By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supermoto
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 (MY2010) vs Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 (MY2011)
You'll wind the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 out without noticing the speed pile up, until its top end hits and you're yelling inside your helmet. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200's engine snaps at the first crack of throttle. Off an apex, sportbikes can't shake it.
So which one do you buy?
The Hypermotard 1100 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Small edge: Hypermotard 1100
The Hypermotard 1100 should be a little cheaper to keep on the road. It's a small gap.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Hypermotard 1100
On the way to work, the Hypermotard 1100 asks a little less of you. Credit lower running costs and simpler maintenance. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
The Dorsoduro 1200 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: Dorsoduro 1200
The Dorsoduro 1200 nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
Racetrack use
A touch ahead: Dorsoduro 1200
On a closed course, the Dorsoduro 1200 edges ahead. Not by enough to settle it.
Which one's the smarter buy
Money won't decide it
The Dorsoduro 1200 costs less, but that doesn't make it the better buy. Neither is the clear winner on value alone. Your choice depends on what you want the bike to do.
What makes each one tick
Hypermotard 1100
The Hypermotard 1100's air-cooled L-twin shoves a fat slab of torque at the rear tire from barely above idle, and each corner exit turns into a riot. Corner entry is where the wide bars and stiff trellis frame earn their keep: the bike tips in quickly and won't wander once it's leaned over. There's real feel in the Brembo lever, which bites hard and right away even when you're leaned deep into a bend. The front wheel keeps climbing toward the sky.
Nils rode the Hypermotard 1100 in 2011 (NastyNils Testride).
Dorsoduro 1200
The Dorsoduro 1200 stays settled as the pace climbs on the Angeles Crest Highway, yet its wide bars still flick it through the bends. There's little more than a short screen and a sparse cluster up front, and it feels agile from the moment it rolls. The brake lever runs short of bite and feel once the pace rises on track or a quick back road. On track, the chassis wakes up.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Hypermotard 1100 has the lower seat: 33.3 in (845 mm) vs 34.3 in (870 mm).
- 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 75 lb-ft (102 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Wrong job for both
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
Hypermotard 1100
Strengths
- Top End Worth Chasing
- Shoves Off Slow Corners
- Lean Clearance For Days
- Steers With Your Shoulders
- Presence You Can Hear
Trade-offs
- Starter Sprag Clutch Wear
- No Electronic Safety Net
- Range Runs Out Fast
- No wind protection
Dorsoduro 1200
Strengths
- Corner Exits Embarrass Sportbikes
- Sharper Engine Than Expected
- Stripped, Purposeful Cockpit
- Engagement Over Everything
- Lean Clearance And Soundtrack
Trade-offs
- Stutters On Light Throttle
- Rear Shock Too Soft
- Neutral Is A Hunt
- Front Brake Lacks Bite
- Aggressive throttle in Sport mode
Known problems to check before you buy
Hypermotard 1100
- Starter sprag clutch failure The starter sprag clutch can wear prematurely, producing a loud squeal or grinding noise when the starter is engaged, and eventually failing to spin the engine over. Replacement is labor-intensive because the clutch sits behind the alternator cover.
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 $6,500
At 14 years old, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 sits around $7,800 while the Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 lands near $6,500. That's a $1,300 gap in the Dorsoduro'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 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) | 34.3 in (870 mm) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1078 cc | 1200 cc |
| Engine | L-twin | 90° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 130 hp (96 kW) |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) |
| 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) / 6.9 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 |
| Front travel | 6.5 in (165 mm) | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Hypermotard 1100 | Dorsoduro 1200 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Traction Control | Not offered | Option |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
