Ducati has launched its Hypermotard 698 Mono in India at Rs 16.50 Lakh (ex-showroom). The bookings for the bike are open, and customers can expect it to be delivered by the end of the month. The unique part of the bike is that it is the only single-cylinder in Ducati's international portfolio. It is also the most powerful single-cylinder engine bike in the world.
The Hypermotard looks like how you would want your supermoto, with its high beak-like front fender being the highlight. It appears tall and has a broad handlebar; the bench is a single piece, 5-spoke alloy wheels and twin exhaust mufflers.
When it comes to the features, the Hypermotard 698 Mono comes equipped with a digital 3.8-inch LCD, LED lighting, and four riding modes: Sport, Road, Urban, and Wet. Ducati also includes an extensive electronics package featuring traction control, three power modes, ride-by-wire, wheelie control, engine brake control, launch control and cornering ABS.
The Hypermotard 698 derives its power from a 659cc, liquid-cooled Superquadro Mono engine that churns out 77.5 bhp and 63 Nm of torque. If you opt to use the Termignoni race exhaust, these numbers can go up to 84.5 bhp and 67 Nm of torque, which makes it the most powerful single-cylinder engine bike in the world.
The base of the Hypermotard 698 is a trellis frame that is suspended on fully adjustable USD front forks and rear monoshock from Sachs. It uses a 330 mm front and 245 mm rear disc for braking, along with dual-channel ABS. If you want to perform slides, you can turn the rear ABS off. It rides on 17-inch wheels that have 120/70 front and 160/60 rear tyres of the Diablo Rosso 4 type.
It is being imported as a CBU and hence will receive full duty, with bikes imported from Italy and Thailand. The 'Mono' does not qualify for the Indo-Thai Free Trade Agreement because its engine capacity is under 800cc.
Bipul Chandra, MD, Ducati India, stated, "Ducati's engineering prowess is on full display with the world's most powerful single-cylinder engine, a masterpiece of performance that delivers exhilarating power with every twist of the throttle."
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