Over the course of the last decade or so, the Kawasaki Versys 650 has well and truly established itself as the default choice in the budget adventure-type touring segment. It offers a host of features these days, and pretty much everything you will need for travel is all wrapped up in an affordable package. While affordable, it certainly is not cheap, and if you are willing to consider a used tourer, there are several great alternatives at this price point.
One of those alternatives is a bike that is almost a decade old, but is still a genuine high-end motorcycle offering a level of quality and sophistication that is still a cut above the Versys. This exotic Italian bike also has well over twice as much power, thanks to its superbike-derived engine. That said, it isn’t without its quirks.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various authoritative sources, including KBB. Whereas, the opinions are our own. Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research, and proceed with caution.
This Ducati Multistrada Now Costs Less Than A New Triumph Tiger 900
This premium adventure touring bike has depreciated into an affordable bargain
The 2017 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Is Now Priced Below A Kawasaki Versys 650
Price Range: $6,000 – $10,000
Irrespective of what model you are looking at, each year the used prices will usually go down a little, and the new prices will go up. But, when it comes to high-end bikes, depreciation hits a little harder, and that is why we are now seeing bikes like the Multistrada 1200 S selling for less than budget-friendly tourers like the Versys. It is also worth mentioning that this model Multistrada has just about reached the bottom of its depreciation curve, and you won’t necessarily lose that much if you don’t plan on holding onto the bike forever.
Trade value is currently sitting at around $6,390, or around a third of what the bike would have cost back in 2017, depending on what options the first owner had fitted. Retail value is sitting at just above $9k, a full $1,000 less than a new Versys 650. Admittedly, you do not have the security of a warranty, but it is still pretty hard to overlook how much bang for the buck is on offer here.
The Multistrada 1200 S Has A Superbike-Derived Engine
Power: 160 Horsepower
The 1198 engine made its first appearance in the 1098 R superbike way back in 2008. A bike that served as the basis for Ducati’s WorldSBK entry and even won titles in 2008 and 2011 (which by then was the 1198 R). Suffice to say, racing DNA is baked into this powertrain. That said, a superbike engine doesn’t always work quite as well in the real world, and by 2015, Ducati needed to make changes.
It Is Not Without Its Quirks
2015 served to be a big update for the powertrain in particular. Ducati gave the twin variable valve timing, and called it DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing). This only proved to extend its shelf life for another two years before the platform was once again updated. This DVT system added 10 horsepower at the top end, but also gave the engine a strange flat spot at around 5,000 RPM. With 160 horsepower and a selection of ride modes, we feel that this quirk is tolerable, but some might disagree.
The Evolution Of Adventure Bikes: From R80 G/S To Multistrada V4
From simple dual-sports to feature-rich, do-it-all tourers, adventure bikes have come a long way to become the top choice for the modern rider
The Multistrada 1200 S Has A High-End Electronic Suspension
Even by today’s standards, the Multistrada 1200 S is an advanced motorcycle. That 2015 update also saw the bike get lean-sensitive traction control and cornering ABS added. The S model got Ducati’s famed Skyhook suspension, which adds a layer of convenience to an already very comfortable motorcycle. Its impressive steel trellis chassis works in tandem with the semi-active suspension to deliver a thrilling ride when called upon, and will make some modern superbikes look a little slow and lethargic on a decent canyon road.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Steel trellis |
|
Front Suspension |
48mm electronically adjustable semi-active inverted Sachs fork (6.7-in travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Electronically adjustable semi-active Sachs shock (6.7-in travel) |
|
Weight |
511 lbs |
The Multistrada 1200 S Faced Some Stiff Competition
In recent times, the crossover, or “sports bike on stilts” segment has really taken off. But, back in 2017, it was still in its infancy, and the Multistrada only had a couple of bikes competing with it in this more elite space. Both of those bikes have been hit equally hard by depreciation and are also pretty affordable today.
2017 BMW S 1000 XR
For around the same money, you could have the S 1000 XR. It was still a fairly new model back in 2017, having just come out a couple of years prior, but it has since exploded in popularity and dominates this space today. If anything, the BMW is a little more sporty.
2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S
The 1290 Super Adventure S can actually be found for less than the Ducati, too. It also boasted a long list of features, including semi-active suspension. It certainly lacks the finesse of the Italian and German bikes, but it makes up for that with a dose of genuine off-road competence.
Neither the KTM nor the much-loved BMW is a bad option and represents great value on the used market. But, even with its quirks, the Ducati just offers something a little extra. It isn’t trying to offer more for less like those bikes were back in the day. It was always an exclusive model and, as such, simply offers a better, more refined all-round package.