new update fixes the heated grips issue and also enables you to leave your phone connected for 20 minutes which goes some way to addressing the faffing about, it also introduces a “minimum” suspension setting for us shorter fellas (I’m 5’9”)
As I’ve yet to update my phone from an iPhone XR despite being out of contact for about 6 months I’m tempted to keep it now as it just fits in the storage compartment, the nav app I’ve yet to reach a conclusion on, I quite like it although it is a little bit awkward to set up, I may invest in an alternative set up in time.
Love the bike on the whole.
Glad we concur and that you’re enjoying the bike!
I had a BMW GSA - Ducati copied the riding position, but the seat is more comfortable and slightly narrower and the tank does not force your knees out so much. Basically - more comfortable to ride. The low speed grunt had me disappointed at first, thought I had made a massive mistake. But it actually helps at low speeds around town and filtering. But, a quick twist of the throttle and it definitely goes. Recommend riding it in Sport the whole time, unless in town or raining then Touring is fine. Get the bigger screen. Get a proper coated aftermarket chain immediately, shocking, but the Ducati chains just rust up really easily. Now have coated chain, just use WD40 on it for lubing and clean regularly with a proper chain cleaner - works very well. Heated seat is great for winters. Blind spot detection has actually saved me twice in a year...but from people coming up the inside. Quickshifter best I have used. Brakes seem a bit tame after BMW biters, but changing pads should help that. It is a pain to clean, particularly the front behind the front wheel. Tyres excellent. Not joking...keep eye on speedo. Can get to 3 digits effortlessly. The tank could be bigger as the bike thirsty and comfortable, so stopping to refuel before you should. Great bike for a Sunday morning blast. Very flickable, unable to tell it has a bigger front wheel, the counter rotating crank does help. Panniers are a bit of a faff, but just the right size. Also recommend the extra fog lights for night riding.
Great feedback - thanks!
Beautiful bike and a great review 👍. Can't wait till you can get your hands on the new and very sexy tiger 1200 for a real world review.
Yes I’m looking forward to that too!
Thanks again for a great and detailed review. 37 mpg is pretty poor in this day and age...a lot of cars of similar power would do that. With petrol at £1.69 per litre, It's something to consider more nowadays. On a practical note, why don't more manufacturers routinely fit right angle tyre valves. Surely they would only cost a tiny bit more and would make life so much easier. My Scrambler 1200 has straight valves and the combination of this and wire wheels make tyre inflation an unpleasant challenge. Looking forward to a review of the Tiger 1200 to see which one you prefer.
Many people are used to straight tyre valves and use pressure gauges that fit just fine when they need to check the pressure, changing them to right angled valves is not ideal for everyone and you can buy adapters that screw on to make them angled for filling and testing.
Looking forward to riding the Triumph too….
@@ian-c.01 I've had many bikes with straight valves and a few with right angle ones. Most garage air lines I've used, don't fit straight ones very well, particularly on the rear wheel. I've never had one that didn't fit on a right angle one.
£1.69… those were the days.
Multi is certainly a thirsty girl! I see about 150-160 US miles of range before the bike gives me the fuel light. I find that when you’re putting around town fuel economy is much greater in Urban mode, if that matters. I’ve also held 65 indicated US mph and fuel economy can reach the mid 40s if you leave it in cruise. Something to note if you’re on a very long leg of travel with limited fuel availability!
I'm quite amazed by the number of jackets hanging in MissendenFlyer's garage 😆
Yes I need to get busy on E-Bay!
@@TheMissendenFlyer 😆
As a bike to tour the UK and Europe I'm glad to see the sports tourers making a comeback. Give me a Kawasaki Z1000SX any day.
Oh how you inspire me to have a garage setup like yours TMF. Good space to work on the bikes.
Amazing review ... Enjoyed watching. The details you share are amazing and ones which you cant find after an hour long test ride, such reviews definitely help in making purchase decisions for potential customers...
