Ducati Hypermotard 1100S

The Hypermotard takes on urban canyons and mountain curves with total abandon. Its purpose is single-minded - to thrill.

Attack the curves, the bumps, the unexpected – 2008 MODEL EARLY RELEASE
Riding the Hypermotard lets you rule the road. Wide, tapered section handlebars transfer control of the tarmac to the rider and a full length seat eases fore and aft movement – up front when entering the turns, then slide back for maximum traction on exit.

The aggressive 'motard' styling and stance combine with Ducati 'sportbike' technology to deliver the best of both worlds. With a riding position that ensures total control, the exceptionally slim and incredibly light Hypermotard is ready to dominate every inch of asphalt with big-bore acceleration and road holding that redefines the street experience.

High performance starts with attitude and the Hypermotard is the most aggressive of the Ducati family. Reduced to its essentials, it is extreme, untamed, over-the-top and always hungry for the next challenge. It offers what no ordinary supermotard can - speeds exceeding 125mph on the race track, fuel injection, and 90 Desmo hp - all combined in an unmistakeable Ducati package that offers unbridled passion for motorcycles that are truly unique and exhilarating.

The road ahead sets the challenge
When first unveiled at the Milan International Motorcycle show in November 2005, the Hypermotard won instant praise. Just hours after its launch it was awarded "Best of Show" and motorcyclists the world over craved its arrival.

By taking the minimalist supermotard racing concept, then adding Ducati's unrivaled twin-cylinder power and Superbike heredity, the Hypermotard delivers a remarkable experience. The Hypermotard 1100 is extreme and thrilling to ride every day of the week. It turns familiar roads into an all-new heart-thumping experience.

Taking its attitude into the city or the mountains with street-wise confidence and no respect for conformity, the Hypermotard is ready for any challenge.

Features and Benefits

Riding the Hypermotard lets you rule the road. Wide, tapered section handlebars transfer control of the tarmac to the rider and a full length seat eases fore and aft movement - up front when entering the turns, then slide back for maximum traction on exit.

A rigidly triangulated Trellis frame and track-tested chassis geometry is matched
with state-of-the-art suspension. Start off with the road-holding prowess of huge 50mm Marzocchi forks, gripped by a triple screw lower fork crown. These cartridge damper forks work as impressively as they look, with special high rigidity stainless steel sliders and external adjustability for compression and rebound damping, plus spring pre-load. The rear suspension performs with equal precision by using a fully adjustable ZF Sachs shock mounted to a robust single-sided swingarm.

Light Marchesini wheels mounted on large diameter axles are fitted with the latest Z-rated Bridgestone BT014 tyres sporting a fat 180/55 section on the rear. Stopping power is controlled by twin radially mounted Brembo four piston calipers gripping new lightweight 305mm twin discs up front, and a 245mm disc at the rear to make stopping as thrilling as gassing it.

The new 1100 Desmo engine pumps out potent torque and horsepower. Twist the throttle and no matter the rpm, fuel injected power is at the rider's command. The lightweight, 90 degree Twin stands at the pinnacle of more than three decades of Desmo air-cooled development. One ride makes it clear why the 1100 engine has charmed journalists worldwide. This is the perfect motorcycle engine.

A rigidly triangulated Trellis frame and track-tested chassis geometry is matched with state-of-the-art suspension. Start off with the road-holding prowess of huge 50mm Marzocchi forks, gripped by a triple screw lower fork crown. These cartridge damper forks work as impressively as they look, with special high rigidity stainless steel sliders and external adjustability for compression and rebound damping, plus spring pre-load. The rear suspension performs with equal precision by using a fully adjustable ZF Sachs shock mounted to a robust single-sided swingarm.

Light Marchesini wheels mounted on large diameter axles are fitted with the latest Z-rated Bridgestone BT014 tyres sporting a fat 180/55 section on the rear. Stopping power is controlled by twin radially mounted Brembo four piston calipers gripping new lightweight 305mm twin discs up front, and a 245mm disc at the rear to make stopping as thrilling as gassing it.

