Lower version of hyperstrada?

http://hyperstrada.com/ducati-hyperstrada/140-seat-height.html

See above for the different models available and show your dealer

Thanks - yes, I showed that to the dealer but they hit back saying that removing that suspension link would achieve the lowering to 810mm. Its a tough battle because they found this guy at Ducati Canada who unfortunately tells them that the lowering is done by the dealer and in the shop. And here I am telling them that it's not so, lol.

Anyway, it's back in the dealer's hands, they promised an answer by tomorrow. Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated.

My factory low version was supplied with warning stickers for the tank and owners manual (in most languages you can think of). They arrived in the post some months after taking delivery. The message is no doubt the brain child a corporate lawyer and designed to mitigate risk of litigation I suppose, the font is a bit small for it to be a serious safety warning. It says:

"IMPORTANT; Danger! The motorcycle will touch the ground before you can expect. Consider the reduced lean angle and ground clearance of the Version with Lowered Riding Height. Motorcycle lowered riding height is achieved through a reduction in the suspension travel. This could result in a limitation of the usual riding comfort. The rear shock absorber spring load should be adjusted, especially when riding with a passenger and/or luggage."

I have touched the ground on both sides (center stand and foot pegs) and I did expect to do so. I guess if you ride a standard version and then jump on the low you might touch the ground sooner than expected.

The advice relating to the rear preload is good advice. I run with near maximum preload and I have more than enough ground clearance to run the tires to the edge with no touching of the ground. I am probably trading a bit of comfort for performance but that's my choice.

I love my low version. Hope you have success in sorting your dealer out.

Hi HyperP

Few questions:
- Do you have the low seat as well?
- And touching the ground with the centerstand and footpegs - would that be due to you riding hard or it's really easy to touch the ground?
- you said you're "probably trading a bit of comfort" - is it noticeable, can you actually say that you notice a difference in the comfort level?

Thanks

I have a friend here with the height of 186cm and unfortunately, Ducati thought all Asians are short and thus we only have the freaking "low version". He changed his front fork to hypermotard version and removed the handle bar riser. All is good to ride......the bike is more balance. All the side stand, center stand, and rear shocks is all good!! The bike looks more balance unlike the low version fork which looks quite dive down on the front...not balance.

Hi Lightshadow, there is no linkage at the rear, just the shock acting directly. So it would mean a replacement, as I was told by my suspension guy that it is not rebuildable.

Ambient, looks aren't everything...your friend has likely slowed the handling down a bunch by extending the forks so much. He should run max preload, that should help, but perhaps someone will be selling their original shock. You could check Ducati.ms.

I turned my shift lever tip so it had a bit more clearance (and was flatter to my toe). But I'm looking for an adjustable lever with a folding tip like the one on the wife's SV650. It's apparently a 'stunta' sort of part, but she wanted it shorter and it works fine.

answered my own question

Found this...by Hammerhead Designs. Available with knurled or rubber tip, in several different colors and offsets. Listed to fit earlier Hypers, and it sure looks like the one on my 821...anyone care to comment?

Looks just like the one on my buddy's KTM 300 MXer. I like it. Having bent and replaced one, I should get of my arse.

LightShadow said:

Thanks - yes, I showed that to the dealer but they hit back saying that removing that suspension link would achieve the lowering to 810mm. Its a tough battle because they found this guy at Ducati Canada who unfortunately tells them that the lowering is done by the dealer and in the shop. And here I am telling them that it's not so, lol.

Anyway, it's back in the dealer's hands, they promised an answer by tomorrow. Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated.

Click to expand...

i hate to ask this but, does your dealer know what he's saying? i'm no expert but i believe converting a standard to lower version will entail replacing the fork suspension, the rear shock, kick stand and center stand. although achievable, that to me is an expensive endeavor. is your dealer willing to foot the bill? maybe you can do away with the center stand if you'll not install and use one, but the others should be replaced as a package. not simply removing a "suspension link" that is NOT there. as others have said, front and rear should be lowered together. lowering one end only will affect geometry and handling. and what about warranty issues on a "converted" hyperstrada?

you should insist on the factory low version and save yourself the aggravation

btw, question for those who have tracked or simply ridden the low version hard enough...

i have about an inch of chicken strip. very hesitant to lean too much in a corner because of the warning sticker on the fuel tank. once i was careless on my foot positioning after shifting gear coming into a corner, hanging on the peg that my toe (in sneakers) dragged while i was turning. gave me quite a scare. can the chicken strip be rubbed away without dragging the center stand first, or will the stand or any hard part grind way before you get to the edge of the tire?

