Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono: the new benchmark for road Supermotards

Unmistakable Ducati style

The new Hypermotard 698 Mono combines a typically Supermotard racing aesthetic, essential, compact and aggressive, with the clean lines and attention to surfaces typical of Ducati design. The result is a slim and sleek motorcycle. The superstructures reduced to a minimum immediately communicate Ducati sportiness and enhance the vertical development of the new Superquadro Mono.

The high and flat seat, the high front mudguard, the sharp tail and the rear number plates are all elements that confirm its attitude. In line with Ducati style, the five-spoke alloy wheels with a "Y" design combine a sporty look with the advantage of lightness. Another unique element are the double silencers mounted at the top, on the sides of the tail, a distinctive element of the Hypermotard family as well as the racing Supermotards. The super compact LED headlight integrates the DRL function with a double "C" light profile and makes the Hypermotard 698 Mono a motorcycle that does not go unnoticed. The same light signature is found in the rear position light.

The fun-bike personality of the Hypermotard 698 Mono emerges clearly in the RVE version, characterized by the dedicated 'Graffiti' livery. This colouring was created with the use of water decals with the aim of obtaining refined and complex graphics inspired by works of street art.

Superquadro Mono engine

The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono debuts the new Superquadro Mono, the latest addition to the Borgo Panigale engines which presents itself as a new performance benchmark among single-cylinder road bikes. All the information on the new Ducati engine can be found here. Powerful, light and compact, it comes from the most powerful and refined twin-cylinder ever created by Ducati: the 1,285 cc Superquadro of the 1299 Panigale. It retains the 116 mm bore of that engine, a record value for a road single-cylinder, combined with a stroke of 62.4 mm for a displacement of 659 cc, and highly sophisticated solutions. The box-in-box piston, the titanium intake valves, the aluminium cylinder liner, the piston pin equipped with DLC coating and naturally Desmodromic distribution make the Superquadro Mono capable of revving at speeds normally reserved only for racing single cylinders (the limiter is set at 10,250 rpm) and delivers a maximum power of 77.5 hp at 9,750 rpm.

The torque, whose maximum value is 6.4 kgm at 8,000 rpm, is distributed in a particularly favourable manner, resulting in linear delivery that can be exploited in sports riding. Furthermore, thanks to the Termignoni racing exhaust, in track configuration the power increases by 7 horsepower reaching the incredible value of 84.5 hp, another record for a single-cylinder.

Electronics

The standard electronic equipment of the Hypermotard 698 Mono is the most complete in its category and includes many of the controls present on the Panigale V4, developed specifically for this bike. There are ABS Cornering, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Wheelie Control, Engine Brake Control, Ducati Power Launch and Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up/Down, which can be purchased as an accessory for the standard version and is supplied as standard on the RVE version.

The goal is always the same: to increase riding fun. And with the Hypermotard 698 Mono, less experienced riders will be able to approach Motard-style riding with the certainty of being able to count on sophisticated electronics. The Hypermotard 698 Mono has four riding modes (Sport, Road, Urban and Wet) to which the Engine Mode (available on 3 levels), DTC, EBC and ABS levels are assigned by default, which can be modified by the rider. Everything is managed by the 3.8" LCD instrumentation with white characters on a black background to ensure the readability of the information. As on the Panigale V4, the Hypermotard 698 Mono also features an indication of gear change and when the limiter is reached.

The Hypermotard 698 Mono is the first Ducati to offer four levels of ABS. Two of these integrate the Slide-by-Brake functionality, which through the use of the rear brake allows safe and repeatable cornering when powersliding in sporty riding on the track. With the ABS set to level 3, when using the rear brake during aggressive braking on the track, the Slideby- Brake activates, allowing the bike a contained yaw angle that is easier to manage. Just brake, start entering the corner and the electronics will take care of the rest. This level was developed for less experienced riders on the track who want to start approaching sideways riding when entering corners. With this level of Slide-by-Brake, rear powerslides become more easily controllable, leaving room for fun.

When ABS is set to level 2, Slide-by-Brake allows for a wider sideways angle and more pronounced powerslides into the corner. This level was developed for sporting use on the track for those who already have experience with powerslides but want to be able to count on the safety offered by the ABS system.

For more experienced riders who want to independently manage powerslides when entering corners on the track, level 1 is available in which the ABS, not Cornering, is active only on the front. Finally, the ABS of the Hypermotard 698 Mono also has level 4, developed for low-grip situations to guarantee maximum stability and safety. It is associated by default with Wet Riding Mode. The bike offers 4 levels of Wheelie Control. Levels 4, 3 and 2 ensure maximum acceleration out of corners while minimizing lift from the front wheel. Level 1, however, was developed for use on the track and allows controlled and safe lifting of the front, maximizing both performance and fun. Furthermore, exclusively for use on the track, the Ducati Performance software for Ducati Wheelie Control is available as an accessory. This functionality can be activated only in association with the Termignoni Ducati Performance exhaust, not street-legal, and provides an additional assistance strategy called Wheelie Assist. In this case the electronics assist the rider in executing and maintaining a prolonged wheelie, regulating the angle using the engine torque delivered.

Chassis and ergonomics

The Hypermotard 698 Mono is compact and lightweight, with a curb weight of 151 kg without fuel. A result obtained thanks to solutions such as the trellis frame with differentiated sections and thicknesses weighing only 7.2 kg, capable of combining strength with rigidity and lightness, to the cast rims (-0.5 kg compared to similar spoked wheels), to the brake discs with aluminium flange (-17% compared to a steel unit) and to the lightweight Marzocchi fork, fully adjustable and equipped with external adjusters, with upside-down front forks and 45 mm aluminium sliders, weighing only 8.1 kg. The double-sided swingarm, light and essential, works via a progressive linkage with a fully adjustable rear shock absorber. The rims are fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres, measuring 120/70 ZR 17 at the front and 160/60 ZR 17 at the rear.

The front braking system relies on a single 330 mm disc developed specifically by Brembo for the Hypermotard 698 Mono, with Brembo M4.32 radial caliper. At the rear there is a single 240 mm disc, also with a dedicated design. The riding position is designed to guarantee maximum control in sports riding, supporting both traditional riding with the leg stretched towards the ground and that with the knee on the ground. The variable section handlebar determines a dominant position, favouring body movements. The advancement is adjustable through eccentric U-bolts. The design of the footrests is studied to maximize the lean angle. Furthermore, by removing the rubber inserts it is possible to obtain maximum grip with racing boots when used on the track thanks to a specific processing of the edge. The extremely slim upper structure of the bike and the flat saddle covered with an optimized grip fabric facilitate body and leg movements.