Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Granturismo

If you’ve read Bikesales Network’s recent road test of Ducati’s Multistrada 1200 S (here), you’ll be left in no doubt as to how we feel about the fresh-for-2013 model from Bologna. Yup, we love it.

From the sublime ride of the semi-active suspension, to the four-way-controllable V-twin, to the high-handlebarred superiority of the upright riding position, it’s hard to know what you’d do to make this bike better (or pricier, even). Luckily, the wonderful people at Ducati have taken that worry away from you (and an extra $2000 from your bank account).

At first peek, the Granturismo version of the new bike looks like it’s little more than a touch of added show pony over the 1200 S. New colour, riding lights, panniers – that kinda thing. But the changes run deeper than that and add up to a better ride. $2000 better? That’s a call only you can make.

First things first. There’s no extra go in the engine department and no more trickery when it comes to the suspenders. And that’s all cool because neither of those areas are lacking on the more basic model. Ducati has got the balance right with the mode-adjustable V-twin’s power and the multi-setting fork and shock, so it really wasn’t needed.

Nope, what the GT version does is make the travelling experience richer.

Starting with the riding position, something as simple as a couple of 20mm risers means that the now-black ’bars actually come up and towards the rider slightly. Not a massive change, granted, but it leaves you slightly more relaxed at normal cruising speeds. To aid this more upright stance, the front fairing’s screen becomes taller and wider and even gets a tint to really rub it into the 1200 S commoners… It retains the easy, one-hand operation for its adjustable height – a simple mechanism that again didn’t need fixing.

Moving back on the bike, the unique-to-the-GT paint scheme gets extra protection on the tank area with clear plastic offering a barrier against knee scuffs. On a larger scale, the side crash bars look sturdy enough to offer a decent amount of security for that expensive plastic and metal. Hopefully this’ll be one extra you’ll never have to test for yourself.

Hanging off the crash bars are a pair of riding lights controlled by a separate switch that sits between the left-hand switchgear and mirror mount. They have to be independently switched on as they revert to ‘off’ as the ignition is turned off and on again.

The GT runs the latest Pirelli GT Angel tyre that we recently tested (here), and we can reconfirm how well the profile and construction suit this bike.

The GT also gets a plusher saddle. Though unchanged in construction to the S model’s perch, the stitching gets a red highlight to let the world know, well, that your arse is sooo much more cosseted than theirs. Very important that…

And then we’re left with the most obvious change to the Multi – the boot. If this was a car, Ducati would tell you just how many tennis balls you could cram into the twin panniers and topbox arrangement, but as it’s not, it’s left to the warning stickers in each box to do the talking.

They’re all rated at 10kg each, but it’s the topbox that takes the storage biscuit. Due to the positioning of the twin stacked exhaust on the right-hand side of the machine, that side’s pannier is pretty slim and won’t swallow your average full-face lid. So without the topbox (and depending on the size of your helmet – cue schoolboy giggles from the back of the class), you’d not be able to store a pair of lids on the bike. Two large lids won’t fit, but a large and a small might. And, as they spruik on daytime-TV ads, “Wait, there’s more…” Each pannier gets an expandable inner bag, so you can carry your gear to your room for the evening after a long day in the saddle.

And that’s the whole point of the Multistrada GT. It’s a luxury bike designed to waft you around the country (or globe) with a certain amount of insulation from the outside elements. It’s a great bike and a great ride that can scratch, tour and impress.

SPECS: DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 S GRANTURISMO
ENGINE
Type: 1198cc, liquid-cooled, four-valves-per-cylinder, Desmodromic, four-stroke, 90-degree V-twin
Bore x stroke: 106mm x 67.9mm
Compression ratio: 11.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Max. power: 150hp at 9250rpm
Max. torque: 124.5Nm at 7500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Tubular steel trellis
Front suspension: 48mm inverted fork, full electronic adjustment and Ducati Skyhook Suspension
Rear suspension: Monoshock, full electronic adjustment and Ducati Skyhook Suspension
Front brakes: Twin 320mm discs with radial-mount four-piston Brembo calipers (ABS)
Rear brakes: Single 245mm disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper (ABS)

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Dry weight: 217kg
Seat height: 850mm
Wheelbase: 1530mm
Fuel capacity: 20 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $30,490
Colour: Grey
Bike supplied by: NF Importers (www.ducati.com.au)
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres