| Author | Message | ||
     Jerseyguy |
My first impression was that the Hypermotard sits exactly like a dirt bike. Tall with wide bars, long narrow seat and skinny waist. Coming from a life long background of dirt bike riding and racing, (over 46 years) I immediately felt at home on it. It invites you to ride forward and upright with elbows out, just like a motocross bike. It sat much like my YZ250F but not quite as tall and felt nothing at all like my XB12Ss (the monster next to it did sit much like my Buell though). It has a very, very light and quick feeling when riding and is extremely flickable. It wheelies effortlessly like a dirt bike but carries a lot more speed. I didn't get a chance to lay it over much on the test ride and I'm not sure if I'd have my inside foot off the peg and up ala motocross or on the peg and tucked in. The front brake was a one finger pull just like my Buells. This is very much a supermoto inspired bike, more than the Buell TT in my opinion. Visually I think its stunningly beautiful from the side and homely from the front and back. Once I rode it, I really didn't care how it looked. I must admit that I love the damned thing and I think I'll get one. It was such a blast to ride and just mess around on, again like a dirt bike. I will probably sell my motocrosser though and definately not my XB. At $14K for the S its overpriced so I guess I'll have to start saving up. On the negative side, I think I really pissed off the dealer. He saw me wheelieing the thing and messing around in the parking lot. He told me to park it and gave me a look to kill. I really felt bad, but what the hell... these bikes are meant to do that stuff. Just look at all the ads for it. | ||
| Rainman |
It's OK to do that AFTER you buy it. Of course, I watched the owner of the local KTM shop do a wheelie on a 950 Adventure he was riding from the front of the building to the repair dock around the back for an oil change, so it's to be expected. | ||
| Barker |
I try to stay away from duc dealerships. I know if I go in one I might have to leave with that bike. | ||
| Ocbueller |
Did you have to drop a cheek off of the seat to touch the ground? At 5'7" I just make it on the ST4, just don't ask me to back up without getting off and pushing. You can ride my Ducati if I can ride yours. SteveH (see you at bikeweek) | ||
| Swampy |
Daves never got mad when the Big Kid wheelied the Demo Uly through Iron Mountain. I thought it was rude, but he just smiled and said "I thought he would have done a bigger one." | ||
| Crashm1 |
You might want to try a Speed Triple too. I have a friend with one that I've ridden a couple times and it is very similar seating position wise. | ||
| Rick_a |
The stance looks right though it only has 6.5" front travel and 5.6" rear. The KTM 950 Supermoto seems more deserving of the "motard" moniker, though they're both too expensive, heavy, and street oriented IMHO. The "Supermoto" thing is really overused and abused lately. It does look like a lot of fun, though. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Supermoto is the next chopper, bobber, custom mod, it will be over and done right about the time EVERYONE brings one to market. | ||
| Kuuud |
The 'fad' will be over but light, flickable and fun will never be out of style! Bret | ||
| Beachbuell |
it's an awful expensive dirtbike. A Suzuki SM will do the same thing for a third of the price. | ||
| Dapope |
Took both the Ducati Hypermotard and the KTM Superduke for a shake down about a month ago at Corsa superbikes (North of Milwaukee). Both are just silly fun. I like the Duc better but could not live with it as an ONLY bike. The KTM I could - but the bike does not LOOK like A $14,000 bike. I however wouldn't care I dig the "don't care what you think" style. (Message edited by dapope on September 16, 2007) | ||
| Nocompromise |
Dapope, why did you like the Duc better? I'm curious because the Superduke is the only 'new' bike out there that tempts me... but not to the tune of $14k! | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
The Super is something to see in person. Got a close look at one two weeks ago. It aint pretty thats for sure. Hard to give 14k for something so fugly. (IMO) From what the owner tells me, you forget that once you ride it. Guess anything isnt that ugly at speed though. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Supermoto is the next chopper, bobber, custom mod, it will be over and done right about the time EVERYONE brings one to market. i hope it's over soon, dirt bikes with street tires is just ugly. | ||
| Reepicheep |
LOL! I take great pleasure in occasionally riding my 1985 KLR 250 to work (kick start $600 ebay special) and parking it in a row of bright shiny fancy motorcycles. Not to mention kick starting it when it stalls at a stop light  Its fun to be so anti-establishment, and just enjoy a simple machine in simple ways. (occasionally... then its back to the 9sx with 5x the power, 5x the brakes, 5x the suspension, 5x the comfort, and heated grips and HID headlight ). | ||
| Dapope |
Nocomprimise: Don't get me wrong the Superduke is the bike I would buy If I were buying a new bike right now. Hands down no questions asked. Like I said it does not look like a 14K bike but I personally think it is perfect as far as function and styling goes, clean simple and badass (Much like a Buell I think). But...that supermotard had just a touch more soul. Hard to explain. The whole supermotard - good for nothing else but silliness - thing just grabs me somehow right now. And the Duc exhaust (They had Arrow pipes on it), good lord. I need some time alone now....... | ||
| Rick_a |
I am a fan of true supermotards...that is, dirtbikes and dual sports with big front brakes and street tires. These streetbikes with motard-esque qualities are a bit too much of a compromise for my tastes. They aren't much more dirtbike-like than my old S1. If it had a big triple-tree mounted fender and an inch to 1/2" extra suspension travel it would be very similar to these 'motards'. | ||
| Garry |
I demo'd the KTM 950 Supermoto and it's HUGE fun on a twisty road. I could live with that bike (I think) as an only bike. No good for two-up, zero weather/wind protection and you're stuck with soft luggage, but what a grin inducing ride it is. Uber-light handling, almost to the point of nervous. Better have a really light grip on the bars because any input means you're turning NOW. |
