Hold fire on that new Ducati Multistrada...
 

...cos there's a new Aprilia coming later this year that looks more convincing. In two versions, a 750 and 1200 V-Twin but with a narrower angle than the Duke giving more clearance plus the more dedicated enduro 750 has the 21 inch front wheel the Multistrada lacks.

Should be much cheaper too :D

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/040610top.jpg


Aprilia Entering Large Displacement Enduro Market

Ah but will it have trick adjustable suspension? The thing I like about the Multistrada, or at least the Multistrada reviews, is the way you can tune the suspension to either the load you are carrying or the surface you're riding on at the touch of a button. To me, that's the deal maker between the Multistrada and the Adventure 990, which is/was the other option.

I have serious doubts whether the trick air suspension can keep up with a "real" setup, especially off-road. The Multistrada makes a nice road touring bike, where the word "road" includes gravel roads. I don't think it's an option for leaving the road, which the KTM clearly is.

The Aprilia does look interesting. Looks like it would deserve the Tenere name more than what Yamaha recently came up with :D

That 750 motor is a peach , and no mistake. I love the Doursoduro, it rides like it's made from fire and brimstone, so if the Tuareg is anything like the rumours then it'll be a peach too. Then again, the Super Tenere was rumoured to be a stonker, and turned out a little less than the hype (probably still a very good bike, but not what it was billed as).

I don't think it's fair to compare the Aprilia with the new Multistrada, chalk and cheese realy. The Multistrada is an awesum bike, it's quality built and well thought out, but it's no desert raider, not even a decent adventure bike, it's a powerhouse of a tourer. Have a good look around the bike and the clues are there, plastics (expensive Ducati plastics!) indicators in the hand guards (and they look both expensive and easyish to destroy), alloy wheels, small front wheel, the bike might have an enduro setting, but I think anything more than a gravel road and the bike would flounder. I'm still waiting for a test ride (any day now!!), but this isn't going to be an off road sand cleaver, more of a transcontinental mile muncher.

Of course the Multistrada is available now, and the 1200 Aprilia is still an asperation.


The other one to consider is Honda, the Varadero is getting long in the tooth and is probably more comparable with the Multistrada, but are Honda going to bring out a version of a 1200 AT, or another Varadero with the v4 VFR motor in it ? It's well overdue an update and Honda would be crazy to miss out on some of this market, or will they just retire from it?

Good sense spoken above; the Ducati is an ace bike but needs substantial adaptations to make it an adventure bike (although "as is" it makes the BMW look old fashioned) and whilst less, the Aprilia will also. Perhaps the 1200 Aprilia would be more comparable to the Ducati but there are fewer details on that bike as yet.

That Aprilia 750 engine does look good though; more compact than any other and Aprilias are eminently tunable. All in all, the 750 looks like a good bike on which to base a true adventure bike. Let's hope they read forums like this and don't bottle it.

If that picture is to scale and the rear wheel is a 19" rim I make the seat height a little over 42". Yet I see no where to mount a step ladder so I could get on it :)

Do you own a Dorsoduro? I've only seen them in the dealers. They look great but I don't know anyone who actually owns one and I've not ridden one.
What's it like? How many miles have you done so far?
The world has been waiting for Honda to get off the dime for about 10 years (at least) now. My idea was for them to use the RC51 sport bike motor in an all new Africa Twin. Use CRF450 based chassis, make it tour-able, add a few amenities and its there. Honda have been winding down production of the Varadero for years now. They were giving them away in the UK a couple years ago and I'm not sure they are even imported to the UK now. The Varadero is done. Never any good. I don't see an upgrade coming at this point.

I agree regards Multistrada and Tuareg being Chalk & Cheese. The Multi will be for rich sports bike guys who want to tour with their BMW GS buddies. The Multi will be a great bike as the ultimate sports tourer.
Would I go RTW on one? Never. (can't afford it anyway!)

Aprilia has a great opportunity with the Tuareg. A 750 could be the new perfect middle weight Adventure bike. Could knock out the DL650 Wee Strom and If done well, could undercut KTM's 990 as well.

But lots of question marks here. Since Piaggio are now doing the motors In-House and no longer using Rotax, there are unknowns here. Do they know what they are doing? Making the jump from 10 HP scooter motors to 100 + HP motors is a big deal. They claim to have the engineering depth to do this. Time will tell.

The Shiver and Dorsoduro are too new to really know how good they are or if they are truly reliable for the basis for a RTW platform. Piaggio have also been building the little v-twin dirt/supermoto bikes as well. Mixed reviews on those as early ones had LOTS OF PROBLEMS. (450 and 550 V-twins)
But now they are winning enduros! Can Piaggio do it?

The key for the Tuareg will be weight. If Aprilia can make it light enough, yet strong, it could kick butt.

