By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supermoto vs Naked Bike
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 (MY2010-EvoSP) vs KTM 990 Super Duke R (MY2007)
Rolling into a tight bend on the brakes, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 sits you upright behind wide bars, and there's serious bite up front as it tips in. On the KTM 990 Super Duke R, the steering damper doesn't fight the bars on the way in. It flicks from one apex to the next.
So which one do you buy?
The 990 Super Duke R has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: 990 Super Duke R
On upkeep, the 990 Super Duke R asks a bit less of your wallet. The difference won't change your life.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: 990 Super Duke R
On a twisty road, the 990 Super Duke R edges ahead. Put it down to harder acceleration and stronger brakes. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
Two different jobs
The Hypermotard 1100 and the 990 Super Duke R do different jobs, so neither is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Hypermotard 1100
Low in the revs, the Hypermotard 1100's air-cooled twin already shoves hard enough to hoist the front wheel out of a corner. It drops into turns like a dirt bike and doesn't lose its composure when you switch sides at speed. There's little give in the suspension over potholes, and a broken patch can kick a jolt straight up through the seat. The desmo exhaust barks on exits.
990 Super Duke R
Mid-corner, the 990 Super Duke R takes a late correction at the bars without fuss, even after you've committed hard and early. The race-hard suspension pours surface detail into the pegs until a lap or two teaches you to read it. Big stops leave the fork tall and the tail down.
Nils rode the 990 Super Duke R in Hungary in 2007, in Austria in 2008, and in the Black Forest in 2011 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 990 Super Duke R has the lower seat: 32.3 in (820 mm) vs 34.4 in (875 mm).
- The 990 Super Duke R makes more peak power: 132 hp (97 kW) vs 95 hp (70 kW).
- The Hypermotard 1100 has the larger engine: 1078 cc vs 999 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
Neither of these is a sensible first motorcycle. Learn on something smaller and lighter, then come back.
There's no real gap on commuting. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
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
990 Super Duke R
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Commitment Gets Rewarded
- Brakes Stay Composed
- Short-Throw Clutchless Gearbox
- Easy Mid-Corner Line Changes
- No Cheap Parts Anywhere
Trade-offs
- Water Pump Seal Weeps
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).
990 Super Duke R
- Water pump failure The mechanical water pump seal on the LC8 engine is prone to leakage, often requiring replacement around 15,000–20,000 miles. Symptoms include coolant loss and drips beneath the water pump housing.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 14-year-old Hypermotard 1100 with a 14-year-old 990 Super Duke R.
- Hypermotard 1100
- about $7,800
- 990 Super Duke R
- about $6,100
At 14 years old, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 sits around $7,800 while the KTM 990 Super Duke R lands near $6,100. That's a $1,700 gap in the KTM's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- 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 | 990 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.4 in (875 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Dry weight | 377 lb (171 kg) | 395 lb (179 kg) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | 990 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1078 cc | 999 cc |
| Engine | L-twin | 75° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 132 hp (97 kW) |
| Peak power at | 7,500 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) | 73 lb-ft (99 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 4,750 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 123 mph (198 km/h) | 151 mph (243 km/h) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | 990 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 32 mpg (US) / 7.4 L/100 km | 28 mpg (US) / 8.31 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.3 US gal (12.4 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.5 L) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | 990 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 305 mm | 320 mm |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
