Going Hyper in the dirt... - Ducati.ms

bennyhab · Jul 19th, 2010, 12:10 pm

i just picked up my first Hyper and love it! after riding it 4,500 miles from Los Angeles (where i bought it) to my home in Alaska i feel like i know it pretty well. apart from some close encounters of the Bear kind and a tire scare in the middle of 'no where', all went well and the bike is so perfect! i got some dirt and bugs on it during the trip. and my intentions are to leave it that way. you can call me crazy if you want, but i plan to use if for Dual Sport purposes. we have some really great dirt/gravel roads in Alaska and some even cooler mining roads that all require too much pavement to get to than my patience level on a KLR.
has anybody set a Hyper up for such purposes that would be willing to give me some helpful hints? ...how to turn an 08 HM1100 S into a HM Adventure 1100 S? Panniers? Center stand? Best 17" tires for mixed dirt use?

WakeDude · Jul 19th, 2010, 12:36 pm

Bennyhab,

I think that the 2009 and prior multistrada centerstands would work except I remember hearing there was a problem with one of the headers. Also make sure to get the DP skid plate for the Hyper. Best 17" mixed dirt tires I believe are the Dunlop D616. tire link.

For panniers I was looking at the Wolfman Dry packs, but the problem is mounting the specialized rack system. panniers

Hope this helps.
-Alex

Giest · Jul 19th, 2010, 11:37 pm

I have taken my HM on some dirt roads(short cuts) and to be honest this bike, to me doesnt not feel at home off hardball. I know that traditional SM's do it but this bike is just too asphault-centric. But this is my opinion. Maybe I just dont have the balls to dirt this thing at any speed.

joshuaz2 · Jul 19th, 2010, 11:48 pm

i have played off road with mine a little and found that with the rear set down as low as you can get it and the front high it is a lot better at speed in the dirt. also run the tires down pretty low in pressure. on gravel roads you can do some awesome high speed slides. i run the cortech soft luggage and have had no problems. make sure you check the wiring where it runs under the seat support. with a lot of vibration it will rub thru and cause weird electrical problems.

EarthBM · Jul 20th, 2010, 10:45 pm

also search the intrawebs or advrider for "strada avventurosa"

bennyhab · Jul 21st, 2010, 10:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giest

I have taken my HM on some dirt roads(short cuts) and to be honest this bike, to me doesnt not feel at home off hardball. I know that traditional SM's do it but this bike is just too asphault-centric. But this is my opinion. Maybe I just dont have the balls to dirt this thing at any speed.

i dont know what it will feel like when i get some more appropriate tires on it but i have high hopes... i guess i am hopeful because Hypers have won the Pike's Peak Hill Climb for 2 years running (and this year Ducati entered the new Multi).

bennyhab · Jul 21st, 2010, 11:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshuaz2

i have played off road with mine a little and found that with the rear set down as low as you can get it and the front high it is a lot better at speed in the dirt. also run the tires down pretty low in pressure. on gravel roads you can do some awesome high speed slides. i run the cortech soft luggage and have had no problems. make sure you check the wiring where it runs under the seat support. with a lot of vibration it will rub thru and cause weird electrical problems.

i'll check into the Cortech bags. have you seen the Ortleib saddle bags? wondering how they compare...
have you had any wiring problems with rocks under the seat?
also, i have the extended tank on this bike which is just silly for the range it provides (i can get over 300 miles per tank if i want now)! but with the exposed air filters i worry about really muddy or dusty roads. it already seems to 'not like' the rain.

bennyhab · Jul 21st, 2010, 11:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarthBM

also search the intrawebs or advrider for "strada avventurosa"

thanks for the hint, i hadn't seen that before, i like their stuff! hopefully they'll continue creating mods and add some more for the hyper. maybe i should have been shopping for a multi???

KPK · Jul 22nd, 2010, 1:51 pm

Hyper is great as a street hulligan and a little dirt road faction flat tracking but the suspension is way to stiff for true off roaring so don't try hucking it off any jumps .

ducatichick · Jul 22nd, 2010, 10:04 pm

I've had a great time taking my Hyper 1100 (non-S) "off road" - by off road I mean Forest Service gravel roads in Oregon. Nothing hairy because I don't have the experience for it, but I am quite pleased with how well the Hyper does on loose gravel. I guess I'm comparing to other sport bikes I've had over the years - my 916 was downright scary on gravel!

Last weekend I hit a HUGE pothole that snuck up on me - I can't believe I didn't bend the rim - bottomed out the front suspension.

The rear brake is very predictable - I've tested it and you really have to jam it to make the rear cut loose. The dry clutch with all that torque can be a little challenging at times. I live on a sharp turn on a steep gravel road and often slip the clutch around the whole turn. Running 14 T front sprocket.

I'd probably be more comfy on gravel if I could get my feet on the ground but I'm only 5'4" short. At 130 lb I don't exactly weigh the thing down for traction. I'm currently running Michelin Pilot Power 2CT - would be interested to see how it would feel with off-road tires!

Mine is bone stock except for the rear ride height adjuster that comes stock on the 1100S. I lowered the back about an inch then dropped the front about an inch. Now I can touch a toe on BOTH sides of the bike when I stop! Unfortunately I grind the foot pegs in corners on pavement. Win some, lose some.