M1100s or Hypermotard

[narcosis]

Guys, I'm new to this forum so forgive me if I ask dumb questions.

I've been a casual dirtbike rider for quite a while, and have never owned a streetbike. I live in Houston, and want something to get to work on when it is a pretty day, and to occasionally hit the twisties outside of town. I want something that will put a smile on my face, but I am not looking to hit 170mph on the beltway. I'm trying to decide between a new M1100s and a Hypermotard. I love the looks of the Monster, but I like the seat position and manuverability of the HM for the traffic I'll likely be in.I'd like to hear what you guys think might be some of the pros and cons of each for my intended use. I may also take whichever bike I get out to the track occasionally, just to get the feel for the bike on some higher speed turns. I'll probably post this question in both the Monster thread and the HM thread, to get a more balanced response. If anyone has both bikes, I'd really like to hear from them...which one do you ride most?

[Spectre186]

The HM is so unique looking, and being a dirtbike fan myself the looks are deady sexy. I also don't mind that the HM has extra suspension travel and such for more shenanigans.

[Borracho]

Coming from dirtbikes myself; the HM's riding position is more similar along with being more neutral.

I took both for lengthy test rides and got a Hyper because of that riding position. I felt that the Monster was in between a Hyper and a Superbike. And my back needed to be more upright 'cause I'm old

Talk to whichever dealer you're going to buy from and ask to take it on a longer test ride. Good luck.

[sduc]

I ride a lot of dirt and have an 05 Monster 1000 and have ridden a Hyper. I like the Monster alot, but would like to get a Hyper also. The Hyper almost feels like a dirt bike made for the street. When I rode the Hyper I was very comfortable right away, it felt like I was on my CRF 450. The Monster has a shorter distance from the peg to seat and longer reach to the bars than the Hyper, making the Hyper more comfortable for the longer rides. I ride in traffic and have no problem manuvering through the traffic in town. Both bikes would be good for the comute to work and I think they would both tear up the twisties equaly. But I would take them both for a good ride before buying one.

[tunefx]

+1 to all the above. My HM makes up for the days I can't take my dirtbike out and vice versa. Especially in the winter. I would find it a rare exception for a dirt rider to not totally enjoy the HM.

[socalrob]

I'll take the other tack & say if I were to only have 1 street bike I could see the Monster being a bit more versatile. I have not ridden one but imagine the Monster to be a bit better at longer distance & two up, although the Hyper can do both. I would hope the Monster has a better tank range.

[Col]

just in case you guys may have missed this from the monster section posted by Ducati Seattle

[johnnymotocros]

My first Duc was a 2001 900SS, which I LOVED to ride, except when carrying a passenger around town. Sold it due to a D. , and later got a 99` 750 Monster which I never learned to like. Never got used to the seating position, and never liked the front suspension which was tiring somehow. I traded it even for a used KLR650. The second I got the Monster, it was downhill, the more I rode on it, the least I liked it, and I know the bike is a great bike, it just did not fit my riding style.
I had two KLR`s, and rode them for around 30k each, that bike is a great bike, I had a lot of fun with it, but it did not fit when riding with street bike groups, even with street tires, I was always behind, I LOVED the KLR, but wanted street wheel and tires, and a big engine.
I knew I wanted a "dirt bike" with street tires/rims, good looks, and a good powerfull engine, brand did not matter, I searched all over, closest I got was a Suzuki 400SM, but lacked the big engine, so I waited and waited, until one day, I entered the Ducati web page because I decided to get a SS with 5 spoke wheels which I always wanted, and guess what, saw a picture of the Hyper, rest was suffering, like a little kid counting the days `till Santa arrives.
I got the Hyper without ever trying one first, I went to the dealer many times just to look at it for hours, the more I looked, the more I fell in love, and the part that I admire the most about the HM is the front forks, those tubes can blow a cow in half if I ever hit one, without suffering much damage.
I ride my HM like a dirt bike, I mean, all over town ( Metro area ) and IT IS EXACTLY what I want and need.
I am SO GLAD I got the HM, I like it more every day.

If you like dirt bikes, you will LOVE the HM.
The Monster is a class by itself, you either love it, or hate it.
If you like super speed and road racing, you are in the wrong track with either.
Try them both first, for a day each ( Rent ) and then decide, please let us know what comes out.
JT

[scooter]

I took a long look at the new Monster last week. Looks-wise, it's not a knockout punch like the Hyper (for me at least) but it is tuned for more power and weighs less. At the price, it's a nice package. The one on the floor that I looked at also had the termis, which helped out a lot in the looks department.

I didn't sit on the Monster, much less ride it, but that's what killed the deal when I bought my GT in Summer, 06. It wasn't that the Monster was truly uncomfortable, it was just that the ergos were odd for me. And it wasn't just the bars. The relationship between my head, arms and legs just seemed wrong.

If was in the marked for a new Duc today I'd ride the Monster, the MTS, the Hyper and a Streetfighter, just for grins. I'm virtually positive I'd still wind up with the Hyper, but that's just me. Spend some quality time with both bikes and make an informed decision.