Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono with World's Most Powerful Single-Cylinder Engine Breaks Cover
The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Monobike features a 3.8-inch LCD display, ride-by-wire, Ducati Power Launch, cornering ABS, and 4 riding modes.
By Kanika Sachdeva
The new Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono has been unveiled for the international market and, as we reported earlier, the bike comes equipped with the world's most powerful single-cylinder engine. Called 'Superquadro Mono', it is an all-new 659cc, short-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that is based on the 1,285cc Superquadro that powers the Ducati 1299 Panigale. Ducati says that the power output is the highest in its segment, standing at 76.43bhp at 9,750rpm. If fitted with a Termignoni exhaust system (for track use only), the power is boosted to 83.3bhp at 9,500rpm. Meanwhile, the torque output is rated at 63Nm at 8,000rpm.
Ducati's Superquadro Mono features the desmodromic valve system, which helps create high rpm power. Claimed to be the most 'high-performance road-going single-cylinder engine ever', the Mono uses the same 116mm diameter piston as the 1299 Panigale, but has a longer stroke of 62.4mm, resulting in an extreme bore-to-stroke ratio of 1.86. The bike gets a compression ratio of 13.1:1, which is even higher than the street-legal 90-degree V-Twin's 12.6:1.
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Other engine bits include the 46.8mm diameter titanium intake valves, 38.2mm steel exhaust valves, as well as the combustion chamber, all borrowed from the 1299 Panigale. As for the transmission, the Hypermotard 698 Mono uses a 6-speed unit, accompanied by a slip-and-assist clutch and bi-directional quickshifter. The range-topping RVE comes standard with the bi-directional quickshifter, while the standard version offers it as optional equipment. That said, the new Ducati is available in two variants – Standard and RVE.
Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono: Suspension, Braking
The most powerful engine comes nestled within a tubular steel trellis frame, which is suspended by a 45mm Marzocchi upside-down front fork and a rear monoshock from Sachs, fully adjustable on both ends. Stopping power comes from a front 330mm disc with a radial M4.32 calliper and a rear 245mm disc with a single-piston floating calliper. Dual-channel ABS is standard here, which can be switched off at the rear. These discs are mounted on 17-inch, 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 120/70 front and 160/60 rear Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres. The Hypermotard 698 Mono tips the scales at 151 kilograms (without fuel).
Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono: Features, Rider Aids
On the feature front, the bike offers a 3.8-inch LCD display, ride-by-wire, Ducati Power Launch, cornering ABS, and 4 riding modes – Sport, Road, Urban and Wet. As for rider aids, you get traction control, 4-level wheelie control, Ducati Brake Light, and engine brake control. On offer is also 3 power modes: Low, Mid, and High.
Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono: Design
Taking design inspiration from the race-ready Supermotard, the Hypermotard 698 Mono comes with a flat seat, compact LED headlamp with a DRL, double-sided swingarm, twin exhaust mufflers, slender tail section, etc.
The Hypermotard has a close rival in the form of the KTM 690 SMC R, which is powered by a 693cc LC4 engine. The new Ducati revs all the way up to 10,250rpm, while its rival's limit is set at 8,000rpm.
