Hypermotard-A for Adventure

[ZenOfZoom]

Ok, so my KTM 640 Adventure is waiting for parts, and that's a problem because I was scheduled to go out on an adventure ride with some friends. I'm loath to cancel, and the only bike I'm testing right now even close to looking adventure-esque is my Ducati Hypermotard long-termer.

So obviously a bit of cheesy video is in order: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxNuLvrq5As&fmt=18

The Hypermotard isn't an adventure bike, but that doesn't mean it that it's not willing to give it a try :rofl

 

[flying_hun]

What a fun vid! My Hyper has done some gravel roads, but it really wants to push the front with the tires I had on it at the time. Maybe I'll try some Scorpion Syncs one of these days to see if that solves the problem.

Now that it's down a tooth on the countershaft, that will probably make it a bit better off pavement, and with the oversize tank that's going on this week, so much the better for adventure riding. Mine has done a number of 400+ mile days, and will probably cover 1000 the weekend of June 5th - 7th. :teeth I call it the HyperMoTour. :laughing

 

[ZenOfZoom]

I was thinking the Dunlop D616s, they are slightly more aggressive in the dirt than the Syncs.
Is it the Cycleworks tank you're putting in?

 

[flying_hun]

Is it the Cycleworks tank you're putting in?

It would be interesting to see how the Dunlops affect the handling on pavement. They didn't get very good marks from a lot of Ulysses owners, IIRC. Yeah, it's the Cycleworks tank. I was kind of on the fence about it, and was initially on the waiting list for one, then I canceled because I wasn't sure I'd really need it. My bike went in for its 15K service, and the dealer called to ask if I wanted one. The price they quoted me was the standard retail, plus a half hour of incremental above that already needed for the service for the labor to install it. The service manager assures me that the bike will run better without the airbox, and that they can tune it just fine for the difference in airflow. The bike should be home tomorrow, so I can report soon. :teeth

 

[luckett]

The hyper should be able to go just about anywhere a harley can go. I'd rock it on the trails if I didn't have to pay for a new header pipe when it gets crushed.

 

[flying_hun]

Believe it or not, there is a bash plate available for them, but I don't know how much protection it gives that front header. :dunno

 

[luckett]

who makes it and what does it bolt up to?

 

[flying_hun]

who makes it and what does it bolt up to?

I don't know, but I've seen them come up on eBay, and clearly didn't pay enough attention... :laughing

 

[ZenOfZoom]

who makes it and what does it bolt up to?

The bashplate is a Ducati performance item actually. Not huge coverage, but every bit helps.

 

[ZenOfZoom]

Believe it or not, there is a bash plate available for them, but I don't know how much protection it gives that front header. :dunno

Sorry, here's the link: http://www.ducati.com/shop/product.jsp?catid=cat1380105&prodid=prod1120112

An oil-cooler guard is in order too.

 

[luckett]

Looks like it bolts to the engine.

 

[ZenOfZoom]

Looks like it bolts to the engine.

I can take some time to get some proper pics this weekend if you want. Ducati had the dealer throw it on before I picked up the bike. In retrospect quite smart of them.

 

[Corb]

Can't remember the name, but theres a local place that makes Monsters in to ADV bikes.
Anyway, met the owner few weeks back at the Junction on Mines. The latest project is a ADV Multistrada. [and also an S4R ADV]

Btw fire roads like in the clip above, any bike can do, not just hyperwanabetards.
As long as the rider is up to it.

 

[ZenOfZoom]

Can't remember the name, but theres a local place that makes Monsters in to ADV bikes.
Anyway, met the owner few weeks back at the Junction on Mines. The latest project is a ADV Multistrada. [and also an S4R ADV]

Btw fire roads like in the clip above, any bike can do, not just hyperwanabetards.
As long as the rider is up to it.

Would that be the Terra Mostro? Agreed, in reality any bike could handle the roads, though the HM was hitting 70-80kph at points which was a good clip. It certainly did take a lot of gumption on a steep loose downhill decent that didn't make it to camera. The point of the video, if it has to have one other than a bit of fun, is that the HM isn't some precious italian princess that you need to coddle all the time.

 

[luckett]

I can take some time to get some proper pics this weekend if you want. Ducati had the dealer throw it on before I picked up the bike. In retrospect quite smart of them.

That would be useful. I'm particularly interested in figuring out if it would work on a multistrada. It's not listed as a multistrada accessory on teh site, but I'm guessing it would be a close fit.

 

[slackmeyer]

Cool video. The hyper would make a great Terra mostro test bed, though that would be some serious coin to spend on such a bike.

The reality of gravel roads is that knobby tires aren't really much advantage- knobs work great on loose dirt/rocks, and mud, but gravel over hardpack is not really their forte. A good riding position and a lightweight bike seem to make more difference. Along with good suspension, always.

 

[flying_hun]

Friday night I picked up my Hyper from Hattar with the newly installed oversize tank. I rode it nearly 200 miles yesterday, and I'm really pleased. :thumbup Not only do I no longer need to obsess about where the next fuel stop is, the elimination of the standard airbox with pod filters seems like a change for the good. The ride-ability of the FI feels improved - the throttle is not so twitchy when you close then re-open the throttle, the intake snarl is a nice addition to the aural experience, and the allegation is that torque and HP increase due to the reduced restriction. The seat of the pants dyno is notoriously subjective, but I'm liking this. :teeth

Fuel mileage is unchanged, and I did not change the ECU since the dealer advised that it wasn't necessary. I'd say they were right.

 

[Maltese]

Sorry to thread jack, but I am really interested in getting a hyper and using it as an all around bike and was curious if the added weight of the fuel/larger tank really change performance riding by a lot. also is your bike stock except for the airboxmod/fuel tank?

 

[ZenOfZoom]

Thread-jack away, I'm curious myself as to how the feel of the HM will change with the Ca-cycleworks' tank. One is enroute and I can't wait until life isn't a Tour de Gas Station.

 

[flying_hun]

Sorry to thread jack, but I am really interested in getting a hyper and using it as an all around bike and was curious if the added weight of the fuel/larger tank really change performance riding by a lot. also is your bike stock except for the airboxmod/fuel tank?

I use my Hyper as an all around bike because - as my wife and kids will happily attest - I'm stubborn butthead. The truth is that's it's far from ideal for all around use. However, I sold my all around bike (an R1150R) about a month after I bought the Hyper because riding it was so fun that I was willing to put up with its shortcomings (range, lack of wind protection, lack of luggage). Mine has the DP tank cover and tankbag, and a medium sized MotoFizz seatbag to deal with the luggage issue - okay but not great. I tried the DP screen, but wasn't that impressed with the extra wind protection, and when I broke it (very fragile), I didn't bother to replace it. And you know my solution for range, which so far really impresses.

As for impact of the additional weight on the riding experience, most of the extra weight is where the airbox used to be, and under the seat. To use that oh so au courant term, it's mass centralized instead of up high and out front. No, I haven't noticed an adverse impact. (*full disclosure: I'm a big old bubba, 6'3" and the wrong side of 250#, but I do push it a bit, so YMMV :teeth)