A Closer Look at the 2007 Ducati Hypermotard 1100

It seems that when Ducati designed and built the 2007 Hypermotard 1100 they had one thing in mind: To shock and amaze their target audience. The question is, did they accomplish their goal? Well, according to those who own it and have ridden it, yes. But we’ll get back to that in a bit. For now, let’s touch base on a few facts about this particular Ducati offering

The word ‘motard’ is a slang word that is derived from the French language. The word actually means ‘motorcyclist’, and since the actual style of the bike originated in the 1980’s in France, the name is appropriate. At that particular time, motorcycle riders and enthusiasts began customizing their bikes with wheels and tires made for road riding and placed them on motocross and endure bikes, which in turn made the bikes perfect for riding in the mountains and for other off-road ventures. While they are technically a sport bike for all intents and purposes, other than being street legal, the hypermotard is actually classed as a ‘supermotard’ motorcycle, which is called such because a supermotard, or ‘supermoto’ is a specific type of racing which are held on three different tracks, each with a varying type of surface. There were very specific reasons for classifying it this way rather than just tossing it in with other super bikes or sport bikes, even though this particular version is, indeed, a road bike, or at least for off-road use that is not race specific.

Yes, there were definitely some things that made the hypermotard stand out. For instance, off-road bikes usually came equipped with tires that had small ‘knobs’ here and there on the tread. This bike did not; it came equipped with street-level sport tires, and there were also some variations in the brakes and suspension.. We’ll go into specifics later, but for now let’s take a look at how the Ducati Hypermotard of 2007 came to be.

A Bit of 2007 Ducati Hypermotard History

This was yet another Ducati motorcycle designed by the great Pierre Terblanche, the man who had designed so many Ducati motorcycles before it, and many other motorcycles afterward. The Hypermotard was first released for public observation in November of 2005 at Milan’s EICMA trade show, It ended up winning the ‘Best in Show’ award, and has continued to win awards in the years since then.

One of the most unique traits of the Hypermotard is its triangular frame, which does not bear they typically-seen cased in engine that Ducati has come to be so well-known for. On the contrary, Terblanche seemed to forsake his usual style and bare all, so to speak, to the public. The motor is more visible, as is much of the mechanics that are normally hidden in super bikes designed by him. This certainly makes the Hypermotard stand out from other Ducati models, almost giving its appearance a ‘dirt bike’ flavor. The Hypermotard 1100 featured a variety of other differences as well, which will be listed in our Specs & Features section.

Otherwise, this bike model really had no particular ancestors that Terblanche based its design on; it was its own bike. Sure, it had much the same mechanics as one bike here, and the mechanics of another there, but it was completely and utterly unique unto itself. It should be noted that there were two sub-models of the Hypermotard: The 1100 and the 1100S, the latter of the two being a costlier sport model with minor differences that made it more suited to its purpose.

So, let’s take a look at the specs so we can pinpoint what makes the Hypermotard stand out from other Ducati bikes.

2007 Ducati Hypermotard 1100: Specs & Features

Okay, people…so here’s what makes this baby tick:

Seat height at 33.3 inches (845 mm)
Triangular tubular steel trellis frame
Air-cooled L-Twin-cylinder Desmodromic engine (2 valves per cylinder)
Radially-mounted semi-floating disc front brakes; Brembro 2-pad 4 piston calipers (2 x305 mm disc)
2 piston caliper rear brakes (245 mm disc)
Displacement @ 1,078 cc
Rear-end information:
Progressive linkage suspension w/ single-sided aluminum swing arm and adjustable Sachs mono shock
5.6” travel in rear wheel (141 mm)
Forged alloy (light) rear wheel measuring 5.5 x 17 (5-spoke)
Rear tire is ZR 17; 180/55
Front-end information:
Adjustable upside-down fork suspension (Marzocchi 50 mm)
6.5” travel in front wheel (165 mm)
Front wheel is 3.5 x 17 in light alloy (5-spoke)
ZR 17 Front Tire (120/70)
Bore & Stroke of 98 x 71.5 mm
Angle of steering at 32° to both the right and left
70 kW @ 7,750 rpm…95 hp
Rake @ 24°
10.5 kgm -102.9Nm (equal to 76 lb.- ft) @ 4,750 rpm of torque
57.3 inch wheel base (1,455 mm)
45 mm throttle body with Marelli electronic fuel injection system
Hydraulic controlled dry multi-plate clutch
Lightweight 2-1-2 exhaust system comes with lambda probe and catalytic converter
Six-speed gearbox

To put it all together in a nice package for you (we’ll even pop a bow on it), the Hypermotard is a concept bike in the Supermotard class, only with the awesome handling of a Super bike and the exceptionally smooth ride only a Ducati twin-cylinder can provide. This bike doesn’t give too much of a good thing anywhere or in any aspect, making it one of the most enjoyable, fun motorcycles ever produced by Ducati…make no mistake about it. All of these qualities make it absolutely perfect for riding every single day of the week!

Bringing It All Together…

Well, to be honest, it’s all pretty self-explanatory, if you ask me. Here we have yet another exceptional motorcycle by Ducati, but this time the machine is a road beast that can handle off-roading like a pro, is fun to ride, easy to handle, and stands out from the rest aesthetically just enough for you (and everyone else) to know that it’s yours, all yours. It might not be the greatest tour bike, but when it comes to its purpose, it is one of the very best around.

And they’re easy enough to find, too. Even though they are twelve-years old, these award-winners are available just about anywhere you look, from legit motorcycle auctions to online sites like eBay. So whether you’re collecting or you just feel like you gotta have this particular Ducati, you shouldn’t have any trouble. As for the price? Well, its base price was $11,995, with a low retail of $3,445, and an average retail that sits at $4,535…not too shabby. Keep in mind, though, that Bennett’s states that you can expect to actually spend closer to pay around $6,200 for an early 1100, and approximately $7,500 for the 1100S, and they’re a pretty reliable source.

Regardless, you’re into this bike for the fun, not the prestige (though that doesn’t hurt, either). Go get one for yourself, make sure it’s in proper condition for the price, and take it for a spin. If it’s all you have hoped for, make it your own. Take it home and ride the crap out of it, because that was what Ducati made it for.

But above all, be safe out there.