The Bike that Ducati
should have named;
MONSTER
When the Ducati rolled off the back of the van it was an instant eyes wide, step
back moment as it commands awe from the viewer. Tall, bold and broad
shouldered with a price tag over £16k I thought Ducati had given the title of
Monster to the wrong bike – The Multistarda Enduro is a monster!
But what is it for? Yes, I know Adventure as a brand and fear not I’m not going to
hash that old chestnut debate to fill a few paragraphs. Ducati have sunk a lot of
cash and a lot of research and development into the MST for more serious off
road ability. I’m advised that over 250 parts of the over 850 parts that make up
the MST have been changed for the purpose of off road. There is no way of
getting away from the fact that it is better off road than the old MST S version.
You get the spoke wheels with the 19” front leading the way and an Enduro
engine option that knocks the 160Bhp down to 100Bhp and swaps up the ABS
system as you would expect.
Three digits for me say that SERIOUS off road is an issue and they are 254 – A
254Kg wet weight bike is never going to handle like a KTM 300 EXC coming in
at around 100Kg. Just as you would not expect to ride from London (UK) to
Moscow (Russia) and arrive in the same comfort if the bikes are reversed! If
you’ve survived the Dakar and good enough to get a sponsor deal then sure you
could throw the MST around for a display. I have no doubt the likes of Coma and
Sanz would make the MST look nimble and powerful as it is. I’m at local green
lane club on a Sunday level and sweating like a pig after 50 miles of ruts and
rocks. So is this a serious Green Lane bike is a simple question to answer. Would
I pitch up to a Green Lane meeting on the MST 1200 Enduro? When I get them
for free, sure! I have no doubt I’d get a few chuckles and head shaking when I
pulled into the car park. If I’d just paid 16 thousand GBP and have to pay to fix it
myself ... fuck no! Pardon my French. If I had my own Ducati MST 1200 Enduro it
would see as much dirt as a Landrover Encore.
The bike can go anywhere – yes! It really can (kind of) but could I afford to pay
for 250 of the 850 plus parts that make the bike everytime I dropped it?
On tarmac and gravel or even dry dirt tracks it was superb and I made the most
of the power and the 200mm of travel in the wheels eats it up with great
comfort from the electronic suspension. I’d happily ride this baby to
Vladivostok – Magadan is another matter all together. I’m not saying you CAN’T,
I am saying that it would prove to be an expensive pain in the arse by the time
you got there, if you got there.
So for me we have an extremely nice, very pretty (I do like the hawk looking
beak) touring, exploring bike that will see you arrive at your gravel and tarmac
destination in comfort and style. Big miles tank, big miles seat and big miles
carry capacity all scream let’s go to the Alps / Rockies or whatever. It does not
scream “let’s get down to Morocco for the sand dunes!”.