Thanks for a superb review. I like Ducatis, lovely bike, but not sure I can live with 36 mpg. My BMWR1250R literally gives 60 to 64 mpg, and at today's prices. Also for peace of mind on the tyres, there is now a range of rechargeable tyre pumps. I carry one on my bike
Hello Mr flyer.
So I had ridden this bike back to back with the bmw 1200 rs and the tracer 9gt. Although of course the ducati and bmw are much better bikes more refined with better tfts and so on. They are not worth 8grand more than the tracer in my opinion. Of course this comes down to affordability but with the right spec ducati and bmw coming in at near 20k + they are the same price as a bmw saloon car.
A 5 year old saloon car maybe. I'd question how much more "refined" these are than the Tracer. What's the criteria?
Superb video, all the insights someone needs before purchasing one of these amazing motorcycles!
I agree with the lack of low-down grunt. That became apparent five minutes into my test ride.
I found the soft off idle take off power quite satisfying, where as my Multistrada 1200 and he BMW 1200 a bit rough and over torquey. In traffic the V4S is so much nicer and easier to manage at slow speed stop and go than either 1200 twin. Then when you need it, the power is there with a little more revs.
This beauty has more features than Disney, which I might be concerned about going forward, if I was planning on keeping it longer term. I could see the potential for garage bills ramping up just servicing the electrical issues. It's a great looking bike though, certainly one of the best looking in its class, but wow, the fuel economy for an ADV that is primarily road focused is pretty dismal. Also, as much as I like the TFT and backlit controls, I would want to dim all that right down at night and pay attention to the stoopid deer running out in front of me!
These are outdated concerns… Ducati since being taken over by Audi have sorted their quality control and engineering out. Service intervals have been extended out and comparative costs plus a good warrant and excellent electronics, they use the same electronics as all the completion with the likes of Bosch and Ohlins etc. All manufacturers have occasional issues, Ducati really upped its game over the last 10 years and really can compete with the Japanese or BMW.
To be fair modern Ducatis are a lot better made than what they used to be, I'd be much more comfortable having a modern Ducati in the garage than a BMW, HD, Aprillia or Triumph.
Have to agree. My second-happiest day of biking was buying my Ducati. The very happiest was selling it after countless mechanical problems and an electrical glitch that stranded me far from home (with no cell phone service). Of the 15 bikes I’ve owned, the Ducati presented more mechanical problems than all others combines. Of course that’s only my experience and YMMV.
I've seen paint flaking off new Scrambler engines and that looked like corrosion around the back wheel abs ring of this one.
You can dim the TFT in the setting menu.
Thanks for nice and detailed reviews, as always. I am taking delivery of one in a couple of weeks so needless to say, looking forward to spring here in Norway. I test rode one last year and have owned a 1200S for 3 years. A few issues in your review that maybe surprised a bit but I guess it depends what you compare to. First, the need to change gears more often due to less (relatively speaking) grunt at low revs. Probably true compared to the GS (which I haven't ridden), but compared to the old MTS V-twin it is the opposite, for two reasons: Shorter gearing and much smoother engine. I typically found myself in one gear higher than I used to on the 1200. Second, the windscreen: In my opinion, the screen (standard) is way better than the old 1200 which was really noisy. But again, there could be better bikes out there and also this seems to depend a lot on rider height. Regarding the lack of rain mode: I think touring mode is adequate, but one can certainly use Urban too, which softens the throttle response even more and reduces full power to 115 bhp (I think). Fuel consumtion: Agree that this is a bit disappointing, but some reports I have seen on Ducati forums claim that it gets better with some mileage on the engine. We'll see. Finally, the panniers: The new system is much better than the old one (that is still retained on the 950 I think), which had a rather flimsy mounting mechanism. Thanks again and looking forward to your next review.
Having owned a 2016 V4s I agree with everything you have noted. It’s extremely comfortable, blazing fast. Hope they sorted the rear brake failure disaster I experienced which led me to sell mine.
What happened to your rear brakes Paul? It must of been near catastrophic for you to sell the bike.
