nklr ducati hypermotard test ride

[mikeypep]

We went to the AMA road races at Road AMerica yesterday and got the opportunity to test ride the new Ducati Hypermotard. The test ride was awesome' 30 miles through the rolling countryside of eastern Wisconsin. We got to hard-accelerate and lots of twisties. I have to say, this bike is awesome. Like a KLR on steroids, with 17 inch wheels up front, with better shocks---. Ok, so it really wan't at all like the KLR. But then it did inspire the same feeling of comfort and confidence my KLR does. Mega power. Touch the pegs and power on and its like a blast of nitrous that doesn't end. The exhaust is like a double Supertrap on the KLR. I got a bit annoying. Shifting was impecible. Didn't shift into 6 til 65MPH. The digital dash just doesn't cut it for me. I'm spoiled by the sweeping gages on my KLR. Good seat to peg distance for my 6' heigth and 32 inch inseem. Overall-outstanding. For the cost of 2 brand new KLR's you could ride this Ducati. The 45 miles ride home (in pouring rain) was just fine. As much as I liked the Ducati I don't think I'll be ponying up to this one for awhile, but for those of you who want more power on a real looker and can afford 11 large,this one is worth considering. Complaints? Only one. The throttle roll-on is terrible. The first bit of throttle is strictly "snap". Once under way throttle response is pretty good, but off idle it was very difficult to control.