Sunday 7 September 2014

What Made Me Choose The Ducati Hypermotard?


I've been asked by many on what made me choose the Ducati Hypermotard as my ride?
So in this post, I'm going to share why :)

I Love Ducati

Ducati 999
Back then when I was 17 (before I even got my motorbike license), I was crossing the road when I saw a rider on his bike. Something caught my eye. My heart skipped a beat, as I felt my body slowly warming up and my face turned red.

I was struck: By the ride, not the rider (oops).

It was dashingly red, had an extremely distinctive sound, and boy.. that combination was just so damn SEXY.

It was a Ducati 999S.

I will never forget that feeling I had when I first saw the bike. It's like this mad rush of infatuation gushing through your veins and brain and whatever else, which you know it's gonna last for a long time.

Hmm.. How shall I further describe it.. Ok guys, it's like yall seeing this:

Victoria Secret
Ah... Now you get the idea eh.
Hot right... Hahaha.

Well, just so you know, I have never felt like that upon meeting a man for the first time (fyi I'm not gay). But to this lean mean machine, it's a different story ;)


No, My Bike License Wasn't Inspired By The Ducati

Falling in love with that Ducati didn't inspire me to take my bike license. I took it purely out of interest in the sport. Besides, liking something doesn't always mean you have to have it, right? Because it was so big, it looked quite chunky and intimidating to me, I never thought of owning one.


Just admiring it from afar made me smile all day already.


My First Bike Viewer Rode A Ducati

My first bike was a KTM200EGS and because the power was too raw for me, I decided to post it up for sale.

Guess what? The first guy who came to view my KTM rode a Ducati 999!

On Chris's panigale 1199
He got off his bike and walked towards me, wanting to courteously introduce himself. I walked towards his direction too, but as he was about to offer a handshake, I walked right past him, towards his Ducati. 

Hahaha. His face must have been like "wow, okay..?"

"Omg, nice bike. Wanna trade?" I chirped, with my eyes glued onto his bike.

"Haha nah.. I got this bike not too long ago only" he replied politely. He was talking on and on, I nodded blankly but I didn't catch a single thing he said. I was just too engrossed with his bike.

Cut the long story short, someone else bought my KTM and I got another scrambler.

After All These Years

My Suzuki DR200
Even as I upgraded my license to a Class 2, I did not think of getting a Class 2 bike because I was under the impression that they're all huge, and I can't handle it. I was also comfortable riding my Suzuki DR200 too.

Ducati remained my eye candy all these while, and my heart never fails to skip a beat when I see one.


One Fine Day

A friend introduced the Ducati Hypermotard 796 to me, telling me it's not as big as I think it is. I checked it out and hey! It is really not that big! I think I can handle this.

I considered the following:


It's A Ducati

LOL, 80% of my heart is won.

It's A Scrambler Set Up

Similar upright riding position to what I've been riding all these years, so not much adjustments would be needed.

803cc and Power

Hmm.. Yes, a big jump from 200 - 800cc, but the power was not overbearing so I believed just go slow, and I'll adapt to it in a matter of time. Can one lah haha.

Vital Stats

Scramblers are known to be taller bikes that's why it's common to see riders tip toe when on the bike. It felt comfortable when I sat on the Hypermotard; height-wise it was not too high, weight-wise still manageable, seat width is not too wide, both my legs could reach the ground.


Design

To me, your ride has to compliment you and vice versa (in terms of looks and handling). That's just my personal opinion. Take for example, an African Twin may be a comfortable and durable bike I won't ride it because I don't think I look good on it.

The Hypermotard is slim and it encompasses a modern design with a tinge of aggressiveness, which makes it attractive. It doesn't look too big for me either.

Cross-Breed

My interest was starting to open up in the sports bike section but I'm still very into dirt biking, so I was looking for something in-between like a sporty scrambler and the innovative Hypermotard nailed it.


" These confident few designed a bike that combined the agility and lightweight precision of a supermotard with the refined power characteristics of a charismatic L-Twin sportbike" - TopSpeed.


 Tada! That's why I decided to get it and loving every bit of it till today ;)