Yep, and Ducati managed to keep this catastrophic fault hidden from all the reviewers and owners, too! Cough.
The rear master cylinder was too close the exhaust, according to the tech at Ducati Anchorage Alaska and ultimately NoCo powersports in Ft Collins. The fluid evaporated. Some complicated fix was suggested. There was a “technical bulletin” at the time but Ducati wouldn’t issue a recall or fix it for me. 23k for that beauty. I was disgusted and just sold it at a horrendous loss to NoCo Powersports.
Admire Ducati from afar. What an amazing machine. Until at 3000 miles, it wasn’t
You would have thought Ducati had learned, my then new model 2012 Multistrada 1200 had repeated rear brake failure (total fail!) The master cylinder positioned to close to the exhaust. Eventually part fixed 6 months later with re designed brake system. Sold it soon after.
@@paulfranke3511 Paul did you know that the V4S wasn't even on the drawing board in 2016?
Looks like another decent do it all bike. Lovely commuter with a beast of an engine. Love it. Thanks for the regular reviews
You may Add the reason for the extended service interval is that the engine is NOT a Desmo valve engine, like your 899.
Yes I should have made that point…
Absolute beauty, and has some features that I wouldn’t mind on the GS (lit switchgear, adaptive cruise). Only downside for me here is that I know the GS is more capable off road (mainly because of its extremely low centre of gravity) and here down under, off road is a must. Actually, even if it was just as good off road, I would be scared to take the multistrada from fear of damaging its stunning looks
I'd also like those blind spot detectors on y GS - great bit of safety those.....
Enjoyed that review. I’ve had mine for around 6 months now - I live in the south of france, and this is just the perfect bike, both for long runs and then tight or fast twisties through the hills.
I’m sure someone else has mentioned these things, but you can access the nav app whilst your phone is in your pocket, doesn’t need to be in the phone slot, nor connected.
They’ve also fixed the fiddly heated grips in a recent software update, so you just use that single button now. You were right though….what on Earth were they thinking to present the bike that way??
First and foremost though, for a tourer, I found the GS and V4s equally annoying in that they could be even more relaxing if they just had a taller 6th gear. They both have the torque to sit 500 or 1000 revs lower at 80mph, and would probably be even better on fuel.
Do they do it just so that they’ll Rev out in top when flat out, or cope better on cruise control without changing gear?
I’m getting better economy than that, and it’s improved even more since adding the full akro.
In the hot weather, that screen is just about right, to let some air in, but I don’t like how big and clunky the black plastic mechanism is.
Love you're night time review, great view of back lit switches, and great main beam.
nice write up Mate. Fyi the heated grips issues are fixed with the latest software up date, and urban mode on all modern Ducati’ is rain mode. Ride safe!
Cheers Angus (see todays “Bike News”) for more….
Excellent review Mr Flyer, and a nice bike, but lack of shaft drive for a bike in this class is a fail for me. Moto Guzzi did it with the old Stelvio 1200 (an underrated bike, might be good for your classic series?)
Look forward to when you get the new Triumph 1200 to compare it to.
Chocks away!
Yes I’m looking forward to trying the big new Trumpet!
There's an update on the software that takes care of the heated grip situation you just press the button for 1 2 3 heat levels.
Yes so I’m told - a good move by Ducati that one!
Excellent video Andy, the mighty multi Strada 👍🤗
Love this bike! Great review! The Ducati dash is my favorite. Like it better than the BMW.
Excellent review. Trying to decide between this and the BMW R1250RT. I know they are completely different bikes but I've had two GS's and I want something different. I have ridden both and think the Ducati is amazing but I don't think it as premium as the BMW and little things annoy me like having to pay extra for completely keyless (need the key for the filler cap) and tyre pressure sensors. On a £25 grand bike (full spec with top box) I expect all of that. However it was comfortable to ride and amazing performance. I liken it to having a Porsche over a Bentley. Problem is I think I am now getting to the stage where I would like a Bentley :-)
Not a terrible situation really….
