Well, I got to take my co-workers MultiStrada out for a bit yesterday. The seat was a little tall for me (6'3", 34" inseam), but only at lights. I just had a bit of getting used to barely touching my heels to the ground when stopped. The bike feels rather big, especially when you are used to riding the FZ1..as I am (duh!).
Once you get moving though, it loses it's girth, and becomes quite comfortable to ride. The grip height takes a bit of getting used to, as it is rather high (once again comparatively to the FZ1). I'm sure you all know, one of the big appeals to a bike such as a Ducati, is not only the looks of them, but the sound of the L-twin (V-twin...whatever!!) thumping underneath you. I wasn't overly enamored by this sound, but it is better than the sound of a straight piped Harley. His bike has a full Termignoni exhaust, which makes it a fair bit louder than a stock one. You certainly don't get away from that sound...even at or above "posted speed limits" on the highway (we have 75mph limit here in CO, I may have 'barely' exceeded that speed, officer...:gagged
.
Along with the sound of the big two-cylinder, comes torque essentially on demand over 3K rpm's...and the pull of that engine is quite addictive. Coming out of corners and just rolling on the throttle was a very fun thing to do on that bike...just as long as you have it in a low enough gear to keep it above the aforementioned 3K. It shudders and shakes below that level...and makes me scared! :eek5: - okay, not scared... but I didn't like it, no sir, I didn't like it one bit!
Despite feeling so tall on the bike, it corners almost telepathically. I didn't really give it the digging in deep into corners, but it was actually feeling very nice, and I know that the owner has taken it to track days a few times, and has given it a solid lean test (or at least had some nice bits of rubber built up on the extreme edges of his Michelin Pilot Powers), so I know I'll give up before the bike does...that and I didn't really feel like paying his $1000 deductible for wadding it up! Nonetheless, it felt very comfortable cornering, and it gave this rider great confidence...at least at 40-50% of my normal perceived limit.
So, I took his bike for lunch "hour", and got back nearly 2 hours later. Had to gas it up due to the 80-90 miles that I toured around on it.
The key-less starting was interesting, and I'm sure I could get used to it after a bit...I am now spoiled with my car, as it is key-less, which makes me almost forget to use a key when I am driving ANY other car. Nothing wrong, just different.
Just thought I'd chime in with my thoughts about it. It would sure be fun to try the Panigale for a bit, although I know it would be a short stint. This boy doesn't typically like the yoga positioning of SS bikes, with much of the weight transferring to my hands...but I would still like to feel one of them if even for only just a scream up and down the local roads for a bit. :cheers:
So has it been derestricted? I know those Japanese market bikes were not very powerful in stock form.
