Last weekend, I went to the International Motorcycle Show in Chicago with my friends Anthony and Mike. Anthony just started riding again after a long hiatus, recently purchasing a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200. Mike just completed his Motorcycle Safety Class and is ready to buy a Ducati GT1000. I went there to find the new Ducati 1200 Multistrada that was announced earlier in the year. Based on seeing the bike on the Ducati web site and looking at pictures in various motorcycle mags, I fell in love with the idea of the "4-in-1" all-purpose bike – that packed 150 hp. After walking around the show for an hour, we moved our way to the Ducati exhibit area in anticipation of seeing the new Multstrada and Mike wanting to see the GT1000. After setting my eyes on the bike, my first reaction was how "plasticky" the bike looked to me. I had such high expectations of the new Multistrada, I'm not sure that I wouldn't have been disappointed with anything less than "love at first sight." Unlike other bikes I've fallen in love with, I didn't have that complete irrational "I don't care what anyone says, I have to have that BIKE!" feeling. I still want to give it another try however. If I can test ride one this spring, I might feel differently then. I still like the idea of the bike, but the BMW 1200GS might not have anything to worry about yet.
Mike sat on several bikes before settling in on the Ducati GT1000 which he is pondering. On the right, he is on the 1700cc Yamaha VMAX. I saw this bike last year and thought it was a beast. It still looks like a beast.
Anthony was reminiscing about how the new Kawasaki bike reminded him of his old Suzuki. His last bike was a VMAX. When he sat on the Ducati GT1000, a big grin appeared on his mug. Having recently bought a Harley, he promptly said, "Well, if you're not going to ride American, an Italian would do." He kind of took a liking to the Ducati. He looked good on that GT1000.
Last weekend, I went to the International Motorcycle Show in Chicago with my friends Anthony and Mike. Anthony just started riding again after a long hiatus, recently purchasing a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200. Mike just completed his Motorcycle Safety Class and is ready to buy a Ducati GT1000. I went there to find the new Ducati 1200 Multistrada that was announced earlier in the year. Based on seeing the bike on the Ducati web site and looking at pictures in various motorcycle mags, I fell in love with the idea of the "4-in-1" all-purpose bike – that packed 150 hp. After walking around the show for an hour, we moved our way to the Ducati exhibit area in anticipation of seeing the new Multstrada and Mike wanting to see the GT1000. After setting my eyes on the bike, my first reaction was how "plasticky" the bike looked to me. I had such high expectations of the new Multistrada, I'm not sure that I wouldn't have been disappointed with anything less than "love at first sight." Unlike other bikes I've fallen in love with, I didn't have that complete irrational "I don't care what anyone says, I have to have that BIKE!" feeling. I still want to give it another try however. If I can test ride one this spring, I might feel differently then. I still like the idea of the bike, but the BMW 1200GS might not have anything to worry about yet.
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