Hi Multi Maniacs
I have to share the most amazing riding experience I had recently with a fantastic group of people who formed the inaugural New Zealand Ducati Adventure Tour. If you are a part of this forum it would be fair to guess that, (like me) you are probably more than a little obsessed with your 950 Multistrada. And perhaps like me you break out into a sweat at the thought of getting it dirty or (heaven forbid) scratching it.
So it was with some trepidation that I signed up for this tour. I had not ridden my 950 off road before - just some gravel back roads. However, as the tour was going to be on my "back door step" and run by a local business Beatnik that hires out 950 Multis and Desert Sleds I couldn't resist the temptation. Mike from Beatnik is a hell of a good guy and he and the team put on a brilliant ride. Although "ride" doesn't do it justice. It was definitely an experience. He gave us a mind blowing experience organising four days of mostly gravel roads, with some rocky roads and even landslides to ride over. These are known as "technical sections" - (read "You've got to be kidding me!" sections). There were also dozens of stream crossings to negotiate which were great fun.
I could not believe how the 950 Multi handled the terrain. Not only did the Multi's make it through the rough stuff, it was a tonne of fun doing it! They just tractored through everything and stayed shiny side up the whole time.
As I hadn't ridden my bike over anything more challenging than a speed hump at the local supermarket I thought it would be a great idea to do the training day. And it was a great idea. We spent hours talking technique, riding through streams, over river beds, through sand and muddy tracks. By the end of the day I had started to get an idea of what my 950 was capable of - and what I was capable of, as my experience with big bikes off road was minimal.
The first day of riding was about 200 kms of gravel road riding through the Molesworth Station which begins near the top of the South Island. It took us from Blenheim which is at sea level to a mountain resort called Hanmer Springs. There we stayed at the beautiful Braemar Lodge. It was kind of surreal spending all day covered in dust riding through spectacular scenery and arriving at a luxurious lodge (complete with Ducati flags outside the front door - yes Mikes team had thought of everything!) with a beautiful three course meal to follow. But this is what it was about. As Simon the Marketing and Sales operations Manager for Ducati Australia and New Zealand said - this is the core DNA of Ducati - Style, Sophistication and Performance. Like I said, this was more than a ride - it was an experience.
The following morning we set off through Jollies Pass on the Rainbow Station Route. It is called a route rather than a road for a reason - because it was quite "technical" in parts. The route had been washed out in parts and we had to ride over scree and rocks to get through. A group of KTM riders had been through the week before and we figured if they could get through on KTMS then we could get through on Multi's and Sleds! No sweat. The Sleds by the way made very light work of the rough stuff. They are great for off road. That said I am still never parting from my Multi!
Towards the end of the day after we had got through pretty much all of the "technical" stuff, I made a silly mistake. I injured my back while turning my bike around in some thick gravel with the bike in neutral. I tried to stop it tipping but it was too far gone and my back went with a bang aggravating an old injury. That was the end of the ride for me. I was helped into the Landrover Discovery support vehicle and taken out.
It was a dumb mistake but one easily made. We had discussed it as a group before we set off and at the training day before the ride. If your bike starts to fall let it go. There are always two or three guys near by to help you pick it up. Its also a timely warning for those who want to do a bit of off road riding - better to take a friend or two. You can pick your bike up by yourself with the right technique but it will knacker you.
Letting the bike fall is the best decision you can make. And thats why God invented Barkbusters anyway. All I have is a scratch on my Barkbusters - and a sore back which is taking a little while to recover. It seemed crazy though that I had spent the day riding over rock falls and through streams and blasting along gravel roads, only to hurt myself turning the bike around doing zero kilometres per hour. If the bike was going and in first gear I'm pretty sure it would not have happened.
The rest of the guys had another two days of excellent riding around more spectacular gravel roads and I caught up with them at the farewell dinner at the beautiful Marlborough Lodge. It is the people who make an event like this. Everyone turned up excited to be there and keen to help each other when needed. There was plenty of laughter and friendly banter around the dinner table each night. The dinners were great and the accommodation excellent. Great organisation all round from the Beatnik team.
On reflection, you have got to feel a bit spoilt being a Ducati Multistrada 950 owner. I think they are stunning all rounder bikes. The Ducati brand is head and shoulders over the others I think - style, sophistication and performance.
Would I do it again? Definitely!! I gather plans are already being formed for another tour next year here in NZ and I am keen. I have already been granted leave by my wife. I can seriously recommend this experience. So start saving your pennies and check your passports! There will be some bikes for hire - Multis and Desert Sleds or you can bring your own. If you do bring your own then I definitely recommend getting the Enduro pack put on your bike. After all we went through all I have is a scratch on my Barkbuster's. The Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres did the business too on the seal and in the gravel and rocks. Like the 950, they are great all rounders. And being tubeless they are easy to repair - not that it was an issue for us on the tour as we had a mechanic following along in the Discovery.
I could not believe how the 950 Multi handled the terrain. Not only did the Multi's make it through the rough stuff, it was a tonne of fun doing it! They just tractored through everything and stayed shiny side up the whole time.
I can also highly recommend the Ducati Atacama riding kit. It is the dogs bollocks! Three layers to cover all year round conditions and great ventilation. NZ mountains (and probably most mountains) are famous for giving you four seasons in one day. I wasn't going to buy a set of Atacama gear, but I was so glad I did. I was going to wear my road touring gear which would have done but I would have been a hell of a lot less comfortable too. Ducati gave us a great discount on their products for the tour.
If you cant wait until next years tour, then contact Mike from Beatnik in Blenheim, New Zealand if you fancy some epic riding down under and he can set you up with a hire bike. We have some spectacular sealed roads as well in the area if you don't fancy the gravel roads or rough stuff (or cant bear to get a 950 dirty).
Contact me before you come and I will try and make some time to ride with you.
