KTM Super Duke vs Ducati Hypermotard - Visual Comparison
So Motodisiac and I went down to one of the motorcycle dealers tonight to check out the Hypermotard and the Super Duke. Of course they did not allow any test rides. We are yet to go to another dealership down in Orange County that had offered test rides for the Hypermotards. So this comparison review will be based on only visual impressions from walking around these bikes and sitting on them. Lets start.
The only Ducati Hypermotards this dealer had were 1100S which will ring you up to 14,5 thousand dollars MSRP as opposed to 11,995 for the regular Hypermotard. As usual with all Italian bikes there is attention to details and style. The bike does not feel cheap. The seating posture is somewhat high reminiscent of the fact that it is a supermoto type bike. The posture is aggressive which will most definitely translate into the riding style and per multiple reviews of the Hypermotard you can’t ride it in a non-aggressive manner.
The Super Duke was a bit different. It looked a bit smaller and once on it felt MUCH lighter despite of the almost identical weight. The Super Duke is actually 16 lbs (7 kg) heavier. The styling and attention to details were absolutely inferior to the same of the Hypermotard. Coming in at whopping 13,5 thousand MSRP you would expect a better look feel. The bike did seem a bit toy-ish. Don’t get me wrong I am sure it would be fun to ride. We are talking visuals now. Also the seating posture was more street riding like, imposing less aggressiveness even though the Super Duke would probably smoke the Hypermotard due to the fact that it’s got 28 more horses in its engine.
So after over 30 minutes of walking around and seating on the two of those bikes the following conclusions were made
- the KTM Super Duke has a nicer seating posture
- the Hypermotard has the much superior styling and detailing
- the Hypermotard somewhat stands up to its high price better than the Super Duke
Despite of all of the above the biggest turn off is the price. There aren’t a lot of used Super Dukes and Hypermotards for sale. Actually I am yet to see a single used Super Duke for sale. Motodisiac and I have found a couple of used Hypermotards. But apparently due to the fact that the “oldest” Hypermotard one can find is one year old or less the owners are jacking up their sale prices. A couple of ads we found were for the somewhat tricked out Hypermotards where the owners wanted a firm MSRP price only because they’d invested in a custom Termignoni exhaust or something despite the fact that their bikes are no longer new. So it does seem like both of us will put the Hypermotard hysteria on hold. Or may be not :).
June 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I have ridden both. The KTM is a far superior motorcycle and I love any Ducati. It is smoother and far more entertaining to ride. In traffic its liquid cooloing is apreciated as the Ducati will roast your crotch with that rear cylinder under your groin. Buy the KTM - you will be unique among your friends and alot happier.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I would concur with b.g. EXACTLTY. I now own the Super Duke–but I love Ducatis and will own another one day (traded a S4 Monster for this).
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 am
I have owned BOTH. KTM hands down. Better maintenance interval, better performance, more comfortable……Ducati is more “popular” when you show up or talk to others. SuperDuke will flat out gut the HyperMotard in any contest other than visual. The only “tie” is the amout of crap you can buy from the factory catalogs. You wallet is the only limit.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Why would you compare a Super Duke and a Hypermotard? The super duke is more akin to the Streetfighter, while the 950/990 is the equivalent of the HM.
January 30th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
how can u say the ducatti looks better than the duke/the duke looks beasty and is massive ive never seen the duccati but ive seen a orange ktm supa duke n its the only bike that has scare me just by the apearance and i do now about motorbikes i own a crf250 and rsv1000
March 7th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
I’m sorry but the super duke puts that ducati to shame however the 2010 1098s Streetfighter if your an experienced rider and know how to drive a dry clutch is a superior bike in every way shape and form, but it’s not easily ridden in the city like the superduke. Personally if you want the quality of an italian bike with the power of a superduke R I recomend the 2008 Aprilia Tuono R Factory edition the power to weight ratio and nimbleness combined with the added safety features blows all 3 away. Bang for the buck for a streetfighter go Aprilia
October 8th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Jim from deerpark says they are too dangerous
February 11th, 2011 at 3:00 am
Get the Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200, stop playing around for cryin out loud..
May 5th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I’ve ridden the Ducati HM and owned a Monster….. I now have the SuperDuke its hands down better and dead reliable with a better more thought out build.
Plus next year the upgraded 1200 SuperDuke will be out, I might even trade my 2007 Superduke for that bike.
May 13th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
I just sold my aprilia 750 DD for a 990 SuperDuke. The Aprilia is a great motorcycle.They suffer from a poor dealer network.and a lack of remapping after performance mods.At 77 hp to the rear wheel the bike is fast and light.20 more ponies would make it prefect.The Duke is the bad boy on the block.I have been wanting a duke for many years. Finally you can afford to buy one.This bike gives the people at ducati nightmares.They have nothing unless you spend a fortune.For the money the duke is the no brainer.If aprilia ever has the way to tune them and add hp.and get more that 2-3 good dealers in the U.S. aprilia would be in the running again.