Finally it was revealed, the New Multistrada 1200. The detail is still scarce when I post this, but I must say it was Love at the first sight!

Thanks to Asphalt and Rubber, a fantastic blog I must say, for the pics. More pics bellow.

For now I only can drool for the pic .. arglrglrlgrl *Homer Simpson*

From the front..

To be continued..

When I write this post, the all new Ducati Multistrada is about to be unveiled at 2009 EICMA Show in Milan. After the show my 1000 Ducati Multistrada will suddenly become an “old” model or the “previous” model of Multistrada. The much anticipated (at least for Multistrada lover ) 2010 Multistrada (which may be called Multistrada Aperta) will have totally new look yet still bear its DNA as a “Multi Road” or “Dual Sport” version of Ducati motorcycle.

With this new dawn of the new Multistrada or Multi, I would like to share some of the memorable pics and experience I have with the Multi, it was and still is an enjoyable experience but I must admit it was not love at the first sight.

Honestly, look wise Multi is not the prettiest bike on the block, let me be as honest as possible, from the front it simply FUGLY. But from the side and especially from the back then the Multi is becoming more desirable. But Multi is not just to be stared at, you need to ride it and when you ride a Multi you know instantly you ride some thing special. It is a very balance bike that make you confident in any road (even on track) and to just give it a go.

Take it for a long distance ride and the Mutli will certainly shines. Sooo enjoyable and smooth. All right, it was not a GoldWing type of smooth, but again the road condition in Indonesia really suite Multi that may otherwise too rough for a GoldWing.

It also not as fashionable as sport bike out there for Cafe hooping, but yet again two up riding with some one you care will not be as torturous for both you and your passenger. My wife never complaint when I took her on a ride with the Multi but not when she rides in other bike.

I just hope that the new Mutli can keep up to its predecessor, if the new Multi is better looking then that is a bonus. But the most important thing is that new Multi must be enjoyable to ride like its predecessor. I don’t need Superbike type of power or Traction Control in a Multi. What I’m looking forward is comfort and enjoyable in riding the Multi in any type of road.

Last but not least, I got a lot of question in regards of my height since I’m riding a Multi. Multi is relatively a tall bike, its seat height is 85 cm or 33.5 in. With my asian frame, my height is only 162cm or about 5′4″. With that situation is understandably I always tip toeing riding the Multi for stop. But that not necessarily a terrifying situation. Once you get used to it is no big deal. Check out bellow pic of me on the Multi while stop, practicing my ballet position.. hehehe

Pic courtessy of http://stephenlangitan.com

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With the CBR’s clutch replace now some track time. Check out the video above. Need to work on the cam view though, it pointed too low. Anyhow I hope you enjoy the show

It has been a while since my last track time, my local track was close for resurfacing and continue with Ramadhan month break. After Ied celebration finally I got some track time.. Woohoo..:)

Both the bike and my skill riding on track (if there any) were rusty already! The CBR was failed first time I started it, the battery run out since it had not been run for a while but not too worry the mechanic quickly fix it  and the sound of the inline 4 come to live!

With this long break my club did small renovation on our paddock, it getting much cleaner and much more organized. I like! Kudos to the new paddock management under Rizla Suzuki 34 and Yamaha 55!!

If the paddock improved, the track surface is the opposite . It was getting worse to say the least. Especially for motorbike, the track was getting more slippery in certain very crucial area such as the corner apex.

Riding around the track it was clear that the old racing line can not be used. Started from the fast R1, the new resurface patch was right on the apex. Again in R4, Big S and all R10 and R11. The thing is if you ride through the patch with a lean angle and with the throttle steady both the front and the back will slide a bit. But if you want shortest lap time, and open the throttle early while you still on the patch things can get scary quickly! I did several laps just to find a new racing line, but for sure the new racing line will be slowest than before!

On the next track day, I did find something troubling with my CBR. I failed to engage in lower gear while downshifting entering a corner. Pretty hairy stuff when suddenly it went neutral just about to enter a corner. I almost crash in S Kecil when my bike went neutral and when I engaged another gear it went to 1st! The rear shook but fortunately I managed control the bike.

Certainly there was something wrong with the CBR. I had a hunch that my clutch plates has wore out already, and further checked by the mechanics confirm it. The plates was order and will be installed soon.

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For news about Padang earthquake do follow these Twitter topics in this link.

Ranah Minang and the lost one will be in our prayers, our hearts and minds will be to the victims.

Check out the video clip of DDOCI Bukittinggi to Banda Aceh ride… Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoy ride it..

