950 multistrada for all year around commuting?

[Taff]

Just how bad an idea is this?

Approx 9000 miles a year in all weather until it gets down to about -2 deg C.
A Ducati in the rain, on January's salted roads? Will it dissolve into a pile of rust and corrosion?
Will I need to remortgage every year to get it serviced?
Will it only start when there's some sort of celestial alignment?

Or

All that is nonsense and it'll be no worse than any other marque?

What's your experience?

[Rockburner]

@Bigyin will be the man with the answer.

[Pirahna]

It's the same motor as my Hypermotard, starts first time every time. Service intervals are (I think) 9k miles for oil service, and 18k for a desmo service. I can't comment on the suitability of the bike for a British winter as I live in Spain. The days of Ducati's being unreliable are long gone, I'd expect it to be a reliable everyday bike.

The original chains and sprockets are worse than cheap, if it's not been changed then budget for it. The standard suspension on my Hypermotard is soft, I've heard the same complaint from Desert X owners, I've no idea about the Multistrada but a test ride will reveal all.

[Taff]

The original chains and sprockets are worse than cheap, if it's not been changed then budget for it. The standard suspension on my Hypermotard is soft, I've heard the same complaint from Desert X owners, I've no idea about the Multistrada but a test ride will reveal all.

I generally budget on changing the C&S every 18 months or so with the milage and weather that my bikes see, so I'll have a good look at that when I actually pull the trigger and get one.

The suspension is the Skyhook system and I briefly flicked it between the settings and there is a noticeable difference between them in terms of power delivery and suspension setting, Sport was uncomfortably hard on a rough back road but the Touring setting was really comfy.

[KungFooBob]

I'm lead to believe the Skyhook suspension is on a par with BMWs ESA, where it really comes into its own is if you often carry a pillion or luggage. My ESA equiped GS stays level no matter how much you paid up the rear end. My old Varadero/Tiger/Transalp all turned in to cruisers/super tankers when loaded up, not the GS. It stays level and the steering doesn't rake out.

Obviously not essentially for a one person commute.

[Taipan]

Only had one Ducati, but it was surprising how Japanese-ish it was. I think its fair to say Ducati build quality is on the up, whilst most jap and euro bikes seems to be on the decline? I'd certainly consider it...

[Mr. Dazzle]

Ducati are part of VW-Audi group now, have been for ages, so I suspect the joke build quality disappeared more than 10 years ago.

Same with Lamborghini.

Well Ducati are actually part of Lamborghini anyway...who are part of VAG.

[Dodgy69]

IMHO, if it's just for commuting and putting a good few miles on it all year round, I'd be going Jap. Weather protection and heated grips are a must, but plenty to choose from.

[Taff]

IMHO, if it's just for commuting and putting a good few miles on it all year round, I'd be going Jap. Weather protection and heated grips are a must, but plenty to choose from.

That's the logical starting point for many but....

I test rode the tracer gt and didn't like it much, Nearly every used Honda AT and the NT I've seen look proper shabby on the exhaust and frame right behind the front wheel ( much worse build than my current cbf1000), I do like the versys 1000 even though the iridium spark plugs need changing every 7k miles, a minor thing but nobody else dies that and it adds quite a bit to an annual service.

I really like the triumphs, 800 sport right through to the 1200, I had one for 10 years and over 60k miles so know the brand well. £1200 for a valve check service is pretty salty though. And if I'm paying that much for servicing I may as well have something that looks really lovely, right?

[Rockburner]

IMHO, if it's just for commuting and putting a good few miles on it all year round, I'd be going Jap. Weather protection and heated grips are a must, but plenty to choose from.

That's the logical starting point for many but....

I test rode the tracer gt and didn't like it much, Nearly every used Honda AT and the NT I've seen look proper shabby on the exhaust and frame right behind the front wheel ( much worse build than my current cbf1000), I do like the versys 1000 even though the iridium spark plugs need changing every 7k miles, a minor thing but nobody else dies that and it adds quite a bit to an annual service.

I really like the triumphs, 800 sport right through to the 1200, I had one for 10 years and over 60k miles so know the brand well. £1200 for a valve check service is pretty salty though. And if I'm paying that much for servicing I may as well have something that looks really lovely, right?

If you're riding in all weathers, especially commuting, then it's far better to be able to enjoy each ride than to start not enjoying them, and gradually start to hate riding.

Every commute should be a fun ride, as much as is possible.

[Skub]

I do like the versys 1000 even though the iridium spark plugs need changing every 7k miles, a minor thing but nobody else dies that and it adds quite a bit to an annual service.

I thought iridium plugs lasted longer than the usual type? My Zed has the same donkey as the Versys and there's over 25k on the original plugs.