The new 1100 Desmo engine pumps out potent torque and horsepower. Twist the throttle and no matter the rpm, fuel injected power is at the rider’s command. The lightweight, 90 degree Twin stands at the pinnacle of more than three decades of Desmo air-cooled development. One ride makes it clear why the 1100 engine has charmed journalists worldwide. This is the perfect motorcycle engine.

Instrumentation
The Hypermotard uses Desmosedici GP-styled digital instrumentation. This pure racing, minimalist solution has no switches or buttons to compromise its clean lines. Instead, additional information to the default read-outs is managed by the left handlebar-mounted switch gear, allowing the rider to scroll through and select various menus. The read-out presents rpm in a progressive bar graph and the speed numerically.

Looking clean and purposeful, the display provides an extensive amount of data including: speedometer, rev counter, clock, maintenance schedule, oil temperature, oil pressure warning light, battery voltage, fuel reserve warning light, reserve fuel trip, indicator light, neutral light, injection system diagnostics, lap time memory storage, automatic light-off function after 60 seconds with key on and immobiliser status. In addition, it can list lap times recorded by using the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch.

As the Hypermotard comes Ducati Data Analyser (DDA) ready, the instrument display also doubles as a control panel for the activation of the data acquisition system. The DDA memory key and software is available as a Ducati Performance accessory.

Handlebars and controls
One glance down at the Hypermotard controls is enough for the rider to understand that this is no ordinary Ducati. While its motard feeling is enhanced by the minimalist layout, handguards and tapered handlebars, the radial clutch and brake pumps with their remote reservoirs show its Superbike heritage.

The fully adjustable clutch and brake levers not only enable a comfortable setting for all riders, but the clutch also sports a considerably lighter lever action. This is partly because of the lever arrangement, but mainly because an increase in clutch plate friction coefficient has allowed a reduction in clutch spring pressure.

Folding mirrors
Once again, Ducati has pushed motorcycle design limits to find an innovative solution for the Hypermotard mirrors. With the challenge of maintaining a clean, racing look around the handlebar area, designers created a new folding mirror concept which is styled on the handguards typically found on off-road bikes. Flipped out for high visibility street mode and easily folded in for a quick change to 'Hypermode', the mirror handguard assemblies also integrate the LED directional indicators for an even cleaner front-end.

Footpegs
In order to offer the opportunity of maintaining a minimalist, no-compromise image, the Hypermotard's passenger footpegs are designed to be removable. This attention to detail enables a clean 'monoposto' look when on the track while allowing a fast and easy change to 'biposto' for the street. Furthermore, the rider's footpegs have a removable rubber insert so as to increase boot grip on the peg during extreme competition use by exposing the serrated metal edge.

Lighting and indicators
While the headlamp introduces a new and highly compact lighting shape which blends with the single piece nose fairing and front fender moulding, the rear light employs a specially designed strip of LEDs enhanced by a high diffusion lens shaped into the sleek lines of the tailpiece. The same LEDs are intensified under braking. The front directional indicators also employ the latest in LED technology for illumination, and are ingeniously integrated into the handguards that also support the foldable rear view mirrors.

Tailpiece
The high intensity LED rear light assembly is moulded into a unique tailpiece positioned high behind the seat. The supporting structure has been designed so that the under part of the tailpiece is formed perfectly to offer a sturdy pair of pillion grab-handles. This ingenious solution not only helps to merge the rear light into the Hypermotard styling but also provides a safe grip for passengers.

Ducati Data Analyser (DDA)
With the purchase of the DDA, which includes PC software, a USB-ready data retrieval card and instructions, owners can review and analyse the performance of the Hypermotard and its rider, and make comparisons between various channels of information. The DDA is available from Ducati Performance Accessories.

Normally used on race bikes only, the system records numerous channels of data including throttle opening, vehicle speed, engine rpm, engine temperature, distance travelled, laps and lap times. The system also automatically calculates engine rpm and vehicle speed data so as to display gear selection as an additional channel of information. At the end of a ride or track session, up to 2MB (approximately 3.5 hours) of data can be downloaded to your PC ready to compare, analyse and get an inside view of the rider's and the Hypermotard's performance.

