2016–2018 · Supermoto · A variant of the Hypermotard 939
Differences between the standard Hypermotard 939 and the SP
Italian Supermoto At Its Sharpest
The Hypermotard 939 SP takes the supermoto recipe and gives it the full Ducati treatment. At its heart sits the liquid-cooled 937 cc Testastretta 11° L-twin, making 113 hp at 9,000 rpm and 72 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm. That is serious muscle for a bike weighing 448 lb wet. The electronics keep it in check: ABS, traction control and Ducati Ride-by-Wire Power Modes come standard, along with a slipper clutch. The SP builds on the standard bike with an adjustable fork to go with the adjustable shock. It looks the part, too. The styling is as sharp and modern as anything in the class, and unmistakably Ducati.
Point it at a twisty road and it does exactly what a supermoto should. It carves corners with real precision, lean clearance is huge, and the twin pulls hard from low in the rev range. This is a bike for experienced riders who want their weekends to feel gloriously reckless, while the power modes calm it down enough for daily traffic. Now the caveats. Fueling at small throttle openings between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm can get snatchy, the 35.0 in seat asks for long legs, and any 2016–2018 bike needs its recall work confirmed. Build quality is good, and a well-documented example with the recalls done is the one to buy.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 113 hp (83 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 72 lb-ft (98 Nm) @ 7,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 937 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Ground clearance | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
| Front travel | 7.3 in (185 mm) |
| Rear travel | 6.9 in (175 mm) |
| Seat height | 35.0 in (890 mm) |
| Wet weight | 448 lb (203 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.2 gal (16 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Swing a leg over and the first thing you notice is the height. The seat sits at 35.0 in, and once you're up there the riding position is upright and commanding, with a clear view over the traffic around you. Thumb the starter and the L-twin settles into a deep, uneven beat that tells you straight away this is a Ducati. That sound stays with you the whole ride, hardening into a proper bark when you open it up. At a brisk road pace the bike feels alive under you. Small changes in the surface come back through the bars and the seat, and the front end goes light the moment you get greedy with the throttle. You never feel like a passenger. The bike wants you involved, and it is hard to ride it slowly for long.
The Hypermotard 939 SP (MY2016-SP) builds on the standard Hypermotard 939: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
| Spec | Standard Hypermotard 939 | SP | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 110 hp | 113 hp | +3 hp |
| Seat height | 34.3 in | 35.0 in | +0.8 in |
Over the years I've heard a lot about this bike. It comes up in paddock conversations, in long chats with owners, over club-night coffee, and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. What they say about it is consistent. Owners love the way it steers, stops and looks, and when they complain it's almost always about the same three things: how tall it is, how it behaves at low throttle, and how it feels once the ride runs long.
Riders keep coming back to the handling. The suspension has plenty of travel, yet owners describe steering that stays light and accurate, and a bike that stays settled mid-corner and gets better the harder you push it. On the SP, the fully adjustable Öhlins suspension and forged Marchesini wheels get a lot of the credit for that sharpness and for the feedback reaching the rider. The Brembo monobloc brakes are just as popular. Owners talk about huge stopping power and, just as often, how finely they can meter it.
Most people who own one describe it as a big supermoto built for messing about. The tall seat, wide bars and torquey twin push them toward playful hooligan riding on back roads, and the strong midrange and quick throttle make even a short loop feel like a proper outing. Riders also bring up the look: the aggressive silhouette, the trellis frame and a finish that feels premium. Several say it gets noticed wherever they park.
Seat height is the most common complaint. Shorter riders find it intimidating, especially when maneuvering at walking pace or creeping through stop-and-go traffic, and some point out that the optional performance seat makes it taller still. Low-speed fueling comes next. Many owners report jerky throttle response below 4,000 rpm, along with hesitation and surging higher up when the throttle is barely open, which makes smooth town riding hard work. Aftermarket fixes help but don't cure it. Comfort on longer rides is the third regular complaint. With a firm, narrow seat and no wind protection, owners find extended trips tiring and see it as a bike for short, spirited blasts. One owner also mentions slippery stock footpegs and a rear brake pedal that has little feel and no adjustment.
Rear brake pad separation (2018 recall)
On 2018 models, the rear brake pads can experience friction material separation from the backing plate, leading to reduced braking effectiveness. Recall campaign 18V480 addressed this safety defect.
Oil cooler hose may leak oil
The two oil cooler hoses can contact each other and become damaged, potentially causing an oil leak onto the rear tire. NHTSA recall 22V704 covers 2016-2018 models.
Poor low-speed / part-throttle fueling
Engine hesitates, surges, or feels lean between 4,000–6,000 rpm at small throttle openings, leading to jerky progress. Often described as 'fluffy' or 'snatchy'. Common across 939 models; independent owners and forum threads report it. ECU reflash or aftermarket tuners (Termi T800, BoosterPlug) can improve but not fully cure the issue.
Where this Ducati Hypermotard 939 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Hypermotard 939 is actually built for.
On Angeles Crest weekends this bike fits you well: huge lean clearance, precise carving and a twin that punches out of every bend. The tall seat and snatchy small-throttle fueling make the LA traffic leg less fun.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
On the Dragon and Cherohala it's in its element. The chassis talks clearly and carves tight bends with precision. Just be ready to manage the fueling on small throttle in the slow, tight stuff.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The Twisted Sisters will put a big grin on your face. For the long run out there, though, the 4.2 gal tank and tall supermoto stance make this more of a day-ride bike than a mile-eater.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Ducati Hypermotard 939. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
