|
|
 |
Road Personality
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ducati Multistrada 1000s DS
Jeff Buchanan
03/01/2006
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Photography by Cordero Studios/corderostudios.com
|
When Ducati first unveiled its Multistrada in 2004, it was met with a kind of
enthused skepticism. Many people did not know what to make of the tall, quirky,
unconventional-looking motorcycle. Stylistically, it lacked the racing pedigree
and sleek lines that imbued the other machines rolling out of the Bologna-based
factory, which dutifully took its design cues from myriad road racing successes. Conversely, the Multistrada displayed the aggressive attitude of an off-road
machine coupled with the street-smart aspects of the broadening upright/naked
sector.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: AGV TiTech
Jacket, pants, gloves, and boots:
Dainese. (Click image to enlarge)
Aesthetically speaking—as with most departures from tradition—the
Multistrada was met with mixed reviews, garnering its share of unflattering
references. However, once this alloy of purpose and performance was let loose on
the roads of the world, the Multistrada quickly proved to be the proverbial card
up Ducati’s sleeve. Shedding the initial ugly duckling and odd-man-out
impressions, it emerged as a universal hit in the realm of two wheels. With good
reason—the machine worked.
Now Ducati has stepped up the already impressive
all-around performance of the standard Multistrada with the introduction of the
1000s DS model. Distinguished from the 1000 DS by the addition of
top-of-the-line Öhlins suspension components, the Multistrada 1000s takes that
final step into ultraperformance.
The Öhlins components contribute
significantly to the new Multistrada’s road-going behavior, complementing the
already stable manners of the machine by adding an additional degree of feel and
response. The rear shock is activated through a progressive linkage connecting
it to a single-sided swingarm and has an easily accessible preload adjustment
control knob for dialing in the ride to suit the situation. This makes for fast
roadside adjustments to accommodate a vast array of road elements and rider
demands. (Click images to enlarge)
Ducati’s ever-present, signature trellis frame cradles an
air-cooled, desmodromic (i.e., employing mechanically closed valves), dual-spark
L-twin powerplant. The 992cc two-valve per cylinder engine pumps out a healthy
92 hp at an agreeable 8,000 rpm. Plenty of torque makes stop-and-go traffic
situations—normally a low-speed balancing act between throttle and clutch—an
effortless affair.
The desmo engine is married to a 6-speed transmission
through the traditional Ducati dry clutch. Gearing is somewhat tall, resulting
in fifth and sixth gears being reserved for long stretches of highway, allowing
relatively high speeds at low engine revs for enhanced fuel economy and longer
engine life. But, really, who’s chasing good fuel economy when riding a
motorcycle as fun as this one?
The Multistrada’s upright seating position not only renders comfort but also a high line-of-sight, good for
traversing mountain passes or maneuvering through rush hour traffic. However,
don’t be fooled by the tall stature or the SUV-like styling—in the right hands,
the Multistrada is more than capable of shaming many high performance sportbikes
on canyon roads. Its agility—courtesy of a light weight of 432 pounds—combined
with the wide handlebars, allows for a large measure of leverage and control,
which translates to a ride of comfort and ease.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
