By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer vs Supermoto
Benelli Tre-K 899 (MY2009) vs Ducati Hypermotard 1100 (MY2007)
Benelli Tre-K 899 vs Ducati Hypermotard 1100: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
At the turn-in point of a fast bend, the tall Benelli Tre-K 899 tips in like a naked bike and doesn't wobble through the arc. The Ducati Hypermotard 1100 snaps over off its wide bars.
So which one do you buy?
The Tre-K 899 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Slight edge: Tre-K 899
On upkeep, the Tre-K 899 asks a bit less of your wallet. The difference won't change your life.
The Hypermotard 1100 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Small edge: Hypermotard 1100
For the ride to work, the Hypermotard 1100 noses ahead. The reason: easier maneuvering in tight spots and friendlier manners. Don't let that alone make the call.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: Hypermotard 1100
The Hypermotard 1100 nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
What makes each one tick
Tre-K 899
The Tre-K's triple stays soft down low and won't pull hard until the revs sit up in its working range. With the throttle pinned past the midrange, the needle races up the dial and the triple's suddenly acting like a sportbike. On a long straight the chassis stays planted, and there's no wander in the bar. At high revs, the exhaust howls.
Nils rode the Tre-K 899 in 2009 (NastyNils Testride).
Hypermotard 1100
Out of every tight corner, the Hypermotard's air-cooled twin punches hard on a wall of torque. Its front wheel keeps reaching skyward.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Hypermotard 1100 has the lower wet weight: 439 lb (199 kg) vs 463 lb (210 kg).
- The Tre-K 899 makes more peak power: 105 hp (78 kW) vs 92 hp (68 kW).
- The Hypermotard 1100 makes more peak torque: 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) vs 55 lb-ft (75 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Tre-K 899
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Triple Howls Up Top
- Planted at Speed
- Brakes Earn No Complaints
- Corners Like a Naked
- Build You Can Trust
Trade-offs
- Soft Below the Midrange
- Wants Revs to Move
- Heavy Clutch Pull
Hypermotard 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Torque-rich, soulful air-cooled twin
- Instantly intuitive riding position
Trade-offs
- Short tank range limits serious road trips
- Stiff suspension on anything but smooth roads
- Zero wind protection
What they share
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Tre-K 899 | Hypermotard 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Wet weight | 463 lb (210 kg) | 439 lb (199 kg) |
| Tre-K 899 | Hypermotard 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 898 cc | 1078 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled | Air-cooled |
| Power | 105 hp (78 kW) | 92 hp (68 kW) |
| Torque | 55 lb-ft (75 Nm) | 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) | 123 mph (198 km/h) |
| Tre-K 899 | Hypermotard 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 27 mpg (US) / 8.83 L/100 km | 32 mpg (US) / 7.43 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (20.7 L) | 3.0 US gal (11.5 L) |
| Tre-K 899 | Hypermotard 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 305 mm |
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in (180 mm) | 6.5 in (165 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 6.5 in (165 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.7 in (144 mm) | 5.6 in (141 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tre-K 899 | Hypermotard 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Adjustable Windscreen | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
