The automotive world is certainly changing. Riders are getting older yet bikes are getting bigger. Adventure bikes and touring bikes are getting bigger and we’ve more or less seen the demise of the litre sports bike.
The government tell us that by 2030 there will be no more <50cc petrol motorcycles and by 2040, no more petrol bikes.
In this increasingly regulated world, I’ve gotta say the Ducati Hypermotard Mono is a breath of fresh air.
Punchy Single: It’s Ducati’s first single-cylinder Ducati since the ‘90s and it packs a serious punch. The Superquadro Mono engine is essentially half of the Panigale V-twin, at 659cc. Think of it as the grandchild of the Panigale’s V-twin.
It’s crazy powerful for a single, putting out 77.5 hp (84.5 with the race exhaust) at 9,750 rpm and it’ll go on to a 10,250 rpm rev limit.
Forget a chugging engine, this thing is a punchy, fire breathing fun machine and is the most high-performance road-going single-cyclinder engine ever.
Lightweight Magic: Ducati kept the weight down to a crazy 151kg, which makes this bike agile and flickable – it can handle some serious twisties.
You can carve corners with confidence, drag knee, or get a little wild with some foot-out fun.
Suspension in by fully adjustable, lightweight Marzocchi 45mm forks at the front with cast alloy wheels instead of wires to keep the weight down and rear a fully adjustable Sachs rising-rate monoshoc out back. This thing really handles, I didn’t have time to play with the suspension but I didn’t feel like a needed to.
Braking duties are dealt with by a single Brembo front caliper and 330mm disc at the front and a single-pot Brembo caliper and 240mm disc at the rear.
Electronics Everywhere: This ain’t some bare-bones streetfighter. Ducati loaded it up with all the bells and whistles from their Panigale line. We’re talking different riding modes, cornering ABS with slide control, traction control, engine brake control, wheelie control, launch control – the whole package. It’s a lot of tech for a supermoto, but it makes it surprisingly user-friendly and lets you push the limits a bit safer.
I didn’t have enough time to explore and exploit the electronics, but I’m aiming for a full road test in the not too distant future.
Not Your First Rodeo: Don’t get me wrong, while the electronics help, this isn’t a beginner’s bike. That wild powerband and featherweight handling demand respect. You gotta be comfortable with a bit of a wild ride.
Pricey Passion: Ducatis aren’t cheap, but like everything in life, you get what you pay for. The Mono is no exception. Prices start at £11,895. But hey, if you’re looking for a unique, high-performance machine that’ll turn heads and leave you grinning like a loon, this could be the one.
Overall, the Ducati Hypermotard Mono is a game-changer. It’s a powerful, lightweight supermoto with a surprising amount of technology. It’s not for everyone, but for experienced riders who crave something special, it’s a wild ride waiting to happen.
