Ducati Hypermotard STD

Last year, Ducati unveiled the new line-up of its bike, a Hypermotard. In this article, we try to figure out the changes made to the new 2013 variant.

Design and Style

Ducati has made slight but smart changes in the designing of this new bike. The bike now has a high stance and looks more aggressive than before. It has a V-shaped front styling which includes its headlight, body colored cowl and an integrated black colored visor. The bike has an up-raised front fender which looks very sharp and gets placed just below the headlight of Hypermotard. The LED indicators of this bike have been integrated in the hand guards which gives it a sporty look. In order to make this bike look leaner, Ducati has restyled the black colored rear view mirrors which complements the new look of the bike. The bare space between front fender and tyre gives this bike a nasty look which further gets improved with the new 10-spoke design of its alloy wheels. The bike looks narrow and extremely tall when seen from the side. The tail section of this bike is relatively high and it features a single seat which merges nicely into the up-raised fuel tank. This fuel tank has deep cuts on it which further integrates in to the side engine cover of this bike. Its black finished engine, silencer and extended side panels enhance the look of this bike. The rear cowl of this bike houses its sleek LED tail light. The rear fender of this bike suits the rear fatty tyre and features number plate and indicators on it.

Instrument Console

New Hypermotard has a fully digital dashboard which features a full size LCD. A series of LED indictors is aligned on the top of this dashboard while the LCD houses its digital speedometer, odometer, tachometer and fuel gauge. This LCD also provides other essential information like mileage, average speed, engine temperature, ride mode and time.

Engine and Gearbox

Ducati has used a new Testastretta, L-twin 821cc engine in this bike. This liquid cooled engine can generate a maximum power output of 110 bhp at 9250 rpm. The torque output of this 8 valve engine is of 89 Nm which is available at 7750 rpm. This engine is served with a six-speed manual gearbox which has one gear down and five gears up-shift pattern.

Acceleration and Performance

The bike is magnificent in terms of acceleration and performance. It does 0-100km/hr in less than 4 seconds. The six-speed gearbox of this bike is butter smooth and offers incredible acceleration. It has an impressive power to weight ratio as it only weighs around 175 kgs. Hypermotard has an instant throttle response which helps this bike to catch up-pace in any gear. Ducati has employed an electronic throttle in this bike which senses the need of power and adjusts itself accordingly. Moreover, this engine can perform in three different ways as it has three riding modes. It’s Sport and Touring modes supplies 110 bhp power to this engine while the DTC changes its setting even on the move and gives you high class speeding experience. This bike can cross the speed of 170 km/hr and can go beyond it if pushed hard. The Urban riding mode only supplies 75 bhp of power to this bike which confirms you safe and linear performance. The engine feels quite comfortable at high speeds and the power delivery is also quite linear. This engine lacks any kind of vibration and harshness and sounds extremely refined.

Mileage

The fuel efficiency of this bike depends on the riding modes but you can expect an overall fuel efficiency of around 14 km/ltr from this bike.

Comfort while Driving

Ducati Hypermotard is a very comfortable bike which tries to give you maximum comfort through its modern features. Apart from its full size and well-padded seat, the bike has adjustable hand levers which can be adjusted by the rider to get firm and comfortable palm grip. You can also adjust the level of ABS and DTC with a simple button. The rear set foot pegs gives you the right feel to drive this bike while deep cuts on its fuel tank can be used to grab this bike properly through your knees.

Storage Space and Safety Features

There is no storage space in this bike but it has some new safety features. The 4-way hazard light option and powerful blue colored headlight confirms your safety at night.

Suspension and Brakes

The bike shares it suspension and braking system with its elder siblings. It has front telescopic forks of 43 mm which are fully adjustable while it has aluminium single sided swing arm with Pro link fully adjustable Sachs mono shock at the back. Hypermotard features semi floating twin disc brakes of 320 mm with 4-piston calliper at its front and 2-piston calliper with 245 mm disc brake at the back. ABS is a standard part of its braking system.

Ride and Handling

The long wheelbase of 1500 mm confirms its stability while its high ground clearance of 167 mm helps it while turning. Moreover, the bike impresses you with it off-road ability. It offers light and responsive handling with superb grip of roads through its specially designed tyres. Yes, the bike becomes a bit unstable after 150 km/hr due to its high positioned handlebar but it never becomes scary. The suspension system easily holds this light weight machine while it braking system keeps it under control. It’s a brilliant on and off road bike which can deal with any type of obstruction and still provide you a comfortable ride.

Verdict

The starting price of Hypermotard is INR 11.7 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi (approx., may vary). The bike has certainly improved in terms of styling, performance and handling. It offers exciting features and can give you memorable off road experiences. Moreover, the bike has high quality of fit and finish which differentiates it from regular street bikes. Looking at its brand reputation, we feel it’s a complete value for money bike.