[garysmith]

Hi all,

I've decided that its time to update my scooter. Ive been running about on a Gilera 200 vxr round london for a couple of years and although it can do the town commute well its a bit underpowered for doing the occasional 100 miles to the folks or gf at the weekend.

Well the choice is either the multistrada 620 or the vstrom 650. Ive been in the dealerships and sat on both and Ive booked some test rides over the next couple of weeks but wondered what other people's experiences were. In particular -

Are there any build quality issues i should know about. I used to own a Cagiva mito 125, which was fun but a complete liability, and the Gilera had a few unpleasent habits...such as spitting coolant and splitting cooling hoses.

How good are each for town?

What's the wind protection for a 6 footer on each?

Also could anyone recommend some bike training centres in or near london. Ive ridden scooters for too long and will probably nead some proper bike training.

Cheers

Gary S

[ZenOfZoom]

Gary,
I've been out on both the MTS-620 and the VStrom 650 and was impressed with both.

The Suzuki didn't quite have the build quality and the weather protection seemed a bit better on the MTS620. That said, the Suzuki has a good rep reliability wise and a bit better development of power for around town.

I'd still go for the Multi though, just has some class.

[mr.vince0]

On the other hand,

The Suzuki handles nearly as well as the Duc (the MTS is smaller), and makes for an excellent tour bike as well. I've ridden many long hours from San Diego to San Francisco or Las Vegas on the Vstrom. The 650 has never stuttered, sliced canyons with the best of them, and makes plenty of speed (about 120mph). Keep in mind the difference in seating position - the vstrom is more sitting up than the Duc.

I've ridden both and I come away smiling after each one. Yes, the Duc has more sex appeal. But the after market can pretty up just about anything. And for about 6K OTD, the 650 is a real bargain. Scheduled Maintenance is about 120 dollars a shot and insurance is only a couple hundred per year with Geico.

So, I guess it's a trade-off between what kind of riding you do, budget, and posing factor. I spend most of my time on top and the Vstrom looks great from where I'm sitting.

[badger]

Glad you like your bike. It sucks to ride a bike you hate or are embarrassed to be seen on.

I like mine too:

[soslow]

Here in Melbourne, Australia, I think the 620 Multistrada retails for Aust$15,500.00 (plus on road costs) and I have seen the V-Strom 650 for $10,000.00 (plus ORC; I think the $10k was reduced from $11k or $12k). That's a huge price difference.

The Ducati's wheelbase is 1459mm; Suzuki 1540mm.

Ducati seat height is 830mm; Suzuki 820mm.

Ducati weight is 189kg (dry weight?); Suzuki 189kg dry weight.

The Ducati has a 15 litre tank; Suzuki 22litre.

I have not ridden either and I am not in the market for either, although they would probably suit my riding style (no style, really) and ability. I don't mind the styling of the Suzuki; I think it 'works' better than the Ducati's styling. The 22 litre tank of the Suzuki would be a big plus on longer rides. The Ducati is really overpriced, but I guess we could say that about most, if not all, Ducatis.

[soslow]

Correction: Ducati 620 Multistrada weight is given as 183kg on their web site. (I should preview before I submit.)

[Jinsai]

My wife owns a V-Strom 650 (aka "The Wee-Strom"), I have the Multistrada 620. I had a tough time deciding as well.

Short answer:
If you want the more "practical" bike (or plan to tour a lot), you need to get the V-Strom. If the V-Strom were a car, it'd be a minivan.

If you want the more "passionate" bike (or do more city driving/not just touring), you need to get the Multistrada. If it were a car, it'd be a sporty hatchback.

They're both excellent bikes (and both "mini" versions of 1000cc bikes!) - great values with few shortcomings. I bought the Multistrada.

Long answer:

The V-Strom:

It's big. Feels much more top-heavy and larger than the MTS - however, once youre riding, you do not feel the weight or size. It's really only parking/rolling/low-speed that it's an issue.

V-Strom has a much better windshield. The headlights are probably the best headlights I've ever used on a motorcycle. Mirrors on the V-Strom give better visibility - they're great.

The handlebars are higher - it is truly dirtbike/upright/"sit-up-and-beg" seating.

The engine is beefy, and it is as smooth, reliable, and utilitarian as any Japanese bike. The engine is more powerful than the MTS, no doubt about it. Fuel efficiency for me has been too close to call.

Dual disc brake on the front, and the rear brake is definitely stronger than the MTS.

Seat is pretty comfortable, and the passenger/pillion seat is one of the better ones either my wife or I have experienced.

V-Strom has a fuel gauge (which works!), plus analog speedo and tach. And it is full-on fuel injection - no cold-start/fast-idle lever needed.

It is also less expensive.

The Ducati:
It's tiny compared to the V-Strom. Much sportier. The MTS' bars are lower than you expect, especially given all the dirtbike-referencing reviews. It took a little getting used to, but I find it just as comfortable or moreso than the V-Strom. It's not a sportbike position,but it's not as totally upright as the V-Strom.

Wind protection isn't as good as the V-Strom, but you're also not staring through the top of the windshield all the time, which I find sort of annoying on the V-Strom (yes, you can adjust the V-Strom screen, but it's always a trade-off).

Brakes are definitely not as "good" as the V-Strom (note that I have the Dark, so I only have a single front rotor). I'm not saying the MTS brakes are bad, but the V-Strom's definitely feel more solid, especially the rear brake. I believe this was a deliberate design choice - I haven't been able to lock up the rear brake on my MTS, but you can definitely do that on the V-Strom.

