Ducati Hypermotard 939 2016 — Specifications

Enlarging an engine is pointless if it’s just to align a rounder number on the technical specifications. Ducati knows this better than anyone, and when the Bologna-based brand increased its twin to 937 cubic centimeters to create the Ducati Hypermotard 939, the goal was elsewhere: to meet Euro 4 standards without castrating the character of a motorcycle designed to provoke. Engine specialists therefore completely revised the bore, increasing it from 88 to 94 mm while maintaining a stroke of 67.5 mm. Crankshaft, pistons, cylinders, and cylinder heads all underwent revision. This extensive work results in 113 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and, above all, 97.9 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm, representing a gain of nearly 10% in that specific area compared to the previous model. The V2 twin growls earlier in the rev range, with a responsiveness that makes the throttle delightfully communicative coming out of corners.

Visually, the transition to the 939 is barely noticeable. A slightly larger silencer, retroreflectors added to the fork tubes to meet Euro 4, and that’s about it. Ducati could have stopped there if engineers hadn’t also shortened the wheelbase by 7 mm to stiffen the steering. The steel trellis frame remains faithful to the house tradition, the 43 mm inverted fork holds the front without any adjustment options, but the compensated single rear shock absorber offers adjustable rebound and preload. The single-sided aluminum swingarm provides a visual signature that Ducati Hypermotard 939 kit enthusiasts will appreciate. The whole thing weighs 198 kg full, six kilos more than the 821, an overweight that the Brembo radial four-piston calipers on 320 mm floating discs render perfectly painless.

What really elevates this Ducati Hypermotard 939 test is the depth of the onboard electronics. Three riding modes simultaneously pilot the two-level ABS and the adjustable traction control DTC on eight settings. In Sport, the 113 horsepower arrive without excessive filtering. In Touring, the power delivery softens and the ABS works for stability. In Urban, power is limited to 75 horsepower, which opens the door to a Ducati Hypermotard 939 A2 homologation with dedicated kits. ABS can be manually switched off for riders who don’t want to hear about it in their most committed outings. Faced with an Aprilia Dorsoduro 900, the Ducati Hypermotard 939 has superior horsepower and noticeably more adaptable electronics; the transalpine focuses on a more accessible character and a more contained size. Each has its clientele.

The downside is well known and accepted in the supermotard category: the saddle rises to 870 mm, a height dictated by the 170 mm of front travel and 150 mm at the rear. Average heights will have to compromise, or opt for the optional low saddle which shaves off 20 mm. The price, displayed at 11,890 euros in the catalog, positions the motorcycle in a segment where justification must be solid. For those who want to push further, the Ducati Hypermotard 939 SP takes the cursor even further with Öhlins suspensions and Brembo M50 calipers; embellished with a Termignoni, it becomes a decidedly sharp proposition. The base version remains the most coherent entry point for those who want a raw pleasure tool, provided you accept that a motorcycle designed for jubilation is not a Swiss Army knife. The mechanical evolutions between the launch year and the 2018 and 2019 versions being minor, searching for a used Ducati Hypermotard 939 constitutes a serious track for tight budgets who refuse to cross out pleasure.