Finally an accurate review of the Hyper

Few motorcycle testers get the Hyper series. They complain about the characteristics that make the Hyper so much fun - Within the niche it was designed for. As this review shows; Ducati says it is a top 2nd bike.

I purchased the Hyperstrada with my eyes wide open knowing that it was a niche bike. NOT an all-rounder like a GS. A fun hooligan bike focused on the kind of roads I so enjoy.

Article LINK: Ducati Hypermotard 939 Review -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ3iN7DpqeY

Video: Ducati Hypermotard 939 Launch -

It’s always nice to walk away from a press launch without speeding fines or jail visits, particularly mischievous motorcycles that entice hooliganism with minimal provocation, very like the Hypermotard. Although niche in many eyes, Ducati’s fun-packed stunter has always been a personal favourite since model’s inception...

This Testastretta engine – although sincerely fiddled with over the years – was originally designed for superbike racing, and slow-speed aptitude isn’t really in its repertoire. Crisp like Walkers above 3,000rpm via that snappy, elasticated throttle, it’s a bit lumpy when negotiating slow-speed drudgery and ambling through towns and cities but soon fixed with a touch of the button. I’ve never been one for opting to switch to fairy modes and culling power/softening throttle response, but toggling through to ‘Urban’ mode dramatically soothes low-speed etiquette.

Not that it’s difficult to ride by any means. Well, not unless you’re really short. As previously mentioned, the chassis is virtually unchanged meaning you’re treated to brisk steering and super-agile reactions with a whiff of ‘bar input. Those of you hankering after genuine sportsbike/supernaked pedigree are best off opting for exactly that, as big-lean heroics aren’t the 939’s forte. There’s oodles of weight over the front-end (boosted by the riding position) that routinely supplies confidence during mediocre lean angles and ripping up mountain roads, although there isn’t that steadfast composure from the front-end when it’s buried in a turn – a by-product of its motard geometry.

Constant changes of direction and an abundance of medium-paced bends separated by short, sharp bursts of throttle abuse is where the Hypermotard flourishes, employing the slow in, fast out philosophy. It’s a bike that becomes sexier with momentum, yet beautifully controlled the other way by a slipper clutch.

By their own admittance, Ducati says the Hypermotard is a popular second bike or urban warrior in the UK. If you’re thinking of bank/jewellery heist and eyeing up a getaway vehicle, then look no further than a Hyper’. The strongest markets are Austria, Switzerland and any other countries that feature mountain roads.

All reasons why I so enjoy my Hyperstrada, especially now that I have Mupo suspension.

Rode mine up to the crest today and the new suspension is good. No more bottoming and can feel that front tire. Still dragging toes, I'm going higher with my pegs.

Probably my slowest bike but love riding it and it's easy to ride. Just need to work on few more things like brakes, luggage, clutch, etc.

Middleweights R us

Magazine road testers always try to put a bike in a category. This one gets it wrong, as usual.

I've had three Harleys, and got tired of herding 800 lbs around. Plus, they are really meant for the slab. Rode one to Florida and back. That was fun, but been there, done that. A GS? Heavy, big, and overpriced and underspiced, like a bad restaurant. Not much of a back road scratcher, either. Rode a buddy's on the IOM one year. Competent but boring.

These days I think of our Strada as our "bagger." For me, it is a comfortable middleweight touring bike that is still plenty exciting on the little roads I like to ride. I have no problem with riding it in town, either.

Right now it's parked next to a FZ-09, an SV650, and a KTM 390 Duke. When I ride 450 miles on back roads to the WSBK races this year guess which one I'll take? And which one my wife is willing to climb on the back of?

zippy49 said:

These days I think of our Strada as our "bagger." For me, it is a comfortable middleweight touring bike that is still plenty exciting on the little roads I like to ride. I have no problem with riding it in town, either.

Right now it's parked next to a FZ-09, an SV650, and a KTM 390 Duke. When I ride 450 miles on back roads to the WSBK races this year guess which one I'll take? And which one my wife is willing to climb on the back of?

