Test Ride Ho Rides a Multi

[Bonster]

Yes I am (a test ride Ho).   Yes I did finally ride a Multi on Saturday.  I've been thinking I wanted a Multi from the first time I read about them.  The look is, how you say, an acquired taste, but there is no disputing the critical acclaim of this bike, and I've not heard anything negative about the actual performance. Riding the Multi did not make me want one less.

It was a nice afternoon, I was in getting an oil filter,  I had an hour to spare, the dealer had a '12 S model with 10,000 miles just come in...  Giddyup.  First thing you notice is it's tall.  I'm 5' 10" and flat footed on my S2R, but up on the balls of my feet on the Multi.   You get used to that pretty quick.  I started in Urban mode, supposedly around 100 hp, and it felt like it had roughly the thrust of my Monster, without the visceral feedback.   I've ridden nothing but bikes with analog speedo and tach, no electronic gizmos, so that takes getting used to as well. 

Overall it's a really easy bike to ride.  When you switch it to Sport mode, it goes good and it is sneaky fast, like, "Oh, didn't feel like much but looks like I'm doin 168 kmh in an 80 zone... in fourth gear .  Better shut 'er down a notch."   As compared to the Monster where you KNOW you're being bad.  Also compared to the Monster, it needs to be said, the refinement makes it not as raunchy fun, and you don't get street props from strangers who don't even really know motorcycles hanging out the window at lights saying "Hey dude, nice bike."  On a Multi you're just another guy on one of those big plastic rockets with funny beaks, indistinguishable (except to those in the know) from GS Beemers, V-stroms and Honda NC 700x's.

I'd still like to have one for touring, because you can just tell it would eat miles and be fun enough on a twisty road, and if you mastered it, you could run with just about anything on the street.   

[red baron]

Yup, SPORT is a hoot. 

[Skybarney]

I rented one for five days and 2400 miles.  It was wonderful to ride far and fast.  I nearly considered trading my Monster it was so damn easy to ride.  Then I rode my Monster and tossed that idea out the door.  It will do 140+ in fourth gear two up, fully loaded and it was stable as hell.  Not that I did that or anything    I also got it stuck on a beach in Oregon it was a bit of a beast to get out of deep sand.

You are correct about the visceral feel of the Monster.  It just feels bad ass even though it do3es not push the same HP.  I also kept waiting for the electronic titanium steering lock to get stuck but it never happened.  One thing I can say about the Multi that I can not say about my Monster;  the digital gauges on the Multi were far superior.  Knowing how many miles left till you are out of gas is pretty neat.  So is being able to read the speedo without looking down.  I was also great having a keyless ignition.  The Fob is the best thing ever just leave it in a jacket pocket 

It would be a great bike to own for those long rides.

[ab]

Multi to me it should not have been chain driven. Touring, last thing I want to think about is lubing chain.  I suppose with luggage space, it's easy to carry.   Having never ridden it, I suppose I should not say much.

Sat on a BMW GS 1200 (something like that),  I could barely get the bike straight after sitting on it as it was so heavy.  Wow I don't know how ppl ride them but much power to them.

[Skybarney]

The GS was simply to large for me.  I had no problems with the Multi.

[Howie]

Multi to me it should not have been chain driven. Touring, last thing I want to think about is lubing chain.  I suppose with luggage space, it's easy to carry.   Having never ridden it, I suppose I should not say much.

Sat on a BMW GS 1200 (something like that),  I could barely get the bike straight after sitting on it as it was so heavy.  Wow I don't know how ppl ride them but much power to them.

http://www.scottoiler.com//us/

[ZLTFUL]

Having gone from a 2000 M900i.e. with cored DP Carbon Lows and a wide open clutch to a 2012 MS1200ST, the Multi is most definitely not as visceral as the Monster.

I defined the Monster as a brawler...a streetfighter who is scrapping in back alleys for cash and banging strippers every night.

While the Multi is more like a world title holding boxer. The fight is slow and calculated and seems to be going nowhere until that one knockout punch that seems to come from nowhere...and then he goes home and bangs his supermodel or actress...

The Multi does EVERYTHING better than my Monster did. But that says nothing about how I felt about the Monster. The Monster made me uncomfortable on long rides...in traffic...in tight stuff...hell...in public. But bless its little badass soul I loved it...A LOT.

The Multi has taken some getting used to but I can't see myself going back to a Monster if I had to decide. Fortunately, I plan on winning the lottery and having both Angelica (My Angelic Italian wife) AND Sophia (My fiery redheaded Italian mistress) in the garage.

[Bonster]

Multi to me it should not have been chain driven. 

Name one performance motorcycle that is not chain driven.   Bonus points if you can name a Ducati that is not chain driven.

I actually don't think it's that big a deal with modern chains that require very little adjustment and a spritz of lube every thousand miles unless you're riding through Hurricane Sandy.

[Curmudgeon]

Steve,

Guess you never rode a 4-valve before.  They are ALL sneaky-fast and smooth..., but are another order of magnitude to maintain due to the added complexity and plumbing. Caveat Emptor! 

[Bonster]

I had an ST4 for a loaner for a couple of days, and I had some long test rides on an S4Rs, an 848, and a Streetfighter so I know a little about 4 valves.  Still say the Multi is sneakier fast.

[Travman]

The Multi has taken some getting used to but I can't see myself going back to a Monster if I had to decide. Fortunately, I plan on winning the lottery and having both Angelica (My Angelic Italian wife) AND Sophia (My fiery redheaded Italian mistress) in the garage.

Do Italians have red hair? (Serious question; not trying to be snarky)

[SpikeC]

 Mario Batali.

[Travman]

...but his mother is Canadian.

[SpikeC]

 Butt he THINKS he's Italian!

[Buckethead]

Name one performance motorcycle that is not chain driven.  

Challenge accepted! 

BMW HP2 Sport.



BMW K1300RS



Honda VFR 1200



Kawasaki Concours



Yamaha V-max



Buell 1125R



And, of course, the Multi's main competition for the "dual sport/adventure touring/Starbucks run" crowd: The Ewan MacBoorman special.