Data can be analysed in graphic form with options to zoom into detail of specific sections. Dragging a trace along a timeline to reveal individual values of the above listed channels enables the user to analyse performance in the same way as data technicians in factory teams.

Exhaust System
The Hypermotard's 2-1-2 catalytic exhaust system with lambda probe is Euro 3 compliant. Its lightweight and compact design is achieved using 1mm thick tubing which terminates in Ducati's trademark twin under-seat, black exhaust mufflers, stylishly contrasted with great looking aluminium end caps.

DESMOPOWER
The Hypermotard 1100 is powered by the incredible Ducati two-valve, air-cooled, Desmodromic Dual Spark engine, giving it outstanding power delivery, from grunting low rpms to the singing howl at redline. The Hypermotard 1100 engine, which is an EVOlution of the Multistrada 1100 engine, flexes its muscles with a big 98mm bore and short 71.5mm stroke to make 90 horses and 76 pounds of torque.

In keeping with its extreme character, engineers chose the Ducati 'dry' racing-style clutch for the Hypermotard, the popular preference of thousands of Ducatisti the world over. Furthermore, the primary drive gears have been advanced with a new lightweight construction.

Power is optimised with fuel injected into 45mm throttle bodies and a 2-1-2 exhaust system that exits high behind the rear of the saddle.Two spark plugs per cylinder, Dual Spark, optimises combustion temperatures and increases maximum power and torque throughout the rev range, enhancing reliability and reducing fuel consumption.

Compact and purposeful, the Desmo Twin engine's lightweight and narrow L-Twin layout, no wider than a single cylinder, ensures that the bike is lean and agile. The air-cooled design eliminates all the water radiators, hoses, valves, reservoirs and pumps, keeping the motorcycle's weight down to a minimum 390lbs (177kg) and its lines clean and race-like.

With more experience and success with twin-cylinder high performance engines than any other manufacturer in the modern era, the air-cooled L-Twin remains central to Ducati's philosophy of motorcycling. This experience, plus constant investment in quality by design, advanced materials and engineering techniques, has allowed Ducati to reduce the cost of scheduled maintenance by as much as 50%.

Adding 'S' to the Hypermotard takes the thrills and road holding to the highest level.

The outstanding Marzocchi 50mm forks of the 'S' include a durable low friction, DLC (diamond-like carbon) black coating to the sliders, making the Hypermotard 'S' respond effortlessly to every minute variation in the tarmac and improve its already impressive road holding. The advanced 'S' suspension is further enhanced with an Öhlins remote reservoir rear shock, renowned in racing circles as the ultimate performance choice. This incredible shock is fully adjustable for compression and rebound damping and spring preload ensuring that the 'S' is readily adaptable to riding style and every road it challenges.

With a bike as capable as the Hypermotard 1100 S, superior stopping power is fundamental. By using the same Brembo Monobloc calipers first introduced to the world on the new 1098 Superbike, world class braking performance is assured. Each caliper is created from a single casting, as compared to the conventional two piece construction, to ensure rigid flex-free operation and a consistent solid 'feel' at the lever. And to ensure that the look of the calipers matches the 'S' personality, each is machine finished.

Professional racers know that one of the best ways to improve the handling and performance of a motorcycle is to reduce unsprung weight by upgrading to superior lightweight wheels. Even from a distance, the black Marchesini wheels with red pin-stripe confirm the 'S' performance of this Hypermotard. Created from forged then machined alloy, both front and rear wheels are significantly lighter (2 kg less than the standard version) and create a lower moment of inertia and unsprung weight for improved handling and quicker steering. Mounted to the wheels are new Z-rated Pirelli Diablo Corsa III tyres. Designed to deliver racing performance on the road, they warm up quickly, give great feedback, are stable under severe braking and feature dual compound construction on the rear.

The 'S' lightweight performance and extreme look is further enhanced with the liberal use of carbon fibre. The advanced composite is used for the fork protectors, timing belt covers, front fender rear section and tail side covers.

The Hypermotard 'S' - maximum performance, minimum weight, extreme attitude.