If you're planning to tour, and it sounds like you are, you might want to consider the BMWs superior fuel consumption figures especially with today's prices.
The right hand pannier on the Duc is seriously compromised as well.
@@stevecade857 I am planning to tour (first outing will be Germany in June). These days I like to stop more often so range of the Ducati not such an issue but your right about the cost. Good point on the pannier too. Bit like the standard GS as well.
@@andrewwallwork8297 My R1200RT is currently getting 62 mpg average and I don't spare the horses when I feel like it. 50 mph = 80 mpg, 60 mph = 60 mpg, 70 mph = 55 mpg. I don't know of any other tourer with a massive fairing that gets close to those figures. If you're happy letting the other half have the larger pannier while you get the small right hand one it wouldn't be a big issue but I've had days out where, when we get to our days visit, we pack our riding gear (boots included) in the panniers and top box and walk about as non-bikers. Not sure you could do that with the Duc.
Great video again. Enjoyed watching. I had a GSA. I bought a V4S last year. I just sold it back to the dealer and bought a new GSA again. I look forward to picking it up this Thursday. I missed the BMW. The Multistrada is a great machine, but it wasn't the bike for me. Really irritating I found the fuel consumption in combination with the small tank.
Right on!
I may be in a club of one but the Audi Angry Bird looks awful to me, 36mpg is shocking also. Thanks for your thoughts and review TMF.
I'm a bit too old school for a bike with such an extensive menu. I just like to ride. What I do like is the blindspot warning though and agree it is one of the true safety devices that should be on many more bikes. Your review format really helps with sizing up a bike.
Thank you!
Just find a setting you like and leave it there.
@@anxiousappliance Yes, I’ve done that on multiple BMWs and a Ducati for suspension and power and such. I had an RT that you could just press a button and work your heated grips. The next one I needed to go into a menu. That’s what’s maddening.
Really like the lack of background music and sales spin. Although I would need to remortgage the house, or wife ... I enjoyed the review. Thanks TMF.
Thanks for watching Chris!
Am I right in suggesting this bike ticks every box as not just a good all rounder but an exciting one too.
We all know the GS is the do it all bike that does everything with ease. But does the Multistrada do the same but with a load more excitement and style? So it does beg the question. When are you getting rid of your old GS and putting the Multistrada in the garage?
Video coming on that in due course!
I agree switches should be lit at night.
Thanks for the review Mr Flyer. For saying how big a thing Ducati are making about these new Multis being more accessible to shorter riders (like me 5'6") it didn't look that low to me. Also 36 MPG, ouch, maybe a bit of local long distance touring pehaps. Lovely looking mind, just wish they were really more accessible (-:
Nice to see good headlights with a wide high beam. I find almost every LED headlight setup has a very narrow high beam which means you're completely blind in corners. That fuel economy is abysmal though, worse than my 220hp car with AWD (A250).
Great review Andy. What a beautiful bike!
Isn’t it just!
Great review, and if I was looking for a new bike at the moment, it would be very high on my list.
Like the review. As an owner I can say that there is a software update which fixes the painful heated grips operation so it now just works off the button like a BMW. Also I suspect you haven’t ridden in bad weather without the panniers otherwise having to wash your riding kit every time you so this would be on your dislike list. Lastly try riding with riding jeans as opposed to textiles or leathers and you’ll discover cold shins from those front lower wings. I’d love a delete kit to take them off. They freeze your shins in cold weather and do little to cool anywhere else in hot weather.
That’s really interesting feedback Paul thanks!
Ducati Multistrada V4S and BMW R1250GS - I'll preface this by saying I am not a GS fan boy and also own Ducatis. My friend and I were lucky enough to do a tour of Scotland in September 2021. All the key things you highlight came up +ve and -ve.
One of the biggest was the fuel economy, not in terms of cost (it was close to 40% diff though!) as you say we can afford it, but the decreased range of the V4s despite a slightly larger tank 23L vs 20L which became quite a bit of a chore but also the opportunity to tease my mate especially as there was a fuel crisis at the time!
