Hypermotard 821 review (and comparison to Monster)

[Saint aka ML]

So a small review of Hyper 821 vs all older Ducati bikes I had or ridden for significant time or mileage. This is not “is it easy to live with” comparison as had it only for like 250 miles.
This is also not a journalist opinion just mine so if you kind of person that holds grudges or argues when they do not like the outcome just skip it.

Got the bike on Saturday, so far covered just over 250 miles on it. 50 was London commute rest fun.
First off all if you cannot have a tall bike, do not like wind blast or have fear of heights this bike is not for you. All I can say is it is windy up there on the top of a hyper 

So been running it in as such gently on engine but can say it is a very responsive engine, relatively smooth down below in comparison to old V2 air cooled lump. Trust me I know have an m900 that is a bitch below 3k (done 20k miles on it), m695 bit better (30k miles), had a Mosnter 750 for 8k miles, ridden hyper 1100 a lot, monster 696 (week as replacement bike) as well as 1100s (about 1k miles). Multistrada for 4k miles, 900ss for about 8k miles, 749s for 14k miles, 996 for 8k miles, 1098 for a week. Not to mention ST2, ST3 and ST4. Hyper 821 is smooth as butter in comparison.
If someone comes here and says they are rough at low RPM, bleh bleh bleh, it is a V2 it has right to be. Do not moan as it is miles better than even Ducati bikes of 1098 vintage and earlier. No idea what they done but it just is and as result is not as bad as people make it out to be.
Engine revs freely to 6k where I mostly stop but when went over that it just keeps on going. Power delivery is smooth, predictable but strong. It is not a top speed engine and you know it very quickly.
This is my 1st engine with DTC and do not see so far why it would need DTC, in fact on half of DTC settings it makes it a worse engine dangerous even will get to that.

Handling of the bike is superb you can see the evolution in progress, it tips in to corners with ease. Stays in them smoothly going round bend and then lifts up with nowhere to be seen rush but still fast. It just flows, feels you with confidence and gives great feedback. Saying that when you open a throttle some it does get a very light front which is odd seeing how much you sit at the front of it. Probably due to big suspension travel so possibly can be addressed. Many say that is what DTC is for but frankly it should just not do that at all.
In comparison Monster is harder to get it to tip in. Kind off feels like initial push on bars requires more effort but when it is moving it is just as smooth to flick about. All those flicks need more initial effort that is all. It is more stable mid corner and you can just whack the throttle open and it will pull out no fuss what so ever. It also does not want to pop a wheelie that much but if that is better is debatable. Saying that m695 is not a wheelie machine. I would still say Hyper is better in that area over all.

[Saint aka ML]

DTC is cool on settings 1 to 3, 4 in wet as well. But anything more and I feel it is dangerous. On DTC lvl 7 I was mid corner in traffic leaning, opened the throttle engine reved up then it was almost as if someone put a kill switch few times for fraction of a second. This is a toll bike so it immediately started heading towards the deck. Do not say it has more power than m695 as I tried that in Urban mode which has 70% of full power which is about the same as m695. M695 is a lighter of the two. Even if Monster spins up rear wheel in that position it is obviously not a problem as never noticed.
Throttle response on fly by wire is good I think I will miss good old fashioned throttle as when I rode monster and hyper back to back I immediately seen where the difference is. Might fit some rubber rings on inner side of throttle to give Hyper more of mechanical feel. As it stands I do not know at what point the throttle is. Not a problem on Urban mode, not a problem on Touring mode but on sport mode response is so instant that you need to know how much throttle you have open.
One problem on sport mode it does hunt a bit and it is not me moving the throttle. It hunts in speeds 30 to 50 mph so guess trying to meet the emissions. Annoying but it only happens under steady throttle so will adjust.

