The Cheapest Ducati That Still Feels Like A Ducati
If you want a Ducati on a budget, the cheapest option you have is the Scrambler Icon, starting at a little over $10,000. That, however, will hardly feel like a modern Ducati. It’s a throwback retro model that is more of a lifestyle product and less of a focused Ducati machine. But increase your budget by a few thousand dollars, and you can get your hands on one of the most exciting motorcycles in the market. And it feels like a proper Ducati should, with an uber-modern powerhouse and high-end components all over.
The Cheapest Ducatis Haven’t Felt Like A Ducati In The Past
Ducati is a through-and-through premium European manufacturer. You have the top-tier models, like the Multistrada V4 Rally, Panigale V4 S, or Diavel V4 RS, representing the best the segment has to offer. These are also expensive motorcycles. On the lower end of the Ducati spectrum, you have bikes like the Scrambler, starting at $10,295, and the Monster V2, starting at $13,995. These bikes, however, miss out on the Ducati flair that the company is known for.
Take the Scrambler, for example. It’s a retro bike powered by an L-twin engine with desmodromic valves. For Scrambler fans, this alone makes the bike a truer Ducati than most new Ducati models that have let go of the desmo tradition. However, the Scrambler is a throwback bike and lacks the high-stress, uncompromising DNA that Ducati is known for. Instead, it’s more mellow and relaxed, and Ducati knows this, which is why the Scrambler is more of a sub-brand than just a lineup for the Italian manufacturer.
On the other hand, there’s the Monster V2, which does not feel like a Monster, at least for fans of this naked. The original Monster was a parts-bin special, with an emphasis on special; it featured a trellis frame, a muscular design, and a single-sided swingarm. It was raw and pure, while the newer Monster is none of that. Yes, it is an evolution, but it feels too polished for its own good. After all, it wasn’t the refinement that made the original Monster so popular. However, there’s one cheap Ducati that actually feels like a Ducati, complete with desmo valves and aggressive character.
The Hypermotard 698 Mono Is The Cheapest True Ducati
The Hypermotard 698 Mono might seem like a strange choice here, considering it’s a single-cylinder supermoto from an Italian manufacturer that’s known for performance bikes powered by V2 and V4 engines. Hear us out, though. The Hypermotard 698 is just as focused as any other Ducati, only the focus here is having fun, not lap times or cross-country comfort. It’s a simple, lightweight motorcycle that’s designed to be agile, and Ducati assures it comes with the unique racing DNA that you’d get on any other higher-end Ducati models.
The Hypermotard 698 is powered by the most powerful single-cylinder engine (with a racing kit), essentially a chopped-off half of the 1299 Panigale’s Superquadro V-twin. And it features desmo valves, too. The engine hangs in a trellis frame, paired with a high-end suspension and braking setup. There are plenty of rider aids, too. All of that is wrapped in an aggressive yet simple design that gives the bike a compact, sharp look. It looks as exciting as a supermoto should while retaining the Ducati charm.
Pricing Starts At $13,995
We call this the cheapest Ducati that still feels like a Ducati, but it’s still a bit pricey, starting at $13,995 for the standard version. This version features the Rosso Ducati colorway. Ducati also offers the Nera version at $14,395, which comes in a striking all-black livery, and the RVE at $14,895, which gets a Graffiti livery. Ducati says this livery is created with water-based decals for a clean, sharp look.
Desmo Valves Mean Top-Tier Performance On Tap
Ducati has been selling the L-/V-twin powered Hypermotard for two decades, but what makes a real supermoto is an explosive single-cylinder engine. The Hypermotard 698 Mono is just that. It features a short-stroke thumper engine derived from the 1285cc Superquadro of the 1299 Panigale. It inherits various components, including the thermal part, the piston, and the combustion chamber design. There’s also the desmodromic valve system with titanium intake valves, which eliminates valve float that can occur with high-revving spring valves.
A Power Output That Smokes Bigger Parallel-Twins
The ultra-short stroke is important here, allowing the engine to reach high rotational speeds. The piston has a diameter of 4.57 inches (116mm) and a short stroke of just 2.46 inches (62.4mm), giving it a 1.86 bore-to-stroke ratio. This, paired with a high 13.1:1 compression ratio, allows Ducati to extract 77.5 horsepower at 9,750 RPM and 46.5 pound-feet of torque at 8,000 RPM. Slap on the Racing exhaust, and the output bumps up to 84.5 horsepower and 49.4 pound-feet of torque, making the Hypermotard 698 Mono the most powerful single-cylinder production motorcycle ever made.
V-Twin-Like Character And Long Service Intervals
For such a big thumper engine, vibrations are common, but Ducati dampens that with a pair of balancing countershafts. Ducati says the engine’s vibrations are comparable to that of a 90-degree V-twin. There’s a 6-speed manual gearbox, with gear ratios modeled on those of the Panigale V4, with a long first gear for faster corner exits. Lastly, the desmo system requires little maintenance, unlike older engines. Ducati has set an oil change interval of 9,400 miles and a valve clearance interval of 18,600 miles.
Supermotard-Ready Underpinnings, Ergonomics, And Electronics
Ducati says the Hypermotard 698 Mono combines everything that makes a supermoto fun to ride, combined with the precise front-end behavior of Ducati sports bikes. That’s made possible by a combination of sharp steering geometry, short wheelbase, low front wheel inertia, and weight distribution. The bike tips the scales at just 333 pounds without fuel, with a front-biased weight distribution. This should make this Italian supermoto a hoot to ride.
High-End Underpinnings With Marzocchi/Sachs Suspension
The bike uses a steel trellis frame with a lightweight 8.6-pound aluminum double-sided swingarm. Ducati says this combination maximizes stiffness and minimizes weight, and the swingarm length limits the wheelbase to 56.8 inches. This setup sits on fully adjustable suspension, comprising beefy 45mm Marzocchi USD up front and a Sachs monoshock with progressive link at the back.
The bike also gets five-spoke Y-spoked alloy wheels that are said to be 1.1 pounds lighter than a similar set of spoked wheels. The wheels are wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires. Braking power comes from a large 330mm disc up front, which is the same size as that of the Panigale V4, gripped by Brembo M4.32 calipers actuated by a radial master cylinder. Combine everything, and you have a bike that’s built to be a hooligan on the road.
Supermoto Ergonomics With Plenty Of Tech Support
Ducati says the bike also features an upright riding position that’s typical of a supermoto. The rider’s seat is narrow and flat, allowing body and leg movements. The seat is 35.6 inches off the ground, but can be lowered by 0.6 inch with the optional lowering kit and 1.6 inches further with the lowered suspension kit. The aluminum handlebar is adjustable in two positions.
There’s a rich tech suite, starting with a compact 3.8-inch LCD instrument and LED lights. As for electronics, the bike features 4 rain modes (Sport, Road, Urban, and Wet) and 3 power modes (High, Medium, and Low). Safety is covered by cornering ABS with Slide by Brake, Ducati Wheelie Control, Ducati Traction Control, Engine Brake Control, and Ducati Power Launch. The RVE model also features a bidirectional quickshifter, which is otherwise optional on the lower variants.
Unmistakable Ducati Design Rounds Things Out
The Hypermotard 698 Mono is an unmistakable Ducati by design, too. The bike is sharp and slender, with clean lines that make Ducatis stand out among the crowd. The front is aggressive, with a high fender, and the rear is sleek, with twin silencers adding visual balance to the overall design. So, whether you consider the bike’s engine with desmo valves, high-end underpinnings, Panigale V4-inspired electronics, or stunning looks, there’s nothing on this bike that doesn’t feel like a Ducati.
Source: Ducati
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