Joined Aug 2014
17 Posts | 0+
Ozlo
I was going to change from KTM Duke 08 to a slightly bigger bike this summer, and tried an Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200, KTM SMR 990 and Hypermotard 1100 before deciding wich bike to look more into. My general use is driving back and forth to work every day and an occational 4-5 hour ride in weekends. My comment on these bikes is as follows:
Dorsoduro
It has almost all technical features available and a massive 1200 engine. The size of it was fairly ok. The power is of course massive. Actually it felt too much for a supermotard bike. But how much motard is left on this bike? Not much. It feels more like a adventure-bike stripped for all equpiment. And everything feels kinda "general", and that was my worst drawback. Everything is ok. But I want more than ok. It just didn't make me feel anything. If this is my choice for upgrade I'd rather keep my Duke.
SMR
A kind of bigger version of the Duke. This bike is essentially a SMT without hat, so if this bike would make me feel anything I could also consider the SMT aswell. When I started driving it, it is noticable bigger than the Duke. But, the engine and technology felt like it was older than the Duke. The engine didn't impress me either. Mediocre acceleration and the instrument panel was very basic. There was also some vibration issues that I would like to get rid of when moving from a 1-cyl. to a 2-cyl. Too much cross-genes left on this bike. More than on the Duke. Again my current Duke make me feel more comfortable and in control.
Hypermotard
This bike is maybe the prettiest of these bikes. The feeling was very strange. It was stable as hell because of the noticable lower gravity point. The engine has a lot of temperament. It kind of wants me to drive bad. Finally this make me feel something. But the handle is quite low making me sit in kind of a forward position like a normal naked bike. The sound was terrific, but that was kind of expected with a Ducati. I guess the engineers work an extra 14 months on the exhaust sound before they release a bike from factory. When I left the dealer I thought: "There is something about Ducati. Now I understand.". My only negative point was the low handlebar and maybe the lack of luggage possibilities.
Conclusion
I drive motorcycle because it makes me feel things. Instead of wasting time on some tram on the way to and from work I can actually have fun while travelling. So do I go for the practical bike or the fun bike? The fun bike of course (to some extent). I'm reading that the 2013-hypers has raised the handlebar some to be able to sit more comfortable. At the moment I couldn't afford a new Hyperstrada, but suddenly I receive an offer for a barely used Hypermotard 2013. And it's 3/4 of the price of a new one. I'm in heat, and have to buy it. I did.
After purchase
After bying it I was pleasently surprised with the fact that I can build on luggage features like the on the strada. And also the lesser engine feels actually more powerful than the old 1100. It feels like it has endless power over the entire register and some real attitude.
I'm a happy Ducati owner!
Dorsoduro
It has almost all technical features available and a massive 1200 engine. The size of it was fairly ok. The power is of course massive. Actually it felt too much for a supermotard bike. But how much motard is left on this bike? Not much. It feels more like a adventure-bike stripped for all equpiment. And everything feels kinda "general", and that was my worst drawback. Everything is ok. But I want more than ok. It just didn't make me feel anything. If this is my choice for upgrade I'd rather keep my Duke.
SMR
A kind of bigger version of the Duke. This bike is essentially a SMT without hat, so if this bike would make me feel anything I could also consider the SMT aswell. When I started driving it, it is noticable bigger than the Duke. But, the engine and technology felt like it was older than the Duke. The engine didn't impress me either. Mediocre acceleration and the instrument panel was very basic. There was also some vibration issues that I would like to get rid of when moving from a 1-cyl. to a 2-cyl. Too much cross-genes left on this bike. More than on the Duke. Again my current Duke make me feel more comfortable and in control.
Hypermotard
This bike is maybe the prettiest of these bikes. The feeling was very strange. It was stable as hell because of the noticable lower gravity point. The engine has a lot of temperament. It kind of wants me to drive bad. Finally this make me feel something. But the handle is quite low making me sit in kind of a forward position like a normal naked bike. The sound was terrific, but that was kind of expected with a Ducati. I guess the engineers work an extra 14 months on the exhaust sound before they release a bike from factory. When I left the dealer I thought: "There is something about Ducati. Now I understand.". My only negative point was the low handlebar and maybe the lack of luggage possibilities.
Conclusion
I drive motorcycle because it makes me feel things. Instead of wasting time on some tram on the way to and from work I can actually have fun while travelling. So do I go for the practical bike or the fun bike? The fun bike of course (to some extent). I'm reading that the 2013-hypers has raised the handlebar some to be able to sit more comfortable. At the moment I couldn't afford a new Hyperstrada, but suddenly I receive an offer for a barely used Hypermotard 2013. And it's 3/4 of the price of a new one. I'm in heat, and have to buy it. I did.
After purchase
After bying it I was pleasently surprised with the fact that I can build on luggage features like the on the strada. And also the lesser engine feels actually more powerful than the old 1100. It feels like it has endless power over the entire register and some real attitude.
I'm a happy Ducati owner!