In this mix of middle weight adventure bikes you also have to look at Triumph. Triumph are coming along with a new dual sport based on the 675cc Daytona motor. This new "Tiger Cub" could be very interesting. The 675 motor is super light yet makes over 100 HP. Its also very small, so a smaller adventure bike could possibly be built around it. We'll see. Should be out later this year. (Milan Show)

The short answer is no. I've ridden one a number of times (dealer had one as a demostrator) and it's truly an awesum bike, even the quality is better than Aprilia of old. However it just isn't practical, it's very high and stupidly quick, but the mode selection (for throttle response) is good. I find it pretty much unridable in town in sports mode, but superb in normal mode (forgive me I forget the actual names of the modes now).

Smiles per mile are very high. You are thankfull (just for the sake of your licience) to get back to a slower bike afterwards though.

One thought about the 750 motor though, it is maybe a little too powerfull for an off-road bike, hopefully the mode selections will de-tune it for the rough stuff.

Aprilia do make a good bike, their big V-Twins are superb and the new RSV-4 is a great example of what modern design techniques can achieve, the attention to detail and packaging to make a "big" bike tiny is really done well. If only they could apply that level of attention to an adventure bike...

My problem with most of these bikes is that they are just the bike equivalent of car "soft roaders" which have traits of an adventure bike, resemble them in some ways but clearly, the designers have NEVER used and adventure bike in the real world, or lived with it so what they produce are really pathetic anf for people like them who don't know any better.

I like KTM's as a bike and as a company because there is no bull s**t about them, they make honest, tough bikes with no pretensions and they have genuine off road pedigree. I still think their 950 super enduro is the definitive basis for an adventure bike.

That Triumph 675 engine would make a sound basis for a bike; it would need a dry sump (take a look at one and you will see why) but I can't envisage Triumph doing anything different to what most other makers do - simply "style" a bike to resemble an adventure bike. I find that attitude a little cynical and dishonest but I hope they prove me wrong. With the possible exception of KTM there's no Land Rover of the biking world out. there.

Great post and spot on.
Ride reviews on the RSV-4 are 100% positive. But guess what? Every single bike has been recalled ... for a NEW MOTOR! Some screw up with the crank.
Can you imagine the cost? Good news is, at least in the US is that not that many had been sold yet. Some potential customers may not have heard about the recall.
Have you heard about this in the UK? Or maybe a different batch of cranks there and no recall at all?

Great comments about "soft roaders". So true.

I was aware of that US recall for the RSV-4 bit haven't heard of anything similar in Europe. On the one hand, it's great that they took such action "no questions asked" but on the other hand, here in Europe consumer laws and or less litigious consumers might cause a less radical course of action i.e. "you bought it sucker!". It could also just be it was the bad batch that went to the US too. I would imagine Aprilia are brand building in the US so the recall cost would have been worth the expense in the long term.

There was a problem with parts supply in the UK a few years ago and I read in this months bike magazine that the old RSV's depreciated in value by ~50% in the first year. It makes a year old 5,000 mile bike a seriously tempting bargin.

I went to the Moto GP last night and saw the Ducati Multistrada and the KTM 990 Adventure side by side. My first impressions of the the Multistrada were not good, which was a shame as I really wanted to like the bike but;
Who on earth though it was cool to put the indicators in the handgrip protectors! What a totally daft idea! One drop or brush with anything and you have a huge bill for a custom Ducati part, ride without it and the nasty policemen licks his lips as he sharpens his pencil....
The bike dosent look finished, the front mudguard is way too short, all the sh1t will come up off the wheel straight into the radiator, same with the back wheel, silly little hugger. Apparently the Multistrada will come with 2 sets of mudguards, sounds like they admit the short ones are not fit for purpose, another case of style over functionality?
The bike is covered with sticky outy bits, the gear and brake pedal end parts dont fold back, the front valance is just there for show.
Overall the thing will not survive being dropped.
On to the KTM; clean lines, everything that sticks out folds back on impact, the front valance looks as if it will keep even large rocks off the delicate bits, the whole thing looks like it will survive pretty much anything, and it has adjustable front and rear suspension too, and on board engine management using something called a throttle, a wrist and a brain.
Have I just talked myself into buying a KTM? But I love Ducati! Heart, head, head, heart....

I used to work as an Aprilia dealer and have "played" with the Dorsoduro a bit... STONKING bike.. Very quick, strong engine and bags of fun but not at all practical, but supermotos aren't meant to be.

The Tuareg looks great. I reckon the engine will be down tuned and smoothed out making it a great option.

Sadly, although Aprilia have come a long way with their reliability problems, it's still nowhere as good as the Jap stuff or their Italian brothers at Ducati. Electric niggles and poor build quality is always a nag with Aprilia. We were always getting bikes in with dodgy this, dodgy that... It's something you learn to live with as the bikes are a hoot, but I don't know if id really trust an Aprilia on a RTW....

Still, this looks WAY better than Yamahas idea of a knarly adventure bike. The Tenere dissapointed many so lets hope this fits that gap in the market.

I've got a Shiver, and its a cracking bike, motors great, suspensions pretty good (non adjustable front, pre-loads adjustable on the back but thats it) brakes are fantastic, seats not bad, its pretty high, fairly big but not too heavy.
I've had no reliability issues with mine in 6000miles, but the finish isn't brilliant, a few bits of paint rubbing or flaking off mostly. Parts availability isn't supposed to be very good though.

