Touring on a Hyperstrada

MartyGarrison said:

I'm wondering if anyone has gone much distance with just the carbon beak screen up front?

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Partly depends on height. I'm 6 ft and you get quite a bit of air on your chest without any shield. If you want to push any speed on the superslab, you're going to feel it...

I have the touring screen and a couple hundred miles above 70 mph wipes me out. I don't have necessarily wide shoulders, but thats what gets super fatigued.

I mean, I could slow down, but then all those cars would get in front of me...

Have a carbon beak faring I'm about to mount. For the driving I do, I don't think it will stay on long.

Cheers on that trip. I absolutely loved Long Way Round/ Down series.

Conversely, I find it hard to stay below 70. The aero limits on this bike have helped me determine what I truly desire in my perfect bike. Recipe calls for a Multi...but, I just don't want one. Little too purpose over form for me. I desire a Diavel. I need a BMW or KTM. The pro's of my Hyper still keep me in the "never gonna sell it" category.

gatdammit said:

,,,I find it hard to stay below 70...calls for a Multi...but, I just don't want one...pro's of my Hyper still keep me in the "never gonna sell it" category.

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+1 Amen

I love touring on this thing, of course my idea of touring is finding the least efficient way to get from point a to point be on roads with questionable maintenance records so the hyper is the perfect bike for that. I have the SP so no wind protection whatsoever and the stock seat isn't as comfortable. That said I've put over 10k on it this year and rode it from California to Colorado and back this summer. 12 hour days got a little uncomfortable by the end but I was consistently cruising on the straights of highway 50 in Nevada at 85 - 95. Unless there's a really bad headwind the lack of wind protection doesn't bother me at all.

With my HS I,ve done up to 500 miles in one day, twisty roads, highways etc. Travel 1500 miles in 3 days a couple of times, only with my backpak, more tan enough. Speeds from 40 miles in twisty roads to 120 in straights roads, no problema and great handling.
I,m 60 years old and no sore muscles afterward.

I know, there are much better bikes to travel, but in that case.. Take the car.

So true, the Hyper with the OE little screen is comfortable at 100+ mph. Solid and without a hint of twitchiness. The vast valleys of the Nevada Hwy 50 are straight and true with good paving.

The best roads are those backroads no cruiser, Harley or Gold Wind dare to travel. The Ducati wheels handle the potholes without damage, though I use the throttle to loft the front a bit.

My preference is for 300 very twisty mile days, to up to 600 miles with some highways thrown in.

Experience shows that those who pack a lot enjoy a twisty backroad ride less. Pack mountain climbing light, with pods for laundry, and your travels will be delightful with the Hyper.

Pack a lot and you would be better riding a mule like a GS.

With the different weather systems found on long travels, or in the mountains, I find packing a small & lightweight heated vest replaces the many layers needed to keep your core warm. A warm core is important. My Aerostich vest draws only 45 watts, and keeps me toasty. Addictively toasty, like slipping into a hot tub.

In top riding areas I find that having a central motel room allows leaving bags behind and riding daily fun focused loops.

I've had a few teeth chatteringly cold finishes to rides, been considering heated grips but a heated vest sounds tempting as well.

I bought this vest Hotwired Vest
Folds down very compact and works amazing. Great control fob and works well with matching gloves, but the gloves are so warm I've never needed the heat. Cycle Gear offers a discount for active duty military/ first responders, too.

Heated grips and heated vests are the way forward, wish these were available when I 1st started riding.
I have a couple of heated vests, one that plugs into the bike with different heat settings, its good but you end up cold when you get off the bike.
The latest ones I have bought is the Avade heated base layer, which is battery operated with leads that can either operate the vest and charge the battery at the same time or stand alone battery operated, 3 different heat settings and keeps you warm off the bike too. Even wear it when I'm out and about in winter too. Great for winter golf ;-)

I have the Ducati heated grips and find they work well IF wearing windproof gloves when it is below 60 outside. The handguards help but the gloves are important.

Keep your core warm toasty and you will be safe from hypothermia. If your extremities are cold, your core is already too cold.

Even in the summer, when riding the coast or mountains, I always ride with warmer waterproof AND summer vented gloves. Surprising how often I switch on the grips and add the heated vest when temperatures drop below 70.

A key is to keep track of the total wattage you are drawing from the bike. The switch to LED lighting helps. Turning all heat off for the last several miles helps top off the battery for the end of the days ride.

Some items stored in front are handy, like cellphone and camera. A tankbag just doesn't feel right to me, and makes refueling a PITA. This is where the small handgun handlebar bag the most convenient.



I can carry small items within easy reach AND easily refill the gas.

Traveling is always easier with a GPS and radar detector. RAM mounts make this possible.

I pair a Sena with my iPhone for music and with the radar detector and GPS. Early warning of speed enforcement and verbal turn instructions for my complicated backroad routes.



My hearing is protected using soft silicone custom molded ear monitors which provide 40 db of noise reduction. The Sena has a 3.5mm speaker outlet.



For long distance bike-2-bike, nothing beats the use of the Kenwood GMRS radios. However, we are switching to the use of only the Sena 30K only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS5nxaaRMcQ

From my perspective, touring with the Hyper requires route planning. A good plan connects all of these kind of roads into great rides, day after day.



Yes, these are real roads I ride.









Lonely backroads that allow for photos without concern for traffic.

Agreed on planning. The only day I didn't enjoy on my trip to Colorado this summer was the day a combination of road closures related to fire and exhaustion (make sure your buddies are up for 9 - 12 hours a day before planning as much!) resulted in us slabbing it on I-70 from Grand Junction to Silverton to make time. Backroads are much preferred

2 wheel touring capability is more about that space between your ears than the machine selected. Expectations and what you intend to bring with.



Free yourself from unnecessary stuff and the door to a more exciting form of touring opens.

Overload any bike with stuff and the performance side diminishes. Might as well take a car.

I have lots of bikes. I don't really care for the Hyperstrada, but touring is not a problem. I am 66 years old. Last year I rode over 900 miles in one day on I-40 across Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. I rode at 95mph and the only bike that passed me was an old fat man on a Harley bagger. My only problem was the my right wrist hurt while riding. Why didn't Ducati put an electronic cruise control on this thing?