A_R_R_2015_04

DUCATI HYPERMOTARD SP

STORY: NIGEL CROWLEY

PHOTOS: HEATHER WARE

T

his is the third iteration of

the Hypermotard since it

was launched in 2007, to

an audience so enthusiastic

they crashed the Ducati website trying to

get a look at the concept bike. Originally

produced as an 1100, it was joined by a

796cc version at the end of 2009 before

both models were replaced by the water-

cooled 821cc versions in 2013. The saying

“third time’s a charm” certainly seems

appropriate in this case, as the current SP

version we tested is an outstanding and

in some respects beguiling motorcycle.

Brand new from the ground up,

the standard and SP models both use

the second-generation four-valve,

Testastre a 11-degree engine producing

a claimed 110hp at 9250rpm and 89Nm

of torque at 7500rpm. The 11-degree refers

to the valve overlap which, although

reducing maximum power, enhances

the mid-range, making for a more user-

friendly powerplant than the 40ish-

degree versions which are be er suited

to sustained high-rpm operation, ie

sportsbikes.

My seat-of-the-pants dyno can

certainly confi rm the engine’s amazingly

fat and linear spread of power, making

for an incredibly entertaining ride

without needing to scream the backside

off it. In fact, this thing makes such good

power everywhere the tacho is almost

irrelevant as you can pre y much open

the thro le anywhere in the rev range

and get impressive drive. The actual

power curve, as shown on the Ducati

website, looks like it could have been

drawn with a ruler it’s so straight. The

motor is also remarkably smooth once

you get above about 3500rpm, below

which it’s lumpy and vibratey in a nice

big-twin kind of way, making the brake

master-cylinder wobble about on its

fl imsy bracket like a nodding-dog on acid.

One of the fi rst things you notice

about the visually striking Hypermotard

■ Handguards are great for

keeping the weather off or

brushing through traffi c

■ Termignoni exhaust looks

sporty and sounds great

Left-hand switchgear operates

the multifunction instrument

display

50 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER

L

th

d

Marzocchi forks have a racey-

looking titanium nitride coating

ARR112_048-053_Ducati Hypermotard.indd 50ARR112_048-053_Ducati Hypermotard.indd 50 2/3/2015 9:49:55 AM2/3/2015 9:49:55 AM