I know the pub numbers of 175BHP come up but in the real world performance was pretty much comparable due to the torque of the 1250 out the corners it would sling shot out with the V4s playing catch up by the end of the straight. So actually even stevens here.
For me the looks of the V4S are great, but I miss the looks of the single swingarm of the old multistrada, back in the pikes peak though :-)
The blind spot detection is great. I wish this option could be retro-fitted to other bikes.
One thing you did not mention is things like the pannier choice and the plethora of aftermarket equipment is limited for the Multistrada compared to the GS which helps tick the touring box for the GS compared to the V4s.
Either way both awesome bikes and I already do own one but would be happy to own either.
Yes me too!
It sure is a handsome bike - to me much nicer than the previous versions. Unfortunately the V4 tends to gulp fuel (Honda V4 bikes returned much the same mpg) but they’re awesome at speed. Why on earth did they not set the heated grip levels with, er, the heated grips button! The “phone” socket seems pointless as it’s likely many people have a large Apple/Samsung phone that won’t fit, and having it pop open on every restart would wind me up quite quickly. I agree with you about a dedicated sat nav. Overall it does look like a high quality bit of kit. Nothing quite like a Ducati but I’m guessing over £20K fully kitted out :(
That heated grip issue has since been fixed by a software upgrade btw….
Andy great review as always. You mentioned the poor fuel consumption but as I do a lot of long distance touring the actual tank range would have been interesting as others have been quite critical in this regard. All the best
I'm getting 310kms per tank.
Great video .Good content about the bike. Look forward to the next video .
Stay tuned!
As always another great review thanks 👍👍 I own a 2021 950s Multistrada and interesting about the comment you made on heated grips. Ducati definitely gone backwards there. I have the same switch on the right side control for mine but one press and it’s on straight away and when you stop the bike the setting remains the same when you switch back on. Odd they would go the way they have now 🤔🤔🤔
It is amazing how many motorcycles with screens do the exact opposite what they are supposed to achieve and that is the screens causing wind turbulence.
Yes very true!
Of all the modern advancements I’d like to have a blind spot detector but fundamentally other bike characteristics such as low speed grunt are more important to me
Yes I agree 100% but that blind spot detection is good!
Great informative review and you've convinced me to buy one. I was thinking about buying a Royal Enfield to go with it. Can you recommend any must do mods?
For the Multistrada the touring screen I think is a must do, I'd probably also invest in a seperate satnav..... All the best and thanks for watching!
I agree with you about the lit switch gear the Chinese Bennelli's even have it wish my Africa Twin did great review beautiful motorcycle 🏍
Thanks for the review great as always...... swapping me h2sx for an adventure bike .. top of the list is the multi v4, the 1290 adv s, new triumph 1200 and the bmw 1250gsa... High class problems 😆
Excellent review as always.. be a GS for me anyday but great review
Very thorough review.
Thank you Grant, appreciate that!
This bike has knocked the GS off as the supreme touring bike. This Ducati offers just so much more in technical advancements, comfort, practicality, design. The GS has had it’s time as top dog. Go on TMF just go ahead and buy the Ducati.
We shall see!
Great review of what looks to be a very good bike. 38mpg though...wow...that's pretty bad isn't it, and let's face it, you're quite a lean fellow, so it's not carrying too much. MPG aside, it looks the absolute business
Here are my additional notes as an owner. I’ve had my 2022 Multistrada V4S for 6 months now, with just under 5K miles on it.
The mirrors: yes, I love the blind spot detection integrated into them, that’s one of the reasons I purchased this bike. However, at So Cal freeway speeds (70 / 75 mph), my mirrors vibrate enough so that I can’t tell if the car a few hundred feet back is a CHP or not. At a Gold Wing price point, I would expect the mirrors to be as good as the Gold Wing’s; they are not.