Ergonomics on hyper all in all are good, as said it is very windy up there but it was to be expected. If you do not like that wait and buy a Multistrada as I do not think Hyperstrada is a good choice. My opinion there. I did say all in all as indicator switch is horrible and location of 2nd of the two buttons you use to operate dash is also bad. With indicators there is a delay as it is a multi-function button so you cannot quickly flick from off to right then quickly left and right again. Challenging on small roundabouts. 2nd button to operate dash is very close to horn. You figure it out. Uh also high beam switch makes you from time to time turn it on not biggy, just need to get used to it.
Monster in comparison is cramped. I am talking here 1993 m900, m695, m696 and m1100 they all feel cramped.
Riding position of new style monsters is right bang in middle between Hyper and m695. New monsters are more upright then older monsters but not as much as new Hyper. Older Hypers are even more upright!!!

Brakes on that Hyper are miles better then initial brakes when I was using 1098 I hated those. To sudden grip. It is now all more progressive but I was told it will be like that. ABS is handy, very handy.
When I got on m695 which has same brakes as 996 difference is heaven and earth. Initial bite on those Gold line callipers is almost none existent in comparison to Hyper monoblocks.

[Saint aka ML]

Suspension is all debatable, for me stock 821 is too soft at the front and it is all none adjustable. SP has adjustable forks but they are not the best. Live it up to you if SP is better choice, it has other things but is it worth it do not know. I am going to fit Andreani fork cartridge kit to make my forks fully adjustable then we shall see. Back is adjustable, it is not ohlins but is still good. I am a heavy bloke and feel it bit soft but have plenty adjustment left so they are sprung for heavy people. Its rebound if definitely not set good out of factory for someone of my weight as it just shoots me off the seat if suspension compresses more than about 50%. But until I can adjust front not touching back.

Commuting on it is neither better nor worse than on m695. Both have plus and minus points. Monster 696+ ABS is best bike for commute I ever used. Lighter then 695, has ABS and more turning circle so it beats Hyper for that as well.
However on subject Hyper is heavier then monster so hard to manoeuvre slowly. At the same time it has presence on road and people do notice you.
Hyper is taller then monster so bars go over most of car mirrors so good but you get 100% stuck near a van. On monster with my bar end mirrors bars go under van mirrors, some bigger cars but get stuck on average car mirrors. Saying that as it weighs nothing you can wiggle it by.
Turning circle on Monster is horrible full stop. Anything beats that, anything even 749 had better turning circle. However monster is shorter so it fits in bike bay lol.
Fuel economy is irrelevant Stuart.
As Hyper engine is smoother one would want to say it is better for commute and if I was setting it against m900 or m1000ds or hyper/monster 1100 yes it would be but for commute purely comparing to monster 695 and Hyper engine is over all worse off for that.
Best way to describe a monster 695 in commute is turbo charged 250. It zips round traffic, has plenty of grunt from standstill and you can exactly what revs it is on at any given time. As I have Termi on it I just rev it a lot and cannot wait for Termis on Hyper.


All in all Hyper is a keeper and I will be letting the m695 go as no need for two monsters and Hyper. Hyper is a very different bike to monster so if you want it as replacement then think again if you still love your monster, if you want it as additional bike go for it very different despite also being naked.


I have left out Monster 821/1200 form this comparison purely as I only had about 2h in saddle of each. Initial thoughts are it is slower to turn in, as long as Hyper but not as tall so will be hard to zip round cars. Also 821 Monster felt boring. 1200 felt more fun but was harder on twisty roads.


I still think m750 and m800 are best all round air cooled monsters made.

[Bonzo]

No arguments from me Saint

That's a great honest review ☺

[uksurfer]

Good luck with your new ride mate, sounds fun

[Dirty]

No need for a review, just need to answer 1 question. Does it have a GPI? If not it's rubbish! :mand:

Just messin, great review Saint.

[Saint aka ML]

GPI? What is that?

[Darkness]

GPI? What is that?

The GPI is a patent pending ranking system that classifies the top poker players in the world..........Wow, you mean some bikes have a built in Casino Dirty? That would be awesome and would really show those Goldthing and Hardley riders how to spec a tourer?

[Darkness]

Or it could be a Gear Position Indicator: another useless piece of kit on a Ducati, the "merits" of which were discussed to death in previous posts.

[Saint aka ML]

No Gear Position indicator there.
With so little feel to that gear box so far (cause it's new) it sounds like a good idea but probably is not.