Everyone have a safe and fun 4th of July tomorrow. Be sure to log on to Ducatist when you get a chance to chime in your two cents!

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This piece is made of 100% true carbon. The layers of woven carbon fiber are clear coated with epoxy resins for an excellent finish. It is also very resistant against U.V. rays.

All Star Carbon parts come pre-drilled to OEM specifications and are ready to to be installed.

Be sure to check out their website for more tasty carbon fiber accessories. We can’t wait to see what else they send us! Stay tuned for more updates.

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These LED inserts not only enhance the look of your bike, but also give a brighter, safer and more noticeable light in all weather conditions.

The inserts are sold as a pair and can be installed on either the front or rear of your bike (please check their website here for the compatibility list). If you wish to install the units on both front and rear, please purchase two packets.

This kit is simple and easy to fit in minutes with no need for any modification to the existing wiring or housing. The existing molding remains on your bike and the LED unit replaces the inner chrome housing and bulb.

Check it out!

At $59.99, there really is nothing to stop you from upgrading the look of your stock turn signals. So head on over to Weiser-Motorrad and get yours today. They have applications for nearly all the motorcycles out there!

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So, today we are going to begin installation of the RAC USD 50mm aftermarket forks the good folks at Marzocchi sent to us. Check out part one of the video.

These forks not only look pretty sweet in all black, they are made of aluminum, have rebound compression external adjusters and weigh only 8.6 kg.

These also come with some optional features, if you pay more, such as magnesium caps and dropouts, and titanium springs.

Well, that’s it for this time.

Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to check out Ducatist for more information.

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The oil change. Perhaps the easiest of the DIY jobs, though not necessarily the quickest to perform.

It took some cranking to loosen up the Hypermotard’s oil filter, which had apparently been torqued in well beyond specification (at least, that’s my story). By the time I worked it free you could see I’d actually crushed part of the casing in the struggle.

We had an oil trap set conveniently beneath the bike so I just dropped the filter in, then went ahead and unscrewed the oil plug. It took about twenty minutes for the oil to stop dripping out, after which I put the plug back in, put some oil around the seal of the new filter, put it in, and then poured in a solid 3.5 liters of new oil.

The Hypermotard owner’s guide recommends you run the bike for a couple minutes and then pour in another quarter-liter of oil, so that’s just what we did. Now all we need to do with the old oil is find a pristine estuary or wildlife preserve– er, Jiffy Lube– and our work here is done.

Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to check out Ducatist for more information.

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As it so happens, the good folks over at RatedRParts dot Com, sent us some red stripes all the way from Australia as well. Check out the video.

As you can probably tell from the short video, we feel that you guys have probably seen the installation process too much already, so we just showed what the finished product looks like. Alright guys, stay tuned!

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To remedy that, I got a pair of color matched bar ends from Rizoma to install. Check it out!

As you saw in the video, the bar ends allowed me to place part of my hands farther out, thus improving the control of the bike. Not to mention that it looks awesome. I am sure the weights that I inserted as part of the kit will help while riding too. But, that will have to wait till next to to report while i take it out for some spins!

Ride safely guys.

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Seriously though, having both mirrors and front turn signals is not only the law here in the States, but also really helps you maneuver through traffic in a safe manner.

So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone here, and picked up a pair of factory Ducati mirrors with integrated turn signals. We’re not quite there with Ducati on a first name basis so I turned to eBay, and was able to pick these up for fairly cheap (way under Ducati prices at least).

But, as with buying any used products, you run the risk of imperfect conditions. These particular mirrors were perfect except, the connectors at the end were cut or missing. Anywho, check out the video!

I’ll give you a full review in the near future after I take the bike out for a few spins. Otherwise, they look pretty nifty and work well. At least the Hypermotard is now street legal (at least on the outside). Ride safe guys!

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California Cycleworks offers a lifetime replacement warranty (limited to the tank itself), including damage resulting from improper installation on the HM69. The tank is manufactured in black for the best appearance on both red and black motorcycles. It is made with PEX (cross-linked polyethylene), considered by the plastics industry the choice material for rotationally molded fuel cells. Check out our installation video. Dave boo-boo’ed on the tank capacity in the beginning.

What I like about the obviously better made HM69 tank is that it’s 25% thicker than the OEM fuel cell for increased strength. The polyethylene is uniformly compounded to ensure consistent cross-linking (best of industry practice). Each tank also has a unique serial number. It meets NHSTA and DOT rules covering filling rates as the HM69 fuel tank uses the OEM Ducati components for these functions.

