Quick update on the change from OEM tires on the Ducati Multistrada 1200.
Although generally happy with the OEM ‘dual purpose’ Pirelli Scorpion Trails, I decided (on a hot tip from UK Bike magazine) to try the supposedly all-singing, all-dancing sports tire from Dunlop – the Sportsmart. Guess I’ve done a few hundred miles on them now so what’s to report?
Haven’t used them in the rain yet, but so far I can only say that they make an already incredibly stable bike just that little bit more securely planted. It’s a difficult to pin-down feeling, especially as – much as I love the handling – front-end feedback isn’t the Multistrada's handling forte.
I must say, the Multistrada simply seems more secure in any situation with the Sportsmparts on – especially on more extreme angles of lean.
I’ve never quite trusted non sports-compound tires since I made the mistake of putting sports-touring rubber on the Speed Triple. Before I’d fully scrubbed the front in I had a front-end tuck on a roundabout and low-sided it. Now if the tire doesn’t look sticky after use, I don’t really trust it.
Fortunately, the Sportsmart looks sticky. One tell-tale sign: The way it picks up grit when you’re parking – very re-assuring. . .