A few years ago I had one of the most miserable rides of my life on a Ducati Hypermotard. I gallantly volunteered to take my girlfriend to some country show in Guildford and on the way back the heavens opened and it bucketed down with rain. Proper cats and dogs stuff. The Hyper had next to no weather protection, I was wearing jacket and jeans and by the time we got home we were both cold, wet and decidedly miserable. On a sunny day the old air-cooled Hyper is a cracking laugh, but practical is never something I would ever have thought of calling it. However for 2013 Ducati reckon it has added a whole new touring dimension to the new Hypermotard with the Hyperstrada variant.
Panniers suggest pretensions to touring
The first generation of Hypermotard used the Monster air-cooled V-twin engine. However this year Ducati has given the new Hypermotard a unique liquid-cooled V-twin and created a family of quirky looking bikes. The 821cc Testastretta engine not only has a liquid jacket, it also gets a four-valve head and a claimed 110hp alongside the usual electric gubbins of traction control and variable fuel modes.
While the motor is the same in the three models of Hypermotard, the SP variant gets lightweight wheels and trick suspension while the Hyperstrada is equipped with a taller screen, centre stand, soft panniers and a comfort seat. So, is this really a practical Hypermotard?
Launch control
The Hypermotard has always had something of a unique seating position. When you are riding it you get no view of the front end as the Ducati is short and stumpy like a supermoto. It's a bit unusual but not uncomfortable. The Hyperstrada's new seat feels sculpted while the bars are nice and high and the pegs pretty low. All in all it's a comfortable short hop machine, clutch issues aside.
Characterful motor's range says otherwise
Pulling away on the Hyper is pretty tricky as the lever has a horrible biting point. The clutch grabs at the last few millimetres of lever travel, causing a jerky getaway and often a near stall. Riders who have spent long periods with the Hyper all say the same thing, meaning it's just something you have to get used to. And once you successfully get the clutch out the engine is charming in its performance.
Tour of duty
A lot of the fun of the old Hyper came from the air-cooled motor's instant punch. While the new liquid-cooled bike doesn't feel quite as enthusiastic or grunty, it has a reasonable amount of poke and seems to rev up pretty quickly. With a top speed of around the 120mph mark it isn't blindingly fast, however it will happily get to over 70mph with a fair degree of haste and reasonable fuel economy.
Clutch has a nasty bite and is hard to master
I was seeing mid 40s when it came to mpg, which is decent enough. However, with just a 16-litre tank, the Ducati needed filling up around the 120-mile mark. With a bike aimed at touring this seems a little short, like the screen! On the subject of fuel range, why Ducati hasn't given the Hyperstrada a fuel gauge is both a mystery and extremely annoying.
Staying power
Ducati's claim the Hyperstrada is a touring bike isn't especially convincing then. Although I found it comfortable enough, the lack of weather protection and poor fuel range limit its ability to effectively cover long distances. Overall the Hyper is an entertaining commuter that looks good and performs pretty well. Should you get a bit excitable the Ducati can hustle through the corners and although the pegs scrape pretty easily this only adds to the fun. But there is a catch - the price.
Distinctive, fun and, sadly, rather expensive
With a price tag of £10,650 the Ducati is too little bike for the money. Yes it is great fun, but for this cash you can get a Triumph Tiger Sport and still have £1,000 left over.
After riding the Strada for nearly 1,000 miles in a week it is certainly a very entertaining machine to ride, if not a tourer or particularly pleasant for a pillion. Good looking and fun to ride at lower speeds if you're putting in the miles something a bit more substantial is probably sensible.
DUCATI HYPERSTRADA
Engine: 821cc V-twin
Power: 110hp@9,250rpm (claimed)
Torque: 66lb ft@ 7,750rpm (claimed)
Top speed: 120mph (est)
Weight: 181kg (dry)
MPG: 45
Price: £10,650