The Ducati Hypermotard struck all the right notes for the Motorcycle Design Association, they voted it the best design for 2005. I’m curious if we’ll see more of this type of bike produced. They’re practical in all sorts of real world riding situations and it does look really good but I think a lot of people have to warm up to the style before they’ll actually put the money down. I like it.
Press release follows:
Bologna, February 2006: The Motorcycle Design Association, a group of designers and professionals from within the two-wheel industry worldwide, has voted the Ducati Hypermotard, designed by Pierre Terblanche, as the best overall motorcycle design trophy winner for 2005.
This award follows on from the ‘Best of Show’ award that was given to the Hypermotard during the Eicma Show in Milan last November, one of the most important shows worldwide for the motorcycle sector.
In winning the best overall design award, the Hypermotard scored 50% more votes than the runner-up, the Yamaha MT-05.
The Design Trophy was awarded for the first time in September 2001; since then, every year, over 70 top professionals from the worldwide design sector are called upon to vote for the best motorcycle design. The jury, made up of designers as well as representatives of the press and the main motorcycle manufacturers, gather to chose the winners in five categories, and then nominate the Motorcycle Design Trophy for the best overall motorbike design.
Ducati Hypermotard takes the power, the pleasure and the performance of a supermotard bike to a new extreme and interprets it in Ducati’s unmistakeable style. With 100 horsepower and just 175 kg of dry weight, it is still just a concept, but considering its success so far, it could easily become part of the prestigious Ducati range.
Stephen Waits says
What’s there to warm up to? It’s beautiful. My friend and I have lusted over it since the first pics came out. I just hope Ducati will actually build it, and that they’ll put it on ships headed toward the US.
–Steve
kneeslider says
Oh, I agree it’s a knockout, I guess what I was wondering was whether this style will convert riders of other bike types to cross over to the super motard design. Just within the Ducati ranks for example, would a 999 rider go this route or a Monster rider? Who are the customers for this?
Stephen Waits says
Well.. as an example for “who the customers are”, I’ll describe me and my buddy. He’s more into it than me, but I’m lusting over it myself.
We’re married, male, mid-30’s. We live in San Diego
We already own Ducatis. I have an ST4, he has a newer ST3. I’m a huge racing fan, but don’t ride the twisties that hard. I enjoy light touring, but don’t get to do it enough. My buddy isn’t as much a fan as I am, but he drags his knees going up Palomar Mountain (near San Diego) – he’s pushing the ST3 about as far as it can go on a public road. He likes “fast” as much as anyone.
We both laugh at squids. He saw a guy going down the freeway the other day with his front brake calipers zip tied to the fender.. yes, as in NOT CONNECTED. We both agree the guy must be dead by now.
We both have decent incomes.. we could each easily pay for the Hypermotard, but not necessarily afford it.
I can’t speak for other demographics, but that’s us, and we both want it in a BAD way..
–Steve
todd says
yeah, ok. Why does Ducati think that 385 lbs (dry) is light? To me, this thing is overweight and over powered. That also means it is over priced and my insurance would be over the top. Though I like the looks of the bike and drool just as much as the next guy, a 300 lb (or less) 450 would do everything this monster (no pun) can for much less effort, price, and gas. I guess people would think it was a girl’s bike or a beginner bike if it was less than 1000cc. Oh well, one less customer…
-todd