Properly, that actually didn’t take lengthy. The ink has hardly dried on the press launch for Ducati’s new Superquadro Mono engine, and the Italian marque has already unveiled the primary bike that it’ll be powering. The brand new Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono supermoto is right here, and it’s wild (performance-wise, a minimum of).
If you happen to missed the information, the Ducati Superquadro Mono is Ducati’s model new 659 cc single-cylinder engine; the primary single they’ve produced for the reason that Supermono broke cowl 30 years in the past. In crude phrases, it’s half of a 1299 Panigale engine, inheriting the Panigales 116 mm bore, titanium consumption and metal exhaust valves, and Desmodromic valve system. It additionally spins as much as 10,250 rpm, and makes 77.5 hp at 9,750 rpm and 63 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm.
Slap the non-compulsory Termignoni exhaust system (for observe use solely, wink), and the facility output jumps to 84.5 hp. In accordance with Ducati, that makes this probably the most highly effective, and highest-revving, single-cylinder engine at present available on the market. With a dry weight of 151 kilos [332.9 lbs], it makes the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono a really attractive prospect.
These numbers put Ducati’s new thumper forward of the 74 hp KTM 690 SMC R and Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, with a negligible weight penalty of round 6.6 lbs. The place the KTM and Husqvarna beat it outright although, is on appears to be like.
The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono appears to be like cool sufficient in ‘RVE’ trim; an upgraded mannequin that provides kinetic graphics and a quick-shifter. However the base mannequin 698 denudes the bike of its graphics in favor of a standard Ducati purple paint job, leaving it trying somewhat bland. Generic, even.
Regardless of being equivalent to one another below the hood, KTM and Husqvarna’s supermotos every observe a definite type information. It’s simple to inform them aside—and it’s simple to see which marque each belongs to. Conversely, if you happen to strip away the Hypermotard 698 Mono’s Ducati logos, you’d be hard-pressed to determine it as a Ducati.
Its closest relative—the Ducati Hypermotard 950—appears to be like extra like a distant relative than an older sibling. The 698 doesn’t have the 950’s seen trellis essential body, aggressively stubby entrance fender, or signature hand guard-mounted flip alerts. It does have a pleasant twin under-seat exhaust design, and its subframe is a slick trellised affair—however these options are hidden below the bike’s beneficiant warmth shields and covers.
So whereas each the 950 and 698 characteristic a variety of plastic, solely certainly one of them appears to be like plastic.
That doesn’t imply that I don’t desperately need to swing a leg over the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono although. The facility-to-weight ratio ensures shenanigans, as does the bike’s geometry and operating gear. You get 17” alloy wheels, together with totally adjustable Marzocchi (entrance) and Sachs (rear) suspension parts. Suspension journey measures 215 mm on the entrance and 240 mm on the rear.
Different highlights embody an aluminum swingarm, Brembo brakes with a single 330 mm entrance disc, and Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires out of the field. The lengthy bench seat and slim ergonomics enable most physique motion, and subsequently management. The foot pegs have detachable rubbers if you happen to favor a grippier really feel, and the handlebar clamps have an eccentric design that allows you to transfer the tapered bars additional ahead.
The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono’s electronics package deal is especially spectacular for a motorbike of its measurement. Borrowing myriad trickle-down options from the Panigale V4, it sports activities ABS, traction management, wheelie management, engine braking management, and launch management. Elective extras embody a quick-shifter (which is commonplace on the RVE model), and an improve for the wheelie management that provides a ‘wheelie help’ characteristic for danker wheelies.
There are 4 driving modes, every of which mixes the aforementioned digital aids with three engine modes to swimsuit totally different situations. These modes are customizable, all by way of the 698’s 3.8” LCD dashboard.
The ABS system encompasses a ‘slide-by-brake’ operate too, which assists with brake-induced powerslides. The 4 ABS ranges embody a full newbie mode with a lot intervention, two intermediate modes with various levels of ‘slide-by-brake’ help, and a setting for knowledgeable riders the place ABS is simply energetic on the entrance.
LED lighting and hand guards are commonplace gear on the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono—and the vary of add-ons is exhaustive. If you happen to don’t need the race-use-only Termignoni exhaust, you’ll be able to change the mufflers with a pair of homologated titanium and carbon fiber objects. There’s a plethora of carbon fiber and CNC-machined aluminum goodies on supply, plus a racing seat, racing foot pegs, crash bobbins, and engine protectors.
There’s no phrase on the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono’s pricing but, however we do know that it’ll be accessible from January 2024. And earlier than the Ducatisti crucify me for disparaging the 698’s aesthetics, I’ll concede that it represents an thrilling chapter for the Borgo Panigale firm. If it rides half nearly as good as its specs look on paper, it’ll be a pressure to be reckoned with in a distinct segment that deserves way more consideration than it at present will get.
After which there’s the prospect of extra Ducati 698 variants. Will we see a 698 enduro within the close to future? A 698 Multistrada, maybe? How a couple of 698 flat tracker or a single-cylinder different to the Ducati Scrambler? Solely time will inform.
Supply: Ducati
