- Loads of fun to ride, with great acceleration and handling
- Wheelie-happy personality keeps you on your toes-- in a good way
- Comfortable passenger seat makes for happy pillion
- Small, forward-tilted saddle gets uncomfortable after a while
- 3.3 gallon fuel tank requires frequent refills
- A bit pricey at $14,495
- MSRP: $14,495 ($11,995 for non-'S' version)
- 1,078cc air-cooled L-twin with desmodromic valves
- 90 horsepower at 7,750 rpm, 76 ft-lbs of torque at 4,750 rpm
- Öhlins suspension with aluminium single-sided swingarm and fully adjustable Ohlins monoshock
- Dual semi-floating front disc, radially mounted 4-piston Brembo monobloc brakes
- Seat height: 33.27 inch
- Fuel capacity: 3.3 gallons
- 2 year unlimited warranty
But the snarling, air-cooled 1,078cc L-twin makes up for many of this bike’s ergonomic shortcomings. The front wheel lightens up under medium acceleration, and a stronger tug at the accelerator lifts the front end with ease. Wide handlebars and an upright seating posture might take some getting used to, but passengers report that the wider rear section of the seat is surprisingly comfortable. Novelty features like outward folding mirrors look cool, but their vibration at higher speeds makes it just as easy to tuck them in for a narrower profile, which comes in handy during lane-splitting (if it's legal where you live, of course...)
Despite its quirks (and inconveniences like a small fuel tank), the Hypermotard grows on you the more you ride it. The ‘S’ version we tested had supple but responsive Öhlins suspension, cool carbon trim and lighweight Marchesini wheels with powerful Brembo brakes, but those amenities came at a $2,500 premium. Though it carries the haughty Ducati name, the Hypermotard-- either in regular or 'S' trim-- is a hard-edged hooligan bike at heart, and those who enjoy a bit of naughty riding should be thrilled with the its irresistible invitations to play naughty on the highway.
>>Click here for a Photo Gallery of the 2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S<<
