Long Term Update

Long Term Update

DUCATI

MULTISTRADA

Saddle sore

LATEST ADDITION TO OUR LONG-TERM fleet, Ducati’s all-new Multistrada, has gotten off to a butt-bruising start. Last August, Executive Editor Brian Catterson and his girlfriend Gina took the Multistrada and another longtermer, the KTM 950 Adventure, on a weeklong getaway to Colorado, trading off the whole way. Post-ride, Catterson reported, “After 2600 miles round trip, the burning question is: Are there two bikes with worse seats? The Multistrada’s might be the worst ever-truly 50 miles before your butt starts to hurt. If we hadn’t brought along an inflatable AirHawk seat cushion ($150), we’d both need ass transplants!”

Fortunately, Ducati produces an accessory catalog dedicated solely to the Multistrada. Performance upgrades run the gamut, from lightweight flywheels to slipper clutches to carbon-fiber/magnesium wheels. Sport-touring options include hard luggage, heated handgrips, taller windscreens and a centerstand. Topping our gotta-have-it list, though, is the Comfort Seat. Hopefully, it will live up to its name.

Otherwise, all is well. So far, maintenance has been a snap, with an oil-andfilter change, performed while in the Centennial State, taking less than 5 minutes. Can’t say the same for the KTM...

List price (2OO3)~. $11,800

KAWASAKI

Z1000

Buzzkill

SOME long-term BIKES test DRAFTED fleet are INTO prime THE CW targets for aftermarket intervention. While the Kawasaki Z1000 isn’t exactly begging for mods, living with the quadpiped naked bike in stock trim brought a couple of shortcomings to our attention. It didn’t take long to settle in on the

area in greatest need of attention: the seat. While the bike’s wide tubular handlebar and upright seating position are well suited to everyday riding, the saddle proved too thinly padded and square-edged to offer even mediumrange comfort. More than one staffer has logged reports of a tortured tush after a stint aboard the Kawi. No doubt, an aftermarket seat is in order.

Our other concerns are excessive vibration through the handlebar, its finger-numbing effect and the blurred rear view through the mirrors. If filling the hollow bar with buckshot doesn’t kill the buzz, we’ll look to the aftermarket for a solution. As for lending some clarity to the mirrors, maybe Kawasaki has a set of rubberized mirror-stalk mounts that can be retrofitted.

Hey buddy, can you spare a dime? We’ve got a few calls to make.

List price (2OO3)~.$8499

VICTORY

VEGAS

Winning combination

TO Saved CALL Victory” THE VEGAS would THE be “BlKE an THAT overstatement, but not by much. Before the model’s 2003 introduction, sales of the slab-sided (and now defunct) V92C had stalled. Afterwards, though, Victory dealers were treated to a wholly new experience: people actually plunking down deposits for a bike, sight unseen.

Easy to see why. When focus groups identified “style” as the V92C’s missing element, experts were brought in. Arlen and Cory Ness were consulted, and the result is stunning-overall and in detail. We were wowed, naming the Vegas as Best Cruiser in CWs Ten Best Bikes voting.

We like the raised spine running down the fenders and fuel tank. Ditto the tank’s sculpted sides and split tail,

the frenched-in taillight, and the faux ball-milling on the EFI and ignition covers. All very clean, very hot-rod.

Our Vegas long-termer arrived with just under 2000 miles showing, well broken-in, making 71 rear-wheel horsepower on the CW Dynojet. It had been optioned up with an HID headlight ($500) and billet wheels ($1800 the pair) running tubeless rubber. Lookswise, we prefer the stock wire-spoked jobs, but appreciate the ability to plug-ngo in the event of a flat tire somewhere out on a long, lonely highway.

Which is only one of the many places we intend to take our Vegas. □

List price (2003)• . $14,999