- Mainly visual changes
- Continues with the 659cc Superquadro Mono engine
- Addition to the electronics package
Ducati has expanded its single-cylinder supermoto family with the launch of the new Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera, a darker, more aggressive take on its lightweight street motard that will arrive in European dealerships from June 2026.
The new Nera variant effectively rounds out Ducati’s Hypermotard 698 Mono line-up, combining the same high-performance mechanical package with a stealthier visual identity and a few meaningful equipment upgrades.
Visually, the biggest change is obvious. The Nera swaps bright colours for a more sinister appearance, pairing black bodywork with signature Ducati Red wheels and frame accents. Ducati has also fitted black-finished homologated Termignoni silencers as standard, helping tighten up the rear-end styling while adding a more purposeful edge to both looks and soundtrack.
Unlike many “special editions” that focus purely on aesthetics, Ducati has also added functional upgrades. The Ducati Quick Shift Up/Down system now comes as standard, improving shift speed and making the bike feel even more track-ready despite its playful supermoto intentions.
At the centre of the package sits one of the most interesting engines Ducati has produced in years. The 659cc Superquadro Mono single-cylinder engine is effectively derived from the old 1299 Panigale’s V-twin, minus one cylinder. It retains Ducati’s signature Desmodromic valve system and even carries over the superbike’s enormous 116mm piston, giving the bike some genuinely exotic engineering for a single-cylinder platform.
The result is a claimed 77.5bhp and a lofty 10,250rpm rev limit, figures Ducati says make it the most powerful production single-cylinder road engine currently available. That alone positions the Hypermotard 698 Mono differently from rivals, moving it away from simple hooligan bike territory and closer to a premium, high-performance niche.
Weight also plays a major role in the bike’s appeal. Ducati claims 151kg wet (without fuel), achieved through a lightweight trellis frame, aluminium-flanged brake discs and a deliberately pared-back chassis designed to prioritise agility and fast direction changes.
Naturally, modern Ducati electronics are fully present. The Nera comes equipped with cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, launch control and engine brake control, while the Slide-by-Brake system has been specifically developed to encourage controlled rear-wheel slides into corners, a nod to the bike’s supermoto roots and track ambitions.
For riders wanting to push the madness even further, Ducati also offers a race-only Termignoni system that unlocks an additional 7bhp and activates a dedicated Wheelie Assist mode, designed to electronically help riders sustain longer balance-point wheelies.
More importantly, the 698 Mono platform itself feels like Ducati testing how far a premium single-cylinder proposition can go. Most brands treat singles as entry-level or utilitarian machines. Meanwhile, the brand has essentially built a mini superbike engine, wrapped it in a hooligan chassis, and then added enough electronics to make backing it into corners feel almost factory-supported.