LightShadow said:

Hi HyperP

Few questions:
- Do you have the low seat as well?
- And touching the ground with the centerstand and footpegs - would that be due to you riding hard or it's really easy to touch the ground?
- you said you're "probably trading a bit of comfort" - is it noticeable, can you actually say that you notice a difference in the comfort level?

Thanks

Click to expand...

LS,
I do have the low seat also. I use the low seat most of the time, short day runs, round town etc. The standard seat is used for longer trips, 500 - 700km in a day type runs. I have had a slip on sheepskin cover made (real nice item made a by local bloke) that provides a little extra care and attention to the butt on those longer runs and it fits both seats.

I can get both feet down with the low seat, not flat foot but balls of feet. On the standard seat its tip toe or one flat foot. I have had quite a few bikes over the years and this is tallest I have had, at first I was a little intimidated by the height, 9,000klm later I have developed a great deal of confidence with it. The low center of gravity and the wide bars make it all very manageable.

Is it easy to touch the ground is an interesting question. This really depends on many factors one of which one is the ride height. Skill, experience, confidence in your ability and your machine, tire condition (including pressures) road condition, along with the desire to push or find the limits are all factors that are part of the answer to this question. Another important factor will be your size and body weight, the more of you the less suspension you will have. I have to be pushing towards the limits to touch down when solo with no luggage and lots of rear spring preload. Wear on my near new tires is all-but to the edge on both sides, with the last quarter inch being light wear only and the bike hasn't touched down with this set of tires yet. I would say this is riding reasonably hard.

On the question of comfort, there are many factors that affect it, not only the seat. I find the bike just fantastic to ride, overall comfort is great, the handling, the power delivery, the braking performance, ergonomics and of course suspension all influence comfort. The key consideration for me is the contribution these factors make to fatigue levels which is my major safety concern on long rides. The last long ride of 680km in a day was the trip to the World Supers at Phillip Island and back home via the hills and back roads. I can assure you my ride was much more comfortable (less fatigued) than my mate on the 1098 and as comfortable as the other mate on his Speed Triple.

I would happily take off for a couple of thousand kms with either seat as I just love riding this bike. I have had a license to ride for forty years and have had many bikes and I can choose from 5 in the garage at the moment but I find I have to force myself to ride anything else but the Hyper.

Monstard said:

btw, question for those who have tracked or simply ridden the low version hard enough...

i have about an inch of chicken strip. very hesitant to lean too much in a corner because of the warning sticker on the fuel tank. once i was careless on my foot positioning after shifting gear coming into a corner, hanging on the peg that my toe (in sneakers) dragged while i was turning. gave me quite a scare. can the chicken strip be rubbed away without dragging the center stand first, or will the stand or any hard part grind way before you get to the edge of the tire?

Click to expand...

Monstard,
As I suggest above, there are many factors involved, the first thing to touch will be your toes if dont get them up and out of the way on top of the foot pegs, then the centrestand and then the footpegs themselves. In my experience the best place to explore these factors and build confidence is on a race circuit with professional rider instruction and yes in the right circumstances you can rub the chicken strips away. That said, I did find with the original Scorpion Tires, the rear had no chicken strip but the front still had half an inch. With the Angel GTs I have now fitted, both front and rear are wearing the same; something to do with different profiles I guess.

I have a lower hyperstrada too and I had to remove the centerstand because it was badly scratched.

I don´t have any chicken strips but once or twice touched with shift lever and its a bit bent.
It´s a very funny and fast bike, specially in mountain roads with many slow corners....

HyperPedro said:

LS,
I do have the low seat also. I use the low seat most of the time, short day runs, round town etc. The standard seat is used for longer trips, 500 - 700km in a day type runs. I have had a slip on sheepskin cover made (real nice item made a by local bloke) that provides a little extra care and attention to the butt on those longer runs and it fits both seats.

<snip>

I would happily take off for a couple of thousand kms with either seat as I just love riding this bike. I have had a license to ride for forty years and have had many bikes and I can choose from 5 in the garage at the moment but I find I have to force myself to ride anything else but the Hyper.

Click to expand...

I agree totally with your last statement, there are seven in our garage. I sold my 2009 YZF-R6 as I can go just as quickly on my 821 with more comfort (I'm not interested in a 160 mph speeding ticket ). I've had my license for 49 years. But you may be confusing the lower seat itself for the "Sella Bassa" (low seat, thank you Google Translate) factory option that includes the lowered suspension, etc. Not the same thing.

Info about the low version

Just an update - I didn't make any progress yet (my dealer is still looking into it, they're very helpful, I'm sure we'll find a way to order it). I did do a bit more research, I thought I'll post here what I found, it might help others.

