Initial Media Report HM Riding Impression - Ducati.ms

dukepilot · May 7th, 2007, 11:06 am

Looks like Ruben likes it

From Visordown news...

I WANTED to give you a taster of what Ducati’s new Hypermotard is like. I’m currently out in Sardinia riding Ducati’s brand new Hypermotard, which isn’t a bad way of spending a bank holiday weekend, well if it wasn’t raining…

Yes, it’s been a bit of a wash out, the road ride this morning on the standard bike was a bit damp (luckily I packed my jeans rather than my waterproofs) but it did dry up for the track test of the S version.

Tell you what; this bike is a bit special. Ok, the 1100cc air-cooled engine isn’t the fastest thing out there (I saw 200kph on the clock on the road) but Ducati has giving it a dry clutch (30% lighter action, so non-gorilla handed people can now operate it) and lightened some internal components. It revs up quickly and wheelies like a supermoto should, which upset the Ducati people who were guiding us on the road.

On the track the S version (uprated suspension and brakes) handles better than other big supermoto bikes. The chassis is excellent and the brakes something else, which isn’t surprising, they are the same mono-block calipers as the 1098’s! And the Hypermotard only weighs 177kg.

Highlight of the day? Ruben Xaus overtook me sideways, tyre smoking, knee on the deck and with one hand giving it the ‘V’ sign to the cameraman. Flash twat (I nearly ran off the track watching him).

Read the full review in the next issue of Two Wheels Only magazine, out the end of the month.

Cheers, Jon

jonniedee · May 7th, 2007, 1:04 pm

Looks like you'll need both knee pucks and flat track boot plates to get the most out of this beast

AWESOME

baldheadeddork · May 7th, 2007, 4:14 pm

Quote:

Ducati has giving it a dry clutch (30% lighter action, so non-gorilla handed people can now operate it)

Did hell just freeze over??? They finally changed the clutch actuator???

Florida_lime · May 7th, 2007, 4:16 pm

Attention AZScott:

Is this when he 'wadded it' ?

AZ_Scott · May 7th, 2007, 10:31 pm

Okay, ya' got me. Ruben Xaus never crashes.

LOL!

But yeah, that shot is pretty amazing! Hey, I like the guy, and he's a fantastic rider, but you have to admit, you see Xaus pushing a motorcycle at a racetrack, there's about a 99.9% chance you can guess what just happened. (And it's not like I'm immune. Check my avatar...)

Florida_lime · May 7th, 2007, 10:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ_Scott

Okay, ya' got me. Ruben Xaus never crashes.

LOL!

But yeah, that shot is pretty amazing! Hey, I like the guy, and he's a fantastic rider, but you have to admit, you see Xaus pushing a motorcycle at a racetrack, there's about a 99.9% chance you can guess what just happened. (And it's not like I'm immune. Check my avatar...)

I thought that you were pushing it back to your pits after ... a plug chop --
right ?

**cassos** · May 8th, 2007, 12:29 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ_Scott

Okay, ya' got me. Ruben Xaus never crashes.

LOL!

But yeah, that shot is pretty amazing! Hey, I like the guy, and he's a fantastic rider, but you have to admit, you see Xaus pushing a motorcycle at a racetrack, there's about a 99.9% chance you can guess what just happened. (And it's not like I'm immune. Check my avatar...)

If that was the case then he must have cost a lot to Ducati as apparently he did that many times that day...