Heed 505

Rod Mac -Multistrada vs KTM SMT vs Tiger April 1, 2010 06:53 AM
Britain's MCN magazine has already compared the SMT and Tiger (as well as the older 1100 Multistrada, Benelli and others), search youtube, and found the SMT is lighter, more sporty and yet just as capable for long distance touring. In fact, correct me please, but journalist Michael Neeves with MCN did another 'all-rounder bikes' comparo, search youtube, and summarised by saying the SMT is truly the world's best all rounder in that it does everything the sports tourers and other all-rounders do (VFR, BMW GS etc) but with far more sporting capability (was only 2.5 seconds adrift the GSXR 750 in a fast lap around 'Brands Hatch' racing circuit). So, the real test is the SMT vs MTS (Multistrada 1200) . My guess is that the Multistrada will rightly win acclaim for all of its technological prowess, but that aside, it appears that both the SMT and MTS will accept long distance touring duties in comfort, both will be flickable and easy to ride around town and both will go off road (but not in the true sense of 'off-road' that say a BMW GS could). The deciding factor to best all-rounder will be, which is the better sports bike? After all, the advertising hype of these bikes is that they are being touted as do it all bikes, (they will appeal mainly to the older X-geners who can afford such a bike), but which will still offer the thrill and confidence of a bike with sporting prowess when blasting up your favourite set of twisties, without being left behind and all in a comfortable upright package. My guess is the SMT will kick ass in this department and will therefore remain the best all rounder. If not, I'll sell my SMT and gladly buy the MTS, the only bike until now I would consider a worthy opponent. Yes, the MTS has all the bells and whistles as well as some other functions I love apart from the technology mentioned (heated hand grips, gear indicator, lap timer, press button fuel cap release etc), and yes I have seen it in the flesh and sat atop, very nice. Where I believe the SMT will beat the MTS is it is lighter (Ducati's definition of 'wet' and 'dry' weight is somewhat deceptive compared with KTM's), appears to have shorter front suspension travel for better sports handling and, although its 115 hp is significantly less than the Ducati MTS's 150hp, this will only be of advantage on the freeway or down the straight on your local racetrack, certainly not through the twisties and real roads. Don't shoot me if you disagree but please explain why, I'm happy to be proven wrong but only time will tell. I only hope that if the SMT is indeed proven more capable than the MTS for sporting duties that the testing journos say so. So many journos seem to tiptoe around the less-attractive features of a newly released bike rather than just speak their mind, especially when it is a newly released Ducati.