Ducati launches 2010 Hypermotard 796, prices it below $10K
Ducati Hypermotard 796 - Click above for high-res image gallery
There's no doubt that the Ducati Hypermotard is one of the most talked about new motorcycles in recent memory, but at $14,995, it is priced out of many buyer's budgets. If you're slightly shy of coin, we have some good news to share: Ducati has just officially announced the Hypermotard 796, and it carries a more reasonable $9,995 asking price.
At this point, Ducati isn't saying much about the new engine that powers the Hypermotard 796, except that it's air-cooled, sports two valves per cylinder and puts out 81 horsepower and 56 lb-ft of torque. We've heard, though, that the new mill will displace around 800cc and is a development of the mill used in the Monster 696. Those power figures coupled with the new bike's low 368-pound (unverified at this point, naturally) package provide an attractive power-to-weight ratio.
Other features will include an APTC clutch and a single-sided swingarm along with redesigned top and bottom fork clamps and a revised steel trellis frame. Color options will include Ducati red and matte black in addition to the cool matte white scheme seen in our photo gallery below. Click past the break for the official press release.
Gallery: Ducati Hypermotard 796
[Source: Ducati]
PRESS RELEASE:
DUCATI ANNOUNCES THE 2010 HYPERMOTARD 796
The newest member of the Hypermotard family arrives with an all-new engine and a lightweight chassis.
Cupertino, Calif. (23 September 2009) – Ducati North America is delighted to introduce the newest model in its successful Hypermotard family; the Hypermotard 796.
A brand new model for 2010, the Hypermotard 796 incorporates many new features requested by Ducatisti worldwide; striking color selections, lighter weight, lower price point, lower seat height, and the inclusion of a super-light action APTC clutch. Whether it's dicing through the daily commute or attacking the open roads, the 796 perfectly balances Ducati's unrivalled twin-cylinder power and sportbike heredity with the lightweight and minimalist Supermotard concept.
The Hypermotard 796's engine is a brand new powerplant; air-cooled with 2 valves per cylinder as per Ducati tradition. Rated at 81hp and 56 lb/ft of torque, the engine promises to deliver an exhilarating ride without compromising the smooth tractability found in Ducati's other L-Twin engines.
Continued chassis development to the Hypermotard includes redesigned top and bottom fork clamps, and an improved frame layout which eliminates almost all of the forged elements used previously on the 1100. This adds up to an agile, lightweight, 368 pound package that is guaranteed to attack corners.
The Hypermotard 796 will be available at authorized Ducati showrooms beginning in December 2009. Color selections will include Ducati red, matte black, and matte white. MSRP for the Hypermotard 796 will be $9,995, joining the Monster 696 in Ducati's sub- $10,000 price bracket; a bargain for the handmade Italian motorcycle.
The first public showing of the Hypermotard 796 will be at Milan's EICMA international motorcycle show. Full information on the entire range of Ducati motorcycles can be found at www.ducatiusa.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BoxerFanatic 6:56PM (9/23/2009)
Du-cat-ayyy!!!
"This is different, it has a lot of.... ...torque."
Can't help but think of the movie Yes Man where a stunt man in Jim Carrey's place, rides a wheelie in a hospital gown for about three blocks, moons SF traffic, and then does a couple of smokey burnout spins in front of Zoey Deschanel.
Urban jungle motorsports is pretty much exactly what this is designed for.
Have to say that the Monster and Supersport 1198 series bikes are more my aesthetic style, although I would probably be more comfortable riding a Hypermotard.
Gotta love big twin bikes with single sided swingarms... :D
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Aloysius Vampa 8:45PM (9/23/2009)
Haha. I love that movie.
Michael Flux 6:59PM (9/23/2009)
"Below 10k"
...before a few more thousand of markups, taxes, fees and other misc crap you mean?
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kfj 7:07PM (9/23/2009)
I doubt it will have a mark up but it sounds like you have never bought anything new before...
