Initial ride impressions

I demoed a white Strada, and they had the red motard plus SP on the floor. After my ride, I said I was ready to talk/deal. He goes, which one, I said I really liked the Strada, but like the red Motard frame, he takes off in back and wheels a red Strada up. I'm toast, tried my best to look cool, but I was toast.

Full ride report after tomorrow, I'm going to read the book. Salesman told me that it has linked brakes ABS, that is when you apply front brake it automatically applies some rear brake (but not the other way around). This was news to me, as I thought only the Multi12 2013 did that. Will check the book.

Nice grab Super. Guess I'll be the last in line...my excitement is turning to frustration.

Linked brakes would be news to me as well. Only read of ABS and not one note of linked system.

I walked into the dealer hoping I wouldn't like the hyperstrada but I fell in love with it immediately. When I got back on my bmw f800st I literally thought something was wrong with it. I felt all squished on it and compared with the hyper there was no power. So I bought a white one today. Ordered the rack and tank bag. Might put some carbon on.

Holy **** what a motor!! Ducati have done it again...just rode the Strada & SP back to back, and while the motor blew me away on both (obviously), I personally would not buy the Strada - the suspension is absurdly soft and vague. The SP is phenomenal. You've got to have the chassis to go with that motor and this one has. Great feedback, can only feel the motor vibe enough to know if you're at the right rev for the corner without looking down and other than that it just says GO!!! Sounds GREAT. Front wheel lifts up whenever you want, dicing between cars so much fun like the 1100, and will take you through a tight corner faster than anything else on the road. Engine modes are decent and I could see using each one for what it's respectively designed for. Very impressed on the initial ride with the new Hyper, my hat's off to Ducati. Well done.

Umm, the hyperstrada's shock has hydraulic adjustable preload along with rebound, it is not soft. While the fork has no adjustment, it is not soft either.

I do agree with your feel of the motor however, and also think Ducati hit it on the head. I no longer lust for another Multi12.

The bike is finally home. Took the bike for a ride is the mountain foothills. It was just like the first time I drove the new vwr. Perfectly sorted and totally efficient and compact. Really liked it a lot. Not sure if I would change anything. I did feel close to the front... But I did not mind it. You really are able to read the road surface. I am looking forward to trying out a fire road with the bike .

SuperTen said:

Umm, the hyperstrada's shock has hydraulic adjustable preload along with rebound, it is not soft. While the fork has no adjustment, it is not soft either.

I do agree with your feel of the motor however, and also think Ducati hit it on the head. I no longer lust for another Multi12.

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Agreed. I have just under 600 KM on my 'strada now, much of which has been on some narrow and very twisty roads. There's a road near my place that winds through the hills with one segment - very popular with riders - that's like a section from Tail of the Dragon. Awesome turns and swithbacks. Point being that my 'strada outperforms, in every way, my older KTM 625 SMC on this road - and the SMC was stellar. I've found the suspension to be excellent - admitedly a *tad* [and I do mean a tad] divey on the front. I'd never suggest that it's equal to an Ohlins setup - what is? - but it's certainly not bad.

This is the first bike I have had in a while, that I don't have anything to change right off the bat. Can't wait to get in another ride, this bike is a pretty big deal. I'm shopping Ducati jackets. LOL

-2nd fill up netted an honest 45 mpg with dash indicating 50 mpg overall. I'm very pleased with mileage as I've been driving it like it's semi-stolen b/w 2.5-7K rpm, per dealer's recommendation. I've been actively rowing it up/down through cogs and letting engine brake as much as possible.

-Twisting throttle is crack cocaine addictive! Fantastic power from just 821cc. I love how even a short shift in break-in rev band welcomes a brute snap of power anywhere above 4K. First Duc and first twin. Rode a TL1000 years ago and fell in love with twin power. I prefer it to the couple fantastic in-line 4 sport motors I rode in the past.

-I've had a few instances of odd slip into neutral during shifts, although it's happened in gears above 2nd. I get a normal clunk shift but then the engine rev's freely. Nuetral light doesn't illuminate and when kick with toe again, it seems to click into a lower gear than where I left off. I'd say it's a rare occurrence and hoping it's just me using ***** left foot work.

-I've done some aggressive breaking to bed in stoppers and they work as good as they look. I don't think I even activated ABS in touring and it was all the lever I dare squeeze. Honestly, the twin engine breaks so well I usually just use some very light rear brake to stop. Got a slight squeek developing in one of discs but I think that because I've been concentrating so much on running in engine the brakes have been slightly neglected. I'm concentrating on bedding them in now that I have over 200 miles on motor.

