How does the Hypermotard stand up to a British winter? My current commute is 100miles a day and I use a Honda cb1300s. I'm changing job and will soon have a 22 mile a day commute. The route with least traffic and most bends is unfortunately also a little bumpy and is all B roads. The honda is too heavy for that. As my real bike is an 848 Evo the obvious choice to replace the Honda is a Hyper. Funds will only allow a 2009 ish 1100 hyper or an older S. But I'm a bit concerned how a hyper will stand being used every day come rain shine or proper salty shite. Anyone got experience they can share? I'm anal when it comes to cleaning but only do it once a week on my work bike, but I want to know in advance if I'm going to be pissing head wind. Cheers
Hi, I use my hyper (2011 796) everyday for a total of 60 mile commute from Guildford to City of London and it is the best thing I've ever done! I use the bike in all weather 5 days a week. I have been using it daily since late November and it has done well so far with the weather which has mainly been wet. I use acf50 on the whole bike and clean it weekly and I can't see any damage from salt, water and have done a thorough inspection. Liam Is there anything in particular you want to know, hopefully answered part of your question.
Cheers Liam. Sounds encouraging. I was just a bit concerned about the usual furring of bolts, rusting of rose joints, exhaust headers etc.
I've replaced most of the bolts with stainless steel and the ones which are standard are sprayed with acf50 and they have held up really well tbh. No rusty bolts on the bike Again exhaust headers are holding up well too. I will have a look over the bike tomorrow as it's meant to be sunny and I'll let you know if anything is worn from the winter use. It's a great bike for the commute though
Their finish is not up to Honda quality to be honest ! :wink: You will have to clean it more often to be sure. I would say the bodywork is Suzuki quality at best, in other words a bit fragile ! Clean it more often than the CB or else.
Suzuki and quality in the same sentence was amusing. I had a 2011 gsxr1000 between my 1098 and my current 848 and and nut or screw that had been touched by a tool lost its zinc plating and furred. I sold it after a year for that reason. And the brakes were shit. So given the new hyperstrada is a touring bike is that made any better? Or same components used?
For me..... Replaced all bolts with stainless or titanium. Powder coated anything that I could, rear exhaust mount, footpeg hangers, rear subframe....still got more to do Regularly clean it with wd40 every week. Try to use mine in the dry only. Ironically got caught in the rain today. Brake line end are pitted so I'll be going to hel for those...
At this time of year clean it after every ride. Suggest checking any wiring that is exposed - my cables and relay for the headlight have fallen foul of dirt and water being sprayed up from the rear wheel. Have now had them relocated to try and protect them. I agree with comfy about replacing all bolts etc as after 4 years my bike has had to have some replaced anyway out of necessity.
Using mine every day through most of the bad weather and it's very very dirty at the moment! Mine's just turned 34,000 miles as a 2008 plate 1100S. It's not held up too well as most of the paint has come off the horizontal head, there are bubbles under the case paint as well. Quite a few parts are going rusty such as the oil cooler lines. I'm not bothered by this though as it still runs and works fine. It will get cleaned and freshened up eventually ... a bit of paint doesn't worry me. If I was going to start again with a clean bike, it would get a liberal treatment of ACF50 before taking it out, and spend the time keeping on top of it more rather than cleaning it up after. Great fun bike, probably the one I've had the most fun on!
I have a 2013 821 sp although I don't commute at all in any weather I can say that having been out and about on it just for the sake of it in the last couple weeks speaks volumes about its ability and suitability to the British roads/ weather... no way would I even consider a ride out today on the 996 but the sp....yep no problem i cant comment on its durability over a consistent commute through a winter but I'd be surprised if it was not equal to the task
