Four years with a Multistrada.

[Hooli]

Isn't it like that with all single-sided swingarms? On a GS it's just five lug nuts and the rear wheel comes off like a car wheel.

Yep. The downside is how heavy that SSA is. That's a lot of unsprung weight back there.

 

[PrincessFalafal]

I suggest to you Desmo owners who find dealerships bending you over for maintenance to suggest you book your next appointment with Advanced Cycle Services in San Jose. {...}For a basic valve adjustment and tune-up (parts included), I paid well under a grand.

To be fair, you have a completely different engine and motorcycle than OP. The 2015+ Multistrada saw the adoption of the DVT engine, plus a new chassis, and therein lies most of the effort. The Desmo service for DVT engine multi is nine hours of book time and requires $700 worth of specialty tools. You have to practically strip the motorcycle to the frame just to get at everything. So once you figure nine hours of labor plus the belts, fluids, seals, and everything else that gets replaced during the maintenance you're close to $1,500 depending on how much they charge for labor. And I've never head of a shop of any repute that's less than $120/hr for labor.

When I was talking to the service guys at the shop, they said the only motorcycle worse than the Multi 1200 DVT for maintenance is the Panigale 1299. 12 hours I think for a valve adjust on those, and it's every 12k miles.

 

[Frisco]

To be fair, you have a completely different engine and motorcycle than OP. The 2015+ Multistrada saw the adoption of the DVT engine, plus a new chassis, and therein lies most of the effort. The Desmo service for DVT engine multi is nine hours of book time and requires $700 worth of specialty tools. You have to practically strip the motorcycle to the frame just to get at everything. So once you figure nine hours of labor plus the belts, fluids, seals, and everything else that gets replaced during the maintenance you're close to $1,500 depending on how much they charge for labor. And I've never head of a shop of any repute that's less than $120/hr for labor.

When I was talking to the service guys at the shop, they said the only motorcycle worse than the Multi 1200 DVT for maintenance is the Panigale 1299. 12 hours I think for a valve adjust on those, and it's every 12k miles.

Damn! No wonder there are so many garage queen Ducatis!

 

[PrincessFalafal]

Damn! No wonder there are so many garage queen Ducatis!

In Ducati’s defense, the 1299 is a racing machine that has headlights and turn signals. You can’t be surprised when servicing is expensive on your $25,000 motorcycle that makes 215hp and weighs 400lbs.

It’s also a very model specific thing. For example, the same Desmo service (valve/belts/oil change) for the Multi 950 from the same year is only three hours of labor and will easily be under $600 even at a dealership.

It’s not that Ducati’s don’t deserve their reputation as maintenance nightmares, but it does vary dramatically by model so you need to do your research before you buy.

 

[bobl]

I think I'll take my 800 dollar Yamaha for a ride, and throw it away when it needs the valves adjusted.

 

[budman]

I think I'll take my 800 dollar Yamaha for a ride, and throw it away when it needs the valves adjusted.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Isn't it like that with all single-sided swingarms? On a GS it's just five lug nuts and the rear wheel comes off like a car wheel. I thought it's dumb on the Multi that the exhaust tips had to be removed first to clear the rear wheel.

I don't know if other Multi owners noticed this. Last week I washed my Multi, rode it around the block and put the bike on rear stand to lube the chain. As I rotated to rear tire/chain I was puzzled to feel one fairly hot spot on the right side of the tire. Turned out the catalytic converter merely inches in front of the rear tire radiated enough heat to a parked tire to do that.

No need to remove the tip- just remove the saddlebag, loosen the exhaust clamp, undo the mount hardware (@footpeg) and pivot it in place- only need to swing it maybe 30 degrees. Lazy men make the best engineers...

 

[Gary856]

No need to remove the tip- just remove the saddlebag, loosen the exhaust clamp, undo the mount hardware (@footpeg) and pivot it in place- only need to swing it maybe 30 degrees. Lazy men make the best engineers...

What bike and year are you describing? On my '13 Multistrada the exhaust mounting hardware is not connected to the foot peg. The exhaust tips slide out backward; they cannot swing out sideways.

 

[Hooli]

To be fair, you have a completely different engine and motorcycle than OP. The 2015+ Multistrada saw the adoption of the DVT engine, plus a new chassis, and therein lies most of the effort. The Desmo service for DVT engine multi is nine hours of book time and requires $700 worth of specialty tools. You have to practically strip the motorcycle to the frame just to get at everything. So once you figure nine hours of labor plus the belts, fluids, seals, and everything else that gets replaced during the maintenance you're close to $1,500 depending on how much they charge for labor. And I've never head of a shop of any repute that's less than $120/hr for labor.

I didn't see that he had a DVT so in that respect I stand corrected.

As for the shop, I can show you my receipts if you'd like.

 

[NorCalBusa]

What bike and year are you describing? On my '13 Multistrada the exhaust mounting hardware is not connected to the foot peg. The exhaust tips slide out backward; they cannot swing out sideways.

'17 MTS