Ducati Multistrada 1000DS
Purchased mainly to commute to work back in 2010 and wanted something a bit different.
Used daily for 40 mile round trip on backroads in all sorts of weathers for best part of 4 years and didn't let me down.
Current Status
Bike was stripped down and is largely in one piece and waiting to be completed
Never seen so many cable ties on a bike !!!
Feedback after several years of use
Riding position is good and overall performs very well
Luggage is excellent setup and well made
Bike handles really well, even on bumpy back roads
Brakes are good, but not as good as some
Reliable in all weather conditions
General
Being a Ducati the bike does have some 'features' and habits which taking getting used to.
At times is would struggle to start, until someone from the forum identified this as a common earthing issue. A second earthing strap resolved this little quirk.
Also had issues with the TPS sensor which took a while to identify and resolve, even after speaking to local Ducati dealer. £50 part and resolved.
Don't seem to like low RPM and vibrates madly shaking the clocks and top fairing about. I here there have been cases of the brackets cracking due to this.
The standard screen is a biff naff in use and seems designed to cause more turbulence to the rider rather than deflect it away. I replaced with a Powerbroze double bubble unit which is an improvement.
I also had an Ermax taller screen fitted for a while but accident in garage and it cracked.
If you want to replace the seat with a different style then it's not a 5 minute job as with most bikes. Have to dismantle a large part of the plastics just to get at it. As I'd not done this before and is not well documented, it took me about 3 hours.
Petrol gauge is unrealistic and you really need to measure based on the trip.
Mine came with a centre stand fitted and although it's very useful, it has caused me a few scary moments as is digs into the ground when the suspension is compressed and the bike at very minimal lean angles. I modified the stop to lift this up a little, but you can only go so far as it would hit the chain if you go too far. Seems a real afterthought and not that well designed to the bike.
The side stand is flaky as well. It sits very far forward and seems too short for the bike. It's lean angle on the side stand is too far over and sometimes when getting on the bike you have to be careful that the bike doesn't fall over as the pivot point of the stand is near the cent re of gravity and toppling over would be pretty easily done, especially if the bike was on a slight downward incline. I stuck a Camel Toe and that seems to have worked.
The Cat looks like someone has stuck a vacuum cleaner on the back end. I'm going to try to fit an alternate setup for the 2018 rebuild.
Getting the rear wheel nuts off can be fun and have had to use an air wrench at times to loosen the nuts. Remove and oild regularly to prevent this happening.
Changing the pilot bulb in the headlight is best undertaken after completing a gynecologist course!
Specs
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Model: | Ducati Multistrada 1000 DS |
| Year: | 2003 |
| Category: | Allround |
| Rating: | 77.4 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes |
| Engine and transmission | |
| Displacement: | 992.00 ccm (60.53 cubic inches) |
| Engine type: | V2, four-stroke |
| Power: | 84.00 HP (61.3 kW)) @ 8000 RPM |
| Torque: | 84.00 Nm (8.6 kgf-m or 62.0 ft.lbs) @ 5000 RPM |
| Compression: | 10.0:1 |
| Bore x stroke: | 94.0 x 71.5 mm (3.7 x 2.8 inches) |
| Valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel system: | Injection |
| Fuel control: | Desmodromic valve control |
| Cooling system: | Air |
| Gearbox: | 6-speed |
| Transmission type, final drive: |
Chain |
| Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels | |
| Frame type: | Tubular steel trellis frame |
| Rake (fork angle): | 24.0° |
| Front suspension: | Showa 43 mm fully adjustable upside-down fork |
| Front suspension travel: | 165 mm (6.5 inches) |
| Rear suspension: | Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Showa monoshock; hydraulic remote pre-load control |
| Rear suspension travel: | 141 mm (5.6 inches) |
| Front tyre dimensions: | 120/70-ZR17 |
| Rear tyre dimensions: | 180/55-ZR17 |
| Front brakes: | Double disc |
| Front brakes diameter: | 320 mm (12.6 inches) |
| Rear brakes: | Single disc |
| Rear brakes diameter: | 245 mm (9.6 inches) |
| Physical measures and capacities | |
| Dry weight: | 200.0 kg (440.9 pounds) |
| Power/weight ratio: | 0.4200 HP/kg |
| Seat height: | 820 mm (32.3 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting. |
| Overall height: | 1,280 mm (50.4 inches) |
| Overall length: | 2,130 mm (83.9 inches) |
| Wheelbase: | 1,462 mm (57.6 inches) |
| Fuel capacity: | 20.00 litres (5.28 gallons) |