Michael Flux 7:18PM (9/23/2009)
kfj, just saying that when the MSRP is 5 bucks below 10k... well, thats well... silly :p
burninblubber 7:24PM (9/23/2009)
Hyper 'tard is the nick name for my "special" cousin after he gets a hold of some redbull.
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RLQ 7:30PM (9/23/2009)
Not bad in price.
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Redline 7:43PM (9/23/2009)
Nice hooligan bike! Price looks good as well. Hmmmm... *rubs chin*
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John Cressy 7:50PM (9/23/2009)
One example of how far we have come: Suzuki 1986 GSXR750G, 388 lbs. Dry, 100 H.P. at the engine, air and oil cooled, $4250 MSRP.
Closed course record set in Texas same year by a team of magazine editors. Averaged about 124 mph for 24 Hours. Broken later by professional riders with factory support riding Hondas.
Almost test rode a duck last Saturday at a FORZA meet. Rode my 1986 Suzuki GSXR750G to the meet. The 1967 Bridgestone 350 GTR wasn't up to it.
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neothespian 10:39PM (9/23/2009)
The GSXR is NO WHERE in the same class or category as this bike. Ducati set this cycle to clearly take on BMW and KTM, and it stands a very good chance, especially if it's the same motor as the 696. The capabilities of this frame and suspension set up are light years above what the Japanese can probably bring to the market, and ...well... as snobbish as it sounds: It's a Duck. It's Italian. And, that's all some riders need
*Will preface this with the fact that I am a loyal Piaggio rider and have been for about 10 years, so I know I'm slightly biased*
Besides, if this can give more bang for the buck than BMW's Xcountry 650, Ducati has a winner on it's hands. Looks sharp and if the numbers are to be believed, it's only about $2k above the Bimmer with ALOT more to offer in the power department.
Kyle 8:38PM (9/23/2009)
still has useless mirrors on it, cant see anything and they stick out waaay to far when they're extended.
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elnino 10:27PM (9/23/2009)
i actually test rode the hypermotard 1100, and i found the mirrors to be pretty good. better visibility than my cbr600rr, and most other sportbikes i've ridden. but yeah, they stick out so far that they would be hitting cars while lane splitting. these appear to be the same mirrors on the 796.
Farmboy 8:50PM (9/23/2009)
This looks good with an awesome price, but the name still makes me smile. haha
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joe_thousandaire 1:37AM (9/24/2009)
Hypermotard - seriously? Does anyone else find it hilarious that this article appears right below one titled "Why Car Names Really Mater"
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Dan 8:37AM (9/24/2009)
This isn't a car. And if you haven't heard of supermotards before "you're doing it wrong"
Jason 9:19PM (9/23/2009)
That's a great bike, but I can't imagine having "tard" in the name is going to help it in English-speaking markets.
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Jakesnake1294 2:56AM (9/24/2009)
It's gonna get some chuckles, especially from people who don't appreciate Ducati's. Let's say you meet a girl and she wants you to give her a ride on it.
"What kind of motorcycle is it?"
"It's a Ducati Hypomotard."
"A what Tard?"
"It's Italian! Everything is state of the art."
"Then why do they call it a tard?"
"IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RETARDED!"
"Hey, Check out that guy on that Harley! That's a nice bike!"
"*uck!"
Polarstar 10:20PM (9/23/2009)
Hopefully Ducati willl chop five grand off of the StreetFighter. [wishful thinking]
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MikeInNC 8:26AM (9/24/2009)
@Jakesnake1294 - Being a former Ducati owner I can attest that any chick that is too dense to get an Italian word isn't a chick you want riding on your Duc. Plus, she can't tell you all about her tattoos and how drunk she got last weekend around the cigarette in the corner of her mouth with a full face helmet on anyway.
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jeff 11:44AM (9/24/2009)
Not to nitpick too much but motard I believe is French but your point is still more than valid. Any chick that cares more about a bling bike is not usually one a sumo rider would want on back... assuming they even want a passenger (hard to "back it in" riding two-up!).