If you’re in the market for a brand new, 100-horsepower, street-legal dirtbike, Ducati’s Hypermotard 939 andHypermotard 939 SP are pretty much the only game in town (at least, until the updated Aprilia Dorsoduro 900arrives). Upgraded for 2016 with the 937cc Testastretta11° L-Twin, compared to last year’s 821cc model, theHypermotard gains a wee bit more, completely unnecessary, intensity. Like, as if, the outgoing model wasn’t fun enough.
It was a couple years ago when we last rode the SP version of Ducati’s Hypermotard, and it was with the company of MV Agusta’s Rivale (Mega Motard Shootout: 2014 Ducati Hypermotard SP Vs. MV Agusta Rivale). In that shootout the Rivale narrowly defeated theHypermotard by virtue of its Tre Pistoni engine. “A skilled rider can keep up with his buddy in the tight stuff if you’re on the Hyper and he on the Rivale, but once the MV has a chance to stretch its legs, it’s gone,” said Troy Siahaan in that shootout. So, maybe it’s a good thing Ducati blessed the Hypermotard with a newer, greater-capacity engine.
