Ducati Hypermotard 796: smaller and cheaper for 2010

LessPeople_MoreRobots said:

Also great to see it retained the single-sided swingarm, since the Monster wasn't so lucky.

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I guess you aren't so lucky:

My issue with the Hypermotard is the weight of the baby. I agree with rb. If they drop fifty plus pounds to make it more of a real motard lowering the horse power will be irrelevant.

I plan on picking a Husaberg 650 or an Aprilia 550 for winter motard duties in the city. Light and powerful, exactly what a motard should be, in my opinion. Plus if dropped a motard should not have a yard sale. Cosmetic parts should be durable, tucked away, and plentiful.

Throwing a 99x or 1x98 down the road should be extremely rare but with a motard almost common, if you ride like a hooligan. Curbs and speed bumps add interest to pathways.

Obviously for the cafe only boys this is irrelevant. They want more bling then zing.

Lighter and more agile will put them in a market they do not play in. The current Hypermotard model's size makes it a monster competitor, cannibalizing monster sales.

This is obviously only my opinion and why I have it.

I just hope the management gets smarter without causing the brand to lose its passionate flavor.

Cheers! Hope you rode today!

TonyBCM said:

I guess you aren't so lucky

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Its posted officially on Ducati.com now

Looks like it did retain the single-sided swingarm, and its not the carry-over 696 engine:



http://www.ducati.com/news/09/news018/news018.jhtml

From the article:

Ahead of the EICMA International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Ducati release images previewing its newest model – the fun and versatile Hypermotard 796.

Just as aggressively striking as the 1100, the lightweight new Hypermotard 796 features a lower seat height and brand new smooth and flexible engine to make it the perfect urban assault vehicle.

A dry weight of just 167kg (368lb) and seat height of 825mm

(32.5in) makes the Hypermotard 796 a sure-footed 20mm (0.8in) lower than the 1100 and inspires confidence however and wherever it’s ridden.

The completely new Ducati 796 engine has a bore and stroke of 88mm x 66mm, conforms to Euro 3 regulations and produces 81hp (59.6kW) of power and 55.7lb-ft (7.7kgm) of torque with the smooth and very economic rideability enjoyed from all Desmodue L-Twins.

The new power unit is also equipped with an APTC ‘wet’ clutch to give a ‘slipper’ type action that prevents destabilization of the rear-end during aggressive down-shifting and also gives the extra benefit of a super-light feel at the adjustable lever, a great advantage in stop-start city traffic or during longer journeys.

The new Hypermotard 796 comes in an urban-style Dark finish with matte black tank and beak section, black frame and black wheels or, alternatively, matte white tank with contrasting matte black beak, black frame and black wheels. For the purists, an 1100 look-alike with Ducati red tank with matching beak section, red frame and black wheels gives the 796 a traditional livery.

Whether it's working the daily commute or attacking the open roads, the 796 will ride the common ground between

manners and madness by mixing Ducati’s unrivalled twin-cylinder power and sportbike heredity with the lightweight and minimalist supermotard concept. Available in Ducati stores from late October, a brand new way to go Hyper: The Hypermotard 796.