I think Freddie must be the most honest reviewer of bikes I have ever known. I can't imagine some of the big magazines doing such an honest review, for fear of losing advertising revenue. Well done Freddie & Monica. A big thumbs up from me 👍
I bought an ex demo 6 month old guzzi v85tt with 1k miles for £9k (one third price of multistrada). Fast enough, 450kg carrying capacity, cruise control, heated grips, italian looks, v twin air cooled simplicity, easy to maintain yourself with everything accessible, shaft drive, comfy, great for pillion, can off road on gentle tracks, ACT etc. build quality is superb, and makes you feel special riding it. Nobody needs that much power or tech.
Love my V85TT. 12k.miles.in and 2 European trips 2 up with full luggage. Does everything you need from a bike, easy to maintain and you can't stop looking back at it longingly when you stop! So many bikes are generic and ugly. For me there's nothing better than stopping at a cafe where I can park my guzzi in front of my table and just admire it
So - let me get this right - its too heavy, too tall, too wide, too complex and too expensive. Compare it to a Gold Star or Interceptor which are cheap, light, low, narrow and simple. I know which I would prefer. The simpler bikes capture the pleasure of motorcycling more than the overweight, over complex, over priced behemoths and you havent gone in to the cost of a full service yet. I reckon you could buy a nice bike for the cost of an end-to-end service of that Ducati. No thanks. Great review Freddie and Monika.
As a Triumph fan, discovering your channel is one the best things that's ever happened to me this 2024. Love everything that you do, Freddie! Keep it up!
I really appreciate the honest review Freddie. I know a lot of motoring journalists seem hesitant to point out any flaws in a product or say anything that goes against the manufacturers marketing (ie: you saying this is too heavy to take seriously off-road) for fear of not getting offered the next press bike or whatever. But you also give them credit where it's due and I think we all like this honesty. If everyone just keeps saying how good a bike is because they're too worried to say what they really think then we'll just keep getting served the same stuff.
I bought one in October and just done my first trip abroad (Belgium) with the wife, full panniers, top box, bags on the panniers and bags hanging off both the front side bars with both of us must have been close to 450kg. It never missed a beat handled everything perfectly, yes slow manoeuvres are a bit of struggle especially when your only 5’8” 🤣 best £28000 I’ve ever spent 👍. Lane splitting wasn’t an issue, put on the spot lights rev a little to make the Akra sing and watch the traffic part like your Moses 🤣🤣
I have the original 2010 multi brought from new I have covered 40,000 miles no problems , toured France , Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway best bike I have ever owned in all my 50 plus years of biking. Expensive yes but the best bike you will ever own .
I have a 1250 GS and even a gravel car park makes me wet myself. However for touring, especially on our third world UK roads, personally find it perfect and unbeatable as no doubt others with a KTM, Multistrada, V Strom would also say about their bikes. When people ask me now what TYPE of bike I own I no longer use the term Adventure bike. I say "Travel Bike". I think that's far more accurate for 99% of us.
This would be me, id love a 1250gs but it would have to be my only bike and I couldn't bare risking dropping it. I have a triumph street triple R 765, would like a cheap vstrom and try some touring
@@fiucik1 Yes but SUV cars have no more internal space than a regular car, so they are truly utterly pointless. MPV or a regular estate car makes more sense.
Spot on review. These bikes have become so big and heavy that it's not possible for shorter riders to maneuver them at slow speeds. Yes they can munch miles, but that is all they are good at. That's why I have a Tiger 900 for the long tours and a Bonneville for everything else. This cannot be an only bike.
I really appreciate your approach, Freddie. Honest review from an average normal rider like most of us. I own a Bonneville and a ATAS (tallest Africa Twin) and I can relate well with what Freddie said. I will add up that all the motorcycles are a compromise. It depends where you live and if you often travel long distances with your wifie as a pillion. Here in the province Quebec roads are not great so it feels reassuring to have that 21 inch front wheel and a greater suspension even on the tarmack in the city. Plus you feel more visible on the road to the others ant you are able to see better the traffic ahead, It took me some time to get confortable with the seat high even on the lower setting. I found miself taking the Africa Twin more often to work than the Speed Twin, lately.
I understand your point about seat height but if you hold down the Suspension button, it engages them”Min” setting. This will lower the seat height until (I believe) the bike gets to 60Km/h, at which point the suspension returns to the correct height for the ride mode. When you drop below that speed, Min re-engages. Although I rarely engage it, it’s a nice feature for low speed/urban maneuvering.
I'm thankful to have had a very expensive motorcycle already because i learned that more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. Now going for Honda Transalp as one bike to do it all, whole year riding, short and long tours, solo and two up.
I would respectfully offer a different point of view. I have a 2020 (so still the L twin). I have taken it on what by any definition is serious off road and was just fine. In fairness, I’m 59 and have been riding since I was 12. This bike really shines on long rides (though I will admit I had the seat rebuilt and upholstered). For me…this is the most enjoyable bike I’ve ever owned. I don’t have any issues filtering traffic. And as far as performance…absolutely unmatched. So if you were considering a Multistrada I would still recommend taking a test ride. It might still be the bike for you. And as far as price goes…remember…you can’t take it with you so buy the bike you love. I did and I have never regretted it. I do agree with one thing though…Freddie really is one of the best reviewers out there. I may not agree with your assessment…but I absolutely admire your honesty as your experience. Well done sir…
There is never a perfect bike for the job. Last night, what I "NEEDED" for getting to Salisbury in a hurry was a 170ho sport touring bike like the multistrada. What I had was a DRZ400 or a Honda C125 Super Cub! I got there in time and as soon as I got to the busy city centre, replete with temporary works and traffic lights, the C125 was the best. I suspect this bike will be bought mostly by those fortunate enough to collect bikes. They will ride around its shortcomings and habe a whale of a time, knowing that uf they need to go off-roading, they have an enduro, if they need to do a track day, they have an HP4 race, if they want to ride a classic, they choose from 3 or 4. I don't think this will be a one and only bike.
Spot on, there is no bike to handle all situations. And we all have different needs and opinions. Myself love to ride my R1200GS on twisty and winding roads and it’s extremely comfortable for longer rides. So this type of bikes suits my riding style.
It looks cool though 😂 At 5ft 3 and a female, this bike for you is how I feel about pretty much every bike. They are all tall and heavy. Just have to get on with it.
But why should we have to? Oh wait, because short women and short men don't buy enough bikes. Even when suspension travel is not an issue, the OEMs don't offer many bikes with "low suspension." The occasional BMW roadster or Triumph Tiger. (And even then, they're not very low.) Cruisers, which aren't my jam anymore, though I've had a bunch. Just tired of doing the stork lean and "managing" the bike or paying to have it professionally lowered so the geometry is minimally compromised. C'mon OEMs! When is it our (short people's) turn? I've bought almost 40 bikes in my long life, most brand new. Isn't that enough to move the needle? 😂 I'm female with a 27"-inch inside leg (crotch to ground) and I'm not Jocelyn Snow the BMW TT rider. And managing sportbikes & ADV bikes is downright annoying now that I'm in my 60s. Ditto for pushing them around the garage. Anybody else tired of one -foot-down, butt cheek off the seat?
Its a Italian Suberbike Gran Turismo build for sitting comfy upright, Pack a lot of stuff, to travel with ridiciulous speed. I Had a ktm 1190 adventure with paniers. V2 heat Under you seat in summer, but fast as hell and superb in riding with sozia long distances. And Very agile and superb sporty with the right tyres. Its nice to have one in the Garage, but Not for 27k. Today i would Pick my beta 300rr for serious offroad, a tenere 700 for going long travel and some light offroad, and a interceptor 650 as a daily 😊
I’m similar: Yamaha Serrow for off road, Fantic 500 for light off road and Sunday blasts on back roads, Tuono 660 factory for faster roads and touring.
I had a 990 and a 1190. Fast ! But I had to sell them as I felt they didnt like going slow and wasn’t a smooth ride going under 60kmh. But the 1190 is such a nice looking bike.
You sum up the absurdity of this type of bike really well ! .. I did a video that touched on the subject regarding the big GS's and predictably got a lot of push back from BMW fans but the idea a £27K 260kg bike is suitable for any off-road adventuring is fanciful marketing tosh 😊
Spot on. I see them out on my KLX250 on the TET trails here in the Pyrenees, living out their Charlie and Ewan fantasies, head to toe Touratech and Klim this and that, struggling to manhandle an unsuitably heavy and bulky bike because they’re told it’s the “must have” bike
@GadgetMart I get that , so why the long travel high ground clearance off road suspension with all the consequences? ... the bike makes no sense unless it is used off-road.
@@WyreForestBiker They absolutely soak up the bumps, even fully loaded, it’s literally like a magic carpet 2 up with luggage. Ride one, you will see. (I agree it’s not something you would want to do serious off roading with).
@@rogerwredfordI dont think 2 up with camping gear riding from the UK to the Alps in two days with a group of big bikes would be much tun on a KLX250, I guess you could take it in a van but then it would be a van trip not a bike trip. These bikes are not offroad machines but with a rider with the correct skills will do offroad.
Good vid as usual, Freddie. As a fella in his early 50s now (sigh…) who has been riding on the road since the early 90s, daily commute into Manchester back in the day etc., I find the amount of electronics on these types of bikes to be a turn off, if you.ll pardon the pun. No doubt this is up there at the peak of biking technology and development, and yes, R&D is part of the duty of manufacturers, but I feel, having had one or two tech laden bikes recently which i ended up selling within a year, they deskill the rider, and are built to appeal to the broader demographic of buyers getting interested in bikes, many of whom have come from the world of cars, primarily. I wince, for example, at how much energy is put into “media” options and connectivity on a bike nowadays… keep your eyes on the road, guys, not on your WhatsApp account…. All this added tech seems to add mainly to the weight, size and increasing price tag of modern machines… 27 grand is eye-watering… and possibly the posing points in the car park. All this is fine, if that’s your thing, but seems to be getting further and further away from the essence of riding - the freedom. Motorcycling seems to be falling into the “mo’ money, mo’ problems” trap, where increasing tech and the associated price tag means the dealer has you over a barrel for servicing, parts, warranty etc. Maybe I’m just an old fart nowadays, but I came away from this thinking “Great, all we need is another German car company getting a slice of the modern motorcycle market, to produce over-engineered, overweight, overpriced machines, accompanied by marketing hype so everyone thinks they have to have one….” Great work as ever, Freddie. Took me a while to warm to your style, but now a convert.
