Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono, the most sophisticated supermoto you will find on the market

Ducati continues its “World Première” in which, as if it were a Netflix series, it presents all the novelties of its catalogue for the coming year chapter by chapter. In this new chapter, it is the turn of its most fun motorcycle, which they themselves call the “fun-bike”: the Hypermotard, and the new and spectacular version Hypermotard 698 Mono loaded with novelties.

Under the umbrella of Audi, Ducati has the green light to take part in various competitions beyond asphalt, the natural territory of the Borgo Panigale brand. That is why this latest presentation is linked to the arrival of a new single-cylinder engine, an engine that will undoubtedly be closely tied to the recent announcement that Ducati will be present in Motocross with Antonio Cairoli (nine-time Motocross World Champion) as developer of the prototype. And mind you, since last year Ducati has had the DesertX in its catalogue, so the Dakar cannot be ruled out either.

So let us go through the new Hypermotard 698 Mono starting from its heart, the new single-cylinder engine Superquadro Mono. Ducati does not currently have engines of this type to use as a reference, so they looked to a powerful, lightweight and compact twin that they did have: the 1,285 cc Superquadro of the 1299 Panigale, from which it keeps the 116 mm bore together with a 62.4 mm stroke and a displacement of 659 cc.

Box-in-box piston, titanium intake valves, aluminium cylinder liner, DLC-coated piston pin and, as could not be otherwise, Desmodromic valve timing, all this technology so that the new Superquadro Mono is capable of delivering a power output of 77.5 CV at 9,750 rpm and a torque of 6.4 kgm at 8,000 rpm. The power can also be increased by 7 CV, that is, reaching 84.5 CV, by fitting the sports exhaust signed by Termignoni, which is offered as an option.

Like any Ducati worth its salt, the new Hypermotard 698 Mono also comes loaded with technology in the service of safety, with systems fitted as standard such as ABS Cornering, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Wheelie Control, Engine Brake Control, Ducati Power Launch and Ducati Quick Shift. On top of this, through its 3.8-inch LCD display we can select and configure the four riding modes, to which the levels of Engine Mode, DTC, EBC and ABS are assigned. Note that with ABS set to level 3, the Slide-by-Brake function is activated when the rear brake is applied aggressively, which allows you to slide and enter the bend while the electronics help with the rest.

This prized new engine of the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono is embraced by a multitubular frame characterised by combining lightness and rigidity, working together with a double-sided swingarm connected by progressive linkages. At the front, inverted 45 mm forks signed by Marzocchi are used, and at the rear a shock absorber, both fully adjustable, which receive the movement of the cast wheels fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres. Braking is handled by a single 330 mm front disc and Brembo M4.32 radial calliper, while the rear axle also uses a single 240 mm disc, both of specific design.

The new and more than fun Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono can now be ordered at the brand’s Spanish dealerships, with a price starting from 14,090 euros.