VOL. 50 ISSUE 12 MARCH 26, 2013
P55
Domesticated
Desmo
The Hypermotard has been tamed,
but it's still a blast to ride
BY ALAN CATHCART
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILAGRO
F
irst things first. The 2013
Ducati Hypermotard is an
all-new motorcycle owing
nothing more than its name and
overall concept to its Pierre Terblanche-inspired predecessor.
This Evoluzione version has a
completely new engine, a different frame, and revamped styling
compared to both the original
Hypermotard 1100 and its 2010
Hypermotard EVO update, let
alone the smaller 803cc Hypermotard 796. Simply put, Ducati's
R&D team led by Federico Sabbioni tore up the blueprint and
started again from an almost
clean sheet in designing this motorcycle.
So instead of the air-cooled
two-valve desmodue motors
employed in the previous versions, the new Hypermotard is
for the first time powered by a
liquid-cooled eight-valve engine
– and an all-new Testastretta Ltwin design. Not the V-twin layout
of the Panigale, thus confirming
the assurances that Ducati boss
Claudio Domenicali gave that
the Testastretta motor will stay
in production for some time to
come.
"Not only will it remain in existence, but it will continue to be
developed," said Domenicali a
year ago. "There are many areas of potential improvement.
I think that we have to continue
our desire to get a more mature
sports-riding experience in road
use. We want to be increasingly able to deliver good performance with easy access for
the customer, in a safe way. So,