slickwill

Today I visited "MotoSports" the local Ducati dealership to see what they could do for a deal on an 848 (I'm just "researching"). I sat in there for awhile just talking to the salesman and petting the shop cat. A friend that rides a very clean 800SS walked in and we talked for awhile. I was getting ready to leave when the salesman said, "have you ever ridden a Hypermotard?" I told him I hadn't, he said that I should. So one signature later he was saying, "you know where the good roads are, have fun."

First off- Luckily the salesman warned me about the Brembo Monoblocs. Wow, I want a set of those on whatever I own from here on out. Those things are awesome. More stopping power with one finger than my whole hand will give on my brakes. After getting back on my bike I kept almost running into things because I wasn't braking enough. Monoblocs Rock!

Secondly- It took me a bit to get comfortable with the seating position, about 7 seconds. Way better for normal every day riding, and yet, I never felt completely at ease, I'd like everything to be lowered an inch. It was just foreign to me. Not bad, just foreign. I could get used to it and wish that I could afford to do just that.

Nextly- What's not to like about an 1100cc Twin? Other than not enough revs, not much. What a torque beast. A little extra throttle (very little IMO) found me leaving a stop sign on one wheel (freakin' squids). Okay, so that scared the bejeebus out of me. 5th and 6th gear above 65mph it really felt like it was losing steam. That's where you could tell that it gives up a solid 25hp to my old 600, so that would be 35hp to a new 600. Around town though the first three gears are positively hooliganish. I kept looking down and I'd already be going 60mph without feeling like I'd even got moving yet. All that torque is veddy, veddy, sneaky. It was silly fun.

After that- Ohlins suspension front and rear, felt nice but I'm no expert. Mostly it just looked really sweet. I wonder if it can be lowered an inch?

Even more after that- The bar end mirrors are WAY more useful than the pointless mirrors on the 848. I really liked them. Just remember to fold them out before starting unlike me.

Then- The speedo is really small, really. A digital tach with stupid little bars and no marked redline. There is a nasty red light that flashes when you get there but I was busy looking at the road. It had a little mode selector switch to get even more info like the other Duc's, I saw odo, water temp, and who knows what else.

Nearly lastly- It was probably only 75 degrees here today but I never noticed any excess heat anywhere.

Lastly- I could only ride one if also had a sport bike. It would be awesome as a daily ride, commuter, track play bike, but I couldn't own just a Hyper (or any other motard) I'd need something else for my other moods. I can live with just a sport bike, I couldn't live with just a Hyper. It would have to be a second bike. Did I mention that the brakes were awesome and that it had ridiculous torque?

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maxib

I really, really enjoy your reports like this. However, if you keep this up you are going to cost money I have earmarked for retirement.

slickwill

If anyone can round up more bikes I'd be happy to keep the reviews coming. You can get on a Ducati with one signature but any of the other shops in town look at me like I'm nuts when I ask about test rides. I really want to take a 600RR and GSX-R 600 out for a joyride, after that maybe a 1000RR, then...

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Shenders1

Not much to add: As you say, big brakes+big torque+comfy ergos.

I believe most of the magazine reviews have also noted that the base engine, while torquey, is somewhat asthmatic. I highly recommend the budget performance package to fix this: $450 cams, $50 air filter, and gut the catalytic converter - Along with a little port work while you've got the heads off.

Even after the engine work my bike doesn't FEEL that fast. As you noted, it always feels like it needs another 1k of rev range. But it's deceptively fast - At Grattan, I kept seeing~145/150 mph (when I could find 6th) indicated at the end of the front straight, and I was able to *almost* hang with the other bikes, something I hadn't predicted. That broad, flat torque curve fools you.

BTW - It is possible to drop the bike an inch or so. You need the adjustable rear link, which comes standard on the S but not on the base. But you'll grind pegs and brake/shift levers. Rearsets needed, I guess.

ccwilli3

when did the 'tard S get ohlins forks? That adds mucho value to the package...

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slickwill

You know what, I know I said Ohlins front and rear but they might only be on the rear. I can't remember now. It might be Showa stuff up front.

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sfarson

Get a kick out of the Hyper S. Yes, serious stopping power, comfort, usable mirrors. I absolutely adore the 2V air cooled Bologna power plant.

I'm OK with its HP (And I ride a 1098R). I find the HP is more than sufficient for the kinds of roads and rides it was designed for. Ride a big motard on open/straight roads or tracks with some of the same, and there are better choices. But take the thing to tight tracks, through twisty canyons, curvy back roads, or even city streets, and it has few peers. Want to go well north of 100mph on public roads? Take it to the track. IMO, the engine is perfect for the purpose. But this is me.