Really interesting insight- I agree with this. I was quite glad to get back in my Bonneville, because it’s so simple to ride. Delighted to enjoyed the video
@@FreddieDobbs Absolutely, Freddie. I wholly agree. I got rid of a GS Beemer with all the bells and whistles, to get an old skool, air/oil cooled CB1100EX and a little Honda Monkey, and feel my zest for motorcycling has been rekindled after a few years of being pretty jaded… less is often more.
Nail on head; cars, and now bikes are being sold on the tech they have, and how big the screens are. Bikes are supposed to be simple machines, giving you a sense of freedom...... And I've never understood huge bikes for off-road use....even the pro racers (MX, Enduro, Rally) only use small, lightweight bikes.
@@Andy_ATB Yes, true words. Any touring/adventure bike that you have to get off to remove panniers to get through a gate, or worse, sit stationary amongst the cars because it’s too wide to filter, is missing the point.
you are absolutely right about “adventure bike” labelling it is over used , but they are capable and people do use them for it , the broader view is whilst you were able to ride your Triumph to morocco one of these would of smashed it without a hitch and be infinitely more comfortable doing it . every ride i take is the start of an adventure so every bike is therefore an adventure bike to me ..
Nicely put… The whole “adventure bike” moniker is part of the marketing problem. If you need it explaining in the title you aren’t going to understand anyway…
My Tiger 800xrt. Cruise control. Heated grips and seats. Engine mode settings. Tyre pressure sensors. Ect ect. All for £6000 or so. Very useable power and nimble. With plenty left in the kitty for a nice Jeep Wrangler.😀
Probably get an early one with ABS even cheaper. People buying all these brand new bikes. A tiger 800 will do it all and auto trader and e bay are full off them. Much better idea than a brand new suzuki dr800RE
I had a 2011 tiger 800. Lovely bike. Great engine, OK suspension, terrible wind protection, but reliable and fun. I now have a V4s. Be under no illusion, the Tiger is nowhere near the bike a V4s is. It is cheaper...that is the only place it beats a V4s multistrada. Everything stated in this video is true. However, there is no do it all bike. I have a cbr6 for track days. An adventure bike will not do that well. I don't commute, so don't need a city bike. I mostly ride around the UK and Europe with a lot of luggage and munch big miles. A V4s multistrada is brilliant at this. Don't knock it because it doesn't win motoGP or Supercross races. That is not what it is designed for. It is designed for the same things as a Tiger 800, GS, KTM SA. It is just more expensive because it is better 😂
@@chrishart8548 I bought a 2011 tiger800 last year as a stop gap bike after selling my Suzuki 1050xt. £4000 in mint condition. Liked it so much kept it and did a tour of Spain and Portugal this year. Bought a later XRT few weeks ago for not much more money. Sold the 2011 for £4000. No need to spend thousands on a bike, best spent on fuel and tours.
Very well thought out review, Freddie. It is comprehensive and all points are very well argued. I very muchg liked the comparison to the Transalp, because it is not the obvious choice, but it really showcases the drawbacks of those big Adventure Bikes. And all is underlined with good non dramatic footage. You differ from typical reviews in a very pleasant way. Keep up the good Work!
Thanks Freddie. I read/watched all the glowing reviews and thought - this is the bike for me. I actually found it tall, heavy and uncomfortable and thought it must be just me being a wuss. The V2s was no better. My ageing FJR is actually considerably heavier but filtering is a breeze with its integrated panniers and being able to flat foot (I'm 5' 9'') makes all the difference. Sadly it's an old lady (2007) and I need to update as I'm beginning to feel less confident that it won't break down when on European tours. Perhaps your viewers can persuade me otherwise...
I agree to your comments on manuvering the bike around when not riding it and riding it in heavy traffic. I happened to ride the V4 Rally over a steep mountain pass with a heavy loaded tractor in front of me with traffic also behind me. Even in first gear, I hardly got the engine running without pulling the clutch. Thankfully I managed to overtake the tractor and as soon as the revs went up the sublime riding performance showed. This experience was certainly not pleasant. This riding situation is, however, not typical for my riding. After more than 20000 km with the V4 Rally I can tell that the bike is a superb long distance tourer that also does gravel roads with ease. I would not use it off road however. And, on twisty alpine roads in Switzerland I have come to really appreciate the power of the engine when overtaking whatever is in front of you.
To increase or reduce heat from the engine onto your legs there are ducts to adjust just in front of the engine….flip up or down for fresh air or engine heat air..works well. Nice review. For me these bikes turn into corners better than any other adventure bike.
As the owner of a 2024 Honda Transalp, I really enjoy that comparison. Every day bikes for every day riders. And with a comfort seat, it'll do a 1800km 3-day trip just fine. So far my butt is the only limiting factor, the transalp is amazing.
Great honest Freddy. Own a 1260 multi with 45k on it and love it ( and a Transalp, Dobbsie is right) but wanted to move on to a v4, I’m just not sure now. Anyone else swapped ?
ah yes... the travel (horrible MPG) sporty (too high) comfy (heat issues) offroader (too heavy). Stupid price and running costs are the icing on the cake.
50mpg is easily obtainable touring around legal speeds. Running costs are reasonable 9000 mile or 2 years oil service about £250 annual checkup about £1000 major valve service 36000 miles no desmo or belts on this model to worry about. In the 2 years and 14k miles my biggest expense is tyres just put my 3rd set on.
@ItsAllJustBollox I hate the tyre thing I wish it was just default like with cars drive I drive out with a fair price. I'm looking right now at buying the tyres myself fitting them and statically balancing. I have somewhere the will fit but won't balance if I take the wheels in loose. Or I can just ride in and ride out and it will cost me the price of the tyres again for the fitting.
@@ItsAllJustBollox £27K to buy, £1000 major service, £250 per year, plus tax and insurance and running costs. Nice to see the cost of living crisis is alive and well. Only joking......enjoy it, after all, you can't take it with you.
Great honesty about weight and size. You at 6'1" on that is about the same as me at 5'7" on my Transalp. It's manageable, but not fun offroad. I'm just glad mine weighs 50kg less.
I really love your videos, not only because of the amazing presentation of bikes. As a Hungarian speaking some English I trully enjoy listening to your English. Thanks!
Riding a motorcycle is about the open road and living in the moment not about what you can spend, HP or cc or " please look at me" . Millions people in Azia and the rest of the world ride small bikes or scooters with a bright smile, enjoying life ❤ if you cant have fun on a small bike.... you're no fun 😂😂😂 but... that Ducati is awesome 😍 great video as always Freddie and Monika.
I rode the hi chiang loop in Vietnam , me and my gf combined weight of 210k on a 4 speed 125cc Yamaha..it was great fun. I would not want a big bike for that ride. For me a 500 cc is more than enough
Finally, someone with a proper review on this bohemian, the same for the GSA1300 and Triumph Explorer, anything above 220kg is not worth all the add ons they bring, but don’t worry, exactly like in cars the Chinese will teach them, if you can just take a look to the Kove 800X or the Voge 900, just so refreshing seeing these light bikes arriving on the market.
Fantastic review Freddie. I think you are spot on regarding the every day use of such a bike. The higher centre of gravity on these beasts would I think really give me much less confidence than any other bike. I know a few who have such bikes and, although they love them, they all have experienced near misses or actual tipping over of the bike due to that weight distribution
I think these big adventure bikes are really alternative touring machines, I have the 1250 GSA and a lot of the things you comment on the Multistrada apply to the GSA. I have done a couple of gravel tracks on my GSA and that's my limit, but as a long distance tourer it's great.
The multistrada is the only big adventure bike I've never actually see in the wild off road. But it's not fair to say it's the same for all big adventure bikes. The gs, 1290 and to a lesser extent the Africa twin are really capable with the right tyres and training. They are quite a handful but that's half the fun! The ducati is the real Starbucks bike of the adventure world.
As someone that is 203cm/6'8" and weighs over 150kg, this bike would probably fit me quite well. I currently ride a 2007 Honda Varadero XL1000 that has about the same weight and height. I have absolutely no issues riding it slow, in traffic or slight offroad/gravel situations. But the price is oh so expensive. I've been lusting after an HD PanAmerica S or a BMW K1600, both powerful heavy weights. Maybe in a few years I'd get a V4 Rally when the value has gone down by 50%.... Love the video. It's brutally honest and still fair. This bike will most likely always be a tarmac mile muncher, and that's OK.
I have a 2024 Tiger 1200 which has the Givi Trekker panniers on it which makes it even bigger than this bike. It's like everything, once you get used to it, it's (probably) absolutely fine. I ride mine to work through traffic all the time and have no issues at all at 5 feet 11 ins. The huge advantage is that people can see you and you have a very high level of visibility. I also have an Indian FTR which is tiny in comparison. I rode the Indian a couple of hundred miles on Friday, some of which was on motorway and the vulnerability factor was huge in comparison. It's horses for courses but these bikes have some huge benefits and once you've gained the slow speed skills required, they're great.
No bike is worth that much and no bike in my mind can do everything, I wouldn't want it too. My bike allows me to do what I want to a point and I like that, it challenges me. If I really want to do something extra to a higher level, I'll buy a bike to do that and still have plenty of money left over and also have the fun of riding something different. Great video Freddie, loads to think about and no doubt loads to argue about 😃
Had many bikes especially sport ones ,, on the other side had 2 gsa 2019 and 2022, last year sold my 2022 gsa for mlt v4 rally,, i can say it is the best adv touring bike i ever had, yes it has less fuel range than the gsa but still its enough for me i don't do more than 250 km per ride ,, its expensive yes but its the best that for sure,, hint im 189 cm height 👍👍
There is another Multistrada, the V2 or 950S (which I own). I purchased mine, a 2021 with 1650km on the clock for $19k AUD. Its a fantastic bike and can do anything I throw at it and is much more manoeuvrable than the V4. I do admit though, I have changed the seat!
