Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Ducati Multistrada 950 launched at 12.6L ex-delhi. It is slightly more expensive that what was thought, but not having a ducati dealership in HYD is a dealbreaker.

Planning for Versys 650 test ride in the coming week, but the rains have hit Hyderabad.

On that note, what is the best site/portal to buy riding gear. Looking to see if I can ride in the rainy season to office and what is the must have gear to buy.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Africa twin all the damn way if you have the money... I know plenty of existing versys owners who will upgrade in a snitch to the africa twin if they could.

Wait, one guy's already done it bikes arent on the streets yet, last I heard 5 bikes got delivered in the first batch.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Thanks. I definitely will not do extreme offroading. I will be commuting in the city mostly and some beginner offroading on occassional weekends. I have seen some review of Africa twin and it is a very able companion, but just looking at my usage and the costs involved, I am leaning towards the Versys 650 now. I still have to test ride both and that may change everything as I really need to feel connected to the bike. Earlier I was considering benelli 600i, but I was underwhelmed by the performance. Street triple and tiger have blown me away. Now waiting to see what Versys and Africa Twin have in store.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS


Hi,

Reading your posts, I'd say you're inclined towards the Tiger, which would be a really good pick keeping in mind your usage.

Do check out the Versys as you said you would be. It is considered to be pretty comfortable and relatively easy to own and maintain.

Litre class or anything over that sounds like an overkill right now, based on your intended usage.
Although one can never say when the bug bites us and makes us wanna go more and more off the road

Good luck.

Please do invest in good riding gear.

Cheers

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Few days back, I went to the Kawasaki showroom which has opened up in Hyd. It was a new showroom under orange motors (which apparently deal with Chevy and Honda as well). I met with the showroom manager and had a test ride of the bike in no time. Good that my wife was with me as she needed to feel how a pillion will ride and she was happy with the comfort of the bike. The bike rode very well in traffic. it is a tall bike even for a tall person like me and I was super happy with the commanding view of the road that I get in front of me. The exhaust is good, but nothing to write about (specially after riding the striple and tiger). I really love the front wind screen which does a very good job at protecting from the air blast. I didn't feel a lack of power anywhere in the band (unlike the benelli 600i which left me underwhelmed). If I could change one thing, that would be the color. I somehow like the all black or all white models better, but they are not available in India.

Since the showroom is bit far from where I stay, I provisionally signed the booking form and confirmed yesterday! So yes, finally after 2 years, I have made my decision and looking forward to welcoming it to home this weekend.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

congratulations! so which one did u book - was it the versys 650 or the 1k?

btw, it is nowhere close to any of the bikes u've mentioned in the topic of this thread IMHO.

also, i hope & pray that the dealership close to where u live, is good - i cannot even tell u the labor pains that all other kawasaki owners go thru, for availability of quality service, availability of well trained & skilled technicians & rationally priced spares.

good luck!

--- addendum ---

oh & btw, if the thought of reconsidering ur decision ever crosses ur mind... DO IT! given the current scenario, only the Triumph is somewhat serious about the post-sales factors i mentioned above.

kawasaki after-sales service, barring select very very very few services centers, is down to dogs!

sorry to spoil ur party... just speaking out from the gut... been thru this pain for 4 yrs now.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Currently i am in your situation only, given the use of highway touring and mild offroad; versys 650 fits the bill perfectly and that too with a huge margin over others. But you should also consider that Versys 650 lacks the excitement, brand and electronics which others have. Also Africa Twin is truly an offroader. Like even Ladakh or Spiti wont be a off-road for the Africa Twin, also i feel Africa Twin has less tank range compared to other true adv tourers. I am inclined towards the Versys becasue it gets the job done such as Great Tank Range over others, No extra electronics and offers almost majority of features which others have barring the ones i mentioned above. If i had the money, i would gone for the Tiger or the Multistrada 950. Also their service intervals are double or even more than the Versys. I have heard lot of service issues with Kawasaki, out of stock mainly but that i will improve given that IKM are still in transition phase and given their recent launches they are improving and planning to stay in India definitely. Currently, i am yet to come a financial decision, If feasible definitely the Multi or Tiger.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

[MENTION=18168]n4speed[/MENTION] - africa twin is the mother of all offroaders - the finest iconic epic best thing to buy for a crazy practical adv-bike - like.no.other in every sense!

service related issues for all kawasaki's - whether those be the n250/300/650 - which were / are / will be treated by kawasaki as discarded unwanted premature-born orphan litter - or even the 800/1000/1400/h2/h2r - has been more of less the same.
- timely availability of spares
- acute shortage of trained & skilled technicians
- ridiculously priced spares
...have been the top 3 pain-in-the-0ss issues for last 4 yrs!

these problems are more of less the same for the ducatis as well.

triumph & honda have relatively better record / feedback from the owners.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Triumph and Honda are definitely on the top when it comes to service and cost. Its amazing how they kept it down compared to others and also spares being available when needed.
As for Kawasaki, treating older models which is kinda sad but dont you think things will improve for the models they launched as IKM? Currently the pricing is really high, they should have kept the service cost on par with others given that Kawasaki bikes have lower service interval change. Actually the service and spares (Seeing this as a compromise when i am paying so low for my adv tourer) are keeping me away from IKM but it comes down to be so bad that its a deal breaker then need to re-think. Also assuming Versys 650 is almost 8 lacs cheaper is the only way i am seeing through this. Next up is Tiger Xrx for 15-16 lacs along with Multistrada.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

i wish it were so...

but after nearly 4.5 yrs of n650 ownership & having dozens of friends who own / ride larger capacity kawasakis, the appaling pathetic lame & indifferent attitude most of their service centers have, towards their customers, is puke-invokingly bad... i can type yarns and yarns of horror experiences on this topic.

kawasaki as a company & kawasaki @ its management level - has ZERO empathy towards the on-ground pains experienced by kawasaki owners [regardless of the cubic capacity of the engines]

this sentiment was again fortitied, even more so, in all the pan-india G2G's we did over last couple of years, trying to convince kawasaki management to participate, to listen to & to empathize with - the concerns of the kawasaki owners.

nothing worked - not when it was the kawasaki bajaj alliance nor after it was kawasaki flying solo.

yuji horiochi-san & nishikawa-san are completely indifferent towards what the customers have to say & i have ceased to believe that anyting that has not changed in last 5 years, shall change in the future either!

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

I thought the ASS would have improved after the Kawasaki went solo. Are you still facing the same issues? What are some of the specifics. Is it the dealer or Kawasaki themselves.

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Update: I got the Versys 650 home this Sunday. Took it to office couple of days. Its raining now. The first impressions are the commanding view from the bike which is such a boon in traffic. Will take it out for a longer drive on weekend. Detailed review after break in

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Congrats on getting the Versys

Re: Tiger vs Multistrada vs R1200GS

Thanks, bike is still under break in. Went for a 200 km ride on independence day. Looking at the basic accessories to get. Ordered a radiator guard from ali express.