Don’t worry, California Cycleworks includes all parts in the installation video you just watched to properly make the installation. The HM69 fuel tank kit includes: the HM69 fuel cell, a pair of ISO 5011 certified, pod-type, cotton air filters from S&B filters, a new, longer starter cable, and some longer screws and spacers for mounting the rear coil to the tank.

Dave took it our for a first blast and I have been riding it to work since. I love not having to waste time filling up! If you are easier on the throttle than I am, you may be able to push close to 260 miles on the whole tank. But with a bike like our Hypermotard, I think I could only do that once! I highly recommend all Ducati owners head over to California Cycleworks for a higher capacity tank. Be sure to check out their other quality parts as well. Thanks guys! Top notch!

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This is a quality piece. It is a variable section handlebar. Not only does it look most elegant, it is an effective means of vibration reduction. We’ll see about that after a few rides.

The thing I noticed immediately on my first ride is that the Rizoma bar is not the same length as stock. In fact, it is a lot shorter at 725mm. It took some getting used to, as I had to turn harder (especially on the street in slow traffic). Nothing to get excited about. I do love how the gold contrasts the red frame and black and silver components though.

Other than that, nothing really to report as of now. But stay tuned, as I’ll have more once I go for a few more rides! Ride safely all!

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I am prepping all my bikes for safe rainy weather riding. And the first up, is the Hypermotard. As you guy remember, the mirrors and hand guards were removed to give it a more supermoto look. Well that, and Justin crashed it. So, first up, is a pair of CRG Hindsight mirrors from the good folks over at Lex Racing. Check them out!

Looks pretty nifty eh?

The Hindsight Bar End Mirror is the best functioning, highest quality motorcycle mirror you’ll find anywhere. They use custom convex glass formed to their own specification to give the perfect balance between field of vision and image magnification. To reduce glare, the glass has an automotive quality mirror tinting. Rubber mounting helps the glass resist vibration. The lightweight but sturdy construction allows the Hindsight Mirror to be positioned for optimal viewing without concern of movement during high speed runs or excursions over rough roads.

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Anyways, the Hypermotard is coming along just fine. Stay tuned for more!

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So, unfortunately it did not fit. Well, I could probably install it without the bottom plastic piece, but then the dirt will get all up underneath the fairing. So, stay tuned. I will report back after contacting the company.

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Like anything aftermarket, it doesn’t fit perfectly, but it comes damn close. Can’t wait to install the other pieces they sent! Stay tuned.

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Stay tuned for more guys!

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This installation was pretty simple. I unscrewed the nut on each side of the Hypermotard and simply put the new bracket to the end and lightly hammered it through and out.

Then it was just a matter of of screwing all the washers, bolts, and sliders on each side. Make sure you have two sets of tools because you will need to turn both sides at once to get a good fit.

Check out the finished product! Can’t do much of a review just yet and I honestly hop I will never have to. Because to really test them, I would have to crash. For now, let’s just say they look really cool on the bike with their logo pinted on the tips of the sliders.

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Of course, the cams also came with a Ducati race ECU calibrated for use with the camshafts and a full race system. Good thing I have the Remus system installed already. This is perfect, I can get my first service done as well.

Anywho, on to the video!

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Stay tuned!

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Now onto more eye candy!

Check out that carbon exhaust!


Showing off the Ba donk a donk donk rear end.

Another ass shot!

Getting some sun…

Checking out Kathy’s R6 across the street.
“Hey baby, you like my carbon exhaust? We can make little red and blue Yama-catis together”

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Fork Sliders
When choosing fork sliders, the first thing I look for is how the sliders will flow with the overall design of the bike. The Motovation fork sliders hit the mark exactly, as they have a look that is far superior to other line of sliders. Other fork sliders stick out like a sore thumb. The Motovation fork sliders integrate into the styling of the Hypermotard nicely. People won’t even realize they are installed, as they look like they’re supposed to be there.
Check out the installation video for fork sliders coming soon.

Frame Sliders
The 12mm through-the engine-rod looks and feels sturdy. I liked that the rod was made of stainless-steel as it must bear the load of the engine as well as support the chassis. As for styling, all frame sliders have the same general look, and the design of the Motovation frame slider does not distinguish itself from what you will find on the market. Yes, the Motovation frame sliders may lack in styling, but in no way are they an eye sore. They more than make up for this in design material (more on this later).
Check out the installation video for frame sliders in my previous posts.