[Supermofo]

I do like the versys 1000 even though the iridium spark plugs need changing every 7k miles

Suzuki quote the same for the GSXS, even worse they say 7k or annually! I've had mine for 4 years 10k miles and it's on the original plugs with no issues. I asked at the dealer and they couldn't give me an answer why they would only last 12 months, so I didn't change them. They did say that my warranty would no longer cover spark plug related issues, to which I asked how many GSXSs they'd had with spark plug issues, the answer was none. I've looked on the GSXS forum and the best answer I've seen was from someone who rang Suzuki GB and was told it was due to ensuring emissions outputs, how true that is I don't know. The consensus on the forum is 7k is over the top and the vast majority change them at double or more. I'll get mine changed when it has it's valve service at 15k.

I know bikes rev more and are more performance but my car has 75k miles plug change intervals for its iridium plugs.

[Supermofo]

I'd have thought that the only issue you might have running a Ducati over winter/lots of mileage is potential re-sale values. Other than that I've not heard of them being particularly unreliable.

[Bustaspoke]

I do like the versys 1000 even though the iridium spark plugs need changing every 7k miles

Suzuki quote the same for the GSXS, even worse they say 7k or annually! I've had mine for 4 years 10k miles and it's on the original plugs with no issues. I asked at the dealer and they couldn't give me an answer why they would only last 12 months, so I didn't change them. They did say that my warranty would no longer cover spark plug related issues, to which I asked how many GSXSs they'd had with spark plug issues, the answer was none. I've looked on the GSXS forum and the best answer I've seen was from someone who rang Suzuki GB and was told it was due to ensuring emissions outputs, how true that is I don't know. The consensus on the forum is 7k is over the top and the vast majority change them at double or more. I'll get mine changed when it has it's valve service at 15k.
.

Maybe changing plugs at 7K is a Suzuki policy as it's the same for my SV650.Anyone know if other manufacturers recommend changing plugs at 7K?

[Supermofo]

Looking at the NGK site, should be longer than 7k.

https://www.ngk.com/how-long-do-ngk-iridium-plugs-last

How Long Do NGK Iridium Plugs Last?

Iridium Spark Plug

NGK Laser Iridium Spark Plugs have iridium center and a platinum ground electrodes. If installed in a regular engine, they would likely last longer than most people keep their car (barring any motor problems that can cause premature plug death). All Laser Iridium plugs are an OEM design, made for a specific engine. Some feature a special resistor or electrode design, depending on the OE requirements. In their OE application, NGK's Laser Iridium plugs typically last 80-100k miles.

Interestingly on the specific plug, they say it has 100k mile longevity as it has a platinum ground electrode. Even if that is for a car surely a bike is going to last a quarter of that or more.
https://www.ngk.com/ngk-6289-cr9eia-9-l ... spark-plug

Part Information
Brand
NGK/NTK
Warranty
60 Days
Longevity
100k Miles

[Skub]

I'd have thought that the only issue you might have running a Ducati over winter/lots of mileage is potential re-sale values. Other than that I've not heard of them being particularly unreliable.

Good point. I can't imagine many potential Duke owners wanting a cosmetically challenged one,no matter how cheap.

[Taff]

I didn't know that Suzuki had a short plug life as well, or seems a bit pants to be shoving the service costs up by £50 replacing parts that should last many times the interval.

I'd have thought that the only issue you might have running a Ducati over winter/lots of mileage is potential re-sale values. Other than that I've not heard of them being particularly unreliable.

Good point. I can't imagine many potential Duke owners wanting a cosmetically challenged one,no matter how cheap.

It's a vehicle for getting me to places.
I keep my bikes for a long time and put milage on them so I can't worry too much about resale value, it's a fact that after a year or two it's not going to be in showroom condition. If I did worry about the value I would have to commute by car and put up with being stuck in traffic like everyone else, and I really really don't want to be doing that.
Having said all if this, my tiger sold for about £3k iirc with over 60k on the clock so there is a buyer for everything.

[Supermofo]

Interestingly my brother has just serviced his 2020 Ninja 1000SX with the TFT dash. Seems like you can't clear the service light without going to a Kawk dealer who want £50 to clear it, if they'll do it at all without them servicing the bike! He's searched on forums etc and doesn't seem to be a DIY way to clear it. Hate this type of shite, you've bought the bike and it's yours!!

[Horse]

The best-looking every day commuter bike I've ever seen was never given waxy coatings or anything else.

It was a mate's Suzuki. Hosed (cold water hose) and wiped every evening. Garaged (not much more than a shed though).

Thorough wash every weekend.

[KungFooBob]

Interestingly my brother has just serviced his 2020 Ninja 1000SX with the TFT dash. Seems like you can't clear the service light without going to a Kawk dealer who want £50 to clear it, if they'll do it at all without them servicing the bike! He's searched on forums etc and doesn't seem to be a DIY way to clear it. Hate this type of shite, you've bought the bike and it's yours!!

It's the same with my 2016 GS, I bought an adapter so I could plug in my Bluetooth odb2 dongle and paid £20 for an app that could do it.