Hi fellas....new member from Canada

Soarer · Jun 7, 2015

I am from Regina, Canada. They call it the prairies here.
Winter can be darn cold, and it can snow 5 months on very bad seasons.

Anyway, I am a middle-aged guy who started riding a bit late actually...if you call 30-year old a bit late....

My first bike was an Italian....do you believe it?

It was a Cagiva Mito 125....a fantastic 2-stroke bike!!!
It cost me a bomb as a new bike compared to the other Jap 2-strokes but I loved it! Ever since, I had always wanted to own a Ducati as I mature my riding skills, but time and finance kept me away!

My last 2 previous bikes are '12 Honda CB1000RA and the '14 Suzuki Vstrom 1000 ("Beak") which I still own.

Nothing wrong with the Vstrom, but I am a considerable small guy at 5'7" and maybe 155lb so I found it still tall and too top-heavy for me.

So with 2500km on my new Vstrom, I talked to my Ducati Dealer here on a possible trade with a used 2013 Hyperstrada with 14000km and Termigioni exhaust.

I went to view the bike yesterday, as my nearest Ducati dealer is some 250km away!!!

I liked the bike, but found it still a bit tall for me as I had to tippy toe on both legs.

Then I looked at the brochure and found the new 2015 version is slightly lower with seat height standard at 830m....hmmm....the dealer didn't have one on the floor so I couldn't compare.

And another thing which I find very favorable, the 2015 comes standard with side panniers and hand guards!

So the standard package comes with touring windshield, touring seat, mudguards, engine sump guard, centre stand.....and I can get the Journey seat (faux leather) which is an optional accessory to make my seat height to 810mm...which is very ideal for me!!!

Can anyone who owns the 2015 confirm this for me please, on the standard equipment, especially if anyone from Canada can chime in, it'll be great.

And so if I want to go lower, looks like i have no choice but to get the new 2015 Hyperstrada. That might still work out for me depending on what the Dealer requires me to top-up with the Vstrom trade.

Sorry guys, my intro seems to be like a long-winding story, but I am pretty excited about the new 2015 Hyperstrada.....now it is just the $$$ to top-up that I need to sort out, considering I forked out CAD12,500 for the new Vstrom with accessories late last year....

treeper · Jun 8, 2015

Soarer said:
And another thing which I find very favorable, the 2015 comes standard with side panniers and hand guards!

As far as I know, the side panniers and hand guards are standard. I have a 2013 one, and it was included. Maybe that's a Hypermotard, not the Strada?
And on the seat height; I thought 830mm was standard. Motard is definitely higher.
Other members'll know for sure.

Anyhow, welcome to the forum!

Take one out on a test drive when you're at the dealer again. Seconds after you'll have taken off, you'd know you want to own the thing.

Lots of great driving roads in your neighbourhood in summer then I presume?

Soarer · Jun 8, 2015

Thanks treeper.

Yes, I learnt that the side panniers and hand guards are standard in the Strada. The particular 2013 used one I saw at the Dealer didn't have them so I think they must have been removed by the previous owner.

But the 2013 is out of the question for me now as it is taller than 2015, 850mm (???) vs 830mm standard. So I am leaning more towards the 2015. Don't know exact height for 2013 but I think I read somewhere it comes taller than 830mm as standard.

Now I am just waiting for the Dealer to get back to me on the 2015 pricing.

Jibbs · Jun 8, 2015

Soarer said:
Thanks treeper.

Yes, I learnt that the side panniers and hand guards are standard in the Strada. The particular 2013 used one I saw at the Dealer didn't have them so I think they must have been removed by the previous owner.

But the 2013 is out of the question for me now as it is taller than 2015, 850mm (???) vs 830mm standard. So I am leaning more towards the 2015. Don't know exact height for 2013 but I think I read somewhere it comes taller than 830mm as standard.

Now I am just waiting for the Dealer to get back to me on the 2015 pricing.

