Dear Ducati,What would possess you to create a bike like the Multistrada 1000? This is not a motorcycle so much a dopamine pump directly to the fun-centre of the brain; a two-wheeled narcotic of Hunter S. Thompson proportions with a preponderance of addictive qualities to match the most potent of designer chemicals. I am “hooked” on this grin inducing chimera combination of sportbike, super-motard and standard
– Neil Johnston, Editor, OneWheelDrive.Net
The Multistrada endears itself to its rider, creating a cult following. When this motorcycle was designed, vehicle manufacturers couldn’t see today’s “advanced” fuels being forced into the market and into the fuel tanks. The original made tank is rotationally molded nylon, which absorbs liquid into its matrix. Gasoline and nylon are ok, but add alcohol (the “ethanol” in the newest fuels), and problems start. Water moisture gets drawn into the fuel. The alcohol settles on the bottom of the tank and the four foot long nylon fuel tank expands, sometimes locking in to the frame of the motorcycle!
Drawing upon experience from our three existing fuel tanks, we plan to manufacture a replacement fuel tank for the Multistrada. We are working with Ticona to bring their Hostaform LP Acetal technology to the rescue. The tanks would be produced via extrusion blow molding (EBM), which when manufactured at an approved facility will be emissions legal. This is the same plastic and process used by OEM automakers and is leading plastic technology. The toolmaker already has scan data from the OEM tank and are at work.
We are crowdfunding pre-orders of the MTS tank to help cover tooling costs for the mold’s development. Chris Kelley, President of California Cycleworks does not believe in taking money on pre-orders, and that’s where invested.in comes in. You pay money and when the tanks come in, you get one at dealer pricing. If something goes wrong and there are no tanks, invested.in gives your money back to you.
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