If I was looking at a Multistrada, I would have considered the 950 / V2 rather than the bigger brother 1260/V4. I remember going to see one at a dealership immediately noticing how high the center of gravity of the bike was which put me off immediately. Theres a fine line for me when it comes to bikes where if its a pain to get out of the garage - it only comes out for the big trips and having something which is easy to live with but comes out a lot more often. Enjoyed the video Freddie :)
Love Freddie’s films. A few things to point out. The Multistrada Rally was designed to take on the biggest selling large bike the BMW GS. Through this lens of premium 1200cc plus adventure bikes the multi makes sense. Most Multistrada riders including me actually want a road biased bike. The success of the 2010 Multi was underpinned by an unashamed road biased configuration. The OG was derived from the 1198 super bike motor, it had Ohlins front and rear (even on the base model) it was shod in 17 inch wheels and had comfortable upright ergonomics. Fast forward a few years and the Multi is starting to lose its way. It’s getting softer, longer and much heavier with only a modest hike in power (20bhp in 15 years) and less torque than the original of 14 years ago. It’s sporting a 19 inch front wheel that sporting riders hate and has also lost the single sided swing arm and the Ohlins. If you want all the good stuff that the original had you have to pony up for the Pikes Peak at £27,795. I’m riding a 1260 Pikes Peak. When it is time to change I won’t be going to the Multistrada V4. I’ll likely switch to the BMW S1000XR which is still a road biased adventure bike and still has 17 inch wheels. But even BMW shot an own goal recently when they brought out the M version and forgot that the buying public wants lockable panniers. And of course like Freddie says if you want to go off road, nearly anything else makes more sense than a 240 kilo “adventure” bike. 😂
Freddy, What a good and honest review of the bike and what a beautiful area. We went to the BSB Brands Hatch in the UK this year and had a day left before we went back to the Netherlands (by ferry). Visited Hever castle & gardens👌🏼. If I had known that Eynsford was so close we would have definitely visited this beautiful village. We love the British countryside and old villages👍🏼🙌🏼✊🏼.
Try out the Multistrada V2S. It has most of what you liked about the V4, but with less weight and less cost. You can even get the near identical 19-21 950S for even less money with the only difference being a couple minor tweaks in the menu options.
Nice to see a realistic ADV bike review try it off road. Beautiful English village. Really surprised some pensioner out walking their lab didn't yell at you for riding on their footpath or parking on the village green.😀 My old 1200 GS is probably just as big, wide, heavy and hard to push around. It cost less me than a nice shiny Transalp. All the your points are valid, except its easy to ride. Have you tried a GS? I like the Pan Am. Reliability? Loved my Bonneville.
Another very enjoyable video. Clearly a very capable, fantastically spec'd bike. As the owner of a '23 Heritage Classic, the Multistrada looks like stellar value for money...!
I observed the same thing with regards to top heavy when I tested it. The GS is a wastly better allround bike. However, it was fantastic in the twisties in high speed.
Thanks for an interesting review Freddie. However, as an owner of such bike I feel I need to balance things a bit and also to fill in with some more information 😀. The bikes in the top adventure segment is Ducati Multistrada V4, BMW 1250/1300 GS, Triumph 1200 Tiger and KTM 1290 Adventure (no, HD Pan Am is not in this group). The Ducati is the most race-track capable and the KTM is the most off-road capable, and the two others are somewhere between. I tested all the four bikes before I decided on the Ducati, but they are all great bikes. The choice of a motorbike is very much like music; it comes down to your personal preferences and feelings (and wallet). However, I must say you are reviewing a motorbike that is outside your segment. If it's too heavy, too tall and too expensive for you, then go for something else. I took out mine this spring and have been riding about 15000 km and have some experience with it. The main drawback on this bike is, as you pointed out, that it is top-heavy, which is something to be aware of before buying it. But once you are in motion, it does not feel top-heavy, that's mainly when standing still and you need to support with your feets. It is not a bike for smaller persons, however, you can also buy lower seats to it. If you want to go hard-core off road, this isn't the bike! And when testing it off-road, you should test it with off-road tires and not street-tires. Then I have some comments on things you point out, which I disagree with; I find the seat very comfortable and can take long rides with no problems. The seat is a bit more rounded and narrower in the front to easier get your foot to the ground, but your butt does not rest in this area, you sit further back. The standard seat on the top adventure bikes are all quite similar in design. However, there are tons of different seats you can buy. The foam is relatively soft. It has excellent crash protection when equipped with crash-bars, panniers and hand-guards. I been to the ground twice; once hit by a car from my left and tipped over on the right side. Only some scratches in the crash-protection and the panniers, the car had more damage than the bike. The crash-bar probably saved my knee, which took a small hit and turned blue. Whithout the crash-bar it would most likely been badly injured. Then, a second time when I simply forgot to put down the side-stand before leaning it over. No damage to the bike itself. The crash-protection system is designed to take the hit and it really does. It is different if you hit a rock or something, then the crash protection does not help much, but that goes for all bikes. I doesn't quite understand the fuzz around the engine heat. Yes it get warm, but I never had a problem with it. It has a very effective cooling fan that kicks in at 104°C. However, I live in Norway though. Then you argue it is gets wide when riding with pannier in traffic and difficult to manouver in traffic. Yes of course, that goes for all bikes with side-panniers. All bikes have some pros and cons, and so does this bike. What I most of all likes with this bike is its engine and its driving comfort, especially on the motorway with a lot of traffic where riding often can be more exhausting. Adaptive cruise control and blind-sone detection makes it more relaxing to ride on the motorway. Among all adventure bikes, this is the most capable bike on the race track, and I had mine on a few track-days and it is enourmous fun. For driving on twisty, and sometimes quite bumpy roads in Norway, this is an excellent bike to go touring with. You can also go on gravel roads and roads that are in general bad shape with no problem, the suspension is great. But pure off-road? No, do not recommend that. And, it has among the longest service intervalls for a motorbike. Then there are some things that I don't like so much; its fuel consumption is high, though with a 30 l tank you still get some range, there are quite som vibrations typically between 3500 and 3800 rpm, the Al-panniers are somewhat simple, and a few more annoying stuff.
Brilliant honest review Freddie . I would echo all the points you made. just sold mine with a sad heart but just too much> Brilliant bike but so hard to move around. Loved it but had to go. I'm 63 and 5" 10 Just big & too heavy Fabulous bike though _ power and comfort amazing and also sensible - blind spot spot detection is hopefully introduced on more bikes as it'd brilliant system Life in the old dog yet though I changed to streetlight V2 - Love it
Frankly I'm amazed by this review. I own a V4 Rally as well as a 1250GSA and have owned a number of so-called adventure bikes in the past. I am a similar height to Freddie, somewhat horizontally unchallenged and about twice his age I'm guessing so hardly lithe and agile but I dont find either of these bikes a particular problem for slow manoeuvring or filtering. Yes obviously you have to be aware of their weight but I find both to be quite well balanced at slow speed and did Freddie not find the little button on the left hand bar to lower the suspension? What limits these bikes for filtering are the mirrors and the panniers, which in the case of the V4 Rally seem unnecessarily wide to me. Why the panniers arent longer and narrower is beyond me other than the fact they allow Ducati to claim that the left hand pannier can hold a full face helmet. Freddie is right about one thing and that is the heat from the engine and that is despite the fact that 2 of the cylinders cut out at low rpm and there are adjustable vents on either side of the fairing. I guess Ducati offering heated seats for this bike was their little Italian joke. As for offroading, yes of course you would pick something a lot lighter than a V4 Rally or GSA for serious offroading but both bikes are perfectly capable of light offroading and if you plan on dropping the V4 Rally you can option crash bars which I notice werent fitted to this test bike. Another thing Freddie is correct about is that the V4 Rally is seriously licence losing fast when you wind it up and that is probably the major difference to the GSA
Hi Freddie, nice video as usual! I was wondering if you ever tried the Beeline Moto tripper... I'm pretty fascinated about this little guy... I used to use the google maps as navigator, and I really like the "whole" map view, but the Beeline is a little bit subtle and I think that it suits better on a classic bike, but I'm not sure if it is convenient to use it... Thanks and Keep Riding!
I find any big adventure bike easier to handle at low speeds than any Harley or cruiser like a R18. They weigh like another 100KG. Adventure bikes are like big BMXs or Big enduros. The seat is narrow at the front for standing up. It’s also one of the best seats I have sat on for long trips. You also can open the air flaps on the Multistrada for cool air. Try some adventure bike training. You will see how easy it is to ride. The off road track you went on would be a breeze on the Multistrada even for a novice.
I couldn't help smiling throughout the episode. Ducati have given their premium adventure class motorcycle to a rather old school gentleman. Crazy how Freddie can describe the love for retro and even modern retro bikes. This is clearly a mismatch of personalities. Nothing more. Given that this is just a lifestyle adventure bike for many and for very serious cross continent adventures, I am sure many like Freddie and us, cannot identify with this Multistrada version.
I found the same , its very top heavy and cumbersome even compared to the liquid cooled BMW gs .I`ll stick with my 2012 air cooled BMW r1200gs twin cam still going strong with plenty of mid range torque that makes B road blasting an utter joy .
If you hadn’t already said it, the closing piece shot, with the bike making you look small, sums it up nicely. Anything more than 200kgs and my heart sinks these days.
Same here in the Pyrenees. Most of them never leave the tarmac, yet their owners are clad like they are crossing the Kalahari. If they do venture onto some gravel and drop them, they sure as hell don’t do it again. Whilst the comfort is appreciated, certainly as you get older, these are the biking equivalent of SUVs…. Style and image over function.I bet most owners are living out their Charlie and Ewan fantasies as much as anything else.
