By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supermoto
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 (MY2010) vs KTM 990 Supermoto (MY2008)
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 vs KTM 990 Supermoto: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Throttle wide open, the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 stays controllable, but its top end hits so hard you're yelling in your helmet. Roll on the KTM 990 Supermoto's throttle and it's already punching through the midrange. Then there's a rush that keeps building up top.
So which one do you buy?
The Hypermotard 1100 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Edges it: Hypermotard 1100
For the money you spend after the purchase, the Hypermotard 1100 nudges ahead. The gap is too small to plan a budget around.
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: Hypermotard 1100
Through rush hour, the Hypermotard 1100 is a little easier to live with. Thank simpler maintenance for that.
The 990 Supermoto has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Slight edge: 990 Supermoto
For track days, the 990 Supermoto comes out a touch ahead. What tips it: better suspension. Your setup and tires matter just as much.
What makes each one tick
Hypermotard 1100
The Hypermotard's air-cooled L-twin piles a thick slab of torque onto the rear tire barely above idle, and every corner exit wants to lift the front wheel. Controllable power is its own trap. Wind it out and the upper rev range hits hard enough that you're screaming inside the helmet. The brake lever bites straight away. There's feel in that lever all the way as you trail the Brembos deep into a corner. The trellis frame doesn't squirm once the bike's leaned over. The dry clutch makes every ride an event.
Nils rode the Hypermotard 1100 in 2011 (NastyNils Testride).
990 Supermoto
The 990 Supermoto's liquid-cooled V-twin sits in a street-focused supermoto frame that steers like a dirt bike. Corner entry doesn't take more than a nudge, and the chassis changes direction right away. The LC8 drives off each apex.
Nils rode the 990 Supermoto in 2008 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Hypermotard 1100 has the lower seat: 33.3 in (845 mm) vs 34.4 in (875 mm).
- The 990 Supermoto makes more peak power: 115 hp (85 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
Wrong job for both
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
There's no real gap on twisty roads. 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
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
990 Supermoto
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive V-twin power
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.
990 Supermoto
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 305 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Hypermotard 1100 | 990 Supermoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) | 34.4 in (875 mm) |
| Dry weight | 379 lb (172 kg) | 432 lb (196 kg) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | 990 Supermoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1078 cc | 999 cc |
| Engine | L-twin | 75° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 115 hp (85 kW) |
| Peak power at | 7,500 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 72 lb-ft (97 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 5,750 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| Hypermotard 1100 | 990 Supermoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.3 US gal (12.4 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| Hypermotard 1100 | 990 Supermoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Front travel | 6.5 in (165 mm) | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
