2019-07-01_RiDE

RichardKnight 50 Model 2010 1200S Touringmileage11,000 Longest ride 1800 miles

Thehighs“ThiswasanMCNfleetbikethatwas

crashedwith 600 milesonit — I’vereplaced

everybodypanelwithcarbonfibreandfitted

Dymagcarbonwheels,BremboM40monobloc

brakesandÖhlinssemi-activesuspension.So

whetheryouwanttogoscratchingwithmatesona

Sundaymorningorchuckontheluggageandride

acrossEurope,it does it. You can ride for 12 or 14

hoursina day,get off and it’s not like you’ve ridden

anywhere.I’vegot a full Givi luggage system for it

andhavebeenover to the TT a couple of times,

riddentotheSachsenring and done the NC500.”

Thelows“Servicing costs could be a little more

reasonable,although the intervals aren’t too bad

and you only need to get the belts changed every

two years (although I’m told that they actually last

much longer than that). It’s got no downsides as a

riding bike at all.”

Best mod “The carbon Dymag wheels (rrp

£2,300) completely transformed the handling and

improved performance. They look great too.”

Thehighs“I’ma sportsbikefanbuttestrodeonebychanceandabsolutely

lovedit.Afterowninga 95 9 PanigaleSEI fanciedsomethingI coulduseinall

weathersandgetthemostoutof.I usedtolikeridingfastbutwiththe

Multistrada, I can get on it and just enjoy riding a motorcycle.”

The lows “It’s not as sharp and poised as a sportsbike but the comfort

redresses that. The finish on some fixings isn’t great and component quality

isn’t consistent — it’s only six months old and the caliper bolts are tarnishing

already. There’s condensation in the rear light too.”

Best mod “The Puig shorter sports screen (£62) transforms the bike,

making it a lot more comfortable at cruising speeds and it looks better too.”

Thehighs“Grinfactor.It’stheperfectcombinationofsportsbikeandbig

tourer.I owna 1200aswellandthelongerwheelbaseonthe 1260 makes a

hugedifference,it’sabsolutelyrock-solidandstable.It comesintoitsown

when you’re covering 400 miles a day or climbing gravelly mountain passes.”

The lows “I fried a regulator in Spain because it was buried behind No.2

cylinder and that took out the alternator, leaving me stranded in Andorra.

Ducati was helpful but couldn’t get the parts to me for days so I had to ship it

back home. The electronics are clever but I’m not sure you need all of them.”

Best mod “Ducati Enduro Pack (£1115.06). It really needs more protection as

standard so I bought this for the engine bars and radiator/oil cooler guards.”

‘It was a crashed MCN test bike’

‘Thequalityofcomponentsisinconsistent’

Chris Macdonald 36 Model 2018 1260S Mileage 1300 Longest ride 250 miles

‘It’sa BMWR1200GS-eater’

Alex Carter-Silk 61 Model 2018 1260S Mileage 2000 Longest ride 2000 miles

82 | july 2019

road test extra