Ducati has introduced the Hypermotard 698 Mono, a supermoto-style motorcycle powered by Ducati's first single-cylinder engine in 30 years, the Superquadro Mono. The bike comes in standard and RVE variants, with the standard model featuring Ducati Red, while the RVE model showcases a Graffiti livery. Here are the key details:
Engine: The Hypermotard 698 Mono is powered by a 659cc liquid-cooled Superquadro Mono engine, producing 77.5PS at 9,750rpm and 63Nm at 8,000rpm. With a Termignoni exhaust for track use, the power output increases to 85PS at 9,500rpm, making it the most powerful single-cylinder engine on a production motorcycle. For comparison, the KTM 690 Duke, the most powerful single before this, made around 74PS and 73.8Nm.
Transmission: The bike features a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch. The bi-directional quickshifter comes as standard on the RVE model and is an option on the standard model.
Chassis: It uses a tubular steel trellis frame with a 45mm fully-adjustable Marzocchi USD fork and a fully-adjustable Sachs monoshock suspension. Braking consists of a front 330mm disc with a Brembo M4.32 calibre and a rear 245mm disc with a single piston floating caliper. It comes standard with four-level Bosch Cornering ABS.
Wheels and Tires: The Hypermotard 698 Mono features 17-inch wheels with Y-shaped 5-spoke alloys, shod with grippy Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires. The bike weighs just 151kg (wet weight without fuel), making it remarkably light for its category.
Features: It's equipped with a 3.8-inch LCD instrument console, three power modes (high, medium, and low), and four ride modes: Sport, Road, Urban, and Wet. Additional features include traction control, four-level wheelie control, Engine Brake Control, and Ducati Power Launch.
Pricing: In the UK, the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono is priced at £10,995 (approximately Rs 11.17 lakh). While there is no confirmation about its availability in India, it's considered a niche bike due to its high price for a single-cylinder configuration.
The Hypermotard 698 Mono offers a thrilling and powerful riding experience with its potent engine and lightweight design, making it a desirable option for supermoto enthusiasts.