Simply put, Ducati’s new Hypermotard 939 is a weapon. It’s lean and mean, with a healthy dose of thumping power to justify the ‘supermoto on steroids’ look that sets it apart from everything else on the road.
This motorcycle shook up the world when it debuted in the capable hands of Factory rider, Ruben Xaus, back in 2007. It was everyone’s fantasy – a bike that could get the rear wheel sliding around corners and still had styling in spades, but for most it was just a dream. In reality the big bore 1078cc was too punchy for commuting and impractical for extended periods in the saddle. So Ducati went about overhauling the design in the years to follow with the overall aim of turning this massive motard into a bike that could be equally attractive as a daily ride.
We all know this bike has the potential to turn good law abiding riders into lunatics – its predecessors have demonstrated this time and time again – but does this new model also represent a motorcycle that all of us would be happy live with?
To find out once and for all, I decided to spend a few days in Melbourne’s traffic choked inner-city suburbs before venturing into Victoria’s high country to really stretch the big Duke’s long legs.
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