The Hypermotard name has been a twin for years. The Hypermotard 698 Mono is the single. Ducati calls it "the first single-cylinder road-going Supermotard by Ducati," and describes it as "a true 'fun-bike' with racing DNA."
That phrasing sounds like marketing until you look at what the engine actually is.
The Superquadro Mono
Ducati did not go shopping for a competent single-cylinder engine. It took the 1285 cc Superquadro engine of the 1299 Panigale and derived a single from it. The result is a 659 cc short-stroke single-cylinder engine with desmodromic valve actuation, which Ducati calls the Superquadro Mono.
The numbers that matter:
- 77.5 hp at 9,750 rpm
- 46.5 lb-ft of torque at 8,000 rpm
- Rev limiter set at 10,250 rpm
A 10,250 rpm ceiling on a 659 cc single is the whole story in one figure. It is built around a short stroke and desmodromic valve control. That is a Panigale engineering decision applied to a supermoto, and it means the 698 Mono rewards being revved rather than short-shifted.
333 pounds
Ducati lists a curb weight without fuel of 333 lb. For context on what that does to the riding experience: 77.5 hp into 333 lb is a power-to-weight ratio that puts this bike in genuinely quick company without asking much of the rider physically.
That is what separates a supermoto from a small sportbike. The 698 Mono is not fast because it makes a lot of power. It is fast because it makes enough power and weighs almost nothing.
Suspension and chassis
The front end is a fully adjustable Marzocchi upside-down fork with 1.77-inch aluminum stanchions, and Ducati publishes the complete fork's weight: 17.9 lb. The weight figure matters — unsprung and steered mass at the front of a light motorcycle has an outsized effect on how quickly it changes line.
At the rear, the Sachs shock is off-road-inspired and coupled with a progressive link, working through a simple, straight double-sided swingarm. That combination — off-road damping philosophy with a progressive rate — is exactly what a supermoto needs. It has to absorb curbs, broken pavement and the occasional unintentional flight without turning into a pogo stick under braking.
Five-spoke Y-shaped alloy wheels complete the picture, chosen by Ducati for the combination of sporting appearance and low weight.
The cockpit and the details
All Hypermotard 698 Mono functions are managed through the instrument panel with 3.8-inch LCD display. It is deliberately small, integrated into the front number plate holder rather than bolted on in front of it. On a bike with no fairing and a number plate up front, a large screen would simply look wrong — and more practically, it would be in the way.
The lighting is worth noting because it is where Ducati's design language shows up on a bike this stripped-back. The compact LED headlamp carries a DRL daytime running light in a "double C" design, and the taillight repeats the same "double C" profile. The stop light includes the Ducati Brake Light function, which Ducati specifies as an urban-traffic safety feature.
The twin silencers mount high on either side of the tail — the supermoto signature.
Versions and pricing
Three versions are offered, and Ducati lists the same 77.5 hp, 46.5 lb-ft and 333 lb for all three.
| Version | Color / finish | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Hypermotard 698 Mono | Ducati Red | $13,995 |
| Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera | All-black livery | $14,395 |
| Hypermotard 698 Mono RVE | Graffiti livery | $15,495 |
A $995 destination charge applies.
The standard version uses mass-colored Rosso Ducati plastic components, which Ducati notes is typical of the supermotard world — the color is in the plastic rather than painted on top of it. The Nera is an all-black treatment. The RVE carries the Graffiti livery, applied with water-based decals inspired by street art.
Who this bike is for
The 698 Mono is for a rider who has figured out that speed and pace are different things. If your idea of a good Sunday is a tight, bumpy, technical road where a superbike spends its time in second gear being frustrated, this is the correct motorcycle. It is also, unusually for a Ducati, a genuinely good city bike — light, narrow, upright, with the visibility that comes from sitting tall in traffic.
It is not a touring bike, and Ducati is not pretending otherwise. There is no fairing and little wind protection, and a single-cylinder engine spinning toward 10,000 rpm is not what you want for a two-hour freeway drone. Riders who need to cover distance should be looking at a Multistrada.
It is also not a beginner bike in the way the capacity figure might suggest. 77.5 hp in a 333 lb chassis will loft the front wheel without a great deal of provocation. That is the appeal, but it demands some throttle discipline.
See it at MotoCorsa
The Hypermotard 698 Mono, Mono Nera and Mono RVE are available through MotoCorsa Ducati in Portland. Browse our current Ducati inventory to check availability, or contact us to schedule a test ride — this is a bike that makes considerably more sense from the saddle than from a spec sheet.
Specifications and pricing sourced from ducati.com and are subject to change. Contact MotoCorsa for current availability and out-the-door pricing.