By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supermoto
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 (MY2010) vs Hypermotard 796 (MY2010)
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 vs Hypermotard 796: which one's easier to live with every day.
Wound out in a high gear, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100's top end hits so hard you're yelling in your helmet and riding deeper than you should. The Ducati Hypermotard 796's front brake bites and never snatches.
So which one do you buy?
The Hypermotard 796 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
A touch ahead: Hypermotard 796
The Hypermotard 796 nudges ahead once you're on a closed course. Hardly a big enough gap to bank on.
Which one's the smarter buy
Depends what you want it for
The Hypermotard 796 costs less, but that gap doesn't make it the better buy. Neither bike is the clear value pick for your money.
What makes each one tick
Hypermotard 1100
On corner entry, the wide bar and stiff trellis frame flick it from one lean to the next, and it holds its line once it's over. It's easy to lose track of how quickly the pace has climbed, because the bike keeps egging you on.
Nils rode the Hypermotard 1100 in 2011 (NastyNils Testride).
Hypermotard 796
Every input on the Hypermotard 796 happens at once, since you're perched nearly over the steering head behind wide bars. The braking setup is controllable and approachable without ever feeling aggressive. The radical geometry and instant response reward sharp riders and punish vague ones in equal measure. On a wet road, the lever's even progression counts for more than sheer stopping power. The first hour's a fight. Past the hour mark, the wide bars click into place.
Nils rode the Hypermotard 796 in 2011 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Hypermotard 796 has the lower seat: 32.5 in (825 mm) vs 33.3 in (845 mm).
- The Hypermotard 1100 makes more peak power: 95 hp (70 kW) vs 82 hp (60 kW).
- The Hypermotard 1100 makes more peak torque: 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) vs 56 lb-ft (76 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Sits this out: Hypermotard 1100
The Hypermotard 1100 is built for experienced hands. Come back to it once you've got some miles in.
Call it even on commuting, twisty roads, and running costs. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
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
- Tall Seat, Zero Comfort Agenda
- No wind protection
Hypermotard 796
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Inputs Land Instantly
- Slim Air-Cooled Silhouette
- Quality Hardware Throughout
- Easy Front Brake Modulation
- Endless Lean Clearance
Trade-offs
- Punishes Autopilot Riders
- Slow To Reveal Itself
- Non-Adjustable Front Fork
- No Traction Control
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.
Hypermotard 796
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 Hypermotard 796.
- Hypermotard 1100
- about $7,800
- Hypermotard 796
- about $5,900
At 14 years old, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 sits around $7,800 while the Ducati Hypermotard 796 lands near $5,900. That's a $1,900 gap in the 796's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- L-twin
- Cooling
- Air-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
- Front travel
- 6.5 in (165 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| Hypermotard 1100 | Hypermotard 796 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | Hypermotard 796 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1078 cc | 803 cc |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 82 hp (60 kW) |
| Peak power at | 7,500 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 56 lb-ft (76 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 5,750 rpm | 6,250 rpm |
| Hypermotard 1100 | Hypermotard 796 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 32 mpg (US) / 7.4 L/100 km | 51 mpg (US) / 4.57 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.3 US gal (12.4 L) | 3.3 US gal (12.5 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Hypermotard 1100 | Hypermotard 796 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