You should try it sometime It's great fun in the mountain passes once you learn to ride one and get past the fear of the size they are so easy to ride.
@rogerwredford a friend of kine bought the bmw 850s gsa last year. Lovely bike but he rarely, I fact never ventures off the highway. Too heavy, too tall (he's 5'5 maybe). If road tour8ng is all one needs, these don't make any sense. A 600 odd cc is more than enough. Or even less. I was out trail riding today and quite deep into the forest. I was on a 200cc "dual sport" bike called the xpulse here in india. Not very powerful but the chassi and wheels are pretty good. And out of the blue the bike wouldn't start. I had out to oush it uphill and then out of the forest till I came on the main road. This on a 165kg bike. I was exhausted by the time. I shudder to think what one could do if faced wit the same situation with a bigger bike. Although one could say why go trail riding or exploring on these heavy bikes, but then what's the point of the 21/18 combo etc. And having faced many tough situations in the himalayas, my puny bike is super efficient to get out of tough situati9ns. I dislike sitting on the highway for hundreds of kms. Not my cup of tea.
Great video Freddie 👍 I think most adventure bikes are no good to use on a daylight basis , I sold mine because I couldn’t be bothered!? I’m now looking for a bike that looks good with character , we don’t need all those toys , Faster isn’t always better 👍
A great review- you look at bikes refreshingly different to some of the older wizened journalists/vloggers but I sense your love of all things Americana bubbling just below the surface too! Great shots from Monica of England at its summer best at last too. ❤
Personally, I made a conclusion to reconsider all the "it cannot ride off-road" arguments. Maybe it's because I am from Europe but I heard it was very similar in England, now of course it may be a bit better in the east but it is changing too: There is very little riding off a road you can do. Yes, the road may be an unpaved road, occasionally with deep gravel or mud where your wheels float, occasionally with huge stones you can put your bikes bottom on without the wheels reaching ground, occasionally quite steep - or all 3 together. But ultimately, there is a limit to the difficulty. And big adventure bikes work very well within the limit. But not just them. You wouldn't want to take e.g. Himalayan into difficult terrain, the suspension is not good, you need to slow - but that is not always an option. You wouldn't want to take a big GS or this either, they're heavy and if you have to stop and return tens of meters because you assessed the road wrong and should have been faster, you don't want to do that. But if you go to Alpine gravel roads or similar, both kinds of bikes serve you very well. If you want and like such a big bike for highway riding, there is no need to worry. True, Multistrada does need an experienced rider to handle when stopped as it doesn't do the clever tricks BMW and KTM do to lower the center of gravity. Experienced rider, however, doesn't need to worry to take it off the tarmac. However, you don't NEED it either, so the final decision is upon each of us.🙂 I already made it, although it's the normal one - sadly, the suspension travel is a bit short but the dealer didn't have a Rally version and I wanted to test prior to purchase.
Well presented Freddy. You make a great argument for the small to mid capacity bikes. This bike is purely a status symbol! I’m not a fan of status symbols. 👍🏻
It just isn’t at all. I hear all this nonsense all the time then I arrived at a biker meet-up me and the wife get off the GS and i dwarf the little Enfields I’m parked next to. I’m 6’3” - one size does not fit all.
@@benkelly2190 Well you can ignore the FACT that a big bike fits a big bloke all you like, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the truth. Anti snobbery is as bad if not worse than snobbery you know.
@@GadgetMart way off the point mate. All I’m saying is buy the bike that suits you. Budget and size! The Ducati is a great bike! There are others to fit your size! Even the standard V4S is a better option, in MY opinion. It is possibly My next bike! But the more expensive heavier rally, is too much. And in MY opinion a bit of a status symbol. But if it honestly suit you. Then glad you’re happy!
Great realistic review. I would never consider a large adventure bike. I don’t anyone who takes them off road. A CRF300 will do the job for a fraction of the price
For sure - car money and more than car money to run. But the great thing about biking is that there is something for everyone - decent second hand bikes to be had from £2000 upwards.
A car with equal performance and equipment is not the same money, comparing the cost to a basic poverty spec car is a bit silly to be fair, it's the fully loaded supercharged Range Rover of the biking world and you can't get the RR for £27k.
Freddie, you could have saved quite a bit of time by starting the bike as soon as you pushed the button to fire up the dashboard!! 😂 Yesterday travelled to BSB at Thruxton, full panniers and top box with my pillion. Filtered no problem at the usual Stonehenge bottlenecks, full change of clothes, helmets and both jackets in the panniers and top box for security when we arrived. ( I’ve got the standard panniers which are narrower). The bike will lower at lower speeds if you change the mode! All the way over the fields for parking, no problem. The V4S full is the bike you should have. The Rally is too hardcore for the average rider as is the Desert X
Great analysis! I only wish you would have drawn parallels to the standard GS boxer. I see the GS boxer, although weighing some 240 kg, is easy to live with, can filter through traffic, great at low speed, easy to pick up, doable off road, just because of its unique design.Sure there are easier bikes to live with, but if you want the optimum, do all bike, the GS is winner.
Good review. As with most big-ticket items, wait two to three years and good old depreciation will get you one at half price. You get used to bike weight, my RT is 279 kgs and feels fine, but I'm 95 kgs and 6ft. If I was a smaller person I'd choose a smaller bike. Filtering would be easier for you without those Carlos Fandangio panniers on.
I remember watching 'Long Way Round' the series, and Ewan and Charley had huge problems on those two BMW GS's when they went off road. They got really bogged down with their cumbersome weight very often and when they dropped one it took two of them to get it up again. Meanwhile their camera man who broke his when he dropped it, damaging a cooling fluid line, was running rings around them on a cheap stand in 2nd hand Russian bike! I would go 'air cooled' only off road (less to go wrong) and for way less than £4k you can pick up a fully kitted out and tuned up Himalayan 411 and not really care what happens to it if you like. Then you could buy a something like an Interceptor to use as a road bike. You'd still have £17k left in your back pocket too!
I will test ride this. But all the talk of livability with regard to its significant size - reminded me why I didn’t have as good a time as I’d wished with my Versys 650. Now please ride a 1300GS Freddie, and let us know what it _really_ feels like to live with. Everyone who has ridden it seems to suggest it feels much smaller and manageable. Very sceptical having ridden the previous versions.
Love your content Freddie! The Multistrada is gorgeous and definitely one of those "maybe one day" bikes for me. Speaking of have you ever thought of reviewing the Harley Davidson Heritage Classic? It's got a great retro look and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Great video Freddie! Honestly, you are getting better and better with your reviews and being as non-biased as possible. And as for the the bike… I really hope that current economic situation and cost of living crisis will make the majority of people realize how ridiculous and redundant bikes like these are. Absolutely unnecessary and I’m sorry, but whoever buys these has more money than sense… to be honest, Dacia Sandero and a Transalp is much more desirable combo than this or a big GS.
I love those off-topic scenes such as the countryside, the cricket match, the parade of all cars, those glances at Monica and the like. They really make your videos stand out.
I think Freddie must be the most honest reviewer of bikes I have ever known. I can't imagine some of the big magazines doing such an honest review, for fear of losing advertising revenue. Well done Freddie & Monica. A big thumbs up from me 👍
To quote FD: “Make sure you own your possessions and they don’t own you”. This bike (even if you can afford it) will own you.
I bought an ex demo 6 month old guzzi v85tt with 1k miles for £9k (one third price of multistrada). Fast enough, 450kg carrying capacity, cruise control, heated grips, italian looks, v twin air cooled simplicity, easy to maintain yourself with everything accessible, shaft drive, comfy, great for pillion, can off road on gentle tracks, ACT etc. build quality is superb, and makes you feel special riding it. Nobody needs that much power or tech.
I have a 2021 v85tt, 13,000 miles so far; it is a great bike for me. Great choice.
I had a V85tt. A great bike! That is a lardy arsed, over complicated, technology dependent, over priced nonsense!
Love my V85TT. 12k.miles.in and 2 European trips 2 up with full luggage. Does everything you need from a bike, easy to maintain and you can't stop looking back at it longingly when you stop! So many bikes are generic and ugly. For me there's nothing better than stopping at a cafe where I can park my guzzi in front of my table and just admire it
Ahhhhh the V85… what a bike!🖤
My wife and I just did 302 miles with weekend luggage on a V85TT GDO and averaged 65mpg. Simple, beautiful and much much cheaper!
So - let me get this right - its too heavy, too tall, too wide, too complex and too expensive. Compare it to a Gold Star or Interceptor which are cheap, light, low, narrow and simple. I know which I would prefer.
The simpler bikes capture the pleasure of motorcycling more than the overweight, over complex, over priced behemoths and you havent gone in to the cost of a full service yet. I reckon you could buy a nice bike for the cost of an end-to-end service of that Ducati. No thanks.
Great review Freddie and Monika.
As a Triumph fan, discovering your channel is one the best things that's ever happened to me this 2024. Love everything that you do, Freddie! Keep it up!
The first video I ever watched from Freddie was on the Classic 500 in Tenerife, 2022 I think. Immediately knew I had found a gem of a channel.
If this is the best thing that happened to u in 2024, you must have had a rough year.....
I really appreciate the honest review Freddie. I know a lot of motoring journalists seem hesitant to point out any flaws in a product or say anything that goes against the manufacturers marketing (ie: you saying this is too heavy to take seriously off-road) for fear of not getting offered the next press bike or whatever. But you also give them credit where it's due and I think we all like this honesty. If everyone just keeps saying how good a bike is because they're too worried to say what they really think then we'll just keep getting served the same stuff.
I bought one in October and just done my first trip abroad (Belgium) with the wife, full panniers, top box, bags on the panniers and bags hanging off both the front side bars with both of us must have been close to 450kg. It never missed a beat handled everything perfectly, yes slow manoeuvres are a bit of struggle especially when your only 5’8” 🤣 best £28000 I’ve ever spent 👍. Lane splitting wasn’t an issue, put on the spot lights rev a little to make the Akra sing and watch the traffic part like your Moses 🤣🤣
Same Feelings Dude. Thanks for posting your point of view
Freddie doing the 'lean test' on loose rocks had me holding my breath 😬
Not a bike that appeals to me at all. I just don't get the big, GS trailie thing with mahoosive panniers.
