By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Supermoto
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 (MY2010-EvoSP) vs Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 (MY2011-ABSATC)
You'll find the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 doesn't wait on the throttle: it leaps off low revs, front wheel lifting, desmo twin barking. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200's throttle builds speed in one long, linear climb. It keeps pulling hard through the midrange.
So which one do you buy?
The Hypermotard 1100 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: Hypermotard 1100
On a twisty road, the Hypermotard 1100 edges ahead. It's down to lighter steering and a sportier chassis. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Racetrack use
Narrow edge: Hypermotard 1100
For track days, the Hypermotard 1100 comes out a touch ahead. Credit more lean clearance and more feel through the bars. Your setup and tires matter just as much.
Which one's the smarter buy
Depends what you want it for
The Dorsoduro 1200 costs less, but that doesn't make it the better buy. Neither bike is the clear better value at these used prices.
What makes each one tick
Hypermotard 1100
Wide bars and an upright seat turn the Hypermotard into a back-road hooligan that's never happier than when the road starts to twist. On the Angeles Crest Highway, its chassis doesn't get unsettled as one bend flips into the next at pace. Potholes are another story: the firm suspension sends every jolt straight up through the seat. The trellis frame flicks through chicanes.
Dorsoduro 1200
Under its supermoto bodywork, the Dorsoduro's really a comfortable roadster that's happy to cover distance. Its lazy steering geometry favors sweeping corners, which the chassis carves without fuss. The 130 hp (96 kW) engine answers a crack of the throttle with a thick shove from the middle of its range. Passing a truck takes one roll-on.
Nils rode the Dorsoduro 1200 in Hungary in 2012 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Dorsoduro 1200 makes more peak power: 130 hp (96 kW) vs 95 hp (70 kW).
- The Dorsoduro 1200 makes more peak torque: 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) vs 76 lb-ft (103 Nm).
- The Dorsoduro 1200 has the larger engine: 1197 cc vs 1078 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for this
Learning on either of these is the hard way. A gentler bike will make you a better rider sooner.
On commuting and running costs, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Hypermotard 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive air-cooled V-twin torque
- Pure supermoto fun factor
- Top-shelf chassis and brakes
Trade-offs
- Zero wind protection
- Firm suspension on rough surfaces
- Tall seat height challenges shorter riders
Dorsoduro 1200
What owners say
Strengths
- Potent, torquey V-twin
Known problems to check before you buy
Hypermotard 1100
- Fuel line cracking and leakage (safety recall) Recall 12V053000 Incorrect manufacturing of fuel lines led to micro-cracking and fuel leaks at the fuel pump flange connection, posing a fire risk. Affected 2011-2012 EVO SP models were recalled for replacement lines (NHTSA 12V-053).
Dorsoduro 1200
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 14-year-old Hypermotard 1100 with a 14-year-old Dorsoduro 1200.
- Hypermotard 1100
- about $7,800
- Dorsoduro 1200
- about $6,600
At 14 years old, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 sits around $7,800 while the Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 lands near $6,600. That's a $1,200 gap in the Dorsoduro's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- 90° V-twin
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Hypermotard 1100 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.4 in (875 mm) | 34.3 in (870 mm) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1078 cc | 1197 cc |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 130 hp (96 kW) |
| Peak power at | 7,500 rpm | 8,700 rpm |
| Torque | 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) | 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 4,750 rpm | 7,200 rpm |
| Top speed | 123 mph (198 km/h) | 135 mph (217 km/h) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 32 mpg (US) / 7.4 L/100 km | 34 mpg (US) / 6.89 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.3 US gal (12.4 L) | 4.0 US gal (15 L) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 305 mm | 320 mm |
| Ground clearance | 7.7 in (195 mm) | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
| Front travel | 7.7 in (195 mm) | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
| Rear travel | 6.1 in (156 mm) | 6.1 in (155 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Hypermotard 1100 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
