International Press on the Hypermotard

[cassos]

This web site is used to reviews in English from US, UK, and more, but how about the other countries where English is not on top but Motorcycle is , I am talking about Italy, Spain, France, Japan, etc.

As a dual citizen American and French, I am back in France for summer vacation. As usual bikes are everywhere, and I did not even have to get out of the airport to be immersed back into it. Indeed, my first pit stop at the kiosk after landing provided me with no less than 5 bike magazines with reviews and comparisons around the Hypermotard which was on the cover of two of them, and on the back advertising on 4 out of 5. I guess Ducati France is going for it! Later, I glanced at the French Ducati web site which confirmed that press coverage .


Desmo Magazine #27 of August/September 2007
14 pages review called "pushing to the crime"
Amazing great review with a lot of details, including their own Dyno work and many arguments about it.... I am going to pass on the good that we all know. Here is the bad they discovered:
-Ohlins problems: thin fragile ring on top of the spring, and poorly assembled. Ducati is working with Ohlins on improving the quality which is far from what these guys use to provide.
- Battery problems: the battery gets loose because it is not firmly attached, it is just seating in a box maintained by pressure from the seat. The problem is that the battery is heavy, the foam under the seat does not remain glued, especially as it all gets wet, the result is that the battery moves and even gets disconnected! Furthermore, rain is a big problem this year in Europe. Ducati might be working on a new waterproof box and a tie down system.
Anyway, no big deal, they loved it!
BTW, they call it "La HM" (The HM)


Desmo Magazine : « Hypermotard joueuse » (n°26: juin&juillet 2007)
"Playfull Hypermotard"



SuperMotard Mag #26 July/August 2007
9 pages review called "Pure Blood Red"
Yet another detailed great review.
BTW, I like that they call it "La Ducat" (The Ducat), because my California plate is "DUCAT HM" matching my other bke " HUSKY SM".
They also had another article which was great comparison called "Supermotard vs Roadsters" with 10 bikes involved in 5 side by side comparisons. The Hypermotard was in the challenge #5 where it beats the Triumph 1050 Speed Triple in that test.



L'Integral #63 August/September 2007
Amazing 44 pages comparison called "Naked Bikes".
In this one the Hypermotard ended up ahead on a match against the KTM 690 supermoto
The comparaison on "Naked Bikes" involved:
- KTM 690 SM et 990 Super Duke
- Ducati 1100 S
- Hypermotard et S4R
- Benelli 1130 TNT Sport
- Moto Marini 1200 Corsaro
- Kawasaki Z 1000
- MV Agusta Brutale 910 R
- Suzuki 1250 Bandit
- H-D 1130 Night Rod
- Triumph Rocket III
6 pages Hypermotard is compared to the KTM 690 SM



Moto Revue : « Semelle d’acier obligatoire » (n°3767: juin 2007)
http://www.motorevue.com/site/magazine-1752.html
http://brochures.numeriques.info/docs/_/MR3770/
Comparing the Hypermotard with the new Buell XB12STT
http://www.motorevue.com/site/plus-c...ue--21997.html


MaxiMoto #65 July/August 2007
10 pages article called "Playstation 3" comparing the Hypermotard with the KTM 950 Supermoto and the Buell Super XB12STT
Ducati wins with 69 points over 66 for the KTM and 55 for the Buell
They indicated they want the BMW Megamoto for the next comparison

[sm171]

Originally Posted by cassos

Battery problems: the battery gets loose because it is not firmly attached, it is just seating in a box maintained by pressure from the seat. The problem is that the battery is heavy, the foam under the seat does not remain glued, especially as it all gets wet, the result is that the battery moves and even gets disconnected!

Interesting. I noticed my battery had a clamp that ran on the top of the battery keeping it from moving. When I pulled my seat off the clamp was just dangling there not fastened to anything. I looked at the spare parts manual and don't see it. I wonder if it's a "fix" at the last moment.

[BillyD]

Whenever I go to Europe (which is a lot), I always pick up the rags whether they are in English or not (Ich spreche etwas Deutsch). The coverage is fantastic compared to the usual rubbage available in the States. Thanks for the links.

One of my favorite, was an article from the UK in which the guy strapped on a heart rate monitor to determine what got him going the most: sex or riding his motorcycle. His girlfriend was not pleased.

[dukepilot]

Christian, looks like you're doing a lot of reading on your vacation! With any luck I should have my HM by the time you get back.

[donkeyman]

Thanks for sharing those reviews with us!

[kmh364]

There's a half-a**ed review in one of the British rags (I think it's Two Wheel...couldn't find it on the web). They staged a "hillclimb" (i.e., a timed run up a paved section of some UK track) between the HM, the Buell Super TT and the KTM 950SM. The KTM "won". So far, I haven't seen a proper review in any English-language rag...just press release treacle.

[donkeyman]

Try this one from The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...t/mfbike12.xml

Enjoy.