This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

2014 Hyperstrada vs 2015 BMW 1200GS

D

devilears

Joined Feb 2015
6 Posts | 0+
Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa.
Did a couple of comparative tests the past weekend: A friend of mine has bought a brand new 2015 watercooled BMW 1200GS and it is now just run in. My 2014 Hyper has done 12000 km. The two of us went on a 200km ride up the West Coast of South Africa on the weekend.

As luck would have it, we found a very quiet, long straight road where we were able to ride the bikes at maximum speed. On the Hyper, I hit an indicated 246km/h in top gear (227 km/h on the GPS), when the rev-limiter kicked in. At that point, the BMW was SLOWWWLY gaining on me but was about 5 bike-lenghts behind. The speedo on the BMW speedo indicated 247km/h, whilst the BMW GPS indicated 228km/h.

So the 1200 BMW is exactly 1km/h faster than the 821cc Hyper! Not bad I'd say... On the way back, we did a number of roll-on tests. We rode next to each other in top gear at 150km/h and then simultaneously opened the throttles without downshifting. Well, the Hyper ran away from the BMW with ease every time! To say that I am WELL IMPRESSED with my Hyper, will be the understatement of the year! :)
 
procomphys said:
did you experience any wobbling on the handlebar when the speed reached above 200km/h?
Click to expand...

You have to lean forward and bring weight onto the forks to avoid wobbling.
When i drive upright sitting on Autobahn about 200 km/h, handling gets difficult and not very stable. In this case i by myself bring the disturbance into the bike.

When you make yourself as flat as possible and lean forward, it stays quite stable. Of course you cannot compaire stability with any superbike in these speedregions.


@devilears - nice to hear, this is also my feeling when i drive with my friend, who has the last version of 1200GS before watercooled. HS feels stronger and faster.
 
Last edited:
ferdi said:
HS feels stronger and faster.
Click to expand...

Well, it IS faster. I used to own a GS from new (albeit a 2006 model) so I feel qualified to comment on this, too, and I am pretty sure the 'Strada goes much harder. I don't care for top speed, but as far as acceleration is concerned, the weight and gearing make the Ducati significantly more sprightly. It really punches above its class, this little Testastretta.
 
I've had mine up to 136 mph (on the dash), and it was fairly stable in full tuck. Still, any sustained length at these speeds, and I'd need a steering stabilizer to feel comfortable. Too bad ducabike's kit is really expensive.