Anyone doing the "ducati experience" Multistrada/Dieval demo in Leesburg?

[bikepilot]

I'll be on the MTS at noon tomorrow 

[Autohag]

You should hop on that Dieval, too! Let us know what your thoughts are. I've got enough of my own Ducati experience at the moment, so I'm out.

[bikepilot]

The site says I've gotta chose one or the other and the MTS is the one that really interests me.   If the chance arises I'll definitely take a spin on the Dieval too though. I think I'm down to a MTS or SMT990 for my next bike with an off chance of a used MTS1100 or Ulysses as well.

[Slide Panda]

i tired - had a slot and then hit back to check something. In the couple seconds that took it filled up.

[Meerkat]

Only guy I know going is from the 675 board: http://www.triumph675.net/forum/showpost.php?p=737695&postcount=1

[twolanefun]

I'll be there both days. I think I'm riding sweep for Ducati. Plan to ride my M900 out Sat and the S2R Sun. - Gene

[bikepilot]

Bummer SP, I lost an earlier morning slot the same way, but luckily got the noon slot.

TLF, say hi when ya see me - my real name is Josh. 

[Zulu]

Wanted to do it real bad. For now i'm having E-150 experience in new mexico desert with top speed of 35 mph .

[bikepilot]

Great meeting you twolane, a great event overall 

The MTS is fast, handles, and astounding refined/smooth.  Oddly I didn't come away really wanting one.  too much plastic, too wide between the knees and weirdly too smooth and refined. I think what I really want is a streetfighter with MTS1200 suspension and 200+ miles of fuel range 

[twolanefun]

FWIW we had a lot of open slots throughout the day for both bikes, suspect today will be the same. I think the MTS is a remarkable bike and one that will go down in History as a great bike that broke new ground, I have issues with it, seat height and the front are deal breakers for me. What surprised me is the Diavel, that sucker will push your eyes back into their sockets, 0-60 in 2.6 seconds, and they won't advertise it but I'm betting 0-100 time is fastest production motorcycle on the planet. Now add to that the bike actually turns and stops, a real surprise bike for me. I'll be there all day today, riding the Diavel, maybe see a few of you there. I'll post up a complete impression of the Diavel later, Nora is coming out today so she is going to take a ride with me on it to complete the picture. - Gene

[DRKWNG]

I walked away from the new MTS with basically the same impressions.  Technically advanced?  Yes.  Lots of gee whiz?  Yes.  Want one?  Not at all.  I think the biggest complaint about the bike for me was that I felt locked in to one particular position.  I'd much rather be able to more comfortably move around the bike, and couldn't on the MTS.  Over all, I think I'd rather have an older one for commuting duties...

[bikepilot]

Yeah I really didn't like the seat for the same reason - but that's fixable.  I think a hot-rodded, stripped down, livened up, not-so-german model would totally rock 

The height for me is an advantage  - leg room + clearance is great.

[twolanefun]

I just spent the weekend riding as Tailgunner for the Ducati Expereince Tour which was setup in Leesburg.

I rode a Diavel for the 2 days, approx 32 miles loop x 8 trips per day x 2 days = ~ 500 miles. So none of this first impression stuff, the route had the straights, twisty stuff, slow, fast - bottom line is I was impressed. I could live with this bike day-in and day-out. As it is with most bikes it has to fit you, for me the pegs were right, reach to the bars was right, reach to the ground was right (they also have an optional tall seat). The motor is addictive, in urban mode it seems like it has more than the 100HP, switch it to tour and you will find out what 162HP feels like with a bike that only weighs ~450lbs, but it's a gradual hit, but then put it in Sport mode and grab a handful, then feel your eyes immediately go back into their sockets. BTW there is a lot of custom tuning you can do with each of the modes. For me I think other than say beating up on unsuspecting V-rods, V-Max, Busa guys at say Daytona I will just leave it in Tour. So how does it handle you say? I say just fine, having ridden some other bikes with a big fat rear I was skeptical of the claims, but the thing does actually turn pretty good. It still wants to stand up a little about mid corner until your figure out how to ride it. I found by reverting to an old style of riding where I kind push the bar down and let the bike roll undrneath me it corners very well. By the end of the 4th session I had the bike turning great on two particular 25MPH turns, my guess is that it would keep up with my ST3 on the twisty stuff but probably not the M900. Brakes are excellent as you would expect, suspension was a bit harsh, I'm told it can be tuned to take out some of that harshness, it is noticeable on bumpy beat up roads, like sections of Snickersville Pike for example. The stock exhaust is fine and I would not change it out, personally the Termi system is a little too loud for my tastes although Donnie said he could put the DB klllers back in, but I say stock sounds fine, why spend the money. Nora and I are going to do a 2up ride on Wednesday when I go out to pickup the Paso so I will report back on that aspect.

So just in case you were wondering, I think Ducati has a hit with this bike, and until the word gets out this bike is gonna surprise a few of those that like to do some stop light racing. I like the look, It goes like stink, stops like it should, and surprise it turns - what more do you want? Well okay is makes a great 2nd Ducati in the garage for ridning around local and smoking that rear tire every chance you get while leaving just about everyhting else on the planet in the dust  - Gene

[AMGnDuc]

I liked the Diavel quite a bit as well.  It works as advertised.  Fast as hell in Sport mode and corners solidly, too.

My only complaint was that my ass hurt only shortly into the ride.  I don't think it was so much the riding position (which was comfortable) as much as the shape of the seat itself.  It's a bit too bucketed.  I'm going to assume the touring seat is much better.

Agree that this makes a great 2nd bike, but if I had to have only one, it wouldn't be the Diavel.

[sbrguy]

funny how so many people are now liking the diavel where when the original spy photos came out  and specs everyone was saying "this is the end of ducati" or "wtf they are crazy this thing is stupid".

from the reviews it sounds like all you have to do is ride the thing and people want one suddenly.  good job by ducati.