Just a few days ago, Ducati revealed the specifications of its new high-strung Superquadro Mono engine and now it has revealed its first motorcycle powered by the same – the Hypermotard 698.
- RVE variant gets quickshifter as standard, special colourway
- Fully adjustable suspension at both ends
- 151kg kerb weight (without fuel); lithium battery standard
The new single-cylinder mill is rated for 77.5hp and 63Nm, which rises to 84.5hp and 67Nm when paired to the Termignoni racing exhaust. A 6-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch is mated to this engine, with a bidirectional quickshifter offered as an optional extra. The RVE model gets the bidirectional quickshifter as standard.
Styling is typical Hypermotard with a tall, flat bench-style seat and beaky front fender. One curious thing here is that Ducati has retained the twin exhaust mufflers, despite this being a single-cylinder engine.
Nestling the Superquadro Mono is a new trellis frame which Ducati claims weighs just 7.2kg. In fact, the entire bike weighs just 151kg (kerb, without fuel). A USD fork and monoshock (both fully-adjustable) handle suspension duties, the former supplied by Marzocchi and the latter by Sachs.
Braking duties are handled by a radial M4.32 monobloc caliper biting down upon a 330mm disc at the front, and dual-channel ABS is offered as standard, which can be turned off at the rear, in typical supermoto fashion. Tyres are supplied by Pirelli and the front hoop measures 120/70-ZR17, while the rear is a 160/60-ZR17 unit, and both run Diablo Rosso 4 rubber.
A comprehensive array of electronic rider aids is available including cornering ABS and traction control, engine braking control, 3 power modes, 4 riding modes and launch control. Wheelie control is offered as an optional extra. All these aids are controlled via a 3.5-inch LCD dash.
At the minute it is unclear if this new engine will find a home in future Ducati models. The Hypermotard 698 Mono’s chief competitor is the KTM 690 SMC R, and the Austrian marque hasn’t used its big single-cylinder engine in another model for quite some time.