My Strada was sitting in the showroom with the sidebags off of it for ease of moving it around. They put them on for me when I signed to buy it. I have a '14 and the seat is reasonably comfortable for me. I'm 6'1" and can just barely flat foot the bike. The only issues I have are getting on when the sidebags are mounted, for that I always lock the front wheel for stability then step up on the peg so I can get my leg over easily. I dismount the same way. Of course, most of the time I just ride without the bags on.

I agree though- take a test ride as soon as you can and you'll be in love. I was actually a little on the fence about if I wanted to get mine until I got to take it out. I didnt know if I'd like the super upright, super tall riding position, and I was concerned about how such a tall bike would handle, but as soon as you get moving on it it's beautiful. I traded my 636 for it and didn't even look back when I left the dealer. It's THAT good.

Soarer · Jun 8, 2015

Nice I think I am all decided on the Strada. I think it'll be a perfect bike for me.

zibbit u2 · Jun 8, 2015

I'm 5'6" @ 115 lbs, running a standard height '13 Strada. For the first 15 minutes on the bike it felt tall, now if I sit on any other bike they feel too short.. It's funny how your mind changes your perspective after a few minutes getting used to something new. Yes I'm nowhere near able to double flat foot the bike, I can however peg leg one foot flat with the other foot on either the rear brake or gear selector., or I can double tippy toe balance the bike easily due to its weight distribution. All of which is fine by me.

All of those accessories you described are standard issue worldwide. Put a few km on the standard seat, and I'm sure you'll love it, the journey seat has been described as overly hard and square by a few members.

Jokeshopbeard · Jun 8, 2015

Welcome along man!

I'm 5'9" and can't flat foot. Can get both feet down easily enough. Couldn't handle the height of the motard by comparison though.

As for getting on/off - I find turning the bars all the way to the right when doing so makes life a lot easier. When stopped at lights/etc, it's easy to just slide over to one side of the seat.

I'm willing to bet you won't regret it if you decide to buy one...

Soarer · Jun 8, 2015

Thanks guys for all the encouragement. I sure will try the standard seat first, and I have a feeling it will fit me perfectly. Now it is just the waiting part that is going to suck, as the Dealer don't have stock and he is going to order in one. It might take a while, but meanwhile I will keep busy in this forum. [emoji3]

zibbit u2 · Jun 9, 2015

See if you can take the '13 out for a spin.. You might not need to wait for the '15 to come... If it has full 2 yr warranty that is..

bicyclemarkm · Jun 9, 2015

I'm echoing the comments on seat height. It took me a few hours in the saddle to become comfortable with the height. Now it's a no-brainer. No, I can not flat foot both feet. But, it is easy to just put one foot down and just leave the other foot on the peg. The bike is very well balanced and not affected much by the wind. Tip-toeing with both feet works too. And, If I have to back up, a shift on the saddle is all it takes to shuffle with one foot. I'm 5'7" with 30" inseam.

BlueSwede · Jun 9, 2015

Hi Soarer, I too had a V-Strom 1000, but earlier model. It was a revelation to switch to the much lighter, nimbler HS, and mine is a regular '13 model, slightly taller than '15. I'm not tall (5' 8", 32 inseam), but find it easy to manage the HS, when stopped, or putting it on center stand, etc. The big Strom has a fantastic engine, but much, much heavier and a beast to move by foot or on an incline, etc. And the 821 engine in the HS is even better!!

Soarer · Jun 11, 2015

BlueSwede, I share your same sentiment. The Vstrom is a nice bike, but a beast to move around. Exact reason why I am switching to a HS. From the description here by the members I think it's gonna be a sweet ride.

My dealer in Saskatoon is facing some delays in ordering in a '15, so looks like I may just have to hang around a bit longer. [emoji30]

Soarer · Jun 11, 2015

zibbit u2 said:
See if you can take the '13 out for a spin.. You might not need to wait for the '15 to come... If it has full 2 yr warranty that is..

Hi zibbit, that's the problem. The '13 doesn't come with warranty at all, as it is an used bike with 14000km. That's why I am hesitant. So at the expense of a slight taller height, no warranty, no panniers and handguards and maybe 3 grand, I rather wait and get the '15.

Hi fellas....new member from Canada

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