Don't know how much impartiality I'm going to find on a Ducati forum, but here goes. Background info: been riding since 1983, mostly Japanese inline 4 sport bikes. In 2004 I swapped my ZX10R for a 2006 Buell Ulysses because I wanted something more versatile. I loved the Uly, handled like a sport bike, all day comfortable, all the low end torque in the world, but I did not love the air cooled Harley motor and the 6800 rpm redline. I rode it for 2 years and sold it for another ZX10R. I rode that Kawi for a couple years then sold it and was bikeless for 3 years. I got the fever last fall and rode a BMW F700GS but it was very bland and not worth $11k to me. I considered the KTM 990SMT, but didn't want to spend 15 large. I ended up with another Uly, an 08, which had many upgrades over the 06. I have come, at my advanced age, to appreciate the loping stride of the big twin now, turning 3 grand at highway speeds, and the suspension is amazingly compliant. But as the weather warms up, the air cooled motor is just plain hot, even with the "comfort kit" upgrade. Also, I'm just 5'9" and even with the low seat, I can't flatfoot it.
After recently discovering the Hyperstrada, I am intrigued and wonder if it would be a good alternative to the Uly. I realize it's up near the 15 grand I didn't want to spend last year, but now I'm back into full riding enthusiasm mode and it doesn't seem that outrageous. On paper, the Hyper and the Uly seem pretty similar-the Duc has about 10 more HP but 20 fewer lb-ft; wet weight should be about 50 lb less than the Uly, but the wheelbase is 5 inches longer so I don't know that it's going to outhandle the slightly heavier Uly. The Uly has an awesome passenger perch and a lot more storage space with the Hepco Becker hard bags. The Uly is a proven element on gravel and fire roads, but my local Duc dealer tells me that the Hyper would be fine as well if shod with the proper rubber. And of course the big one tipping it in the Duc's favor is a liquid cooled engine.
Has anyone on here ridden both and can give me a valid ride comparo? Anyone put on Scorpion Trails or something like that and done much off pavement? Any useful insight would be appreciated...but please, don't just use this as an opportunity to slag off my Uly.
Thanks
After recently discovering the Hyperstrada, I am intrigued and wonder if it would be a good alternative to the Uly. I realize it's up near the 15 grand I didn't want to spend last year, but now I'm back into full riding enthusiasm mode and it doesn't seem that outrageous. On paper, the Hyper and the Uly seem pretty similar-the Duc has about 10 more HP but 20 fewer lb-ft; wet weight should be about 50 lb less than the Uly, but the wheelbase is 5 inches longer so I don't know that it's going to outhandle the slightly heavier Uly. The Uly has an awesome passenger perch and a lot more storage space with the Hepco Becker hard bags. The Uly is a proven element on gravel and fire roads, but my local Duc dealer tells me that the Hyper would be fine as well if shod with the proper rubber. And of course the big one tipping it in the Duc's favor is a liquid cooled engine.
Has anyone on here ridden both and can give me a valid ride comparo? Anyone put on Scorpion Trails or something like that and done much off pavement? Any useful insight would be appreciated...but please, don't just use this as an opportunity to slag off my Uly.
Thanks