I have the original 2010 multi brought from new I have covered 40,000 miles no problems , toured France , Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway best bike I have ever owned in all my 50 plus years of biking. Expensive yes but the best bike you will ever own .
I have a 1250 GS and even a gravel car park makes me wet myself. However for touring, especially on our third world UK roads, personally find it perfect and unbeatable as no doubt others with a KTM, Multistrada, V Strom would also say about their bikes.
When people ask me now what TYPE of bike I own I no longer use the term Adventure bike.
I say "Travel Bike". I think that's far more accurate for 99% of us.
This would be me, id love a 1250gs but it would have to be my only bike and I couldn't bare risking dropping it.
I have a triumph street triple R 765, would like a cheap vstrom and try some touring
Good comment but Adventure doesn’t have to mean off road. If you ride across Europe only in paved roads, it’s still an adventure 👍🙌🤘
Let's be honest "adventure" bike are like SUV cars. Who takes their SUV off road?
@@fiucik1 Yes but SUV cars have no more internal space than a regular car, so they are truly utterly pointless. MPV or a regular estate car makes more sense.
@@georgel3657 "Big-ass touring bike" would work as a description. That's what I use for my Yamaha Super Tenere.
Spot on review. These bikes have become so big and heavy that it's not possible for shorter riders to maneuver them at slow speeds. Yes they can munch miles, but that is all they are good at. That's why I have a Tiger 900 for the long tours and a Bonneville for everything else. This cannot be an only bike.
You can press a button to lower the suspension in order to flat foot it.
I really appreciate your approach, Freddie. Honest review from an average normal rider like most of us. I own a Bonneville and a ATAS (tallest Africa Twin) and I can relate well with what Freddie said. I will add up that all the motorcycles are a compromise. It depends where you live and if you often travel long distances with your wifie as a pillion. Here in the province Quebec roads are not great so it feels reassuring to have that 21 inch front wheel and a greater suspension even on the tarmack in the city. Plus you feel more visible on the road to the others ant you are able to see better the traffic ahead, It took me some time to get confortable with the seat high even on the lower setting. I found miself taking the Africa Twin more often to work than the Speed Twin, lately.
I understand your point about seat height but if you hold down the Suspension button, it engages them”Min” setting. This will lower the seat height until (I believe) the bike gets to 60Km/h, at which point the suspension returns to the correct height for the ride mode. When you drop below that speed, Min re-engages. Although I rarely engage it, it’s a nice feature for low speed/urban maneuvering.
I'm thankful to have had a very expensive motorcycle already because i learned that more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better.
Now going for Honda Transalp as one bike to do it all, whole year riding, short and long tours, solo and two up.
@@veljkovic92 what are the luggage options like for the Tran slap though?
Might go sit on one…
@@GadgetMart there's many different. I'm also exploring it now since I still didn't buy the bike.
I would respectfully offer a different point of view. I have a 2020 (so still the L twin). I have taken it on what by any definition is serious off road and was just fine. In fairness, I’m 59 and have been riding since I was 12.
This bike really shines on long rides (though I will admit I had the seat rebuilt and upholstered).
For me…this is the most enjoyable bike I’ve ever owned. I don’t have any issues filtering traffic. And as far as performance…absolutely unmatched.
So if you were considering a Multistrada I would still recommend taking a test ride. It might still be the bike for you.
And as far as price goes…remember…you can’t take it with you so buy the bike you love. I did and I have never regretted it.
I do agree with one thing though…Freddie really is one of the best reviewers out there. I may not agree with your assessment…but I absolutely admire your honesty as your experience. Well done sir…
There is never a perfect bike for the job. Last night, what I "NEEDED" for getting to Salisbury in a hurry was a 170ho sport touring bike like the multistrada. What I had was a DRZ400 or a Honda C125 Super Cub! I got there in time and as soon as I got to the busy city centre, replete with temporary works and traffic lights, the C125 was the best.
I suspect this bike will be bought mostly by those fortunate enough to collect bikes. They will ride around its shortcomings and habe a whale of a time, knowing that uf they need to go off-roading, they have an enduro, if they need to do a track day, they have an HP4 race, if they want to ride a classic, they choose from 3 or 4.
I don't think this will be a one and only bike.
My R1150GS is my one and only bike
I think you’re bang on
Spot on, there is no bike to handle all situations. And we all have different needs and opinions. Myself love to ride my R1200GS on twisty and winding roads and it’s extremely comfortable for longer rides. So this type of bikes suits my riding style.
@@FreddieDobbs nevertheless, what a joy that you got to rip around on one and call it work. Chapeau!
On a quiet night, you can hear that bike depreciating in the garage.
😂
Is that why older Ducati bikes are apreciating so extremely much more than 99% of other bikes??
@@larsholst6216 You sir, are a financial genius. That is a great reason to buy a new $30K Ducati.
Love that 😂
@@larsholst6216try p/ex and see if it’s appreciating
It looks cool though 😂
At 5ft 3 and a female, this bike for you is how I feel about pretty much every bike. They are all tall and heavy. Just have to get on with it.
You should try the ninja 500 it’s very light and fast. Make life easy for yourself and you will enjoy riding a lot more.
But why should we have to? Oh wait, because short women and short men don't buy enough bikes.
Even when suspension travel is not an issue, the OEMs don't offer many bikes with "low suspension." The occasional BMW roadster or Triumph Tiger. (And even then, they're not very low.) Cruisers, which aren't my jam anymore, though I've had a bunch.
Just tired of doing the stork lean and "managing" the bike or paying to have it professionally lowered so the geometry is minimally compromised.
C'mon OEMs! When is it our (short people's) turn? I've bought almost 40 bikes in my long life, most brand new. Isn't that enough to move the needle? 😂
I'm female with a 27"-inch inside leg (crotch to ground) and I'm not Jocelyn Snow the BMW TT rider. And managing sportbikes & ADV bikes is downright annoying now that I'm in my 60s. Ditto for pushing them around the garage.
Anybody else tired of one -foot-down, butt cheek off the seat?
Its a Italian Suberbike Gran Turismo build for sitting comfy upright, Pack a lot of stuff, to travel with ridiciulous speed. I Had a ktm 1190 adventure with paniers. V2 heat Under you seat in summer, but fast as hell and superb in riding with sozia long distances. And Very agile and superb sporty with the right tyres. Its nice to have one in the Garage, but Not for 27k. Today i would Pick my beta 300rr for serious offroad, a tenere 700 for going long travel and some light offroad, and a interceptor 650 as a daily 😊
This trio is very nice!
I’m similar: Yamaha Serrow for off road, Fantic 500 for light off road and Sunday blasts on back roads, Tuono 660 factory for faster roads and touring.
I had a 990 and a 1190. Fast ! But I had to sell them as I felt they didnt like going slow and wasn’t a smooth ride going under 60kmh. But the 1190 is such a nice looking bike.
You sum up the absurdity of this type of bike really well ! ..
I did a video that touched on the subject regarding the big GS's and predictably got a lot of push back from BMW fans but the idea a £27K 260kg bike is suitable for any off-road adventuring is fanciful marketing tosh 😊
Spot on. I see them out on my KLX250 on the TET trails here in the Pyrenees, living out their Charlie and Ewan fantasies, head to toe Touratech and Klim this and that, struggling to manhandle an unsuitably heavy and bulky bike because they’re told it’s the “must have” bike
@@WyreForestBiker Most people don’t buy £27,000 GSs for off road.
Buy a CRF 300 if you want to do that 👍
It’s like a farmer buying a Porsche Cayenne
@GadgetMart I get that , so why the long travel high ground clearance off road suspension with all the consequences? ... the bike makes no sense unless it is used off-road.
@@WyreForestBiker They absolutely soak up the bumps, even fully loaded, it’s literally like a magic carpet 2 up with luggage.
Ride one, you will see. (I agree it’s not something you would want to do serious off roading with).
@@rogerwredfordI dont think 2 up with camping gear riding from the UK to the Alps in two days with a group of big bikes would be much tun on a KLX250, I guess you could take it in a van but then it would be a van trip not a bike trip.
These bikes are not offroad machines but with a rider with the correct skills will do offroad.
Good vid as usual, Freddie.
As a fella in his early 50s now (sigh…) who has been riding on the road since the early 90s, daily commute into Manchester back in the day etc., I find the amount of electronics on these types of bikes to be a turn off, if you.ll pardon the pun.
No doubt this is up there at the peak of biking technology and development, and yes, R&D is part of the duty of manufacturers, but I feel, having had one or two tech laden bikes recently which i ended up selling within a year, they deskill the rider, and are built to appeal to the broader demographic of buyers getting interested in bikes, many of whom have come from the world of cars, primarily. I wince, for example, at how much energy is put into “media” options and connectivity on a bike nowadays… keep your eyes on the road, guys, not on your WhatsApp account….
All this added tech seems to add mainly to the weight, size and increasing price tag of modern machines… 27 grand is eye-watering… and possibly the posing points in the car park. All this is fine, if that’s your thing, but seems to be getting further and further away from the essence of riding - the freedom. Motorcycling seems to be falling into the “mo’ money, mo’ problems” trap, where increasing tech and the associated price tag means the dealer has you over a barrel for servicing, parts, warranty etc.
Maybe I’m just an old fart nowadays, but I came away from this thinking “Great, all we need is another German car company getting a slice of the modern motorcycle market, to produce over-engineered, overweight, overpriced machines, accompanied by marketing hype so everyone thinks they have to have one….”
Great work as ever, Freddie. Took me a while to warm to your style, but now a convert.
Totally agree. The abs on my bike made it dull and vague. Replumbed it and blocked off the pump.
