what i like about my duc -
ergonomics - on the sv, i felt pretty compressed. i don't think i'd be able to do a whole day's worth of riding without some (maybe even a lot of) saddle sore. i find the duc's lcd display better layed out.
brakes - this is night and day. the difference is so great that it's got me suspecting something is wrong on my friend's sv. the sv's front brake feels like my rear brake...it's that much of a difference.
slow speed manuvering - navigating a parking lot, u-turns or splitting lanes is easier on the duc for me. i think this has to do more with the duc's dirtbike stance and how easy it is to stand up on the bike motocross style.
headlights - the ducs headlights seem to give you an extra 5-10 feet more of viewable distance...prob because it's higher up than the sv's. i was a little uneasy at first riding the sv in the dark before i got used to the headlight's range.
fuel economy - about a month back, i went on a ride with my friend. we have similar riding styles in that we're both mellow and have pretty tame right hands...neither of us is ever looking to set a speed record, but it is fun to feel the acceleration now and then. at all the fuel stops, i was routinely at least half a gallon less. don't even compare fuel consumption with a gixxer 1k...he was the fast one in the group, but that's because he was eager to get to the next filling station
what i found different from my duc -
engine - the sv's engine rev's more easily than the duc's. at 5k rpm, the engine is just louder than at idle, there's very little vibration. i think this is what some people describe as the ducati's "soul" or what some people describe as japanese bikes being "appliances". you know when the ducati is working, it shakes, vibrates and whines...and when the ducati is redlining, you can really feel it. it's like you're riding a caged animal.
being an individual - everyone's got an sv, nobody's got a mts. if you like being different, the mts wins hands down. then again, there's the flip side...since the sv is so popular, it's got a bigger aftermarket/used parts pool. just do a search on craigslist...multistrada returned 2 hits, sv 650 returned 16.
what i liked about the sv -
gearbox - shifting gears on the sv was like pressing a button. shifting up or down is barely a click. shifting on the ducati, you really feel and hear the gears engage and the metal moving around under you. this may be another "soul" characteristic of the duc, but overall, the sv's gearbox was easier to use for me.
clutch - the sv's clutch was lighter and i felt there was more of a friction zone on it. the duc clutch was kinda like an on/off switch compared to it. and working the duc clutch gives me the "kung-fu grip of death" (i really use my forearm muscles to pull the clutch in). one thing the ducati clutch had in it's favor was when shifting down 2 gears quickly - eventhough the clutch engaged sharply, it didn't upset the bike. i have a feeling if i did that with the sv, it wouldn't be as forgiving.
leaning in turns - i found the sv leaning into the turns easier vs the duc. this is prob due to the fact that the sv has a more agressive riding position than the mts. don't get me wrong though, the mts feels just as capable in the turns, the sv just seems to want to lean with less input from me.
mauvering the bike in the garage - with the engine off, walking the sv around is easier for me than the mts. the sv's lower grips make me feel like i have more control. i feel comfortable moving the sv around walking beside the bike, the mts i prefer to straddle it since it's higher.
i didn't bother compareing 0-60, top speed, which one is easier to wheelie... between the two because that's not my riding style. both bikes leave the cars in the dust at a stoplight and both bikes go fast enough for me without needing to push them. if you feel the need for speed, i'm guessing you're not looking at bikes that are in the 600cc range.
overall, i found the sv to be a very capable bike and see why a lot of people pick it for their ride. it's sporty but not backbreaking. it is a different bike than the mts and has a different feel. personally, i like my mts more. the riding position is more comfortable and it is more general purpose while the sv is more sport bike. if i was going to the track, i'd prob pick the sv. if i was worried that i might hit a clean dirt road, i'd pick the mts. i've read the mts is supposed to be the jack-of-all-trades, master of none bike. i'd agree with that.
i've got his bike for a week (i'm bike-sitting while he's out of the country)...i'll post back if i my initial impressions change.
john
I like both.