Long-Term Update
Long-Term Update
Ducati MULTISTRADA Rollin', rollin', rollin'...
Everyone who rides our long-term Multistrada raves about the bike's smooth-running, air-cooled V-Twin. Since this couldn’t possibly be the result of proper break-in, it must be the synthetic oil we’ve been running, first Royal Purple 20w50 with Synerlec and more recently Motul E-Tec 100. Hard to say for sure, but no one is complaining.
We’re now on our third set of tires, having gone through the stock Pirelli Scorpion Syncs and a pair of Metzeler RoadTec Z6s. As for the latter, which replaced the MEZ3/Z4 line of sporttouring radiais, traction and compliance were excellent, but steering was highereffort than with the Pirellis. After just 4500 miles, a flat rear provided the impetus to sample Michelin’s new Pilot Power radiais. So far, so good.
No one appreciated the marginal rear view offered by the stock mirrors. So when a heavy-handed tester broke one, we searched out an alternative. Replacing the mirrors was easy enough, but the built-in turnsignals proved more troublesome. Rather than drill holes in the bodywork to mount conventional signals, we fitted a pair of Kellermann BL 1000 Bar End Signals ($150 from Wild Hair Accessories, www.whacces sories.com). Problem solved.
$11,800
KTM 525 MSC Funeral for a friend
How ironic is it that as Carlsbad Raceway-venue for the original ABC-TV "Superbikers" races-was closing its gates for good, the AMA Supermoto circus was setting up camp at Del Mar, just a few miles down the road?
C’bad also hosted the USGP, of course, and seeing as how it was one of the few motocross tracks where our long-term KTM 525 SMC could stretch its legs, Executive Editor Brian Catterson rode it there nearly every Saturday before the track closed.
Right about that time, Assistant Editor Mark Cernicky announced that he needed a steed for the AMA Supermoto Unlimited class. So it was off with the knobbies and on with the slicks. Except in order to run the latest Dunlops, Cernicky fitted a 16.5-inch front instead of the 17-incher that came with the bike. He also “borrowed” the six-piston front brake caliper off our test 450 SMR and installed that instead of the four-piston job that came with the SMC.
That done, Cernicky scored points at Del Mar, thereby qualifying for the Las Vegas finale. Unfortunately, a crash at a regional race the weekend before the national left him with a concussion, and he withdrew.
$7298
MV Agusta BRUTALE Check your head
Passion. We've got it for this bike, and MV Agusta clearly used it in designing the Brutale S, too.
After our second “official” interaction with the 750 F4-based naked bike (“World’s Best Streetbike,” CW, October, 2004), it became clear that we needed to take possession for more than a few weeks at a time.
Welcome, then, to the long-term fleet. It’s been a good couple of months in the company of this Italian beauty. Except that right off the bat we experienced a problem with the steering head. At first, we thought the bearings had come loose due to some, ahem, shall we say rearwheel-only riding? But after attempting to tighten said bearings, there was no change in the amount of play. A call to the American importer, Cagiva USA, revealed that there may be some broken parts in the steering head itself. So next on the list is disassembly and inspection. Pity, because we were having a good time riding this bike.
Plans for the future include an aftermarket exhaust system and a fuel-injection remap to suit. While more power and better sound from the tailpipes would be nice, we’re hoping that these changes might also improve fuel mileage. Not that anyone buys an MV for frugality, but 23 miles per gallon is ridiculous, and limits range, even with the 5-gallon gas tank.
$13,995
