Only two years has passed since Ducati launched the original production Hypermotard. I tested the Hyper 1100 with Ruben Xaus sliding past me with thumbs up and knee down at the Mores circuit in Sardinia and loved it. Now just two years later ahead of the 2010 season Ducati is ready with the first addition to the Hypermotard family. Hypermotard is one of the most satisfying motorcycles in the world to ride really hard and the new 803cc version is no different.
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Milagro
The Hypermotard 796 is a motorcycle where you really feel that you’re sitting on top of the front wheel. It gives massive front end confidence and I am throwing the 796 into the tight corners always knowing that there’s plenty of ground clearance. In the hills surrounding Bologna and Ducati’s home town of Borgo Panigale the roads are pure motorcycling heaven.
It all started out nicely for us with 28 degrees Celsius and sparkling sunshine. It quickly changed into thunderstorms that also spread a whole lot of autumn leafs onto the tight corners. During my day of testing (the 796) the conditions changed from perfect to treacherous and back to perfect again. Despite the soaking I’m happy to say that I did get enough dry miles to really get to know Ducati’s new Hyper baby.
During the press conference David James the Hypermotard project manager told us not to mistake the new 803cc Desmo for just a large bore 696. James emphasised that the Hypermotard 796 power plant is all new. The Hyper 796 feels a lot more potent than the Monster 696 and with its claimed 81 hp @ 8.000rpm and around 77Nm of torque @ 6.250rpm it pulls strongly also approaching 200km/h. The midrange is what should attract us to the Hyper 796 though and the acceleration is strong from 4.000rpm and up past 6.500rpm. Only in first gear did I bother to hit the limiter just around 8.500rpm and in all the higher gears I’d switch up somewhere between 7 and 8.000rpm. I switched up to sixth gear at low speeds a couple of times to test and I must say that the engine feels quite dead compared to let’s say the 1100 but we’re talking rpm around 2-3.000 here so not so much of a real life situation. The 803cc L-twin needs at least 4.000rpm to spin around without objections. If the front wheel doesn’t point sky high @ 8.000rpm in first gear then that’s only due to a careful throttle hand. A power wheelie is very elusive on Ducati’s entry level Monster, whilst the Hyper 796 will happily do them all day long in first gear. That to me demonstrates nicely what Ducati has done with this new Desmo engine. The 696’s engine wouldn’t really suit the Hypermotard as the Hyper 796 is really meant for a slightly more spectacular riding style in my humble opinion. The cynic in me can see a slight undermining of the Monster name now that Ducati offers us both the Hypermotard and Streetfighter. Particularly since strong rumours suggest that Ducati will launch the Hypermotard 1100 with upgrades from the 796 AND with more horsepower…
The 796 engine features crankcases that hugs the internals closer saving weight (a full 1.2 kilo compared to the 696) and a high 11:1 compression ratio. Significantly Ducati have added a second Lambda probe for finer analysis of the exhaust fumes providing Ducati’s most fuel efficient engine to date. To top it all off the result is also a long 12.000 kilometre service interval.
Back on the roads there’s one thing in particular that I like and that’s the feel of the double 305mm Brembo brakes. The 167 kilo dry weight contributes, the new 43mm Marzocchi fork contributes but most of all it’s the upright riding position and the opportunity to slide forward in the seat whilst braking for the tightest corners. I chose to ride also the Hypermotard 796 supermoto style and it works! The new seat is 20mm lower than on the 1100 and since it’s only a re-profiling of the 1100 seat they are interchangeable should you wish a taller seat and visa versa. The footpegs are dimensioned for MX boots so it’s only a matter of shooting your foot out in the corners. The Hypermotard 796 rides fine in conventional style too of course. Ducati has opted for sticky Bridgestone rubber in the BT016 in a 120/70 ZR17 front and a 180/55 ZR17 rear. Ducati’s trademark trellis frame is once again in place but a re-design of the rear top part of the subframe has resulted in another small weight saving. The chassis that also includes the same single sided swingarm as the 1100 is as stable and rigid as ever. My only complaint is that the slightly heavy steering-feel of the front and big bike turn radius at crawling speed is further away from a supermoto than anything else. The suspension both front and back felt a little soft for my 90 kilos but only the adjustable Sachs monoshock lost it a couple of times over bumpy surfaces.
The Hyper 796 is a serious riding machine both on corner entry, mid corner and corner exits. The 796 lives for corners and it seems whilst riding that every single corner was designed for the Hypermotard. The truth is that these roads were designed for horses hundreds or even a couple of thousand years ago and that’s why they are so exciting to ride on a modern steel horse. The new engine with its smooth power delivery enables me to get on the throttle hard very early from great lean angles. There’s never too much power and in these tight corners never too little either. The 796 just feels right and it’s very easy to get up to speed. Unfortunately I got to test the bike in heavy thunderstorms too which can be a very slippery affair this time of year with dead leafs blanketing the roads. Whilst having to tiptoe the bike around the tightest corners there’s still considerable amount of grip available which gives kudos to the lightweight chassis, smooth engine and sticky Bridgestone rubber. As for me the rider the Hypermotard isn’t the greatest choice on a rainy day as there’s no weather protection whatsoever. At least I got rid of a couple of dead flies on my leather suit.
The sun returned after lunch and we were back to business as usual. The switchgear and minimalist instrument panel (but with plenty of functions) comes partly from the new Ducati Streetfighter and everything from laptime counter to a handy clock is easily available using only my thumbs.
Back in Bologna we hit the city traffic just before rush hour. The folding mirrors are easily adjustable and can be flapped back in should you need to avoid a cars mirror impact whilst lane splitting. The hand guards serve mostly as wind protection and will be slightly pricier to replace than on a real motard should you drop the Hyper. That’s because both mirrors and the integrated blinkers are likely to take a beating. In really slow traffic second gear can still be used should first gear be too “hyper”. For the ultimate urban fun ride that front end provides you with exactly what you need to show the cars behind you the perfect rear end too. If you’re really good you’ll be able to show the entire underside in splendid stoppie style with greater ease than the majority of streetbikes out there. At the end of a mixed day weather wise I was glad to see the big Ducati signs everywhere signalling that I’d been able to bring the Hypermotard 796 all the way back home to the factory in Borgo Panigale.
Conclusion
I always had a soft spot for the Hypermotard since the concept bike of 2005. I can’t imagine many bikes more suitable for a thrill seeker and urban hell raisers, apart from perhaps the 1100 version. But fact is that I always thought that the Hypermotard would suit a smaller engine just fine too and with the 796 Ducati has done just that. It did actually surprise me a great deal that Ducati had opted for an all new engine rather than using the 696 but we’re all better off for it. The 796 has got that not-only-so-little extra over the 696 needed for the baby hooligans out there. If you were one of those people thinking that the Monster 696 was a little on the soft side for an entry level motorcycle then the Hyper 796 could well be it. It’s not comfortable, but it’s 100% fun.
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The 796 engine has got that little extra needed to go “Hyper”
Very lightweight chassis and nearly perfect handling
Love it or hate it but in my book the styling is a plus and also provides that great action riding position
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20mm lower seat height is far from comfortable
A slight limitation as the Hyper 796 is only as fun as it is on slower roads.
