There was a recent episode of Revzilla’s “High Side, Low Side” that stuck with me – the topic was: are there too many types of motorcycles? It raised the question of whether the hyper-specialized classes of motorbikes is hurting or helping our struggling industry.
The style of bike that jumped into my head, and helped me answer the question for myself was supermoto. These bikes are inspired by the Supermotard racing series, which is arguably some of the most exciting racing to watch as the racers fight it out on the pavement, then transition to dirt. The racing is fantastic, but equally so are the customized machines the racers go into battle with. Half-motocross, half-street, and all fast. The first company to release a purpose built Supermotard bike was Gilera, and they were quickly followed by KTM, and Husqvarna, among others. These machines started to gain popularity as everyday street machines for their upright riding positions, durability, and rugged styling. When you really look at the natural progression that this specific style of bike came to be, it sits well with me. The reason there are more classes of bikes now then there was before, is because evolution is an unstoppable force. The more time goes by, the more we push boundaries, the more tools we need to push them.
Ducati came into the Supermotard class later than Husqvarna and KTM, but when they did, they literally broke the internet…well actually, just their site. In 2006, they launched a mini site linked off their official site and invited the public to take a survey about what they would like to see on the bike. The website promptly crashed from traffic. Since its release, the Hypermotard has come with several engine sizes, most notably; 1100, 821, 796, and most recently 950. No matter the size, the engines all are 90-degree twins, air cooled, and 4 valves per cylinder. The 950 produces 125 horsepower, and 72 ft-pounds of torque. All come with a triangulated frame and fully adjustable suspension/forks. The best description I’ve ever heard of the Ducati Hypermotard was in the 2017 movie “CHiPs”. Dax Shepard’s character casually said they were “fast as f*ck”. Enough said. I was sold.
This 2014 Hypermotard has the 821cc engine, with a claimed 110 horsepower. This model comes equipped with ABS, three riding modes, and traction control. The seller states that it has 2,100 miles on it and is in “like new” condition. It comes with all manuals, service receipts, and both keys. It also proves to me that there is plenty of room in the world for every class of bike.
Find this 2014 Ducati Hypermotard for $7,250 in Phoenix, Arizona here on Craigslist.