-Love the bags. I've tested them in my daily routine and they just work. I travel heavy with briefcase worth of work, gym clothes and lunch. At most I throw a messenger bag over my shoulder and I'm set. My AGV Horizon full face helmet fits in the bag when I turn upside down.
*Bags popped right off 1st day at dealership but ever since I have to beat the crap out of them to pop off. Anybody figure out if lube helped? I'm skeptical if the seams around zippers will hold up to constant daily use...
*CAUTION! One of the techs at my shop said give bags good tug before rolling as they had reports of guys dropping loose bags on the hwy at speed. Good so far but I've already lost both bag locks...think the vibes shook them loose as I didn't spin tumblers very good.

-Best stock seat I've ever planted my butt in. Even better than very expensive Corbin touring seat purchased for R6 way back in the day. Ergo's are very comfy overall and I feel like I could ride all day. Buffeting is very bad above 70mph. I hope the larger screen helps as it can get pretty brutal at 80, my cruise speed on hwy commute.

-Cons: wish it had gear indicator and HID driving lamp. Probably won't need gear indicator as I get to know bike better but I'm a huge fan of clarity and depth of HID bulbs. I think when you pay for a premium name HID's should be standard equipment but I'm not sure bike are getting these in general. It shines fine at night but I prefer stadium like lighting at night.

Bottom line: Whole lotta bike for the buck. It gets lots of looks and I understand as I can't stop looking at it myself. I bought it for a sporty touring experience and that is exactly what it delivers.

A simple way to test if the brakes are linked is to put her on the center stand. Start the bike, put it in first gear so the rear wheel turns and apply the front brake. If the rear wheel stops turning its linked. Let me know. I did read somewhere they are linked on the front brake and the rear just does the rear. Let us know.

maddoggie501 said:

A simple way to test if the brakes are linked is to put her on the center stand. Start the bike, put it in first gear so the rear wheel turns and apply the front brake. If the rear wheel stops turning its linked. Let me know. I did read somewhere they are linked on the front brake and the rear just does the rear. Let us know.

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You'd have to turn off the traction control to do this!!!

The two calipers on front brakes are certainly linked. You can see redundant lines cross linking front calipers behind the forks routed over mud guard.

Rode on a twisty 2 lane this morning, with lots of uneven pavement and bumps, made the front standout as too stiff (bumps unsettling the suspension in turns). I suspected the rear preload too weak may be causing this, so I rechecked my sag numbers.

Got my wife to help measure the rear and put a ziptie on the forks.

I had 61mm race sag on rear and 27mm on front (no adjustment there).
Would like the front to be more like 35 or 40mm, but that would require changing springs.
Adjusted the preload without much change, ended up with full preload on and obtained 38mm race sag (I suspect I can back off of this after testing).

Will take it out in the morning to test on that same road to see how it reacts.
Go in for 600 mile service tuesday.

I did a bout a hundred miles today of two up with the girlfriend. I believe I could ride all day two up, not sure she would want to though. She was used to riding on the back of my GS1200adv and said it is definitely not the GS but said it was okay. It was all good for me though.

funniest reply to a thread yet

Dane1960 said:

I did a bout a hundred miles today of two up with the girlfriend. I believe I could ride all day two up, not sure she would want to though. She was used to riding on the back of my GS1200adv and said it is definitely not the GS but said it was okay. It was all good for me though.

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This reads so wrong, pmsl

Went to dealer last week hoping to take the Hyperstrada for a ride, but the only one there was not available to demo. Took the Hypermotard out instead. Was able to sit on the 'Strada and felt the seat position was a little further back and lower than the HM. The HM ride was excellent. Very responsive and agile. Only complaint about HM is that the seat pushed me a little too forward. Needed to sit back about 1.5" - 2" and hope the 'Strada seat and setup solve this. I'm 5' 11" and felt a little cramped on the HM. I currently ride a HD Sporty with forward controls and 14" apes, so the vast difference in bikes may have contributed to my impression of the HM ride. Will be back to demo the 'Strada and still have it at the top of my 'wants' list.

About 60 mile ride this morning to test my suspension changes. Very good, the front is more controlled now, but still feels slow on rebound on the high speed turns with bumps.

With the preload all the way maxed out, I am wondering how 2up is going to do tho?

Hey Super, will toying with rear settings help with driveline lash on aggressive shifts and waggle from wind blast at 75+ mph? I'm way out of suspension adjustment game and was just going to get dealers take on it during 600 mi service.

3rd fill up and maintaining 45 mpg with pretty heavy fist. Filled to just above bottom of filler neck and still no flooding issues.

All the random "nice bike" shout outs I've gotten have been from 60+ yr old men. I dig the all ages appeal and makes me feel like I made a somewhat mature decision.