A new bike

Why is this even a thought running through my head?  Ducati or Harley-Davidson?  (Listed alphabetically.)

As written about before, these two 2018 bikes are attractive, interesting, and on the short "if I had the money" list.  The Ducati Mutlistrada 1260 and the Harley-Davidson Heritage.  One Italian, the other American.  Each has a base MSRP of around $19K; the Heritage complete with saddlebags, while adding side cases on the Multistrada means opening the wallet wider and deeper.  The Multistrada seat height of 32.5 inches is higher than the Heritage's 26.3 inches.  A significant point for a 5'8" rider.  Then the Heritage weight of close to 700 pounds is quite a bit higher than the Multistrada's approximately 520 pounds.  If thinking horsepower, the Multistrada handily outclasses the Heritage.   The numbers provide advantages for both bikes.

Comparing the rides means comparing the intended riding.  Short and long touring must figure in, from 250-300 miles per day for a weekend overnight run, to 400-500 miles per day over a two week extended road trip.  In between, riding several times per week, with a nice outing on the weekends, solo or with friends.  So extended saddle time must be considered.  And the configuration of the bike to carry all the wherewithal taken on an extended road trip.  For this consideration, in my view the Heritage (with optional sissy bar, pad, and sissy bar pack for about $425) has a distinct edge over the Multistrada with side and top cases (roughly $1,590 [plastic] to $2,900 [metal]).

There is one notable feature unique to the Ducati.  The computer select able riding modes: touring, enduro, sport, urban. 

Next, the type of riding figures in greatly.  It is canyon carving on technical roads, thrilling at maintaining speed at the edge, or taking the curves and corners more sedately, as part of the journey, rather than the trill of leaning into the road?  What is that picture in your mind of riding the new bike?  

I see portions of the Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon and California, plus Spearfish Canyon Highway in South Dakota, as well as stretches of I-15 south of Provo, Utah and I-80 west of Cheyenne, Wyoming.  I also see Route 3 between Yreka and Weaverville in northern California.  And Route 22 in Oregon.  (The vision definitely does not include congested traffic on I-5 in Los Angeles during rush hour.)  And the ride  on Routes 28, 89, and 50 around Lake Tahoe in the summer is absolutely compelling. 

Touring.  Cruising.  Just riding.  Comfortably rolling along solo or with a buddy.  These are the types I enjoy the most.  If one accepts the various first ride impressions and other reports available online, either bike will take the rider comfortably over the above roads.  Yes, one riding position sits noticeably higher than the other.  But the other provides foot forward controls.  Again, depending on how you personally weigh the various factors cited earlier, it might be a toss up. 

In the end, there are the intangibles.  The essentially personal decisions meaning so much to a biker.  After all, being a biker is just about the ultimate expression of freedom, so choosing a new bike is an extension of that expression.  It is at this point that Harley-Davidson steps ahead of Ducati for me.

Yes, the unique rumble from that V-twin Milwaukee 8 is part of it.  But it more than the sound.  When attending biker or biker related events at which veterans are prominent, the H-D brand dominates the staging points.  Perhaps it is because the bikes are American made.  Perhaps it is the marketing.  Perhaps it is the image created over the decades, from post WWII through high school years, to Run for the Wall and Rolling Thunder.  

Whatever it is,  the intangible scorecard goes to Harley-Davidson.  If I had the money for one bike, it would be the Heritage.  (Of course, if I had the money for two bikes, the Multistrada would be parked next to it.)