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I can agree with this. The hyper is my touring bike. It does 550 mile days with relative ease, especially on back roads.

monocog007 said:

The hyper is my touring bike. .

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You guys are certainly on one end of the sliding scale, as proven by motorcycle sales numbers.

zippy49 said:

Magazine road testers always try to put a bike in a category. This one gets it wrong, as usual.

I've had three Harleys, and got tired of herding 800 lbs around. Plus, they are really meant for the slab. Rode one to Florida and back. That was fun, but been there, done that. A GS? Heavy, big, and overpriced and underspiced, like a bad restaurant. Not much of a back road scratcher, either. Rode a buddy's on the IOM one year. Competent but boring.

These days I think of our Strada as our "bagger." For me, it is a comfortable middleweight touring bike that is still plenty exciting on the little roads I like to ride. I have no problem with riding it in town, either.

Right now it's parked next to a FZ-09, an SV650, and a KTM 390 Duke. When I ride 450 miles on back roads to the WSBK races this year guess which one I'll take? And which one my wife is willing to climb on the back of?

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Reading things like this makes me believe that the 'strada must be vastly different than SP. Maybe it's the ergonomics, the height, the suspension tune... I can't put my finger on it. It must be something big.

I would put my hyper at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I think I'd die trying to go more than 300 miles in a day on it. It's exhausting and a sensory overload - trying to tame the engine, feeling every pebble in the road, the wind at higher speeds. It's more aggressive and race-ready than any bike I've ever ridden.

A bit from Total Motorcycle:

Hyper Story


When the prototype Hypermotard was first shown at the 2005 Milan show it represented the creation of a new sector, one that bridged the gap between refined sportsbikes and minimalist supermotards. But some people at Ducati had reservations about the initial Hypermotard concept and were unsure if people were ready for such a motorcycle.

Despite these reservations, the project continued, driven by the belief in the upright and in-control riding position of a dirtbike, but without the harsh characteristics of its single cylinder engine. These confident few designed a bike that combined the agility and lightweight precision of a supermotard with the refined power and characteristics of a charismatic L-Twin sportbike.

The launch of the Hypermotard in 2007 created a new crossover category: pure fun reinvented in a motorcycle that can be used every day.

2013 marked a new milestone in this development: Ducati presented a new and exciting generation of Hypermotards, which drew on elements from the original concept that made the bike unique and such a success: innovation, design, but above all fun in the extreme.

kuksul08 said:

the 'strada must be vastly different than SP.

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Well, we all know that the distinction between the Hyperstrada and Hypermotard SP, from the rider's seated position, is the suspension and baby windscreen.

That's it.

The differences are mostly between our ears. How we perceive the ride qualities and shortcomings.

I tend to default to what the designers intended when looking at what to expect. An expectation which is either affirmed or rejected as my actual seat time increases. With over 6,000 miles on my Strada, I have concluded that the designers at Ducati were spot on with their design goals. Goals that were certainly influenced with the market necessity of meeting pricing demands, thus marginal suspension. A shortfall which I have remedied with my Mupo installation.

I've seen riders crossing the continent with everything from a scooter to the gigantic Gold Wings pulling trailers. To each his own. May we each find enjoyment in our purchase decisions.

monocog007 said:

I can agree with this. The hyper is my touring bike. It does 550 mile days with relative ease, especially on back roads.

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Yup

RSL said:

Well, we all know that the distinction between the Hyperstrada and Hypermotard SP, from the rider's seated position, is the suspension and baby windscreen.

That's it.

The differences are mostly between our ears. How we perceive the ride qualities and shortcomings.

I tend to default to what the designers intended when looking at what to expect. An expectation which is either affirmed or rejected as my actual seat time increases. With over 6,000 miles on my Strada, I have concluded that the designers at Ducati were spot on with their design goals. Goals that were certainly influenced with the market necessity of meeting pricing demands, thus marginal suspension. A shortfall which I have remedied with my Mupo installation.

