Riding the Hypermotard 950 is like riding an exclamation point. In part, it’s the tall-in-the-saddle ergos that position your weight over the front wheel; it feels like the Hyper’s 59-inch wheelbase is shrunk in half, like you’re riding a 114 hp unicycle. And then that engine: Ducati’s brash 937cc Testastretta 11° V-twin, punctuating the all-caps riding experience with wide-eyed wheelies and out-loud expletives.
There’s nothing subtle about the Hypermotard, that’s for sure. On paper, however, it doesn’t seem so outlandish. A claimed 114 hp at 9,000 rpm and 71 lb.-ft. of torque at 7,250 rpm, a hardly extreme 25-degree steering head angle, a 425-pound wet weight (sans fuel), lean-angle-sensitive rider aids, and three ride modes; nothing too extreme. But all together, well, it’s Ducati’s definition of a party.
While the engine is used in the SuperSport 950, DesertX, Multistrada 950, and Monster, nowhere does it feel like this. Tuned for low-end torque (80 percent of it is available at 3,000 rpm!), it hits hard off the bottom and maintains its punch through the midrange and beyond. In terms of handling, it’s not like a Panigale, or a Monster, or a SuperSport. Its long-travel suspension is great for soaking up road imperfections, but to get the most feel into corners, you’ve got to trail-brake hard and spend as little time as possible on the side of the tire. Before you know it, you’ll be sticking your leg out and trying to break the rear wheel loose on tar snakes. If you’ve only got an hour to burn and want to maximize the riding experience, the Hypermotard 950 may be the bike for you.
The 2024 Hypermotard 950 has an MSRP of $15,995. The 950 SP ($19,795) has longer-travel Ӧhlins suspension (which raises the seat height), a standard bidirectional quickshifter, Marchesini forged wheels, and a racing-inspired livery.