MTS 620 has the "slipper clutch", which the V-Strom lacks. But the V-Strom's clutch engagement is much better.

Both bikes have "flash-to-pass" switches and hazard lighting. Neither come with center stands.

BUT...
The Multistrada 620 is about 100x sexier. When it came time to decide, there was really no contest (even discounting that we "already had" a V-Strom). The Multistrada has some passion to it - yes, it's a vehicle, and I use it for commuting and other utilitarian things, but every time I get on it, I smile. The V-Strom is comfortable, but it's like a minivan. Not sexy.

Side by side, there's no contest. The Ducati looks unique, special, high-quality. The V-Strom is a brick with none of the detail or elegance of the Ducati.

There are people who find the MTS ugly, but even they will say it is better-looking than the V-Strom, which is probably one of the ugliest bikes I have ever seen. And the newer ones are even uglier, with those horrible embossed metal "S" logos stuck on and the gratuitous black triangle stickers.

I also do a lot of riding in the city, and the MTS is just plain better for that - it's narrower and smaller, so I can split lanes and park anywhere. The V-Strom is a big ol' boat in comparison. MTS is fine on the freeways (I've had it up in the mid-90s) and for the twisties. So is the V-Strom.

The MTS also looks better with bags - We have the standard GIVI stuff for the V-Strom and it basically makes an ugly bike uglier.

Reading through the list above, it's easy to say "well, you say the V-Strom is better about 10 times". Well, yeah. But it's incrementally better. THe MTS is a great bike - the engine is more than powerful enough, the mirrors are fine, the headlight is bright and the brakes work fine, too.

It is worth noting that both the MTS and the V-Strom have mirrors that do NOT "collapse". If you hit something or drop the bike, you're almost certainly buying a new mirror. In the case of the MTS, it's a bigger pain because the turn signals are integrated into the mirrors.

In the end, it comes down to YOU. Nobody "needs" a motorcycle. For me, the extra couple of bucks for the style was worth it.

[Steve B]

There was a good Motorcyclist magazine article a year or so ago that addressed the difference in design philosopy between the Japanese and Italians by comparing a GSXR-1000 and a 999.

An excerpt:

"At the risk of fomenting cultural stereotypes, it must be said that, at least historically, most Japanese engineers tend to think in terms of objective measurement rather than artistic expression. If it can't be measured on a dyno sheet or a spider chart, it's often regarded with suspicion. Which is one reason why Japanese motorcycles, through the ages, were traditionally known for making lots of easily measurable horsepower, but tended to lag behind in the fuzzier, less-definable realm of handling--and certainly of character."


Read it here:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/featur...eaks/index.html

[flingford]

In the SF bay area, I almost bought a Suzuki sv650 until I decided to just go sit on a Ducati. Then I was shocked to see that the Ducati 620 retailed for the same price (within a couple hundred dollars), both around $7,500 US.

(I think the prices you're mentioning are comparing the vStrom vs. the MTS 1000?)

[soslow]

Another correction by soslow: the retail price of the 620 Multistrada in Melbourne is $14,495; on road $15,930. The 1000 is $18,995/$20,540. The 1000S is $21,795/$23,410.

I went to a couple of dealers today and just sat on the 620. It fitted me well (5 feet 9.5 inches); the handlebars were nicely placed. Seat felt firm.

On my way home I saw a black Multistrada, towing a small trailer.

[richardc197]

The MTS is F'n fast and comes in red! It sounds rad going through the gears and chicks dig it. VSTROM?

[lotus54]

I've only briefly ridden a Vstrom 1000. It felt 'mushy' compared to my ST2 or MTS 'S'.
No brakes! (well, in comparison).

Very nice bike, but I like the Multi way better.
I've heard the 650 Vstrom is actually a better overall bike.
I've also heard the Ducati salesman say he liked the 620 MTS better than the standard 1000 MTS (he did like the 'S' best of all).

I haven't had a chance to try a 620, I'd like to sometime.

Mark

[Brad Morrell]

If I HAD to ride every day, I would walk right into the Suzuki shop and slap the cash down on a DL1000 V-strom. I would have the cash left over for luggage, heated grips, exhaust, wind screen improvements and what ever else I wanted to make the bike "right."

However, I bought a Ducati Multistrada 1000 because it is a bike that appeals to my passion for motorcycles. It works perfectly for why I ride. Would I commute 40 miles and then leave it in the rain all day? No, but I'm sure some do.
I have bought bikes that make the most "Sense" and I end up selling them because they lack the soul I look for in a motorcycle.

If you need a "tool" buy the v-strom, if you need a big dose of passion on top of a very capable motorcycle there is only one answer.

[Brad Morrell]

Sorry. It hung up on me.

[gsantolo]

...Ducati seat height is 830mm; Suzuki 820mm.

I have an '04 MtS1000 and had an opportunity to ride the V-Stro 650. I loved the motor but there is no comparison between the two as far as fit and finish go. I am fairly short (about 30" inseam) and I have no trouble on my MtS but could barely touch the ground on the V-Strom because the seat is so wide. I can't argue that the price of the V-Strom is nice but if you look at them side-by-side, I think you'll see that you get what you pay for.

Gary
'04 MtS- Remus pipes, heated grips, Sirius radio, Escort radar detector
'96 VFR
'76 750F