The seat: I personally don’t find the seat very comfortable for all-day rides. For a few hours it’s OK, but for an all-day-in-the-saddle outing, I find myself shifting around. Yes, I know Ducati sells a more padded seat, but I’m barely flat-footed when at a stop, and I have to cowboy-mount the bike as it is (my 61-year-old body doesn’t flex as it used to). I’m evaluating options and would love to hear from other owners who have replaced their stock seat and what they went with.
The phone cubby: I haven’t noticed my phone cubby door pop open as you mention when starting the bike, nor have I heard that before in owner forums…that is an odd behavior! Personally, even if my Google Pixel 6 Pro fit in the cubby, I would not put it in. It’s useless to me there. I have always preferred to have my smartphone handlebar-mounted. The phone cubby is where my cheap pair of sunglasses live (can’t afford expensive ones after buying the Ducati!). My phone obscures my view of the right side pee-sample container (a.k.a front brake fluid reservoir), while a Garmin Zumo XT blocks my view of the left side pee container. I don't use the Ducati navigation app. I prefer to dedicate the beautiful V4S display to motorcycle functions.
The exhaust note: Yes, totally agreed. It is not a lovely-sounding bike, especially at idle. I’ve heard lawnmowers that sound better. Seriously. It does sound fantastic when you crack the throttle wide open, but that’s really the only time. As petty as it may be, if I could change anything about the bike, it would probably be the exhaust note. Something deeper, please.
One other important note about the recent software update that “fixed” the heated grip control and added the Minimum Preload setting: not all Ducati dealerships know how to execute this update properly. When the software update is installed, the function of the heated grip is automatically changed. The new Minimum Preload feature, however, requires that the technician enter into a dealer-only accessible sub-menu to activate by following the steps explained in the SRV-SRB-22-004 Ducati Service Bulletin. The problem is that some Ducati technicians skip this, likely because they didn’t read the service bulletin themselves.
This failure to activate the Minimum Preload feature happened to me recently. The Ducati service technician at the dealer I go to here in San Diego didn’t activate it for me. When I asked them about it, they were oblivious about what the update even was supposed to do. They said they just "plug a bike into their computer, enter the VIN, and it presents a software update…or it doesn’t". He said the Min Preload feature will be coming for my bike at the end of the year (that was totally wrong). I did my own research by contacting the largest Ducati dealer in SoCal (Ducati Newport Beach), and their service department immediately explained that the service technician needs to perform some additional steps outlined in the service bulletin. The person I spoke with even emailed me the service bulletin PDF. Now I need to carry this PDF to my dealer to help them get up to speed. Unfortunately, my story is not unique. When reading the owner forums, this happened to other V4S owners. The bottom line is that not all Ducati dealers are equal when it comes to the proficiency of their service department. That is something that I would recommend any prospective Ducati owner research a bit before making a purchase. This may be an issue with US Ducati dealers. Perhaps European dealers are more on top of things.
Aside from the negatives, the bike is absolutely phenomenal. It is a blast to ride. I’ve never owned a bike that handles so well, feels so planted and stable in a variety of conditions. I do not regret the purchase one bit.
Hi , Very good review. I appreciate your time and effort to cover all of the attributes. One thing I wish my 2020 1250 GSA was better at would be getting it on the center stand. Personally, I tried the KTM 1290 and it goes right up with ease along with my Aprilia 1200 Caponord and Guzzi EV11. Perhaps the new 1300 BMW will be easier.
You should try my GoldWing!
Well done TMF fantastic review as always. The Ukraine 🇺🇦 flag was not lost on us either nicely done! 👌
The software has been updated so the heated grip levels are controlled via the hand grip switch.
Strange with the heated grips. On the previous models it is total opposite. One only push the "heated-button". Push 1 = low, 2 mid and so on. The bike also remembers which level you had the heated grips on when you turn on the bike again. Strange that Ducati parted ways with these functions with this new model.
...since I recorded this there's a software update and now it all makes more sense!