A first long ride on this trip. From Bukittinggi (Point A Google map above) West Sumatra to Parapat (Point F), we stop along the way for gas at Pasaman (Point B) near the border of North Sumatra, another refueling near Sipirok (Point C). We had lunch at Sipirok (Point D) and a long break before the final refueling of the day at Tarutung (Point E). Distance of 503KM in total from Bukittinggi to Parapat.

We reached Parapat late in the afternoon around 8 PM and it was raining. I must say this was one hard ride, we had minor accident, some of the worst road condition after Tarutung, the rain and riding in the dark, but did I mention about the food? The best things in this ride was the Minang Melayu food, hmm… so exquisite!

We left the hotel around 5:30 AM, late around 30 minutes from the original plan. It was a cold morning and the road was still wet from the rain on the night before. We head north, and as just we left Bukittinggi we already rode through a tropical rain forest with its twisty road. The road condition was so so, with some road was good but other parts not so good.

Most of the ride pics were taken by Nugroho, he was riding Multistrada also. Do check bellow several pics from his camera.

More twisty road after the sun risen.

Our first stop for refueling was near Pasaman, around 8:30 AM already and according to my GPS we had covered about 127KM from Bukittinggi. So the average speed a bit less of 60KPH, which was not too bad. With the tank full, we continue to ride north.

Our ride were during the Independence Day celebration in Indonesia, thus plenty school marching band and many other festivity along the road to celebrate the Independence Day, which was quite an entertainment for us.

We had another stop and refueling near Sipirok. For lunch we stop by at Sipirok city, in a small restaurant called Siang Malam. The type of dish were Minang Melayu food, with various type of spice and chili in various color from green to red. Taste wise was simply out of this world!

One particular dish that stroke me the most was beef leg soup that was served with the bone as part of the presentation. The interesting part was that you suck the juice inside of the bone with the provided straw. Don’t ask how many calorie the soup has or if it will shoot your cholesterol level through the roof with just one serving, because I bet it will. Heck, let just forget about that for a while

We left Sipirok a bit late since we waited for a friend that was left behind due to tyre problem. Onced all together again in a group, we continue North to Tarutung. When we left Sipirok rain had just started, and the road condition was getting worse. It was getting worse to a point where there were no asphalt left and we simply rode in a mud. This was simply the worse road condition on the whole trip.

Rain made the road condition worsen, I don’t mind riding bit off road with my Multistrada. But combine that with rain and you had this slippery mud that you must maneuver carefully.

This condition was for quite a distance, some times it was mix, when we though that it was over another brownish road came up ahead. This why I glad I own and ride a Multistrada. The bike certainly was design for this kind of mix road. I almost fell several time when my rear tyre went sideways, but fortunately I manage to keep control of the bike.

Getting near Tarutung the road improved. But we run a bit late and soon will be getting dark.

After another refueling and a short break  near Tarutung we continue to ride and Parapat next on our list. We had another stop when we saw Lake Toba in the foreground, and took some pic.

Near Parapat we had minor incident and 4 bikes needed to stop while the rest of the group continue to Parapat. It was dark already and it was rain. There were no road light and we have about 20KM more to Parapat. The road was twisty and we just took it very-very slow, only abouth 40 KPH to 50KPH. The main problem was visibility, once there were upcoming traffic, the head light from that traffic simply blur our helmet visor thus almost none visibility! We finally made it Parapat to our hotel around 8 PM.

At Parapat we had friend joining in as well as pillion passenger for the ride from Parapat to Medan. Check also the galery bellow for more pics.

TO BE CONTINUED

Google Maps shows a distance of 1,274 Km from Bukittinggi to Banda Aceh. Ride across the heart of Sumatra Island, to Toba Lake and finally to the great Tsunami stricken area of Banda Aceh, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam. We will split the route in to 4 main stages, ride around Bukittinggi, from Bukittinggi to Parapat. Parapat to Medan and finally Medan to Banda Aceh.

We planned that 4 days should be sufficient to cover such distance and more; with the bike already being shipped to Bukittinggi we start our trip with a short flight from Jakarta to Minangkabau Airport about 80 km south of Bukittinggi.

