Ducati 796 Hypermotard
Ducati 796 Hypermotard
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Ducati delivers the same hooligan fun in a smaller package
THE NAME HYPERMOTARD pretty much says it all. What else do you need to understand that the moniker describes fun? The only problem with the original 1100cc version is that it alienated riders looking for kick-ass styling, snappy handling and robust engine performance in a lighter, less-expensive package.
Ducati has proven in the past with its Monster and Superbike ranges that building smaller-displacement bikes in those families brings in new riders who may not be ready for big-bore performance and weight.
Conceived as a naked, supermoto-ish alternative to its Superbikes, the Hypermotard 1100 supported its daring style with top-quality components and a high level of refinement, capped off by solid performance and great riding pleasure. But to fill that aforementioned lighter, lower-cost niche, Ducati now offers the $9995 Hypermotard 796 for 2010.
Purists needn’t worry, the 796 is a bona-fide Hypermotard; no corners were cut anywhere. It has the same styling that captivated the crowd at the 2005 Milan show, is 27 pounds lighter (Ducati claims 368 pounds dry) than the 1100 and pumps serious torque from its sohc, 90-degree Desmo Twin. To attain the necessary displacement for that fat torque curve, the engine from the 696cc Monster kept its 88mm bore but got stroked from 57.2 to 66.0mm to actually give the “796” 803cc.
This scaled-down
Hypermotard takes another step in the evolution of the air-cooled, two-valve Desmo, in that it uses new castings and internal components for weight reduction. A new oil-bath slipper clutch—weighing less than the previous dry unit—is hydraulically actuated and a lot lighter to operate. In total, 13.5 pounds were saved in the engine department alone.
Chassis components also were scrutinized ounce by ounce. The 50mm Marzocchi fork gave way to a lighter but still top-notch 43mm unit of the same make.
Ergonomics on the 796 are more inviting to a wider range of riders. Seat height has been lowered by half an inch to 32.5 inches, while the upright, attack-style seating position is carried over from the 1100.
From 3000 rpm, the new Twin pulls shudder-free and rockets up to 9000 rpm with no apparent flat spots, delivering excellent throttle response from the new Siemens fuel injection.
I was even able to record a 58.9-mpg average from one tank of gas, indicating the engine’s potential for superb fuel mileage.
As a corner-zapper, the Hypermotard is quick-steering and agile; the vigorous response of the engine does the rest. The bike was perfectly at home ascending the very twisty backroads in the Apennine Mountains of central Italy, offering balanced performance.
It would seem, then, that the 796 is a sensible addition to the Hypermotard line, having kept all the exciting personality of its bigger brother, only made more accessible. —Bruno dePrato
“Purists needn’t worry, the 796 is a bona-fide Hypermotard; no corners were cut anywhere.”