From [:]QuasiMezzogiorno.it - Ducati Hyperstrada, la versione tourer della Hypermotard.
"La Hyperstrada è disponibile inoltre su richiesta in versione "bassa" con sospensioni più corte sia all'anteriore che al posteriore consentendo di portare l'altezza sella a 830mm. La versione include un cavalletto laterale e un cavalletto centrale dedicati. Questa versione consente un solido appoggio dei piedi a terra e, se si abbina anche la sella bassa disponibile come accessorio Ducati, si raggiunge l'altezza sella di 810mm. Le sospensioni dell'Hyperstrada sono affidate ad una forcella Kayaba a steli rovesciati da 43mm con 150mm di escursione ruota, mentre al posteriore è montato un monoammortizzatore Sachs che consente un'escursione ruota posteriore di 150mm, facilmente regolabile nel precarico molla grazie ad un pomello remoto. Nella versione "bassa" l'escursione ruota sia anteriore che posteriore è ridotta di 20mm.

"The Hyperstrada is also available as a special order, in a "low version" with shorter suspension both front and back, allowing you to bring the seat height down to 830mm. The release includes a dedicated side stand and center stand. This version allows a solid footbase, and, if that is not enough, a low seat is available as an accessory from Ducati, bringing the saddle height at 810mm. The suspension of Hyperstrada is entrusted to a fork Kayaba 43mm upside down with 150mm of wheel travel, while the rear is fitted with a Sachs monoshock that permits a rear wheel 150mm, easily adjustable in spring preload knob thanks to a knob?. In the "low version" wheel travel front and rear is reduced by 20mm."

This other site also talks about the elusive thing Prova Ducati Hyperstrada - Prove - Moto.it

Monstard said:

i hate to ask this but, does your dealer know what he's saying? i'm no expert but i believe converting a standard to lower version will entail replacing the fork suspension, the rear shock, kick stand and center stand. although achievable, that to me is an expensive endeavor. is your dealer willing to foot the bill? maybe you can do away with the center stand if you'll not install and use one, but the others should be replaced as a package. not simply removing a "suspension link" that is NOT there. as others have said, front and rear should be lowered together. lowering one end only will affect geometry and handling. and what about warranty issues on a "converted" hyperstrada?

you should insist on the factory low version and save yourself the aggravation

Click to expand...

I agree, I read quite a bit about it, it exists! Although, this is just as new of an issue to my dealership too. It's a tough market here, they only had one on display (already) sold and are expecting another one (standard, of course) this month. The inventory is low, they tend to sell quickly and I was requesting something they didn't hear about. My chance for a test ride is basically nil.

Then when they called Ducati Canada they got that funny answer about removing links from the suspension. I'm a bit concerned that DC will tell them "we are not importing the low version in Canada" or something along those lines.

HyperPedro said:

Monstard,
As I suggest above, there are many factors involved, the first thing to touch will be your toes if dont get them up and out of the way on top of the foot pegs, then the centrestand and then the footpegs themselves. In my experience the best place to explore these factors and build confidence is on a race circuit with professional rider instruction and yes in the right circumstances you can rub the chicken strips away. That said, I did find with the original Scorpion Tires, the rear had no chicken strip but the front still had half an inch. With the Angel GTs I have now fitted, both front and rear are wearing the same; something to do with different profiles I guess.

Click to expand...

thanks HyperP. i guess i have to try leaning more to really know for sure, confident enough to do that. i'm just too concerned getting a scratch on anything on the bike, even if it's just the centerstand... i'ts spanking new and pristine still. maybe i won't mind later on in it's life

LightShadow said:

... It's a tough market here, they only had one on display (already) sold and are expecting another one (standard, of course) this month. The inventory is low, they tend to sell quickly and I was requesting something they didn't hear about. My chance for a test ride is basically nil.

...

Click to expand...

i understand your predicament. out of millions of motorcycle owners here, less than 1 percent own 400cc and above, much much lesser still for ducati owners. and yet, hyperstradas are flying off the showroom floor. the batch (of 20 or so units) my bike came with was sold out even before it was shipped to the country. i had to make a deposit to ensure my name is on the list even though the dealership owner is a friend. i think the saying, "pancakes are selling like hyperstradas" is more appropriate than the other way around

Thanks for your help

Hi guys,

Just wanted to say THANKS for your help here. Few days ago everyone got onboard, folks at Ducati Canada confirmed that a low seat version can be ordered, my dealership called me...I put the deposit down and now I'm waiting for a fast red one in a month or so.

Needless to say, out the window went my hope for negotiating a good price, lol. But it's the first time I get a brand new bike so, I decided to go for it.

Thanks again!

glad you managed to educate them ;-)