That Toureg looks good, if it becomes a reality, they've been talking about the 1200 shiver and dorsoduro for a few years now but i haven't seen anything concrete to suggest were getting them anytime soon! Likewise for the new 675 tiger, now thats a bike that would tempt me away from my shiver!!

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/040610top.jpg


So, where would you mount your panniers?:D

John

Who needs panniers?? Strap a tent on the back, sleeping bag and clothes tail pack, rucksack tankbag job done!
If you need panniers buy a car! P)

my my
 

now this looks interesting ....

All waiting on that magic weight number now ...

Like the first feedback post on that link, I had been hoping Aprilia would offer some sort of detuned adventurised RXV 5.5, at around 130 kgs, but this is still the most interesting adventure bike to come out in quite some time.

I can only hope they are joking when they mention 445 lbs (200 kgs)

If you mean the 1200 Multistrada...

I had a ride on it yesterday - It's awesome. No RTW or even an adventure bike, but a brilliant all road bike (M'way, A, B , pot-holed C and unclasified road - In the UK anyway).

Report to follow....

...nah - there's no way Aprilia would make a 750 that weighs 200kg! I read this bike will be at the shows this autumn.

BTW - hope you keep writing your blog for your Russian trips this summer too - loved your blog from last year.

You travel alone, don't you?

There will be a new blog ... specially for the 2010 version. :) ... probably on the same site ... you will be able to choose which blog to read.

Looking forward to checking out this new Aprilia. If they can bring it in at 165 kgs, we might really be on to something. Considering how light they made the RXVs, there is some slight hope.

This could be very interesting. Coming from an F800GS a light 750 would be just the ticket.

A lot of manufacturers are going down the "adventure styling" route which just equates to a tall, heavy, essentially road going bike that looks the part but ultimately doesn't really cut it in the rtw stakes.

Think I might book myself a trip to Milan for this show :scooter:

Don't get too exited it will probably look something like this, and will be as good offroad as the new super tenere is.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2j35o21.jpg

Im the only one on my bike yes, I ride with other riders, my fiancé rides her own bike, my mates rides there's, so yes I ride alone, and I like to leave the filing cabinets in the office!

Of course there are times when I use the soft panniers, tank bag and tail pack, but then we can't always travel light!

Anywho, has anyone seen anything directly from aprilia about this bike?

A new view
 

The new Triumph Tiger Adventure is going to be out soon; I won't even give the Aprilia a look-in after that - build quality and reliability on the new Triumphs is superb. 'nuff said.

Our local dealer did a series of Demo rides on the new Multistrada for previous customers and friends this last month. They've sold 18 Multistradas so far .... at about $25,000 per copy.

He's ordered 15 more. Good to see some folks still have jobs and are willing to spend big on bikes! I know three of the guys who bought them. They rave about the bike. I'm staying clear of it for now. Dealer wanted to let me have his demo for the afternoon. I passed. Just can't do it now. :thumbdown::freezing:

I have high hopes for the new Tiger. But not all is well in Triumph Town. My
'07 just had its first major trip. 4000 miles in about 9 days. During the high speed bits it gobbled quite a bit of oil. Like a pint in 500 miles or so. At lower RPM's, almost no use. Starting riding "normally" and down goes the oil.
Very worrying. Good news is I have a 3 year extended warranty. Bike only has 8000 miles total on the clock.

Oil use has been a common theme on many 1050's. Triumph have replaced
quite a few piston/ring sets. Fixed some, some not. Some needed new cylinders and the works.

I would give the new Tiger a year to see how its doing. If they use the 675 platform that would be good. Very few probs with this motor. No one knows for sure what the motor will be. 675? 800? or ? I've heard two versions will be made. Dual sport/Adventure version and more mild SM version.
Milan should give us a clue. October.

A pint in 500 miles ???? You sure ?

That is very high. Get it into your dealer NOW !!

Uh, i'm wrong. Actually more like a half pint. (8 US fluid ounces). Still too much, eh? We had some nice open sweepers, no cops, nice roads. I was wicking it up pretty good ... revs between 6K and 9K rpm, up over the ton most of the time. About 150 miles of this. At the end of the day (500 mile day) oil was off the stick. :thumbdown: Took about half pint to bring to Full reading.
Sorry for the hyperbole. Had to think about it for a minute.

Far as getting to the dealer, before I go I need to document consumption or they won't honor the claim. I've got plenty of time (2.5 years of warranty) so no rush on it. Now I just have to watch the oil level much more closely.
I'm spoiled from my Suzuki's. They never use oil! :taz:

Please don't wait that long. If there is a problem, it's only going to get worse..

Plus, why should YOU pay to keep topping up the oil everytime you ride it. Oil is EXPENSIVE man !

If you rock into your dealer in 2 years time and say "its been burning oil for 3 years" , they may say you neglected to inform them in due time and made it worse. All tricks to wiggle out of warrenty payouts. I know as I used to work in a large multifranchise dealer. They're almost as heartless as insurance companies.