Review

Without a doubt the Ducati Hypermotard 1100S represents the evolution of the supermoto classes' sexy side. While the original single-cylinder motocross-style hybrids represent the rough and tumble, multi-purpose approach to the motard philosophy, Ducati's creation represents a new era of purpose-built machines that combine the best of sportbikes, supermotos and streetfighters, wrapped in an audacious package. Although the liquid-cooled Singles are competent in their own right, none of them have demonstrated the sex appeal or created the buzz equivalent to the Hypermotard's between the time of its 2005 unveiling at Milan to the production version's official release earlier this year.

The buzz for me became real as soon as I thumbed the starter for by my memorable first ride on the Motard, as it could have easily landed me in the county pen for a few days. I left no traffic law un-violated during an epic two-hour commute home on my personal favorite backroads. Although the Hypermotard may not have been intended as a pure hooligan bike, that doesn't mean it can't tap into a rider's inner thug. I usually try not to ride like a moron, but I just couldn't resist on this bike with the end of summer approaching faster than the entrance to the next sweeper. I was compelled to approach every corner as fast as possible, while maintaining a slight margin for error of course, with the rear wheel swapping, brakes howling and my pulse a palpitatin'.

Just looking at Ducati's hottest plaything is enough to get your heart racing. It is a showcase of technological elements representing the best of Bologna, as envisioned by the company's renowned motorcycle designer Pierre Terblanche. What started as a plan to address Ducati's lack of a player status in the increasingly fashionable supermoto class, evolved into Terblanche's vision we have here. Choosing to take the proven goodness of the Multistrada and narrowing its focus to the adventurous side of the performance spectrum by dressing it up with the appropriate sporting accoutrements, Terblanche has simultaneously came up with a design that retains the Ducati charisma, fills the playbike void and redeems his status in the hearts of Ducatisti who did not exactly embrace his last creation, the 999. All this accomplished without requiring an entirely re-tooled assembly line.

The Hypermotard and Multistrada actually have a lot in common including, but not limited to, the motor and chassis. These battle-tested pieces are the heart of the Hypermotard 1100S, while the striking appearance and playful personality characterize its soul. Behind the tubular steel trellis frame is an air-cooled dual-spark 1078cc mill, which features a 98 x 71.5mm bore and stroke and 10.5:1 compression ratio fed fuel by a Marelli EFI system with 45mm throttle bodies, all of which are shared by the Multistrada 1100. This combination is surprisingly potent in application. The unobstructed view of the entire DS1100 powerplant allows the magnesium-colored aluminum engine cases and carbon fiber inspection cover to provide the eye-candy for the intrigued ignoramuses that are certain to gather around it at every stop.

Inevitably those Q&A sessions often start at the intriguing backside of the bike. The single-sided swingarm, sourced from the Multistrada, holds a lightweight forged-aluminum Marchesini 17" wheel wrapped in wide 180-series Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa III rubber. A two-piston Brembo caliper and 245mm rotor are tucked between the wheel and the swingarm whilst a fully adjustable remote-reservoir Ohlins shock adds the finishing touch to the sporty components on the rear. While a few key pieces are shared with other models, the trellis sub-frame is designed specifically for this bike. It holds the long motocross-style saddle and provides a place to pack all the sophisticated electronics out of harms way.

Notice how the exhaust pipes are routed along the underside of the sub-frame and the pair of bland, round black aluminum exhaust canisters are tucked strategically beneath the tail section. As usual, the heat emanating from the exhaust can get annoying in stop-and-go traffic, but all but disappears when underway. Thankfully, they sound better than they look too, but it is easy enough to replace those eyesores with the accessory Termignoni Carbon homologated silencer kit. Do it, and suddenly the unobtanium factor doubles. That small, red aerodynamic wing above the exhaust actually serves as both the taillight assembly housing and passenger grab handle by the way. Everything has a purpose in Terblanche's minimalist design.