It was a gloomy morning when we landed at Minangkabau International Airport, the weather had been pretty much not in our side. Just thinking of riding in this kind of weather was tiring already let alone to ride for 1000km or more. But we were here already and let just enjoy what mother nature may throw at us. Our first destination was to have the famous “Gulai Itiak Lado Mudo” or “Duck With Young Green Chilli”, pardon the translation, but the dish is very famous and supposedly one of the dish that you must try when you are visiting Bukittinggi. On our last trip to the city we were unable to try the famous duck, thus we were determine to try it for our lunch this time around

The place to eat the duck is a small restaurant in the bottom of Sianok Canyon. The canyon was called “NGARAI” locally, thus the restaurant name. Sianok Canyon is popular for tourist and one of the attraction at Bukittinggi city. The place is bit nostalgic for me as I grew up in the city and played here quite often when I was kid. The bellow river was where me and my school friends used to play and swim back in the late 70, just too bad the condition now is dirty with litter. I hope the local government can clean this place up as it is beautiful.

Back to the famous Duck dish, the duck is serve with green chili as its name implied. We eat the duck with rice and with a big size crackers, hmm I have not seen this cracker for ages already! Other dish are chicken, curry beef and fish. The duck being served with green chilly is obviously very-very hot and spicy. Bring jolt to your tounge! To neutralize the chili and spice you will add some rice, and then some more Duck to have it a kick, and then some more rice. With out you knowing it you have eaten a big bowl of rice already! What a vicious cycle!

After lunch, and with the weather improving already, the group was ready to ride around Bukittinggi and we decided to go to Lembah Harau or Harau Valey, about 50Km west of Bukittinggi. The ride was a good warm up also for tomorrow 600 km ride to Parapat. When we returned to the hotel from Sianok Canyon, the Ducati with one Suzuki, already line up in front of the hotel. After quick brake, off we go to Lembah Harau.

A ride to Harau was nice, we passed Payakumbuh city just before we turn left to Harau. What I like riding outside Jakarta or Java Island is the lack of traffic. The road condition is good, and it only took us about 20 minutes to reach Payakumbuh. Lembah Harau is a beautiful valey, with its rice padi field guarded by 50m cliff on the left and right.

Riding through the cliff was surreal, with the sound of the Ducati being echoed left and right simply add more drama to it. Check out the lavish green of the rice padi field with the 50m drop on the back ground, what a view.

We take a stop near the Lambah Harau fountain, and just stay there for a while to admire the surrounding, check the pic bellow at the gallery.

We return to Bukittinggi that afternoon, and with a long ride on the next day we call the night early to get enough rest.

TO BE CONTINUED

We finally made it to Banda Aceh after about 1200KM ride from Bukittinggi West Sumatra. Above was me in front of the famous Banda Aceh’s Baiturrahman Mosque just after we arrived in Banda Aceh from Medan. The ride was not without incident, fortunatelly nothing major. From 15 bikes, 13 made it to Banda Aceh. Most of the time the weather was awful to say the least, some of the road condition was the worse I have experienced riding in Indonesia. But there were section where it all worth it, the long (very very long..!) and smooth (very very smooth..!) curvy road near Banda Aceh, the  serenity of Lambah Haraw in West Sumatra, the delicious and distinctive spice in Minang Melayu food from Green Chilly Duck to Ayam Tangkap of Aceh, to the companion of friends enjoying the ride to celebrate our Independence Day!

Stay tune for the trip and photo report!

Saturday, August 8th’2009. We were preparing for another 2009 Sumatra ride, this time will cover more or less 1200KM from West Sumatra to the most up north part of Sumatra, the Province of Aceh. We will start from the city of Bukittinggi, ride north to Lake Toba, the city of Medan and finish in the city of Banda Aceh. 15 motorcycles: 5 Multistrada, 6 Monster, 2 ST, 1 SS and 1 Suzuki GSX-R1000.

This will be my first trip to the up most tip of Sumatra and I am excited about this ride!

When we plan to have another ride in August 09, we originally planned for Sulawasi ride from Makassar to Menado. But when we found out that logistically Sulawesi ride require more time then the group had anticipated we change our plan for another Sumatra ride. We decided to postpone the Sulawesi ride to 2010 and go to Sumatra ride instead.

(above pic courtesy of http://ddoci.wordpress.com)

Just like earlier Sumatra ride, we will start the ride not from Jakarta. But from the city of Bukittinggi, where we finished our last Sumatra ride. We will take short flight to Padang, while the bikes will be by truck. When I write this post, the truck with the bikes will be along the way to Bukittinggi, possibly just cross the Sunda straight.

Just before long ride, my trusty Multistrada also being checked with some parts being replaced. Just to make sure that the bike is a ok for the ride. Stay tune for the trip report, just like before I will use my VIO POV cam to take video and will take tons of pic.

END