Price right for Ducati Hypermotard 796

At $3,500 cheaper than the 1100, the 796 makes the brand `more accessible' to consumers

Oct 31, 2009

Special to the Star

Bologna, Italy–Ducatisti faithful will probably never forgive former Ducati designer Pierre Terblanche for tarnishing the ageless beauty of the iconic 916 after he penned the aesthetically challenged 999 as a replacement.

It's unfair, however, to castigate the guy, especially since the 999 was a better performing machine than the model it succeeded, and that a few of his designs remain popular in Ducati's lineup. One of the more appealing Terblanche creations is the Hypermotard.

When introduced as a Milan Motorcycle Show concept bike in 2005, the Hypermotard won Best of Show. It was a fresh take on motard-styled bikes, and a reply to KTM's twin-cylinder 950 SM released to the European market that year.

The Hypermotard 1100 was made available to the public in late 2007 as an early 2008 model, but only because of the outstanding response to a survey posted on a dedicated mini-website that Ducati created following the bike's initial Milan introduction.

Results of that survey (to which 18,325 people responded worldwide) revealed that it scored an average of 4.6 out of a possible 5 styling points, with KTM owners giving it the highest marks at 4.8 – and you can bet Ducati's marketing department noticed that last bit.

The Hypermotard 1100 has since gone on to represent 10 per cent of new Ducati sales in North America. Ducati, however, feels that those numbers are limited by the bike's high price, which in Canada is $14,995. So, for 2010 it has added the Hypermotard 796 to its lineup at a price of $11,495, a full $3,500 less than the 1100.

"We felt we were restricting Hypermotard ownership with the 1100. We needed something more accessible," Hypermotard product manager David James said at the recent press launch of the new 796, held at Ducati's world headquarters in Bologna, Italy.

The original bike was based on the 1,078 cc Multistrada (also a Terblanche design), but was stripped of the 'Strada's frame-mounted fairing and given a supermoto twist.

It featured unique styling elements that included a duckbill nosepiece, single-sided swing arm, twin under-seat mufflers, and motocross-style hand guards that incorporate folding, handlebar-end mirrors. It was also lighter and more nimble.

The Hypermotard 796 retains all of those elements but wraps them around a new 803 cc, air-cooled, desmo V-twin that produces 81 hp, just nine fewer than the 1100.

Power delivery is much smoother and more user-friendly than on the 1100, which responds more abruptly to throttle input at lower speeds.

Although not as torquey as the 1100, torque is up 5 lb.-ft. compared to the Monster 696 and it peaks 1,500 rpm sooner.

Ducati claims this new engine is the most frugal in its lineup, with a consumption of 4.8 L/100 km (59 m.p.g.).

Internal gear ratios and overall gearing are also shorter, allowing the engine to spin freer. This provides a smoother ride, especially at highway speeds, where the 1100's overly tall gearing caused it to shudder in top gear.

Many components have been lightened, including engine cases, tripleclamps and other components, reducing weight by 12 kg compared to the 1100.

This contributes to the 796's lighter handling, something I noticed not 10 minutes after leaving the factory parking lot, where the roads narrowed and twisted about with switchbacks so tight they almost doubled back on themselves.

Visually, the 796 and 1100 are nearly identical. Only a keen eye will spot the pre-muffler, located beneath the smaller Hyper's engine, and the use of a tubular steel handlebar as opposed to the 1100's tapered aluminum handhold. Also new is a seat that lowers seat height by 20 mm to 825 mm.

Less obvious is the 796's simplified suspension, which offsets the 1100's full adjustability with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping on the rear shock only. Aside from reducing cost, the suspension's softer settings provide a more compliant ride at a moderate pace than the race-ready components on the 1100.

At an elevated pace, the suspension was too soft for my fully geared 210 pounds, with the fork bottoming occasionally when braking hard and the rear end dancing about a bit in tighter turns.

I would have jacked up the rear rebound damping but an unexpected rainstorm put a damper on our sport riding.

John Paolo Canton, PR co-ordinator for Ducati North America, said that Ducati NA requested a more accessible, smaller-displacement Hypermotard, at a lower price. The firm responded by producing the lighter, more manageable Hypermotard 796 .

Some would argue that BMW's F800R and Triumph's Street Triple are better bargains, both listing for $1,500 less than the 796. Opting for the 796 will probably balance out if you think its unique styling merits the added cost over those bikes – or if you've pardoned Terblanche for his 999 faux pas.

Travel was provided to freelance writer Costa Mouzouris by the bike maker. Send comments to wheels@thestar.ca.

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