At the tip of the spear is an undeniably Ducati red nose piece that is curiously reminiscent of the 999. The front fender/ headlight assembly has a quartet of nacelle ducts that break up the pointed and angular appearance. It doesn't offer much in the way of wind protection but it ties in with the faux intake shrouds that serve as the only significant bodywork found on the entire bike. The matte black fuel tank cover with aluminum gas cap is a nice contrast that completes the basic black/red theme. The bars are really wide and the hand guards have LED indicators integrated into them. What's really cool, is that the flip-out mirrors that can be easily tucked away when the need arises. With them in their operational position the view is excellent but looking at it in motion it reminds me of a kayaker holding the paddle horizontally before entering a tough section of rapids. It definitely is like nothing on two wheels I've seen before.

The instrument cluster is best described as dainty but it's packed with all the information necessary to make the jump to warp speed. It features a speedometer, tach, clock, lap timer, injection system diagnostics, trip fuel to empty monitor, low fuel warning light (no gauge), oil pressure, oil-temperature, battery level as well as the flux capacitor hyperdrive engagement mechanism. All of these functions are controlled by a switch on the left handlebar.

A fully-adjustable 50mm DLC-coated Marzocchi long-travel fork with a matching Marchesini 17" front wheel and 120-series Pirelli tire do a stellar job of absorbing road imperfections and remain well composed throughout all the riding environments we could throw at it on the street or the track. A pair of gigantic 305mm discs and radial-mount Brembo Monobloc 4-piston calipers, the same units found on the new 1098 superbike, ensures the braking system is as equally impressive as the suspension. It even comes equipped with steel-braided brake lines for good measure. Just by looking at the brakes you can imagine how powerful they are, but despite this they offer up a surprising level of feel which allows the rider to trail brake without fear, diving deep into turns while modulating their awesome power like a pro. Be aware, they are not fail-safe. These are the brakes of the Gods and they deserve and require respect because the feel is there but it's up to the rider to make good use of it. The superb feel at the radial-mounted lever can deceive any mortal to feel superhuman on the brakes when bringing the ride-ready 431-lb shredder to a stop.

As soon as you straddle this tall, thin machine with its 33-inch seat height, it makes no excuses for being a supersonic dirtbike with a healthy dose of Ducati design elements, foremost among them being its big-bore Desmodromic Twin delivering smooth, buzz-free power that the single-cylinder street-legal supermotos can only dream of. Clamp your legs around its cold tubular steel frame and embrace the smooth minimalist body panels covering the tank. The slight cut-outs offer a semblance of a leverage point in the tighter, more aggressive turns but it's so thin it's damn near a moot point. The small footpegs feature removable rubber inserts, so you can adjust them or the shift lever's toe pad to suit your needs. The wide bars are low, like a sportbike, which gives taller riders an elbows-out aggressive stance, but it feels very much like a bike ready to race the Baja to me.

Surely the wide bars attributed to the ease of which it turns in, but it is ridiculously easy to toss the bike back and forth. It's so thin and well balanced that it can lull you into a false sense of confidence that you can go faster on a familiar road. Once I realized I was pushing my luck on my memorable first ride, I backed it down and started trying to carry power wheelies over the rises and other less treacherous behavior, so as not to auger this piece of art into an oak tree just because my medulla oblongata took control of my throttle hand for about a half hour. What I did learn from my angry country cruise is that the Marzocchi fork was more than up to task under any condition public roads have to offer. When our more experienced riders got a hold of it on the track they had nothing but praise for it as well.

The riding position places the rider up on the tank with a clear view of the road ahead. Weight bias reveals that 47% of the bike's weight is on the front wheel, so coupled with the rider's weight loading another buck-fifty to the nose it makes sense that the Hypermotard goes where it's told. With steering geometry set at 24 degrees of rake and 99mm (3.9-inches) of trail and its relatively short 57.3-inch wheelbase, it's easy to imagine that you're destined for a head-shaking good time. But just like the Multistrada, from which this chassis originated, it doesn't get out of line unless you're on the gas, the front wheel's light and the road is rough. It has the chassis and suspension to hang with anything short of a pure repli-racer on the road or track and enough inherent stability to wax a pure supermoto on anything this side of a go-kart track. But does it have the motor to seal the deal?
 

