Shopping and the MS 950 is on the very short list

[RoadRider13]

Hi All
I have just sold my current ride '17 HD Road King and am now in the market for a new bike. I came to realize that eh RK was not my type of bike. It was my first HD and Probably wouldn't get another. The bike was beautiful and on the highway rode great. I had absolutely no issues with it and the dealership was first rate. It was just WAY too big a machine for me as i get older (63). In the past I have owned BMWs and Hondas. Most of my riding is on back country roads here in New England. Mostly 2-300 a day of a nice country road to a fine diner/burger/pizza place then home. Or a nice ride up the shore to a lighthouse for some photography. So I started looking at the multi-purpose bikes out there.  After much reading and viewing and testing I narrowed it down to the MS 950, Tiger 800, V Strom 1000 and the BMW 700. I don't have any interest in serious off road riding. the most wold be gravel roads down to a farm for a photo op or "forest  road" to a water fall type of riding. I ave ridden all the bikes including the MS 1200. That was a magnificent machine, but well beyond my skill level and a little pricy for me. After riding the bikes I have narrowed down the very short list to the MS 950 or the VStrom 1000. Right now the Strom is my "head choice" and the MS is the "heart choice". The Strom is very well supported and stone axe dependable. The MS is a hell of a lot of fun to ride and by far the better looking bike.

My one concern abut the MultiStrada 950 is the availability of aftermarket accessories. O be honest there isn't much I need to add to the bike, but panniers are one thing for me. I will be doing several 4-10 trips with the bike and need some storage for that. Not a top box fan for any bike. I want something that will come off the bike for the 90% of the time I don't need tham and not spoil the looks too badly.  the OEM bags look nice, but seem a bit pricy. I was looking at the Shad 36L boxes with the 3P attachment hardware. Also the SW Motech boxes. Their braces come off with 3/4 turn screws. Both companies make attachment hardware for the 1200. I thought I read somewhere that the basic body work is the same between the 950 and the 1200. If that is so then the hardware should work for the 950. Does anyone know anything about that?

Thanks for your Time
RoadRider13

[buzzardbilly]

Hi RoadRider,

Having ridden both the VStrom and now owning the MTS I would have to say that the MTS is the nicer of the two to ride - and looks so much sweeter.
I am not a fan of top boxes either so I went for the Ducati panniers - expensive yes but a doddle to remove and there are no ugly fixings . The Ducati panniers are also narrower than the bars so no worries when filtering through traffic

It seems that more and more MTS 950 aftermarket accessories are becoming available now the bike has been out for a half a year

I am currently waiting to see what the spares back up for Ducati is like as the bike is in for a repair having been spilled off it last week by a "blind" motorist - extensive list of spares required mostly cosmetic

[Moto45]

Road rider,

Bags/racks that fit the 1200 Enduro will also fit the 950.

[Murf46]

I only have good things to say about the multi 950 it's first class in every type of riding situation I have ducati panniers they come off in seconds and don't leave any ugly fixtures
Boy are you in for a treat coming off a roadking on to a multistrada!!

lots of 1200 asseories fit the 950

[thenozzle]

+1on Murf46 post