Really interesting insight- I agree with this. I was quite glad to get back in my Bonneville, because it’s so simple to ride. Delighted to enjoyed the video
@@FreddieDobbs Absolutely, Freddie. I wholly agree. I got rid of a GS Beemer with all the bells and whistles, to get an old skool, air/oil cooled CB1100EX and a little Honda Monkey, and feel my zest for motorcycling has been rekindled after a few years of being pretty jaded… less is often more.
Nail on head; cars, and now bikes are being sold on the tech they have, and how big the screens are.
Bikes are supposed to be simple machines, giving you a sense of freedom......
And I've never understood huge bikes for off-road use....even the pro racers (MX, Enduro, Rally) only use small, lightweight bikes.
@@Andy_ATB Yes, true words. Any touring/adventure bike that you have to get off to remove panniers to get through a gate, or worse, sit stationary amongst the cars because it’s too wide to filter, is missing the point.
Wow, Freddie. That Transalp left a lasting impression with you.
Thank you for your time.👏
👊
Incredible at 20:31 onwards to see how small cars were 30 years ago compared to now. And how much more individualistic they were, with real character.
you are absolutely right about “adventure bike” labelling it is over used , but they are capable and people do use them for it , the broader view is whilst you were able to ride your Triumph to morocco one of these would of smashed it without a hitch and be infinitely more comfortable doing it . every ride i take is the start of an adventure so every bike is therefore an adventure bike to me ..
Nicely put…
The whole “adventure bike” moniker is part of the marketing problem. If you need it explaining in the title you aren’t going to understand anyway…
My Tiger 800xrt. Cruise control. Heated grips and seats. Engine mode settings. Tyre pressure sensors. Ect ect. All for £6000 or so. Very useable power and nimble. With plenty left in the kitty for a nice Jeep Wrangler.😀
Probably get an early one with ABS even cheaper. People buying all these brand new bikes. A tiger 800 will do it all and auto trader and e bay are full off them. Much better idea than a brand new suzuki dr800RE
I had a 2011 tiger 800. Lovely bike. Great engine, OK suspension, terrible wind protection, but reliable and fun. I now have a V4s. Be under no illusion, the Tiger is nowhere near the bike a V4s is. It is cheaper...that is the only place it beats a V4s multistrada.
Everything stated in this video is true. However, there is no do it all bike. I have a cbr6 for track days. An adventure bike will not do that well. I don't commute, so don't need a city bike. I mostly ride around the UK and Europe with a lot of luggage and munch big miles. A V4s multistrada is brilliant at this. Don't knock it because it doesn't win motoGP or Supercross races. That is not what it is designed for. It is designed for the same things as a Tiger 800, GS, KTM SA. It is just more expensive because it is better 😂
@@chrishart8548 I bought a 2011 tiger800 last year as a stop gap bike after selling my Suzuki 1050xt. £4000 in mint condition. Liked it so much kept it and did a tour of Spain and Portugal this year. Bought a later XRT few weeks ago for not much more money. Sold the 2011 for £4000. No need to spend thousands on a bike, best spent on fuel and tours.
I like the sound of this!😃
Very well thought out review, Freddie. It is comprehensive and all points are very well argued. I very muchg liked the comparison to the Transalp, because it is not the obvious choice, but it really showcases the drawbacks of those big Adventure Bikes. And all is underlined with good non dramatic footage. You differ from typical reviews in a very pleasant way. Keep up the good Work!
Thanks Freddie. I read/watched all the glowing reviews and thought - this is the bike for me. I actually found it tall, heavy and uncomfortable and thought it must be just me being a wuss. The V2s was no better. My ageing FJR is actually considerably heavier but filtering is a breeze with its integrated panniers and being able to flat foot (I'm 5' 9'') makes all the difference. Sadly it's an old lady (2007) and I need to update as I'm beginning to feel less confident that it won't break down when on European tours. Perhaps your viewers can persuade me otherwise...
I agree to your comments on manuvering the bike around when not riding it and riding it in heavy traffic. I happened to ride the V4 Rally over a steep mountain pass with a heavy loaded tractor in front of me with traffic also behind me. Even in first gear, I hardly got the engine running without pulling the clutch. Thankfully I managed to overtake the tractor and as soon as the revs went up the sublime riding performance showed. This experience was certainly not pleasant. This riding situation is, however, not typical for my riding. After more than 20000 km with the V4 Rally I can tell that the bike is a superb long distance tourer that also does gravel roads with ease. I would not use it off road however. And, on twisty alpine roads in Switzerland I have come to really appreciate the power of the engine when overtaking whatever is in front of you.
To increase or reduce heat from the engine onto your legs there are ducts to adjust just in front of the engine….flip up or down for fresh air or engine heat air..works well. Nice review. For me these bikes turn into corners better than any other adventure bike.
As the owner of a 2024 Honda Transalp, I really enjoy that comparison. Every day bikes for every day riders. And with a comfort seat, it'll do a 1800km 3-day trip just fine. So far my butt is the only limiting factor, the transalp is amazing.
Great honest Freddy. Own a 1260 multi with 45k on it and love it ( and a Transalp, Dobbsie is right) but wanted to move on to a v4, I’m just not sure now. Anyone else swapped ?
ah yes... the travel (horrible MPG) sporty (too high) comfy (heat issues) offroader (too heavy). Stupid price and running costs are the icing on the cake.
50mpg is easily obtainable touring around legal speeds.
Running costs are reasonable 9000 mile or 2 years oil service about £250 annual checkup about £1000 major valve service 36000 miles no desmo or belts on this model to worry about.
In the 2 years and 14k miles my biggest expense is tyres just put my 3rd set on.
@ItsAllJustBollox I hate the tyre thing I wish it was just default like with cars drive I drive out with a fair price. I'm looking right now at buying the tyres myself fitting them and statically balancing. I have somewhere the will fit but won't balance if I take the wheels in loose. Or I can just ride in and ride out and it will cost me the price of the tyres again for the fitting.
@@chrishart8548I fit and balance my own tyres, I always have since my motorcross enduro days.
@@ItsAllJustBollox I've only ever fitted my own. I put a 130/80/17 on a 2.15 rim and couldn't get it back off
@@ItsAllJustBollox £27K to buy, £1000 major service, £250 per year, plus tax and insurance and running costs. Nice to see the cost of living crisis is alive and well. Only joking......enjoy it, after all, you can't take it with you.
Great honesty about weight and size. You at 6'1" on that is about the same as me at 5'7" on my Transalp. It's manageable, but not fun offroad. I'm just glad mine weighs 50kg less.
Adv bikes arent fun offroad unless youre a big, strong, experienced offroader.
I bought my first adv bike, a mere cb500x, n seeing the top heavyness of it, i can say it will be my last adv bike
I really love your videos, not only because of the amazing presentation of bikes. As a Hungarian speaking some English I trully enjoy listening to your English. Thanks!
Brilliant review again Freddie
Laying out the reality rather than selling the dream
lols at the tractor shot after saying let’s take it on the road and see what this Italian heavyweight is like😂
"on paper this is perfect" sums it up perfectly i think.
its an incredible feat of engineering but i'd rather have a Himalayan 450^^
An honest review, thank you.
Riding a motorcycle is about the open road and living in the moment not about what you can spend, HP or cc or " please look at me" . Millions people in Azia and the rest of the world ride small bikes or scooters with a bright smile, enjoying life ❤ if you cant have fun on a small bike.... you're no fun 😂😂😂 but... that Ducati is awesome 😍 great video as always Freddie and Monika.
125cc brings a smile to many riders in South East Asia. Lol.
I rode the hi chiang loop in Vietnam , me and my gf combined weight of 210k on a 4 speed 125cc Yamaha..it was great fun. I would not want a big bike for that ride. For me a 500 cc is more than enough
@@ianwatson3315 thats right
@@adrianrubi5012 why is the Honda Cub the best selling bike ever with over 100.000.000 sold ?
@@pleun315 because it’s user friendly? No inseam requirements. Any highschool kid can drive it?
Excellent review! The mainstream reviews don’t really give us the honest facts like you do. 😀👍
Excellent and very honest review Freddie. Appreciate it!
Finally, someone with a proper review on this bohemian, the same for the GSA1300 and Triumph Explorer, anything above 220kg is not worth all the add ons they bring, but don’t worry, exactly like in cars the Chinese will teach them, if you can just take a look to the Kove 800X or the Voge 900, just so refreshing seeing these light bikes arriving on the market.
Brilliant review! Realistic and balanced 👍
Thanks very much, really glad you enjoyed it
Fantastic review Freddie. I think you are spot on regarding the every day use of such a bike. The higher centre of gravity on these beasts would I think really give me much less confidence than any other bike. I know a few who have such bikes and, although they love them, they all have experienced near misses or actual tipping over of the bike due to that weight distribution
I think these big adventure bikes are really alternative touring machines, I have the 1250 GSA and a lot of the things you comment on the Multistrada apply to the GSA. I have done a couple of gravel tracks on my GSA and that's my limit, but as a long distance tourer it's great.
+1 😉
The multistrada is the only big adventure bike I've never actually see in the wild off road. But it's not fair to say it's the same for all big adventure bikes. The gs, 1290 and to a lesser extent the Africa twin are really capable with the right tyres and training. They are quite a handful but that's half the fun! The ducati is the real Starbucks bike of the adventure world.
It was such a pleasure to see those Ford Capris and other classics. Great timing for the shoot!
As someone that is 203cm/6'8" and weighs over 150kg, this bike would probably fit me quite well. I currently ride a 2007 Honda Varadero XL1000 that has about the same weight and height. I have absolutely no issues riding it slow, in traffic or slight offroad/gravel situations. But the price is oh so expensive. I've been lusting after an HD PanAmerica S or a BMW K1600, both powerful heavy weights. Maybe in a few years I'd get a V4 Rally when the value has gone down by 50%....
Love the video. It's brutally honest and still fair. This bike will most likely always be a tarmac mile muncher, and that's OK.
