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Dutch HS enthusiast reporting for duty

H

HyperMikeNL

Joined Jul 2015
54 Posts | 0+
Netherlands
Hi guys/girls.

Maykel (Mike for short) from the Netherlands, here! Nice meeting you all. Some basics: will turn 42 in august, married, 2 boys and a third son/daughter coming up in August.
I'm a Ducati rider since 2009. Had a 750SSC before and now cruisin' on a 996 MonoPosto. Fell in love with the early type HM, and disliked its younger brother in the beginning but it sort of grew on me.

....then the HS showed up and I can't wait to swing my legs over that one!

Riding the 996 revealed the fact that I am an old fart (the usual painfull wrists) and I need to ride something more..ehm..."wiser". Well, for the wrists that is.
I need to sort out how to lower a HS first, as with 1.69cm (that's about 5ft 6" I believe) it'll be a fun thing to see me mount one ha ha. First things first: buying one in the Netherlands is WAY too expensive (taxes here we go) so I'm hunting for a German one (2014). That'll cost me about 2k € less.

Anyway: looking forward to join and explore the forum.
Questions? Ask! :)
 
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That should happen this year but I fear that will not happen.
I just got a company car, so I have to get rid of my Audi A6 first (we pay several taxes for the both of 'em over here).
The 996 has got to go also (my wife won't let me have 2 Ducati's in the garage...).
Hopefully by the end of this biking season (about September) when prices drop but probably in February next year.
 
Welcome abroad (soon)..

at 5'6" and about 29-31" inseam you'll have no problem with the standard height HS.. She's a great bike once you put a few miles under your belt. Hardest part is mounting the bike is not hitting the mirrors or panniers with your foot.. once you're on it.. it feels like gold.
 
Yup, noticed the hit-the-pannier problem already, but I can live with that.
Just learned on this forum that the '15 version is sold as a lower version only.
The bike I have an eye on (2014) is the "special" low edition; no clue whether that one is made lower ex-factory by dropping the front end (which is what the Italians did, right) or by replacing the seat by a thinner one. A combination of both would give me most confidence, I reckon.
 
Hi Maykel, welcome to the madness, eventually..!

As I understand it the Low version of the '13' and '14 has lowered suspension both front and rear, so it's well balanced. I believe the seat is standard, so you can go a bit lower still by getting the lower seat - guys correct me if I am wrong about the seat.

I have the standard '13, and yes, it is a bit of a swing to get a leg over it, but it's not bad. I have a 32" inseam. No way can I reach to hit a mirror, though - zibbit must be really flexible!... When I have the top box mounted (and I love having a top box) I occasionally scuff the tank cover instead, which is kinda annoying... Overall, it's a light and compact bike and easy to manage. If swinging a leg is a hard, you can always flip it up on the centerstand and then step on the footpeg...
 
Hi I'm a newbie with a 2014 white HS in Japan. I'm with her since the last Saturday.

The Japanese version is a low one with shorter suspensions and a lower seat. I am 167cm tall and the lower seat height is nice for me especially in city ride. But I found a serious issue in my first mountain ride more than 600km in a day.

The low version has, of course, low minimum height and therefore my HS hit its main stand on the road surface several times when I passed across grooves on the road. In addition, when I leaned the bike I occasionally hit my toes on the road surface. HS is definitely a great bike but if you want to ride it actively, a standard version is your choice.

Another issue in the Japanese version is the low seat. Because of its wide flat seat shape, I felt two edges under my legs. It is uncomfortable especially in temporal stop at cross points in city. I am planning to change the seat with a 2cm higher racing seat for Hypermotard...
 

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Thanks for your feedback, all! It's highly appreciated.
Food for thought...

Perhaps a floor-dragging sidestand (or centerstand) is something that can be avoided by fiddling with the rear preload a bit ?

@ Masanori, how high are the stand and footpegs mounted on a low version?
I want to compare it with my 996 (for me it's almost impossible to touch the road with the footpegs or toes).