Hi Andy, I have to ask you, if you own a Multistrada 1260 s will you consider to trade it for the V4 Multistrada? Thank you for the great information on the Multistrada, keep up the good work 👍
Well the V4 is definitely a huge improvement over what has gone before, but I personally probably wouldn’t change no….same reasoning why I haven’t “upgraded” my “old” GS1200…
Does nobody commute by train in your home town? The car park is always empty! Lol. Thanks for proper world review of a great, lovely bike.
It was always full up before Covid.
Sounds good but I still think I’d choose the GS
This would be an excellent long distance tourer ,however ,I would prefer a GS.
Great review as always! Great bike, not necessarily as always, bye bye GS!!!
I would like to ear your opinion on the ktm 1290 SAS 2021. I’m on the big adventure market and not fully decided
One thing people never seem to talk about when reviewing touring type bikes is panniers; how big are they? Can we see inside? Are they easy to get on/off ? You briefly mentioned they were fiddly but could you show us? All the other detail stuff is great.
I showed them in my first ride video iirc
@@TheMissendenFlyerthanks, I’ll check that out
It's a really good looking bike. No doubt... when it's clean... not sure I want to spent so much time cleaning all corners.
Great summary TMF, can we expect to see a Multistrada V4S in the Missenden Man Cave anytime soon?
We shall see!
Could you please review a BMW K12/1300 GT, been an owner of one for the past 12 years and I think beats most modern bikes, TIA
The mpg figure for the V4 is disappointing, but if you can afford to buy or lease one then I guess you can afford the extra fuel cost. What is more important to me is the range of the bike, how many miles before the light comes on and you need to stop for fuel. Perhaps 130-150?
What a magnificent machine,disireability is of the charts !,and a great review to boot.Sadly price and fuel economy take it out of my reach.Miliondollar question, would you have it over the mighty gs
Video coming on that in due course!
It does have cornering lights and they are very bright
....you forgot to mention the lovely Ker-Chunk! gear change the wunderbike GS has, which the Ducati sadly lacks 😁 Oh, you also forgot the fit and finish and detailing vis a vis your GS, too. As an owner of both brands, some aspects of BMW finish are not actually that good on closer inspection; their Ford XR3 style quality stickers always grate on even their most expensive machines. That said, Ducatis are not exactly cheap to buy or service, so they bloody well should be well finished!
Wish you had taken it down some sweeping and twisty country roads at a decent lick, though! I also suspect, despite your doubtless genuine feeling, that if you were side by side with one of these on your GS, that amazing GS 'grunt' from start or out of a corner may not be quite as tangible as you think, and the V4 not quite as lacking as you make out. GS owners, despite sincere claims of objectivity, simply cannot resist putting it on a lofty pedestal that, good as it is, it doesn't quite deserve. Maybe this is due to the time honoured mythos of the GS affecting them before they've even bought one, and once bought, reinforced, and it's lesser qualities minimised or even ignored. When comparing any new ADV bike to the GS, it's worth remembering the GS has been steadily improved over many years, so in some ways it's unfair to compare a relatively new design ADV like the V4 MS for not instantly dethroning the GS. Personally, I do feel the V4 MultiStrada will supercede the GS sooner rather than later. It's main achilles heel currently being the consumption and tank range and niggly issues you point out. Then again, the new Triumph Tiger 1200 may be better than them both 🤔
Well indeed - nothing stays top of the tree forever! Thanks for watching and for stopping by!
Regarding the blinding sun, ever thought of adding a sunstrip to your helmet visor? They make a world of difference in my experience.
Yes I have and always forget - a strategic bit of insulation tape would do the trick!
Hi Andy, good review. Not sure I'd enjoy much karma with a busy V4 on a long trip; to me, sitting for several hours while nibbling the lower edge of that blitzkrieg powerband, would not lead to thoughts of Elgar & nice scenery.
Electronic 'flywheels' that only allow usable torque once the mapping's spun up & happy, below that, lots of Italian chatter around the family table while they sort out who's turn it is to fire . . . & as for that Mediterranean thirst.