I have a 2024 Tiger 1200 which has the Givi Trekker panniers on it which makes it even bigger than this bike. It's like everything, once you get used to it, it's (probably) absolutely fine. I ride mine to work through traffic all the time and have no issues at all at 5 feet 11 ins. The huge advantage is that people can see you and you have a very high level of visibility. I also have an Indian FTR which is tiny in comparison. I rode the Indian a couple of hundred miles on Friday, some of which was on motorway and the vulnerability factor was huge in comparison. It's horses for courses but these bikes have some huge benefits and once you've gained the slow speed skills required, they're great.
With Ducati the one to go for is the Desert X. Go anywhere, fun, looks good Costs less. Manageable.
No bike is worth that much and no bike in my mind can do everything, I wouldn't want it too. My bike allows me to do what I want to a point and I like that, it challenges me. If I really want to do something extra to a higher level, I'll buy a bike to do that and still have plenty of money left over and also have the fun of riding something different. Great video Freddie, loads to think about and no doubt loads to argue about 😃
3:16 Freddie’s 6’1, tons of fun and he dresses to a tee 👌🏻
I've always enjoyed your reviews, one way or another. 😁 This was definitely a competent review. 👍
Thank you for a brilliant review and for helping to put me off big adv bikes. I have too many other bikes already
Had many bikes especially sport ones ,, on the other side had 2 gsa 2019 and 2022, last year sold my 2022 gsa for mlt v4 rally,, i can say it is the best adv touring bike i ever had, yes it has less fuel range than the gsa but still its enough for me i don't do more than 250 km per ride ,, its expensive yes but its the best that for sure,, hint im 189 cm height 👍👍
There is another Multistrada, the V2 or 950S (which I own). I purchased mine, a 2021 with 1650km on the clock for $19k AUD. Its a fantastic bike and can do anything I throw at it and is much more manoeuvrable than the V4. I do admit though, I have changed the seat!
If I was looking at a Multistrada, I would have considered the 950 / V2 rather than the bigger brother 1260/V4. I remember going to see one at a dealership immediately noticing how high the center of gravity of the bike was which put me off immediately. Theres a fine line for me when it comes to bikes where if its a pain to get out of the garage - it only comes out for the big trips and having something which is easy to live with but comes out a lot more often. Enjoyed the video Freddie :)
Love Freddie’s films.
A few things to point out.
The Multistrada Rally was designed to take on the biggest selling large bike the BMW GS. Through this lens of premium 1200cc plus adventure bikes the multi makes sense.
Most Multistrada riders including me actually want a road biased bike. The success of the 2010 Multi was underpinned by an unashamed road biased configuration. The OG was derived from the 1198 super bike motor, it had Ohlins front and rear (even on the base model) it was shod in 17 inch wheels and had comfortable upright ergonomics.
Fast forward a few years and the Multi is starting to lose its way. It’s getting softer, longer and much heavier with only a modest hike in power (20bhp in 15 years) and less torque than the original of 14 years ago. It’s sporting a 19 inch front wheel that sporting riders hate and has also lost the single sided swing arm and the Ohlins. If you want all the good stuff that the original had you have to pony up for the Pikes Peak at £27,795.
I’m riding a 1260 Pikes Peak. When it is time to change I won’t be going to the Multistrada V4. I’ll likely switch to the BMW S1000XR which is still a road biased adventure bike and still has 17 inch wheels. But even BMW shot an own goal recently when they brought out the M version and forgot that the buying public wants lockable panniers.
And of course like Freddie says if you want to go off road, nearly anything else makes more sense than a 240 kilo “adventure” bike. 😂
Absolutely brilliant review. Honesty is rare with reviews these days. 👍
Freddy,
What a good and honest review of the bike and what a beautiful area. We went to the BSB Brands Hatch in the UK this year and had a day left before we went back to the Netherlands (by ferry). Visited Hever castle & gardens👌🏼.
If I had known that Eynsford was so close we would have definitely visited this beautiful village. We love the British countryside and old villages👍🏼🙌🏼✊🏼.
Try out the Multistrada V2S. It has most of what you liked about the V4, but with less weight and less cost. You can even get the near identical 19-21 950S for even less money with the only difference being a couple minor tweaks in the menu options.
Watching reviews like this make me love my Triumph Street Scrambler 900 more and more 😍
Nice to see a realistic ADV bike review try it off road. Beautiful English village. Really surprised some pensioner out walking their lab didn't yell at you for riding on their footpath or parking on the village green.😀
My old 1200 GS is probably just as big, wide, heavy and hard to push around. It cost less me than a nice shiny Transalp.
All the your points are valid, except its easy to ride. Have you tried a GS? I like the Pan Am. Reliability? Loved my Bonneville.
Another very enjoyable video. Clearly a very capable, fantastically spec'd bike. As the owner of a '23 Heritage Classic, the Multistrada looks like stellar value for money...!
I observed the same thing with regards to top heavy when I tested it. The GS is a wastly better allround bike. However, it was fantastic in the twisties in high speed.
Thanks for an interesting review Freddie. However, as an owner of such bike I feel I need to balance things a bit and also to fill in with some more information 😀. The bikes in the top adventure segment is Ducati Multistrada V4, BMW 1250/1300 GS, Triumph 1200 Tiger and KTM 1290 Adventure (no, HD Pan Am is not in this group). The Ducati is the most race-track capable and the KTM is the most off-road capable, and the two others are somewhere between. I tested all the four bikes before I decided on the Ducati, but they are all great bikes.
The choice of a motorbike is very much like music; it comes down to your personal preferences and feelings (and wallet). However, I must say you are reviewing a motorbike that is outside your segment. If it's too heavy, too tall and too expensive for you, then go for something else. I took out mine this spring and have been riding about 15000 km and have some experience with it. The main drawback on this bike is, as you pointed out, that it is top-heavy, which is something to be aware of before buying it. But once you are in motion, it does not feel top-heavy, that's mainly when standing still and you need to support with your feets. It is not a bike for smaller persons, however, you can also buy lower seats to it. If you want to go hard-core off road, this isn't the bike! And when testing it off-road, you should test it with off-road tires and not street-tires. Then I have some comments on things you point out, which I disagree with; I find the seat very comfortable and can take long rides with no problems. The seat is a bit more rounded and narrower in the front to easier get your foot to the ground, but your butt does not rest in this area, you sit further back. The standard seat on the top adventure bikes are all quite similar in design. However, there are tons of different seats you can buy. The foam is relatively soft.
It has excellent crash protection when equipped with crash-bars, panniers and hand-guards. I been to the ground twice; once hit by a car from my left and tipped over on the right side. Only some scratches in the crash-protection and the panniers, the car had more damage than the bike. The crash-bar probably saved my knee, which took a small hit and turned blue. Whithout the crash-bar it would most likely been badly injured. Then, a second time when I simply forgot to put down the side-stand before leaning it over. No damage to the bike itself. The crash-protection system is designed to take the hit and it really does. It is different if you hit a rock or something, then the crash protection does not help much, but that goes for all bikes.
I doesn't quite understand the fuzz around the engine heat. Yes it get warm, but I never had a problem with it. It has a very effective cooling fan that kicks in at 104°C. However, I live in Norway though. Then you argue it is gets wide when riding with pannier in traffic and difficult to manouver in traffic. Yes of course, that goes for all bikes with side-panniers.
All bikes have some pros and cons, and so does this bike. What I most of all likes with this bike is its engine and its driving comfort, especially on the motorway with a lot of traffic where riding often can be more exhausting. Adaptive cruise control and blind-sone detection makes it more relaxing to ride on the motorway. Among all adventure bikes, this is the most capable bike on the race track, and I had mine on a few track-days and it is enourmous fun. For driving on twisty, and sometimes quite bumpy roads in Norway, this is an excellent bike to go touring with. You can also go on gravel roads and roads that are in general bad shape with no problem, the suspension is great. But pure off-road? No, do not recommend that. And, it has among the longest service intervalls for a motorbike.
Then there are some things that I don't like so much; its fuel consumption is high, though with a 30 l tank you still get some range, there are quite som vibrations typically between 3500 and 3800 rpm, the Al-panniers are somewhat simple, and a few more annoying stuff.
Brilliant honest review Freddie . I would echo all the points you made.
just sold mine with a sad heart but just too much> Brilliant bike but so hard to move around.
Loved it but had to go.
I'm 63 and 5" 10 Just big & too heavy
Fabulous bike though _ power and comfort amazing and also sensible - blind spot spot detection is hopefully introduced on more bikes as it'd brilliant system
Life in the old dog yet though I changed to streetlight V2 - Love it
In your 30 second test you should have pressed the ignition before putting the panniers on.
Good point
You’re right!
WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR THE STAND TO SINK INTO THE GRASS
AND BIKE GO OVER.
A superb review : nuanced, articulate and entertaining. Clearly a bike with great panache but deeply flawed in the real world.
Frankly I'm amazed by this review. I own a V4 Rally as well as a 1250GSA and have owned a number of so-called adventure bikes in the past. I am a similar height to Freddie, somewhat horizontally unchallenged and about twice his age I'm guessing so hardly lithe and agile but I dont find either of these bikes a particular problem for slow manoeuvring or filtering. Yes obviously you have to be aware of their weight but I find both to be quite well balanced at slow speed and did Freddie not find the little button on the left hand bar to lower the suspension? What limits these bikes for filtering are the mirrors and the panniers, which in the case of the V4 Rally seem unnecessarily wide to me. Why the panniers arent longer and narrower is beyond me other than the fact they allow Ducati to claim that the left hand pannier can hold a full face helmet. Freddie is right about one thing and that is the heat from the engine and that is despite the fact that 2 of the cylinders cut out at low rpm and there are adjustable vents on either side of the fairing. I guess Ducati offering heated seats for this bike was their little Italian joke. As for offroading, yes of course you would pick something a lot lighter than a V4 Rally or GSA for serious offroading but both bikes are perfectly capable of light offroading and if you plan on dropping the V4 Rally you can option crash bars which I notice werent fitted to this test bike. Another thing Freddie is correct about is that the V4 Rally is seriously licence losing fast when you wind it up and that is probably the major difference to the GSA
I had a roll on with my mate today 1250adv today in 4,5&6 and there’s hardly anything in it 🤷
Just can’t find anything to beat my old Tiger 1050 it’s heavy and tall but does it all for me, think that’s why it has such a following still 😊
My mate has one. It’s a fine bike.