As for me: I only weigh 60 kgs (what is it? 120 lbs?), so stiffening it up is probably not necessary or useful.
I used to ride like an *****, but with two kids (and a 3rd on its way) I tend to be more careful these days. ;-)
 
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HyperMikeNL said:
Perhaps a floor-dragging sidestand (or centerstand) is something that can be avoided by fiddling with the rear preload a bit ?

@ Masanori, how high are the stand and footpegs mounted on a low version?
I want to compare it with my 996 (for me it's almost impossible to touch the road with the footpegs or toes).
Click to expand...

Preload may solve my problem but I have not tested it yet. My weight is ... 75kg so I may need to change the setting.

I will try to measure the heights later maybe in the night as the outside is terribly hot (around 35 degrees)...
 
The main stand is ok with lean, it hits in hard dumping of suspension. My toe, especially right one, hits in right courners.
 
Okay, thanks!
Bottom line/to do when purchasing a low-version: be aware of wearing boots (or even toes) and perhaps/probably buying some after market (much) higher foot pegs.
 
Wind in some preload on the back shock. This seems to go some way to stopping the scraping. If you are like me, and like the centre stand, winding in the preload is a good compromise . Cheers and have fun.
 
I'm sure that you could put some proper springs in the forks and adjust the front and rear preload so that you would not drag hard parts easily. See the various Fork Upgrade threads on this forum.

The centerstand spring is soft enough that if you hit a bump mid-corner it can swing down and hit the pavement. I find that merely an annoyance as it is not damaged significantly.

As for dragging your toes, the quick answer is...hang off more! But seriously...the only time I get a toe down is when I'm riding duck-footed. I never touch if I keep the balls of my feet on the pegs. That said, I have a standard height '13 Strada and weigh about 75 kg in full gear. I run the tires to about 1/4" from the edge (more on the front, less on the rear) regularly.
 
Update: I will pick up a rental HS this Saturday just to be sure (again) that I really want one. My friend with his HM will accompany me while testdriving the thing. He will be able to give me some usefull advice, I think.
In the meantime, I also found a mint red version with only 5700 kms (about 3700 miles), with extra topcase and heated grips and full service history.
So, perhaps 1 thing will lead to another...
 
Well....
I rode the thing from 9.30 am till 4 pm and travelled about 250 kms - on VERY twisty roads on dikes (we got a lot of 'em here).

I
am
stunned !

It's a perfect match. As where the HM is too high for me with few wind protection, the HS does everything I want. My 996 feels like a err.... sluggish oiltanker compared to this thing.
Steering is almost telepathic! I took corners with a speed difference of 25 km/h compared to the 996. Got to have one. Period.

oh: although I'm just 1.69 meter (5 ft 7") I won't need the lower version.
This one's perfect.

Just 1 minor thingy: I managed to switch on the high beam a couple of times without even noticing. Rather strange construction, that little dual-direction button...
Another strange feeling is the "rocking back and forth" when you cruise with 130km/h. It seems to misfire (probably a noise or homologation cathalyst issue).

next mission: convince the Mrs. I need one badly.
 

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He Mike, welcome here.
I'm 1.70 m tall and a stunning 90 kg. My hyper is the normal one and I dont have any troubles getting onto it. The ride is perfect, cornering a treat and yes, it has that rocking bit but you get used to it.
I bougt mine at Startwin and they are great. Was the first one to buy the hyper at their store.
Got the heated grips and the touring screen on it. The screen is perfect, just a bit better than the normal one for me (at my height).
To get a bit of a better sound I disconnected the valve cable but am not so sure I'll keep it thet way.
Did about 20k on it now and stil love it. Don't have any problems with the cornering. I don't push it to far, like to have a bit of spare tire, just in case....
Got the angel gt's on it and they hold out pretty good.

Good luck with the Mrs and tell her you want an extra "baby" as well.