Ducati is all set to launch the Hypermotard 950 on June 12. The supermoto bike was first unveiled at EICMA 2018 and introduced as a replacement to the Hypermotard 939, a model that has almost sold out in India.
The Hypermotard 950 isn’t a big step up from the 939 and is powered by the same 937cc L-twin motor. However, Ducati has increased the compression ratio from 12.6:1 to 13.3:1 and this has brought about an additional 4hp and 1Nm of torque, taking the total to 114hp and 96Nm. The motor is also tuned to make 80 percent of its peak torque at 3,000rpm. Other changes include new exhaust valve timing, a 53mm throttle body and a new injection control unit. Internationally, the Hypermotard 950 is also available in an SP variant that gets the addition of a bi-directional quickshifter (optional on the standard variant). Also new is a hydraulic clutch.
Apart from the mechanical changes, the 950 uses a slightly revised frame where the thickness of the steel trellis tubes has been reduced from 3mm to 2.5mm. This has resulted in a minor weight loss, from 181kg to 178kg. The standard model gets a fully-adjustable Marzocchi USD fork and Sachs monoshock, while the SP rides on fully-adjustable Ohlins units on both the ends.
For 2019, the motorcycle also gets a six-axis-IMU and Bosch Cornering ABS Evo, which has three settings. Another rather significant change is the reintroduction of the underseat exhaust exits, unlike the side-slung single barrel on the Hypermotard 939.
The Hypermotard 950 has no direct rivals at this point and we expect it to cost slightly more than the outgoing Hypermotard 939, which is priced at Rs 11.17 lakh.
All prices, ex-showroom, India.
Azaman Chothia