Rear Axle Sliders
Initially, I was not impressed with the design of the rear axle sliders. These did not seem to “match” the styling of the fork and frame sliders. I also did not like that I would not be able to use a single-sided rear stand. However, after giving it a second thought, I now realize the rear axle sliders were engineered more for function than form. Yes, I will no longer be able to use a single-sided stand, but the design of these sliders now allow me to use a conventional stand in addition to offering protection to the rear of the Hypermotard. That is a trade-off I’m willing to make.
Check out the installation video for rear axle sliders here.

Slider Design Material
Sliders must be hard enough to withstand the forces of a crash, yet soft enough to absorb the energy of a crash. This is where the Motovation slider is far superior to other sliders on the market. The Motovation slider is made of a unique High Molecular Density (HMD) formulation of nylon. Why is this nylon formulation superior to Delrin plastic? This nylon formulation is actually 75% more resistant to abrasion than Delrin. Delrin sliders will break off in chunks during a prolonged slide. This means Delrin sliders have a tendency to “grab” onto the pavement, which can cause the bike to tumble and result in more damage. Nylon sliders will “glide” over the pavement, allowing them to absorb more energy from a crash from the prolonged contact with the pavement. In addition, the nylon formulation is infused with UV inhibitors to preserve the stability and color of the sliders. Delrin sliders will slowly lose structural strength and begin to grey with constant exposure to sunlight.

Overall Impressions
The Motovation line of crash protection is a high quality product. They offer a better product at an extremely competitive cost compared to other sliders on the market. With the amount of research put into their engineering, the Motovation slider will definitely provide the protection my Hypermotard needs in the unfortunate event of a crash. Let’s just hope I never need to personally test their effectiveness…

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DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT put unnecessary strain on your kick stand! This means no kick stand spins or even sitting on your bike with the stand down! I haven’t done the kickstand spin, but I have been sliding the rear tire to get out of tight spots. This has put a lot of strain on the kickstand assembly to the point where the bike is tipped much further when supported by the stand.

While at the Ace Motorsports Grand Open Party, we were getting the Ducati Hypermotard set up in front of the Remus tent. I was going to do a kickstand spin to position the Hypermotard, but luckily an Ace Motorsports mechanic stopped me before I did serious damage! If you look closely at the picture, the kickstand assembly is bolted directly onto the aluminum engine casing. Putting unnecessary strain on the kickstand can crack your engine casing. This means big bucks to fix!

It may be blasphemous to say, but this is a flawed design by Ducati. I can understand saving weight by using a kickstand only meant to prop the bike up, but bolting it to the engine casing? It will naturally experience stress even if you’re careful. So to all the Ducati owners, beware of your fragile engine casing/kickstand!

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With that said, the Hypermotard is not for everyone. First of all, new riders should definitely stay away from the Hypermotard or any other Ducati for that matter. As Kathy mentioned in her Yamaha R6 article, dropping a bike is expensive. Dropping a Ducati is ridiculous. Since Ducatis are such high-end bikes, costs for parts and service are not cheap. Your wounds may heal before you can even pay off your repair bills. Another thing to consider is the riding position of the Hypermotard. Sitting on this bike, you are in a very high and forward position. This definitely takes a bit of time to get use to, as balancing and leaning on the Hypermotard takes some practice.

Personally, the Hypermotard has been a blast to ride. When I pull up to a red light, people next to me can only stop and stare in awe of the raw sexiness that the Hypermotard and I exude. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if they are thinking the same thoughts as Dan mentioned in his Ninja 250 article. No, I am NOT trying to compensate for a certain part of my anatomy! I’m just borrowing the Hypermotard from Alex…

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Also be sure to check out www.MotovationUSA.com for more of their quality products.

Thanks again Motovation!

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Also be sure to check out www.MotovationUSA.com for more of their quality products.

Thanks again Motovation!

Stay tuned for my expert review of this product!

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Peak at 7050 RPM
HP = 90.72
Torque = 67.68

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We were with MaxMoto, the official US distributor for Remus exhaust, at the Ace Motorsports Grand Open Party. The Ducati Girls were there too. The Duc Truck provided a dyno, and with the new Remus Hexacone full system exhaust installed, I just had to get the Ducati Hypermotard tested!

Watch the Ducati girl ride the Hypermotard…hard!

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Thanks again Frank and Knut!

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Thanks again Frank and Knut! And, thanks to everyone who voted. I have to say that you all made a great choice. The Hexacone exhaust looks and sounds soooo sexy!

Check out the sound clip with baffle installed.

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