I've seen riders crossing the continent with everything from a scooter to the gigantic Gold Wings pulling trailers. To each his own. May we each find enjoyment in our purchase decisions.

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Well - this is a debate that has no answer, but the changes you note are significant. That screen makes a world of difference, and the ability to get on and off the bike easily is not to be underestimated. Not to mention the stability that a lower suspension enables. It also has a different and more comfy seat.

In addition, it has higher bars, passenger grab rails, 12v outlets, and, I believe, different engine mappings than the sp. It also has bags - and they may not be the best in the world, but they work well, and never quite seem to die (just change color).

I think it all adds up to surprisingly well thought out and functional package. My hope was that with the intro of the yanaha fj-09 tourer, the strada would be appreciated for what it is, as opposed to "the bike in the photos stuck between the motards".

Never could overcome that, and now they have the 950 multi - 500lbs of soft ugly in my book. Shame really.

appliance821 said:

Yup

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I'm pretty much with appliance and mongo. The Strada is my touring/everyday bike.

Kuksul, the stuff you mention doesn't even bother me. There may be a combination of things that affect it besides personal preference.

I'm thinking of relegating the Hyper 1100S to track only duty. Not sure what I'm going to do with my KLR yet.

Someday I'll get the suspension sorted, but as I don't intend to track it I don't feel like its limiting my use. 6" 1" and 205 or so geared up. I don't scrape the centerstand unless there's a dip or bump in the corner. I have upset the heck out of the suspension turning into some parking lots without paying attention to weather or not there is a lip, and come out unscathed so far.

OK, try this Strada review. A review on the roads I enjoy riding.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2015-ducati-hyperstrada-review

Overall, I think the Hyperstrada does an incredible job of delivering on all that's asked from it. It isn't a supermoto, naked, or touring bike, yet it really does excel at all three, as long as your standards aren't too strict. Is it going to crush the competition at the supermoto track? Nope. Will it be the talk of the town in touring forums, where shaft drives reign king? Nuh uh.

However, if you like to ride supermotos but want something that can do a ton of highway miles and you don't mind a little extra fairly well suspended weight, or you want to take the "sport" in sport-touring to the next level, it's just about perfect. My actual ideal would be a Ducati Hyperstrada SP, but I think adding the Strada's panniers, seat, and windscreen to the SP will suffice quite nicely.

This guy is certainly a harder rider than I am:

deadspin-quote-carrot-aligned-w-bgr-2

"Is it useful as actual transportation?" - Yes! Actually, the little screen from the Hyperstrada is perfect for keeping enough wind off your chest to make this perfect for pretty much anything except land speed records. I'd commute on one in a heartbeat.

"Did you get to ride the Hyperstrada version? I still think that the Hyperstrada is close to the perfect Ducati to commute and tour on. Am I wrong?" - They didn't have these on hand and we'll likely do something a little more distance oriented on them. However, the answer it to your question is that yes, you are wrong, and the correct answer is the SP with the touring seat, windscreen, and bags.

"Is this one of those "˜if you could only have one bike' bikes?" - ABSOLUTELY. If I get fired tomorrow and can't find a job with another site or magazine and I become a one bike man, this is first on my list.

Honestly, I don't see Ducati improving on the package, unless it's to add the cornering ABS and traction control system from the Multistrada. Other than that, it's a near perfect machine and it will one day find its way into my garage.

The seat height issue is something not added into my review of reviews.

If low seat height is important to a rider, then that changes the entire equation.

My 2013 was purchased because it was the same height as the Hypermotard, but with the little screen and side cases, along with other add-ons. Spending less than the upgrade to the Hypermotard SP the Mupo suspension change gave me what I think is the best of all Hyper bikes. 300 to 400 mile days on my favorite backroads with a plush yet firm suspension that keeps the tires connected. Enough suspension travel to absorb the big hits. A small windscreen to take the wind pressure from my chest, yet leave my helmet in the clean air.

kuksul08 said:

Reading things like this makes me believe that the 'strada must be vastly different than SP. Maybe it's the ergonomics, the height, the suspension tune... I can't put my finger on it. It must be something big.

