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2013 Ducati Hypermotard vs. 2013 KTM Duke 690 vs. ???

24K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  Romster 
#1 ·
Hello all!

I've just recently sold my previous bikes, I started riding last season on a 2012 CBR250R and am now looking to move onto the next step.

I've been looking at the KTM Duke 690 and Ducati Hypermotard 821. Lucky for me the KTM and Ducati dealer are the same business and only 30 minutes away from my college so I can head up there to look at these awesome bikes whenever I feel like taking a trip.

Until a few days ago I was pretty set on the Duke, it seemed to be everything I wanted in a bike. It had plenty of power to have fun with, a comfortable riding position to take trips on, can carry a passenger on the back and looks pretty good!

However I have been looking at the Ducati now and am thinking about spending the extra $1,400 to get it. I am a new rider which means that the 110HP scared me off when I first was looking into my next bike, but I now saw that they come standard with 3 engine maps, one of which can "limit" the bike down to 75HP. I'd probably end up riding in that mode most places I go :lol:

Anyways, I'm trying to figure out the pros and cons of each bike, and if there are any other bikes I should be considering...I want a decent looking bike that gets 50+ MPG, can carry a passenger around town (no highway trips likely) and is fun in the twisties but comfortable on the highway since I live 5 hours from my college so I'll be going back and forth on my motorcycle when weather allows.

Any input would be great to hear, thank you!
 
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#2 ·
I've got a 690...

Wouldn't want to carry a passenger on it for more than a few miles... it's a great little street bike :D for puttering around on, styling like a SuMo. I've done 6-hour + rides and I like it fine, but I think my fat ass has pounded the seat into submission - others complain it's pretty stiff.

The Ducati... gonna be a whole other kettle of fish than the 250. You'll learn throttle control, for sure - don't rely on the map switch!

It's MHO that you'll find the 690 a better intermediate ride. But 5 hours on a highway? Hmm...
 
#4 ·
However I have been looking at the Ducati now and am thinking about spending the extra $1,400 to get it.
2013 Duke 690 = $9K, 2013 Hyper = $12K. Bigger difference than $1400.

plus, have you looked into the prices for Ducati maintenance? Crazy....
Have you seen the valve adjustment interval for the new Hyper? There really is not substantial maintenance cost for the first few years of ownership.
 
#5 ·
Have you seen the valve adjustment interval for the new Hyper? There really is not substantial maintenance cost for the first few years of ownership.
That is true. I'd been looking into the Hyper myself.

The 848 superbike intervals are ...
600 mile service - $144.38
7500 mile service - $ 256.88
15000 mile service - $ 362.20
After 7500 mile Valve service (“Service A”) - $ 294.80
After 15000 mile Valve service (“Service B”) - $366.30
... and I imagine these would be the same for the Hyper.

However, many Ducati dealers are not following these outlines set by Ducati North America, and are grossly inflating these prices. I hear this from lots of Ducati owners. Three hours to do a one-hour service, at a $150/hr shop rate? Damn.....
Owning a Duc ain't cheap. You bin it/have engine probs/tip it over, and you're paying through the nose, out the a**, in your a** and any other way you can bleed money. It's just the nature of owning an exotic.

That being said, I still think I want a Hyper. :D That, or the Duke 1290. :thumbup:

I might be divorced soon .... lol
 
#6 · (Edited)
Well I googled the price a bit ago and it said it was $10,500...guess not. So the price is $3,000 difference. I feel like I could get $1,500 off the MSRP at the dealer and get it out the door for that price. As for the 1290 duke, it's not available in the US.

As for maintenance, besides the break in service, the valve services are 18,000 miles apart with the new 821cc engine.

As for dealers...I have my choice in a way, they're kind of all far away so it doesn't matter which I go to for services, I'm plenty comfortable changing my own oil and such.

My last question is...how much motarding can this bike handle? Is it a bike I'd be able to ride down stairs and rip over small dirt embankments from time to time on?

Thanks!
 
#7 ·
That being said, I still think I want a Hyper. That, or the Duke 1290.
F yeah! I do want a 2013 hyper. The perfect street bike to supplement my 450 race bike.

My last question is...how much motarding can this bike handle? Is it a bike I'd be able to ride down stairs and rip over small dirt embankments from time to time on?
Neither can handle intense motarding, particularly the Duke - if you take a little jump you are going to mash the underbody exhaust. The Hyper is pretty much a street only tard. Tiny jumps and obstacles only, I wouldn't do much more with it.
 
#15 ·
Ok, don't have a Duke, but do have a 690 Enduro, with 17's and and a Duc.

As much fun as the Hypers are (though I have to ridden the new one) they are not going to jump, do stairs etc. They are considerably heavier than the KTM. Also, something important to note is that the engine is a stressed member of the chassis, and the swing arm attaches directly to the case. Abuse the too much with hard hits and you're looking at the very real possibility of a cracked engine case.

Now, the Duc does have more power, a highe RPM red line and some ferociously strong front brakes.

Really to me, the Duke and the Hyper 821 isn't an apples to apples sort of comparison. SOmething like a Dorsoduro 750 and the Hyper would be much more similar.

Regarding maintenance - between the two, it'd really be a push when you get down to it. They have similar valve intervals - of course the Duc has twice as many. Other maintenance items, like forks, cooling etc are not bike specific.

If you're in school - perhaps look at the less costly bike. And perhaps a used one. Great way to take the sting out of the price tag
 
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