Hi Freddie, nice video as usual! I was wondering if you ever tried the Beeline Moto tripper... I'm pretty fascinated about this little guy... I used to use the google maps as navigator, and I really like the "whole" map view, but the Beeline is a little bit subtle and I think that it suits better on a classic bike, but I'm not sure if it is convenient to use it... Thanks and Keep Riding!
What an excellent and honest review, Freddie. This where you excel.
I find any big adventure bike easier to handle at low speeds than any Harley or cruiser like a R18. They weigh like another 100KG.
Adventure bikes are like big BMXs or Big enduros.
The seat is narrow at the front for standing up. It’s also one of the best seats I have sat on for long trips.
You also can open the air flaps on the Multistrada for cool air.
Try some adventure bike training. You will see how easy it is to ride. The off road track you went on would be a breeze on the Multistrada even for a novice.
I couldn't help smiling throughout the episode. Ducati have given their premium adventure class motorcycle to a rather old school gentleman. Crazy how Freddie can describe the love for retro and even modern retro bikes. This is clearly a mismatch of personalities. Nothing more. Given that this is just a lifestyle adventure bike for many and for very serious cross continent adventures, I am sure many like Freddie and us, cannot identify with this Multistrada version.
Thank you for this superb review. An Honest, lifting the lid on the😊 truth about what owners of such machines buy into.
I found the same , its very top heavy and cumbersome even compared to the liquid cooled BMW gs .I`ll stick with my 2012 air cooled BMW r1200gs twin cam still going strong with plenty of mid range torque that makes B road blasting an utter joy .
If you hadn’t already said it, the closing piece shot, with the bike making you look small, sums it up nicely. Anything more than 200kgs and my heart sinks these days.
One of the first bikes I had was a Honda Cb 1100 F bol d'or; Weight: 263 kg. I am 178 cm tall and was a lightweight...
You see dozens of people manhandling these bikes around the alps. I don't know how it is comfortable at all. The heat, weight, size are crazy.
Same here in the Pyrenees. Most of them never leave the tarmac, yet their owners are clad like they are crossing the Kalahari. If they do venture onto some gravel and drop them, they sure as hell don’t do it again.
Whilst the comfort is appreciated, certainly as you get older, these are the biking equivalent of SUVs…. Style and image over function.I bet most owners are living out their Charlie and Ewan fantasies as much as anything else.
You should try it sometime It's great fun in the mountain passes once you learn to ride one and get past the fear of the size they are so easy to ride.
@rogerwredford a friend of kine bought the bmw 850s gsa last year. Lovely bike but he rarely, I fact never ventures off the highway. Too heavy, too tall (he's 5'5 maybe). If road tour8ng is all one needs, these don't make any sense. A 600 odd cc is more than enough. Or even less.
I was out trail riding today and quite deep into the forest. I was on a 200cc "dual sport" bike called the xpulse here in india. Not very powerful but the chassi and wheels are pretty good. And out of the blue the bike wouldn't start. I had out to oush it uphill and then out of the forest till I came on the main road. This on a 165kg bike. I was exhausted by the time. I shudder to think what one could do if faced wit the same situation with a bigger bike. Although one could say why go trail riding or exploring on these heavy bikes, but then what's the point of the 21/18 combo etc.
And having faced many tough situations in the himalayas, my puny bike is super efficient to get out of tough situati9ns. I dislike sitting on the highway for hundreds of kms. Not my cup of tea.
Great video Freddie 👍 I think most adventure bikes are no good to use on a daylight basis , I sold mine because I couldn’t be bothered!? I’m now looking for a bike that looks good with character , we don’t need all those toys , Faster isn’t always better 👍
A great review- you look at bikes refreshingly different to some of the older wizened journalists/vloggers but I sense your love of all things Americana bubbling just below the surface too! Great shots from Monica of England at its summer best at last too. ❤
Personally, I made a conclusion to reconsider all the "it cannot ride off-road" arguments. Maybe it's because I am from Europe but I heard it was very similar in England, now of course it may be a bit better in the east but it is changing too: There is very little riding off a road you can do. Yes, the road may be an unpaved road, occasionally with deep gravel or mud where your wheels float, occasionally with huge stones you can put your bikes bottom on without the wheels reaching ground, occasionally quite steep - or all 3 together. But ultimately, there is a limit to the difficulty.
And big adventure bikes work very well within the limit. But not just them. You wouldn't want to take e.g. Himalayan into difficult terrain, the suspension is not good, you need to slow - but that is not always an option. You wouldn't want to take a big GS or this either, they're heavy and if you have to stop and return tens of meters because you assessed the road wrong and should have been faster, you don't want to do that. But if you go to Alpine gravel roads or similar, both kinds of bikes serve you very well. If you want and like such a big bike for highway riding, there is no need to worry.
True, Multistrada does need an experienced rider to handle when stopped as it doesn't do the clever tricks BMW and KTM do to lower the center of gravity. Experienced rider, however, doesn't need to worry to take it off the tarmac. However, you don't NEED it either, so the final decision is upon each of us.🙂 I already made it, although it's the normal one - sadly, the suspension travel is a bit short but the dealer didn't have a Rally version and I wanted to test prior to purchase.
Well presented Freddy. You make a great argument for the small to mid capacity bikes. This bike is purely a status symbol! I’m not a fan of status symbols. 👍🏻
It just isn’t at all.
I hear all this nonsense all the time then I arrived at a biker meet-up me and the wife get off the GS and i dwarf the little Enfields I’m parked next to.
I’m 6’3” - one size does not fit all.
@@GadgetMart In your opinion..
@@benkelly2190 Well you can ignore the FACT that a big bike fits a big bloke all you like, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the truth.
Anti snobbery is as bad if not worse than snobbery you know.
@@GadgetMart way off the point mate. All I’m saying is buy the bike that suits you. Budget and size!
The Ducati is a great bike! There are others to fit your size! Even the standard V4S is a better option, in MY opinion. It is possibly My next bike! But the more expensive heavier rally, is too much. And in MY opinion a bit of a status symbol. But if it honestly suit you. Then glad you’re happy!
@@benkelly2190 it’s all relative, if you’ve got the money for a new Ducati (and want one) - enjoy I say
Great realistic review. I would never consider a large adventure bike. I don’t anyone who takes them off road. A CRF300 will do the job for a fraction of the price
KTM 1290 SAS option 3.
All the toys, better non narrow adaptive cruise control and enough change of £10,000 for a bloody good holiday 😂
For sure - car money and more than car money to run. But the great thing about biking is that there is something for everyone - decent second hand bikes to be had from £2000 upwards.
A car with equal performance and equipment is not the same money, comparing the cost to a basic poverty spec car is a bit silly to be fair, it's the fully loaded supercharged Range Rover of the biking world and you can't get the RR for £27k.
Freddie, you could have saved quite a bit of time by starting the bike as soon as you pushed the button to fire up the dashboard!! 😂 Yesterday travelled to BSB at Thruxton, full panniers and top box with my pillion. Filtered no problem at the usual Stonehenge bottlenecks, full change of clothes, helmets and both jackets in the panniers and top box for security when we arrived. ( I’ve got the standard panniers which are narrower). The bike will lower at lower speeds if you change the mode! All the way over the fields for parking, no problem. The V4S full is the bike you should have. The Rally is too hardcore for the average rider as is the Desert X
I like your videos a lot; Monica definitely has an eye for good photography. What camera are you using?
Great analysis! I only wish you would have drawn parallels to the standard GS boxer. I see the GS boxer, although weighing some 240 kg, is easy to live with, can filter through traffic, great at low speed, easy to pick up, doable off road, just because of its unique design.Sure there are easier bikes to live with, but if you want the optimum, do all bike, the GS is winner.
Good review. As with most big-ticket items, wait two to three years and good old depreciation will get you one at half price. You get used to bike weight, my RT is 279 kgs and feels fine, but I'm 95 kgs and 6ft. If I was a smaller person I'd choose a smaller bike. Filtering would be easier for you without those Carlos Fandangio panniers on.
I remember watching 'Long Way Round' the series, and Ewan and Charley had huge problems on those two BMW GS's when they went off road. They got really bogged down with their cumbersome weight very often and when they dropped one it took two of them to get it up again. Meanwhile their camera man who broke his when he dropped it, damaging a cooling fluid line, was running rings around them on a cheap stand in 2nd hand Russian bike! I would go 'air cooled' only off road (less to go wrong) and for way less than £4k you can pick up a fully kitted out and tuned up Himalayan 411 and not really care what happens to it if you like. Then you could buy a something like an Interceptor to use as a road bike. You'd still have £17k left in your back pocket too!
I will test ride this. But all the talk of livability with regard to its significant size - reminded me why I didn’t have as good a time as I’d wished with my Versys 650.
Now please ride a 1300GS Freddie, and let us know what it _really_ feels like to live with. Everyone who has ridden it seems to suggest it feels much smaller and manageable. Very sceptical having ridden the previous versions.
Love your content Freddie! The Multistrada is gorgeous and definitely one of those "maybe one day" bikes for me. Speaking of have you ever thought of reviewing the Harley Davidson Heritage Classic? It's got a great retro look and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Great video Freddie! Honestly, you are getting better and better with your reviews and being as non-biased as possible.
And as for the the bike… I really hope that current economic situation and cost of living crisis will make the majority of people realize how ridiculous and redundant bikes like these are. Absolutely unnecessary and I’m sorry, but whoever buys these has more money than sense… to be honest, Dacia Sandero and a Transalp is much more desirable combo than this or a big GS.
Sports tourers is exactly what they are, and exactly how the majority are used 👍
I love those off-topic scenes such as the countryside, the cricket match, the parade of all cars, those glances at Monica and the like.
They really make your videos stand out.