The Hyper @ Juniper Pass

ND4SPD

Sat on one of these at the Duc dealer today, too. It feels a bit porky(not sure of specs) but there is no doubt in my mind that it'd be a blast to ride. It's a very cool/interesting looking bike, I was very intrigued. The 848 is something I definitely want but I think I could be pretty happy with one of these, also. It would certainly be more practical around town and looks to be easy enough to "convert" to ride on the track.

Any of you Ducatistas have highway experience on one? While it certainly looks comfortable enough, the lack of wind protection makes me think it would wear out the rider on a 3-4hr ride to Deal's Gap.

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sfarson

On the highway it is a breezy ride like any naked/standard, but would note one is in smooth air versus dirty/buffeted air common with small fairings. Tank range is not great... ~100-120 miles. It's a light thing -- dry weight ~390lbs.

I know of riders taking the bike on 1000 mile trips, but certainly there are better choices. For sure however, once at roads like Deals Gap the bike has few peers.

Shenders1

I personally think the Hyper would be fairly tiring on the highway. It's very comfortable at a sub-70 mph pace, but starts putting quite pull on your arms at anything over that. It's also pretty sensitive to crosswinds.

Since I spend most of my riding time nowadays either on country roads or at the track, it's pretty much perfect for me: Switching from street to track is about a 30 minute exercise.

My main complaint remains the dry clutch, which gets progressively less well-behaved as it heats up.

ND4SPD

Do these fall into the "50% less maintenance" category that they advertise for the 848/1098? Have you had any issues with yours? Are they plagued by any weird electrical problems? I realize Ducatis have come a long way but I haven't seen them to be extremely reliable. I'm certainly not expecting them to be as trouble free as a Honda but I wouldn't want to constantly worry about getting left stranded either.

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sfarson

Well, instead of main service intervals at 6K miles, now it is at 7.5K miles. Over time this can add up, but again, one typically doesn't put a lot of miles on the Hyper or Superbikes.

Would note this, with many years of Ducati's in the barn, have never had a single problem with them. Just a console recall on the 999 five years ago is it. Even my Honda Blackbird left me stranded when the stator went south.

ScottieDucati

I had a Hyper 1100S loaner while my 848 was in for service and I have to echo a lot of your sentiments... but I got to put a couple hundred miles on it and the tallness definitely fades as you get used to it.

What I can add is that bike on twisty *bumpy* roads is about the most confidence inspiring bike I've ever ridden. The perfect bike around Boston if you ask me, since the roads here are such SH*T.

But I couldn't own one as my only bike, maybe not even as a 2nd bike. I'd need a Sportbike, Sport Tourer and THEN a play bike like the Hyper.

It is gawd awful amounts of fun though My license would be in serious jeopardy if I had one in my stable.

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ScottieDucati

I always have to chime in when someone mentions the 50% less maintenance issue or questionable reliability....

I've owned about a dozen Ducatis, but piled serious miles mostly on my 1992 851 Superbike. Yes, that's right, a 16 year old SUPERBIKE. I put over 18k on that bike in 5 years, and most of those rides were long weekend trips and over nighters to VT. The bike let me down exactly ONCE when a nut holding the clutch assembly in backed out a little, this was w/in 1000 miles of having the clutch replaced, and I chalk it up to error on the mechanic's part when installing the clutch.

Other than that, I took care of the bike, changed the oil frequently and often by myself, and really only took her in for service when you could tell the valves were going out of spec. I regularly checked belt tension as well.

I also absolutely flogged a 748/853 kitted racebike for 3 years, again with ZERO maintenace issues whatsoever.

I've put 1100 miles on my 848 in about 2 weekends worth of riding, and plan to be at that first service by the end of the year. I'll probably try and bring it somewhere where I can look over the shoulder of the mechanic doing the work... so I can get up to speed on the new heads and the valve adjustment proceedure on them. It's ridiculously easy to check your clearances once you've been walked through it... if they're in spec just change your belts once every 2 years or 16k miles and you're good to go.

Ducatis are all about getting the valves checked and adjusted PROPERLY, and then taking very good care of everything else. Changing oil yourself often, checking your belt tension often, etc... go a long way to making the bike a happy bike. Like anything else, go to someone who knows what they're doing for the important stuff.... for example, Seacoast Sport Cycles changed the regulator on my bike before I took delivery, as there is a known issue with the new regulators Ducati used for the '08 bikes.

These little things that a competant dealer SHOULD know about, go a long way to eliminating the stupid gremlins that can drive you CRAZY. If you have a faulty regulator in your bike (regardless of make / model), be prepared to be stranded often and go thru batteries like hot cakes.

Bottom line is, a solid shop who knows what they're doing is more valuable than what maintenance schedule you stick to or expect. Granted, the same shop will not charge you $173 or whatever Ducati NA recommends for the first service, because they'll know that the bike may need more than just an oil change. So pick your poison, pay little amounts often, or get it done right and enjoy miles and miles of trouble free riding.

And yes, I fully expect my bike to not start after leaving work today, just out of spite.

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