Fiona the Refugee

[Loggiebone]

Why do I talk to you again... oh right, because your bride is such a sweetheart.

[aviator]

I really should go take a ride on a MS. Never rode it. Doug did ask me to when we were discussing me buying an XR.

[Loggiebone]

[aviator]

Naah, the day I bought my XR was just like the day I got my K1200S in 2007. At this point its the most fun bike for me and I can ride it better that any other bike I ever owned.

[Loggiebone]

Both fine bikes, for sure but torque is the magic elixir. Taste it and nothing will ever again taste as sweet!??

[aviator]

Doug, correct me plZ. I compared the Duc 1260S with 95 of torque at 7500 and the 1250 GS with 105 at 6500 . ???

[Loggiebone]

[MattB]

Wow, oh wow, oh wow....

So let me start by saying that I still wish that the MTS was Ducati Superbike sexy, but hot damn what a ride. I could tell from my first ride that this bike is a keeper, at least for a few years but one thing that I longed for was an electronic cruise control for it. Luckily, there's a company "TuneBoy" that offers such a thing, and at a fair price point to boot. As I go to order, I realize that you can upgrade from simply his "Cruise" setup, to his "Cruise and Tune" setup for a nominal upcharge... okay, I'm in.

The "Tune" allows you to modify the fuel mappings of the bike. While I could have been perfectly fine with the bike (in fact, had it not been for the cruise I would have never purchased the tune), my oh my what a pleasant difference. In the lower RPM ranges that bike ran a little rough. I don't normally spend much time in the 3k range, but on my initial ride while toying with the bike, I actually thought that I was running out of fuel and that the fuel indicator wasn't operating properly. As part of the purchase, the seller provides maps that he's created for different configuration and on his dyno. You can load up to three maps at a time and they are then switchable from the bike alone.

Having patiently waiting about a week for the package to arrive from Australia, I loaded three maps, the first being just a few tweaks, but basically stock fueling. The second was TuneBoy's "tuned" map for the bike, running a stock exhaust. The third that I loaded is for the MTS wearing the CAT (mine still has) and a Termi short exhaust.

First ride impressions? Hell Yeah! The bike feels like it has gained another 10 hp. MUCH more noticeable to me then any expensive full racing exhaust, etc. The power through the low and midrange, which was quite impressive even from stock, is MUCH stronger. It is quite evident that Ducati left this power on the table in order to meet the worldwide emissions restrictions, and this is how they intended for the bike to run themselves I'm certain.

The cruise control performed flawlessly as well, but honestly, that's secondary at this point... I'm SO HAPPY to have sprung for the Tune module. Happy riding...

[Loggiebone]

[MattB]

Doug, I'm VERY familiar with sprocket mods. Going +2 on the old yeller VFR was transformational. Going +2 on the GSXR 750 made it pull much better. I was planning to go +2 on the MTS, but honestly after setting the new fuel mapping, it already feels like I did go +2. If I were to put a +2 on the MTS right now, it would power wheelie in the first three gears... not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Loggiebone]

[Flyboy]

Nice ride, congrats. I rented one in Europe and the heat around the crotch area was unpleasant... hope you dont see the same?

[MattB]

Nice ride, congrats. I rented one in Europe and the heat around the crotch area was unpleasant... hope you dont see the same?

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.... honestly, the heat only bugs me when i get into stop/go traffic which generally means that I made a wrong turn anyway.

[aviator]

which generally means that I made a wrong turn anyway.

You need to go on a Bill Morgan street ride with his Montana GPS.

[bernardo]

There has been much in the news lately about illegals and the border. Typically my wife blissfully ignores the news, but now, even she is up in arms over the latest illegal. It seems that once word gets out that illegal entries are okay, the illegals simply multiply.

Last week I decided to provide sanctuary to poor, neglected, Fiona...

.
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... and she crossed the Maryland/Pennsylvania border before illegally entering into my garage (per my wife).



Those of you that know me or have been following along, know that I've been hot for an Aprilia Tuono for a time now. So how did a guy hot for a Tuono end up with Fiona? Great question.

First, let's address the name, Fiona. My Multistrada was named Fiona after the character in the movie 'Shrek'. You see, my new Multistrada does not have a beautiful outward appearance (although it is slowly growing on me), but it has a huge amount of heart.

So, how did the guy wanting a sexy Tuono end up dating/marrying it's cousin, the Multistrada, who has a face that only a mother could love? I had been trying to figure out a way to add luggage to the Tuono for months. I have a set of the BMW vario system bags that I kept when I sold my K1200S years ago. I desperately wanted to make them work on the Tuono. My thought/hope was to make the Tuono a Sporty SPORT-tourer that could also serve as backup duty at the track for track days, with the thought of selling my GSXR 750.

I looked the Tuono over multiple times at the Aprilia Racer Days ( https://theriderspace.com/forum/ridi...80%A6-too-good ) trying to determine how I could add the luggage, ideally a Givi top case, and theoretically a set of lockable side panniers as well. Well, I tend to be a value shopper, and still, with no solution in mind, along comes Polly... err Fiona. I really wasn't LOOKING for a Multistrada, but the deal was right for me to try one out.

While a sissy twin, it seemed that Fiona could possibly provide the platform that I was seeking, an upright sprotbike, and one which happened to be available with factory luggage. While I'm left wishing that Fiona had the looks of the Tuono, and the 173 horsepower of the Tuono, I figured that I'd suffer and try to make the 150 hp Ducati work, I had been wanting to scratch the Ducati itch anyway. Now if only I had the option of buying a Tuono with the factory hard luggage as available on the Multistrada.

This weekend I was able to take Fiona out on her maiden voyage, and that V-Twin Ducati put a big ole smile on my face. She's not perfect, but she is damn good. Oh, and I continue to say that a Tuono will be my next bike, eventually that will be true.

Congratulations!!

First, let's address the name, Fiona. My Multistrada was named Fiona after the character in the movie 'Shrek'. You see, my new Multistrada does not have a beautiful outward appearance (although it is slowly growing on me), but it has a huge amount of heart.

Then, there are now 2 bikes with the name "Fiona"