I would put my hyper at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I think I'd die trying to go more than 300 miles in a day on it. It's exhausting and a sensory overload - trying to tame the engine, feeling every pebble in the road, the wind at higher speeds. It's more aggressive and race-ready than any bike I've ever ridden.

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I tried riding my hyper without a windscreen. I turned around to head home after 20 miles of 80+ mph. The wind on my helmet/chest was just insane. I don't know how SP owners ride them.

Once you get the wind off your chest, and get clean air on the helmet, it becomes a very comfortable bike. And I know the seat is vastly different too.

We also may be using the term "touring" differently.

Touring for me is when I used to ride across the US. 6,000 to 7,000 mile loops. For me those loops were at warp speed, and at least 1/3 on the tiny backroads I so enjoy. 1,000 mile days were common when transiting states quickly. So maybe Sport Touring, not the slow parade cruising of the Hardley set. But, also not the 48 state loops of the Iron Butt crowd either, even though I do have the IBR membership.

If seeing the fantastic beauty of America's backroads and countryside with daily loops of 250 to 400 miles is what you consider touring, then yes indeed, that's the kind of "touring" I do.

I just don't see the Hyper series as being the kind of motorcycle I want for boring freeways and 1,000 mile days.

Certainly it comes down to preference. I've ridden a fair number of bikes now and have learned that I like a soft bike because truth be told - a stiffer, louder, more aggressive bike isn't any quicker. It's actually slower in most cases. It can be more fun, depending on the type of riding you like to do. I don't think any of us doubt that - the Hyper is ridiculously fun!!

So at one point I tried the touring windscreen and didn't like it. I actually hit my helmet into it at one point, and it made the bike feel cramped. A shorter windscreen further away would be something to try.

I also went with the racing seat, because I don't like how the stock seat holds you in one little spot. The downside is the racing seat is even taller, putting you more out in the wind. It's actually firmer too. I think a seat similarly shaped to the race seat but much much softer would be interesting.

Anyway... all I really know for sure is that RSL loves loves LOVES his Mupo suspension. It really must be heavenly.

RSL said:

We also may be using the term "touring" differently.

Touring for me is when I used to ride across the US. 6,000 to 7,000 mile loops. For me those loops were at warp speed, and at least 1/3 on the tiny backroads I so enjoy. 1,000 mile days were common when transiting states quickly. So maybe Sport Touring, not the slow parade cruising of the Hardley set. But, also not the 48 state loops of the Iron Butt crowd either, even though I do have the IBR membership.

If seeing the fantastic beauty of America's backroads and countryside with daily loops of 250 to 400 miles is what you consider touring, then yes indeed, that's the kind of "touring" I do.

I just don't see the Hyper series as being the kind of motorcycle I want for boring freeways and 1,000 mile days.

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I'm talking about my 700-800 mile trips to Iowa and back. Even the back roads there are boring.

I don't have a lot of riding experience. In fact the only bikes I have ridden are my crf250l, a new street triple, a honda cub 90 which I commuted on in London for 3 years and my new 939. This bike is an absolute hoot. I'm riding the crf across the country this summer from DC to Northwest Montana only because it seems a great challenge, not because it makes any sense. I see the 939 as my long term one bike solution.

I did put the race seat on it as the stock journey low was uncomfortable after about two hours and there was no way to move. I hope I get used to the race seat because it sure feels hard. If not I'll send it to Renazco who worked wonders on my crf brick of a seat.

dragoontwo said:

I'm talking about my 700-800 mile trips to Iowa and back. Even the back roads there are boring.

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This is how I cross the boring road sections now:



Guess I'm getting soft.