Leaner And Meaner 2019 Ducati Hypermotard 950 Range Revealed Ahead Of EICMA

The Hypermotard is Ducati’s version of a street legal dirt bike, competing with the KTM 990 SMC R and the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto. The Italian bikemaker has now unveiled its latest iteration of the Hypermotard 950 and 950 SP just two days before EICMA.

So, just how much has the new bike changed compared to its predecessor? Here’s a closer look.

To begin with, the 2019 Hypermotards features a lighter chassis, better electronic aids and completely overhauled ergonomics to provide better riding dynamics. Its chassis setup is now 4kg lighter than the outgoing model. It runs a retuned 937cc, Testastretta 11° engine that churns out 115PS of power (up by 5PS over the outgoing model) along with a sturdier torque output for better pulling power.  

Torque curve has been reworked to now make 80% of peak torque at 3000rpm. 88% of peak torque is available between 5000 and 9000 rpm, which gives the bike great pulling power. The compression ratio has also been bumped up from 12.6:1 to 13.3:1. Exhaust valve timing has been reworked too. That's not all, the 2019 Hypermotard also gets a new 53mm throttle body and new ECU as well.

In terms of design and features, the bike gets a full-digital instrument console, smaller tank shrouds and a slimmer seat, which although the same height gives the rider a better footing on the ground. Furthermore, the bike gets a large catalytic converter that’s placed under the engine. Thanks to this, the exhaust end cans have been rerouted below the seat and redesigned to be stubbier than before. The front forks and rear exhaust have been given a all-black treatment to suit the bike’s character. The standard Hypermotard 950 is available only in Ducati Red. However, the SP variant is available in red & white paint scheme.

The Hypermotard 950 also receives some electronic aids to harness the extra power output. This includes six-axis IMU based Bosch Cornering ABS Evo with 3 levels. You also get 3 riding modes - sport, touring & urban, wheelie control and a quickshifter for clutchless up and downshifts (standard on the 950 SP version and available as an accessory on the 950).

As for the Hypermotard 950 SP, it features long-travel Öhlins suspension, which provides a better lean angle (+3°). The SP also gets Marchesini forged wheels along with extensive use of carbon fibre panels, which helps it save 2kg over the standard Hypermotard 950, which weighs in at 200kg kerb. Unlike the SP, the standard Hypermotard 950 gets Marzocchi front forks and Sachs monoshock at the rear. Apart from this, the 2019 versions receive a tighter rake at 25 degrees, alongwith the trail, which has been reduced as well.

While the Hypermotard 937 was a well-proven package, the new model promises to be adrenalin-packed without being intimidating in any way. If and when it makes it to India, we could expect a sharp bump in price over its predecessor.