It’s been a lengthy couple of months spent perfecting my 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200. I bought the bike for an incredibly low price of $4000, but with that came the responsibility of taking care of every maintenance task required. A true project bike.
There’s an overwhelming sense of accomplishment when you thumb the starter button for the first time after a lengthy hiatus. Mechanical harmony meets the cumulation of hard work. This wasn’t the first time I’d started this bike, but it was the first time I could truly ride it without worry.
For many, a bike from 2010 may seem dated and insignificant. Technology has marched on. Ducati themselves have introduced a number of revised, so-called “better” versions since the original 1200’s inception. I’m finally experiencing what well-heeled riders already knew ten years ago. And what is that exactly?
The 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 is, quite simply, everything I have wanted in a motorcycle. I imagine just about any rider desiring a high-horsepower, comfortable motorcycle that has the added side-effect of agility would agree. It looks great, goes great, and even the maintenance intervals are reasonable (for a Ducati). It’s now genuinely affordable, too.
There are a few downsides to the big Italian, however. My largest complaints are the lack of wind protection and no electronic cruise control. If you look for alternatives that have these features, you will find you must give up what the Multistrada 1200 has in droves: power and handling.
Check out the video below to see my full report on my to-date experiences with this new-old machine.