Nah, big twins that only fire when they need to & don't mind running on Chinese weasle-waz at 12,000ft. in bad weather, they're the way to go, some of the better ones can even make American road trips seem tolerable . . . (Only jealous : )
Please compare to Triumph tiger 1200.
Me thinks GS days are numbered, I've just ordered V2s and cannot wait to pick her up. Got any plans on reviewing the V2s?
Nothing firm but maybe….
new Goldwing also has backlit buttons, fyi, you should know because you own(ed) one :p
Not sure I’ve ever ridden it at night!!
@@TheMissendenFlyer ahaa, that explains it than ;)
Great bike but too thirsty and too expensive, loved my test ride on the V2S Travel so I bought one, after three GSs!! Light, quick and amazing handling, red of course😀.
Nice one!
Tank range Andy? What it needs is shaft drive, telelever suspension and low down grunt? How was the road noise from the front; better than the GS?
Can’t say I noticed any….
It’s a big beast. Do you really need that amount of power for normal day use?
Do you really need all the electronic gadgets although several are useful.
You don’t want a thirsty bike with these petrol prices.
Tyre toolkit is nice.
Need and want are two different things!
@@TheMissendenFlyer i definitely need abs, just for safety. I need heated grips in the cold season but I don’t need a heated seat.
I want the hill brake system, cornering abs, tft screen.
Just gorgeous, for those eith deep pockets. But lovely and very comprehensive. Thank you.
But.
Services every 2 years? How wise is it to leave oil changes on something that complex, ridden hard, fir 2 tears, I wonder.
I would worry that's a marketing ploy and not sound engineering practice. There is a reason high performance race bikes need regular maintenance, and that is no less high performance.
Time will tell.
But yes, it's lovely
Happy travels 👍
Regarding screens ive had many bikes which were orrid ..noisy ..needed after market screens....but my 1050 vstrom xt screen at full height... im nearly 6ft is so good yesterday rode most of day peaked helmet visor up 50mph and one illegal speed burst....amazed it dosnt look special ....👍
Great engine that!
I am 99% sure you were on the daylight running lights (thats why the cornering lights were not working) it happened to me when I bought it. the light switch is close to throttle (on the right)
It’s possible!
Hi mate. I have just decided to move from my sports and sports tourers to an adventure style bike and narrowed it down to the bmw gs1250 and the multistrada v4s full. I will be commuting and looking for some fun also. I particularly like the A413 also. Which bike would you go for out of the 2?
GS
A thirsty beauty, but do you ever need that much top end power on an adventure bike? For real world riding it's the low and mid range torque that matters and it's why BMW GSs sell by the boat load. The new Tiger 1200 has my eye, not as powerful but shaft drive which many would consider important on this type of bike.
Yes I’m looking forward to trying the big new Trumpet!
Honestly Andy, nobody asks about the horn ……. your making that up 😂
….maybe I dreamt it!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Just seen Richie Vida latest video and he’s going on about horn 🤫
Hey, i heard heating grips control is much easier with latest software update.
Indeed...,.
Thank you. For oil/filter changes how many plastic parts (if any) must be removed to change the oil and filter?
I don’t know - sorry
I love your reviews! I also love just watching the ride through the English countryside, it looks very quaint and nice 😆
Glad you like it Gleb - and it is!
Definitely a nice tourer,did I miss the fuel tank capacity🤔🤔🤔
23litres I believe…
Hi Andy, with those wide bars you might find it hard to filter in traffic. Also on the subject of bars, is this version multistrada any more adjustable than the last? I had a pikes peak and the lack of adjustability was a pain quite literally.
I don’t honestly know…
I ride it in traffic every day and filtering is not impacted by the bar width. Actually, the wide bars make it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, you can do u turns much easier than most other bikes I have had. The Tracer was like turning an oil tanker in comparison.
As for adjustment, I believe they have made it easier so that it accommodates off road riding a lot better.
Hi, what did you think of the quick shifter, was it better or worse than the GS,???
Stratospherically better….