speed, I’d be appalled and delighted. And
that’s precisely what riding bikes needs to
deliver in equal amounts. If it doesn’t, you’re
maybe doing it wrong.
You think it needs more power? Oh… you’re
one of those chieftains who feels a 290km/h
top-end on a motard is the deal-maker? Sorry.
You’re going to have to make do with the
shamefully low 200s. Too bad, so sad. Maybe
buy a Panigale?
The Hypermotard is not for everyone. It does
not pretend to be.
This is a bike with ferocious intent built into
its superb DNA. It is the third of its name and
an all-new make-over of the previous 939.
It doesn’t compete with anything. Not really.
It is very much its own thing.
It commutes with elan. It scratches with
purpose. It tours with a cheery and ever so
vague nod at your ageing flesh. You can’t
strap anything to it, and your pillion will not
spend her time relaxing. I would suggest not
taking her. You’ll only dilute the experience,
and no-one’s day will be sunshine.
So it does all of that. But it does so much
more as well.
Just like my old mate, Art, the grinning evil
of my youth – the Ducati Hypermotard 950 is
the embodiment of the cackling in my head.
Yeah, just lead me on.
48 KIWI RIDER