Despite its relatively uninspiring dyno numbers, the motor feels more peppy and ready to rumble than you'd expect - 78 horsepower never felt so good. The Hypermotard is deceptively fast, accelerating hard with a 60 lb-ft spread of torque that peaks at 66 lb-ft around five-grand. It's capable of lofting the front wheel with ease in the first two gears of its very slick-shifting and precise 6-speed transmission. A respectable 11.70-second quarter mile at 114 mph isn't going to challenge a supersport in a drag race, but it has more available torque than any modern 600, so it won't get absolutely waxed if the rider is on top of things either. Even the dry clutch proved to be durable through our hard riding antics, dyno runs and performance testing. That's right, this beauty makes a lot of racket while idling, but the reason Ducati opted for this set-up was that it allows for a much easier swap to the $980 accessory slipper clutch for folks that want a little bit more go-fast goodness to work with. To say this bike is entertaining is a gross understatement, but not everything is good in the world of the Hypermotard.

Over the course of our torrid affair a few things popped up that I didn't like, most of which are centered around rider comfort - the most painful problem being the shape of its motocross-style seat. It's fine when you first climb on and its easy to accept in small doses, but after a couple long days in the saddle and moving around during aggressive riding, the seat starts to induce the dreaded chaffed-butt syndrome on the inside buns because of its narrow design and firm padding. There's absolutely zero wind protection, except for the rider's hands which are out of harms way behind the crash guards, so early morning or late night rides can get chilly quick. It will please some of you to know that the headlight works very well. It cuts a wide swath through the darkness but it isn't as bright as the projector beam on a bike like the Multistrada.

Then there are a couple issues with those trick mirrors. While they work well when adjusted correctly, they get blurry at high speeds. Additionally, when the nifty fold-out feature is constantly being shown to onlookers, they eventually work loose and become prone to moving with the force of the wind if you don't stay on top of the adjustment dial. Of course, the only way to tighten them is when the bike is at a standstill, so if they start migrating it requires you to bring the ride to a stop to get things back in order. Another gripe is the 36 mpg average fuel consumption, which is great considering it's hard to keep the pace mellow, but the modest 3.3 gallon fuel capacity equates to roughly a 120 mile range of service. Considered as a commuter and weekend warrior this is not a big deal, but if you have any notions about adventure touring this sexy beast then it will require quite a few fuel stops to get to your destination. Really these gripes are a small price to pay for such a trick set-up but I know how you all get when I don't point this stuff out.

From the moment I first laid eyes on this piece of Italian exotica its appearance stole the show and that never changed as I soaked in everything it had to offer in our short period of time together. Like any budding relationship, the honeymoon period was comprised of copious hot and sweaty romps through an assortment of locales until the novelty started to wear off. Fortunately, in the case of the Hypermotard, it never really wore off. I still wish it was at my beck and call at this very moment. What is simply irresistible about the bike is its combination of razor-sharp handling, rider-friendly power delivery from the overachieving motor and the intangible value of its appearance. The issues that did come up don't detract from the overall goodness especially since its never been billed as anything but a high-end alternative to the street-legal Singles that make up the majority of options in this market.

If a potential suitor is intrigued by the pseudo-supermoto lifestyle but they are not interested in having their fillings rattled out and have discretionary income to the tune of $13,995 for the S-model or $11,495 for the equally entertaining though not as aesthetically pleasing standard version of the Hypermotard, then why not go for it? I can hear the complaints already: It's too expensive, it's too narrowly focused, it's no 1098 or pure sportbike. While these are valid points, if that is your state of mind, then this bike is simply not for you and you can sleep easy in your blissful ignorance.

When it's all said and done the question is why would someone buy this bike over a purpose-built sportbike, streetfighter or supermoto? Because the Hypermotard is a blend of the key elements from all of these genres. Its attacking supermoto riding position and flickability, exposed streetfighter-like design elements combined with top-shelf sportbike quality suspension and braking components make this bike an attractive way for sport riders to be lured away from the blinding light of the rising sun and into the seductive underworld of the Ducatisti. Believe the hype.

Source Motorcycle-USA