The Ducati That Makes Everyday Riding Feel Extraordinary

Ducati is one of those manufacturers that evokes an emotional response out of just about any motorcycle enthusiast. Not every emotional response is positive, though. Several customers got burned pretty badly by a brand that never took mechanical reliability very seriously in the past. Today, all that has changed, and while the Italian marque is still very much in the business of building dream machines, the machines have never been more reliable. For everyday riding fun, the Italian giant has a brilliant supermoto for you.

Why The Supermoto Class Still Shines In 2026

Read Also

5 hour ago

The Nissan That Quietly Beats Toyota On Value

2 autotech

People have been putting road tires on dirt bikes for decades, but it was only in the early 00s that this concept really went mainstream. With supermoto racing becoming more popular, manufacturers rolled out some purpose-built competition spec bikes as well as some bikes that were street legal. KTM had bikes like the 640 Supermoto on sale from the 90s already, while Suzuki offered the DR-Z400SM from 2004 to cater to the entry-level market.

Joining the party, Ducati came out with the first Hypermotard in 2007. It took a slightly different approach to the supermoto class, with a big V-twin in a physically bigger, more street-oriented frame. Equally at home out on track or on a canyon road, it offered riders dynamic handling and almost twice as much power as the singles. Aprilia and KTM hit back with similar bikes, but as quickly as the concept took off, it quietly disappeared.

KTM/Rudi Schedl

While a handful of small Japanese supermotos never went away, it was only recently that this end of the market saw new models enter the fray. Suzuki rolled out a brand new DR-Z. KTM brought out a brand new 390 supermoto, and later updated the venerable 690. Among them all, Ducati gave us one of the most extraordinary motorcycles currently on the market.

Read Also

3 day ago

10 Motorcycles That Make The Most Sense For American Riders

7 autotech

Related

How Suzuki Just Shot Itself In The Foot With The 2025 DR-Z4S

The DR-Z duo is finally here, armed with an array of updates. But things are not all rosy.

The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Offers Us A Way To Ride A Dream Bike Everyday

MSRP: $13,995 – $14,895

Ducati

What makes the Hypermotard 698 so unusual is the fact that Ducati pretty much built a bespoke engine and frame for one model. We initially thought other bikes using this engine would surely follow, but that has not been the case. While the jury is still out on whether this was the intention, it certainly doesn’t seem as though any other bikes are going to be using this engine anytime soon. The recent arrival of the multiplatform 890cc V-twin has more or less confirmed this, at least for the foreseeable future. It is a highly unusual thing for a manufacturer to do, but it certainly makes the 698 a truly unique offering, and to the right buyer, it represents a dream bike that can actually be ridden daily.

The Superquadro Mono Brings Ducati-Level Exclusivity To A Single

Power: 78 Horsepower

Ducati

Single-cylinder engines are usually reserved for affordable, entry-level motorcycles. The Hypermotard 698 is neither affordable nor entry-level. That is because the Superquadro Mono is not your average single. It is actually a faithful reincarnation of the Superquadro twin, just minus one cylinder. That legendary V-twin made over 200 horsepower by the time it went out of production, and while the single doesn’t quite make half the power, 78 horsepower is nothing to sniff at.

Desmo Preserved

Ducati

For a brief moment, this was the most powerful single-cylinder engine in production. KTM was quick to reclaim that title, but claiming those bragging rights was never the ultimate objective of this powertrain. Unlike the aforementioned 890 V-twin, this actually sticks with tradition and retains desmodromic valve timing. The downside to this is the fact that it means this relatively small displacement Ducati will cost just as much to service as a Panigale once that desmo service needs to be done at 18,000 miles. Only the individual rider will be able to tell if this is indeed worth it or not.

The Hypermotard 698 Is Not Your Average Commuter Bike

Not everyone wants to ride a big dirt bike to work every day. While the hypermotard is much more than your average “big dirt-bike”, this is more or less what you will be dealing with in terms of ergonomics. Its 35.6-inch seat height is a limiting factor, but if you are willing to deal with that, you will have yourself one of the very best commuter bikes. It won’t be particularly light on fuel, nor will it be cheap to run, but it will bring more joy to your daily ride than pretty much any other motorcycle on the planet.

While it might not be the most powerful bike in this price range, it is incredibly light. This makes it easy to navigate tight city streets, and when you get out of the city onto a canyon road, it will really come into its own. The steel trellis chassis offers dynamic handling, and its suspension is fully adjustable, so you will be able to dial it into your specific riding style and weight.

A Hooligan With Restraint

Ducati

Unlike some of the older supermotos that are pretty raw, the Hypermotard is a sophisticated, modern motorcycle that will protect you from yourself. It comes with cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, and ride modes that actually make a discernible difference. The Nera (pictured) and RVE models also get a quickshifter as standard fitment.

The one thing the Hypermotard does not promise to be is a competent tourer. Like any supermoto, you are very much up in the wind, and its seat isn’t exactly “plush.” At this price point, there is a wide selection of motorcycles that will do a better job. At this price point, there is also a wide selection of motorcycles that offer more bang for the buck, but none offer the ability to make your daily ride feel quite as extraordinary.

Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications

Source: Ducati