Ducati Hypermotard RVE vs Suzuki Katana Comparison Test: Quarter-Life Crisis

‘It’s going to be downhill from here…’, said one of my ex-colleagues while wishing me on my 30th birthday. And I just laughed it off. But, now that I am three years into my thirties, I’ve begun to realise that he wasn’t kidding. Getting up from bed every morning has become a bit of a task; the creaks from my bones are getting louder each passing day, and weekends are all about exploring the joys of lying down in bed. The pace of life has slowed down…

Sometimes, I feel that it’s the natural course of life to feel this way, but then, other times, I want to jump out of bed and get my mojo back. And when that happens, the first thing that comes to mind is getting on a motorcycle. Now, a couple of weeks ago I was wondering what big motorcycle should an old bum like myself get if they want to ‘reclaim their life’. And I zeroed in on the Suzuki Katana and Ducati Hypermotard because I absolutely love these two motorcycles. But, which one would be the right choice for me?

Ducati Hypermotard RVE vs Suzuki Katana: Sledgehammer vs Sharp Screamer

Let’s start with the Katana first. It’s a naked motorcycle, which gets the updated 999cc inline-4 screamer from the legendary 2005 Gixxer K5 superbike. Sure, with 150bhp and 106Nm on offer, it is detuned for the job, but that doesn’t mean it’s tamed, for this motor is still a thoroughbred. The engine has typical in-line motor traits. Power builds up in a linear fashion up until 6,000rpm, and once the motor has revved past that mark, all hell breaks loose! However, the great thing about the Katana’s turn of speed is that it thrills but doesn’t threaten you.

The Ducati, on the other hand, is a completely different story. While the Katana gives you some time to prepare before unleashing its full fury, the Hypermotard launches an all-out assault right from the word go. It’s just a wild ride from the moment you get going – it just wants to pop its front wheel up at the slightest twist of the wrist. The Hypermotard gets your heart pumping and how!

The secret behind its hyperactive nature is its 937cc Testastretta L-Twin motor. With 112bhp and 96Nm on offer, it doesn’t quite have the firepower of the Katana on paper, but then it’s much lighter (198kg vs 217kg). The main difference, though, lies in the way the power is delivered. Being a lumpy Ducati twin, it offers dollops of torque from as low as 3,000rpm. And that’s why it’s always on the boil. You cannot ride this thing gently – you’ll be a nuisance every time you’re out riding the Hypermotard.

The Hypermotard is a wild child, of which there’s no doubt. But, thankfully, to rein in its madness, Ducati has equipped it with the best of electronics. You have configurable traction control, ABS, wheelie control, and three different riding modes. And all of these work like a charm in the background. The Katana’s electronics suite is pretty basic in comparison – non-switchable ABS, three riding modes, and five levels of traction control. Unlike the Ducati, the ABS and traction control on the Katana aren't lean-sensitive. The Katana’s basic display is another outdated item, but personally, I don’t think it’s a deal breaker.

Having said that, the Katana is a very well-behaved motorcycle. You can be as silly as you want to be, and you can push things to the edge, but it never steps over the line. That’s the beauty of this motorcycle. And it’s a similar story when it comes to its ride-and-handling.

You can commute on it every day without thinking twice. The wide bars offer great leverage, and the seat height, at 825mm, is quite accessible. Plus, you don’t really feel its weight in stop-go traffic. That said, its turning radius is a bit hopeless.

On twisting roads, you will find that the Katana requires a bit more muscle to tip it in around corners, but once leaned over, its balance and mid-corner stability is phenomenal. I’ve ridden this motorcycle on the racetrack, and the kind of lean angles it could achieve was nothing short of a revelation. On the road, the ride quality is stellar for a motorcycle of its kind.

The Hypermotard is a different matter altogether. It requires you to recalibrate your brain. The first thing you will notice is how petite it is. Since it is a Supermoto – a dirt bike with smaller wheels, road tyres, and stiffened suspension – it’s got a flat saddle so that you can slide from front to back to shift your weight around. At 870mm, the seat height isn’t for short riders – I’m 5’9 and just about manage to flat-foot it. The bars are tall and wide, and you sit in a fairly upright position. Thanks to its small footprint, the Hypermotard is super nimble and jolly good fun to ride in the city. It’s a quick-turning motorcycle. Equipped with a motor that has oodles of torque on all occasions, it’s a hoot to ride in the city.

However, when the road ahead opens up, the Hypermotard does feel a little out of its depth, especially compared to the Katana. It doesn’t have the high-speed stability of the Katana. And while wind protection is missing in both motorcycles, it’s a bigger problem on the Hyper, owing to its upright stance. Similarly, around corners, the Hypermotard doesn’t have the surefooted manners or stability of the Katana. It feels twitchy. That said, it’s a Supermoto and requires a totally different kind of riding style for you to reap rewards. So, unless you have the required skill set, it’s difficult to extract the maximum out of the Hyper. Regarding ride quality and comfort, the Hyper’s suspension does a good job of absorbing road undulations. Like the Katana, it has a fully-adjustable setup – you can tweak it anytime you want. 

Ducati Hypermotard RVE vs Suzuki Katana: Verdict

So, which one gets my money? On this particular occasion, I will vote in favour of the Katana. Simply because it is restrained for the most part but can turn into a vicious weapon when you’re in the mood for some mischief. Not to mention, it’s much, much more affordable than the Hypermotard. It’s a motorcycle that I can relate to more.

That said, it’s so damn hard to give the Hypermotard a pass. It’s a motorcycle that makes my naughty side or inner child come alive. It makes me feel younger by 10 years. However, that’s also where the problem lies because it requires or rather demands that kind of energy and commitment from you. If you have it in you, go for it by all means; however, if you can’t, then it can get frustrating in no time. I’ll give you a simple analogy. Living with the Hypermotard would be like dating a much younger partner to yourself – for example, someone who wants to go clubbing every weekend and is bursting with energy day in and day out. Sure, in the beginning, you will love to sing and dance and be a part of their daily adventures, but given the fact that you’re over 30 and only getting older, you will hit the ceiling sooner or later and will probably struggle to keep up with the pace of the relationship. In short, the problem isn’t your partner – or the Hypermotard – it’s you, or me, in this particular case...