Hypermotard 950 SP 2022
If you are a true blue, hardcore motorcyclist and an enthusiast, you will relate to the fact that in old days, motorcyclist were perceived as brash, young, suicidal maniacs! This was because general people could not fathom how anyone could sit with an engine between their legs or under their asses literally creating fire with just 2 wheels propelling them ahead!!!
Well, they were right in their perceptions then. Slowly with safety becoming paramount the motorcycles evolved…became more comfortable, more manageable, more safer etc…and many caught onto the fun joyrides on 2 wheels as a hobby.
Today with all that safety embedded in the machines…motorcyclists are still not perceived any different!
I think Ducati engineers and designers must have thought that instead of fighting the general public perception…lets just cater to the mad men and women who are hopelessly in love with 2 wheels and create something that will give ANY rider goosebumps every time they ride one!
Ducati unleashed their cheakiest weapon on 2 wheels and called it the “Hypermotard 950 SP”! This was Ducati showing the middle finger to the perception about motorcyclists!
The 2022 Hyper is an Absolutely ballistic motorcycle powered with a retuned 937cc, 114 HP engine with higher compression ratios compared to the 939 prior edition and a completely new ECU, almost 80% of its peak torque is delivered between 3000 to 6000 rpm!!! Its mounted on a lighter trellis chassis compared to its predecessors and complimented with a flat seat, a wider handlebar, a cute fuel tank and a set of 2 wheels! 🤣
Yeah, they did manage to keep the plastics at a bare minimum…
But what they put inside those electronics package and in the suspension was pure gold!
Ohlins - these are race bred suspension to ensure a good balance and stability at both, front and rear! Complimented it with 3 riding modes (Fast, Super fast and Intergalactic travel mode 😅), each suited best for the mood…Urban, Touring and if you are really Really REALLY feeling frisky then Sports mode!
Also gave it the DQS (quickshifter), traction control, Cornering ABS, wheelie and launch control (to ensure you continue to stay on the planet and not wander off into other galaxies with this pocket rocket)!
The Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP goes from 0 to WTF in 0.000000001 seconds!😅🤘
Aesthetics:
Super hot n sexy Ducati design! MotoGP inspired livery on the SP! The two exhaust pipes wrapped tightly to the body like a snake and ending below the seat with two end cans right in the faces of puppies who would be sniffing behind you! But one has to have a certain class and a taste in good designs to appreciate it! This is not everyones cup of tea!
Stance:
Stands tall with the seat height at 890mm about 20mm higher than the std and RVE model! A 5’10 and above person will be comfortable with this seat height…anyone lower than that will have to opt for a lowered seat which comes in as an accessory from Ducati.
Taller front Ohlins forks with a half a degree change in the rake compared to the std model.
Upright rider position with a wide and suitably high handlebar.
Almost flat seat which looks like a dirt bike seat but feels comfortable enough to ride for hours at a stretch.
The stance is of a supermoto machine! You cant correlate this stance to a naked or any other format of motorcycles!
Handling:
If you are a softy…it will give you tears of joy! If you are a hardy it will give you uncontrollable bouts of laughter! If you are the serious types? The Hypermotard will voodoo your soul into something fun forever!
While it wants to take off with its front wheel pointing to the sky every time you open the throttle…its surprisingly well behaved thanks to the electronics…unless you want it to behave like a pornstar…it will be your sweet grounded loving girlfriend!
The Hyper, stays planted, eats corners as snacks with its laser sharp in its accuracy and consistency handling…its like a point, shoot and hit the bulls eye precision weapon!
The rider gets enough and more feedback of the terrain to feel confident at lean angles and high speeds. The braking is surprisingly brilliant and sharp…
Its extremely manageable in tight lanes, traffic, tight corners because of its stance, power delivery, supporting top quality electronics and overall balance.
Its surprisingly fast on open highways and reaches respectable top speeds of 260+kmph !
To summarise it all - I think this is by far the most fun motorcycle I have ever owned!
The Hyper has come a long way since it was launched for the first time in 2006:
2006-2010 : 1100cc
2010-2012 : sobered it down to 796cc 2012-2015 : bumped it to 821cc
2016-2018 : 939cc but made it boring
2018-2021 : 937cc
2021-22 : Retuned 937cc and an attempt to reignite the old charm of the 1100 madness!
Ducati did it! They put the smiles back on the hardcore riders faces with this rendition on the Hypermotard 950SP!
Rock hard roll safe
Ashutosh
Big Wheels Motoring