DT May 2018

THE
BIKES
One Bonus that the tyre guys give the bike
manufacturers with launches like this is that fact that
we will invariably chat about the bikes that we got
to ride. On this one, we got our mitts onto the 1200
Multistrada, the 1290KTM and Honda’s Africa twin
with DCT. We’ll give a quick rundown on each…
THE MULTISTRADA 1200 ENDURO
It has to be said that for some reason, this
bike really has snuck into our hearts. It’s a
blend of Italian finesse with a great big donk
that makes people smile non-stop.
Initially I hopped onto the smaller 950
Multi, but when we noticed that there was a
spare bike lurking, let’s face it, it would be an
absolute shame not to take advantage. We
last rode one of these probably more than a
year ago. Since then, the 1260 has made an
appearance – and we have yet to ride it.
Keyless ignition has to be one of the
doffest inventions ever. Why change
a system that has been faultless for
generations? Wander off onto another bike
with this key in your pocket and the hapless
victim who is sposed to ride this one gets
left stranded. Anyway, it is what it is.
“The Multistrada is really
easy to ride, despite the
fact that it’s such a big
girl. Fantastic throttle
actuation makes trickling
through those tight windy
Sicilian streets, or along
the footpaths a breeze,
but, open the throttle and
this Ducati taps you on the
shoulder and reminds you
of its superbike genes. It’s
seriously quick by any bike’s
standards.”
At its heart, the 1200 Enduro is powered
by a 152bhp 1198 superbike lump, retuned
to give buckets of earth-moving grunt. Like
all big Ducati V-twins it’s on the clattery
side at low rpm, but past 4000rpm it roars
through the exhaust and will set off into the
great beyond like a lunatic.
The Multistrada is really easy to ride, despite
the fact that it’s such a big girl. Fantastic
throttle actuation makes trickling through
those tight windy Sicilian streets, or along the
footpaths a breeze, but, open the throttle and
20 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE MAY 2018