I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. While a certain orange-clad set of people from Austria have been disguising gritted-teeth grimaces as smiles since November 2023. That's when Ducati unveiled the Hypermotard 698 Monowith the most powerful production single-cylinder motor in the world, a title that KTM held for its 690cc LC4 engine for a long, long time. For my part, I've been slowly stewing in anticipation, waiting to get my hands on the Mono. Why? Because I believe, even for a hot-blooded company like Ducati, it takes more passion to build a mad single like this than an all-conquering superbike. And the result is mono-cylinder mirth delivered desmo style.
Within a few minutes of riding the bike, I knew that this was not a machine for beginners. Ducati might be famous for its L-twins and V4s, and this might be 'just' a single, but it's every bit as potently rabid as you'd expect a performance-chasing Ducati to be. On one occasion, the Mono flew past 170 kph, and it suddenly felt like I was on Harry Potter's broom with a handlebar. The Mono's narrow, tall and light physique is quite unique, and is easily the most honest rendition of the supermotard genre to ever go on sale in India.
That Superquadro Mono motor, a 659cc gem that produces 77.5 bhp and 6.42 kgm, and revs till a hair-raising 10,250 rpm, is easily the delinquent star of this chaotic show. Add the optional 'track only' Termignoni exhausts and the Mono will make 84.5 bhp - for a bike that weighs 151 kg without fuel, those are some serious numbers, eh?! No wonder, then, that the more I looked at the Mono, the more it appeared to be a machine built around a stonking motor, with two fat wheels, a long seat and a 'bar thrown in just to get going. And how it went.
Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av Motoring World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av Motoring World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
ELECTRIC VANILLA
It has everything that makes a regular EV, but does it stand out amongst everything out there?
HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE!
Just about everything you want in a rider-friendly dirtbike, now in a street-legal avatar!
THREE'S A CROWD?
The third 125cc bike in the Pulsar lineup the N125 will disagree
CARNIVAL CRUISE
The Carnival is back in town, and it's looking to make a statement. Let's see if the higher price tag brings added value and luxur
CLASSICAL ROMANCE
Much more of the same cannot be a bad thing... right? Right?
ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
The new E-Class betters what it's always been good at being an office on wheels
MPV OR MVP?
An electric rival to the Innova? Or does it redefine the segment?
PAW PATROL
Experience the charm of open-air cruising with the sleek new Mercedes-Benz CLE
SLIDE WHIPS
Want to burn rubber and make doughnuts? Here's the recipe!
AN ORANGE SURPRISE
This Basanti will dance, jump, and sing through a titanium exhaust, just for you