Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera
POSTED: 03/06/2026
Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera
The Black One. Arriving Now.
Ducati's single-cylinder Supermotard arrives in its darkest, most equipped form. The Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera brings an all-black livery, factory Termignoni exhausts, and Ducati Quick Shift as standard, all wrapped around the same 77.5hp Superquadro Mono engine that Ducati describes as the most powerful road-going single cylinder currently on sale.
Arriving at dealership in June 2026. Available at Ducati Oxford from £11,995.
View the Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera →Ducati's First Single-Cylinder Road Supermotard
When Ducati unveiled the Hypermotard 698 Mono, it was the brand's first foray into single-cylinder road-going Supermotard and a significant one. Rather than a budget exercise, Ducati built the 698 Mono around a purpose-designed engine derived directly from the 1299 Panigale's twin, inheriting its bore, combustion chamber design, titanium valves, and Desmodromic timing. The result is a machine that behaves like nothing else in the class: light, flickable, intensely characterful, and technically more sophisticated than most bikes at twice the price.
The Nera - Italian for "black" completes the 698 Mono family. Where the standard model comes in Ducati Red and the Graffiti RVE in a street art-inspired livery, the Nera takes the aggressive end of the spectrum and runs with it. The all-black bodywork is broken only by deliberate Ducati Red accents on the wheels and frame, lending the bike a visual intensity that makes the standard version look understated. Factor in the factory-fitted Termignoni silencers and you have a bike that sounds as dramatic as it looks.
Three Variants. One Clear Choice for the Dark Side.
The Hypermotard 698 Mono range now covers three distinct characters:
The Ducati Red is the entry point, standard specification, classic Ducati colour, from £11,595.
The Graffiti RVE at £12,671 brings the street art livery that accentuates the bike's urban supermotard personality.
The Nera at £11,995 occupies a different space entirely, more equipment, more presence, a more aggressively styled package for the rider who wants the full visual and acoustic experience from the moment they leave the dealership.
Contact Ducati Oxford to check current stock availability and arrange a viewing.
THE SUPERQUADRO MONO: RACE DNA IN A SINGLE CYLINDER
77.5hp From 659cc
The Superquadro Mono is not a simple or budget engine. It inherits its core architecture, bore, combustion chamber, titanium intake and exhaust valves, and Desmodromic valve timing, directly from the 1299 Panigale's twin-cylinder engine. Even the massive 116mm piston bore is carried over, meaning the 698 Mono is, in effect, one cylinder of one of Ducati's most celebrated superbike engines.
The result is 77.5hp at 9,750rpm and 63Nm at 8,000rpm from a 659cc single cylinder, figures that make it the most powerful road-going single currently available. The 62mm throttle body and full ride-by-wire system deliver the kind of throttle precision you'd expect from a machine with this level of engineering ambition.
The Desmodromic valve system, Ducati's trademark positive-closing arrangement used in MotoGP, allows the engine to rev freely to its 10,250rpm limit without the valve float that restricts conventional spring-return systems at high revs. In a 659cc single, the effect is an engine that pulls hard from low down and still has plenty to say at the top of the rev range.
Termignoni Exhausts as Standard
The Nera's factory-fitted Termignoni silencers aren't a cosmetic upgrade, they're road-legal, homologated units that contribute to the bike's character both visually and acoustically. Finished in black to match the overall livery, they define the rear end of the Nera and sharpen the single's already distinctive bark.
For riders who want to take things further still, Ducati offers a race-only Termignoni exhaust system as an accessory. This unlocks an additional 7hp from the Superquadro Mono, and activates a dedicated Wheelie Assist function, designed to help maintain controlled wheelies electronically. For track days, it transforms the machine.
The standard exhaust system uses a 1-2 arrangement with double aluminium mufflers and an integrated catalytic converter, keeping the Nera fully Euro 5 compliant for road use.
Chassis, Design and Specification
Light, Focused, Purposeful
At 151kg dry, the Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera is light enough to feel alive in every situation. The tubular steel trellis frame, a Ducati signature and a design with genuine structural advantages for a bike of this type provides the rigidity needed to exploit the fully adjustable suspension at both ends.
At the front, a 45mm Marzocchi fully adjustable aluminium fork provides 215mm of travel. At the rear, a fully adjustable Sachs monoshock on an aluminium double-sided swingarm provides 240mm. Both ends are adjustable for compression, rebound, and preload meaningful given how wide the Nera's potential riding envelope is, from urban commuting to track days.
Stopping power comes from a 330mm aluminium flange disc gripped by a Brembo M4.32 radial caliper at the front, with a radial pump master cylinder and adjustable lever for precise feel. At the rear, a 245mm disc with a single-piston floating caliper rounds out the package.
The Y-shaped five-spoke alloy wheels, 3.5" x 17" front and 5.0" x 17" rear, finished in Ducati Red on the Nera, are wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres: performance rubber that suits the bike's character far better than the road-touring compound alternatives would.
The Look and Feel of a Supermotard
The Hypermotard has always been about posture as much as performance. Sitting high above the wheels, narrow between the knees, with a compact LED headlamp featuring a distinctive "double C" DRL that immediately identifies the bike as a Ducati, the 698 Mono Nera makes a statement before the engine is even running.
The seat height is 904mm tall, as you'd expect from a supermotard, and an important part of what gives the bike its planted, in-control sensation when riding. For shorter riders, a low seat accessory reduces the height to 889mm. The tapered aluminium handlebars sit wide and high, giving the upright, commanding riding position typical of the category.
Instrumentation is via a 3.8" LCD display using IBN (Improved Black Nematic) technology for strong visibility in bright conditions. The Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) is available as a fitted accessory for smartphone connectivity.
Key Specifications
| Engine | 659cc Superquadro Mono, single-cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid-cooled |
|---|---|
| Bore x Stroke | 116 x 62.4mm |
| Compression | 13.1:1 |
| Power | 77.5hp (57kW) at 9,750rpm |
| Torque | 63Nm at 8,000rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed, DQS Up/Down as standard |
| Fuel tank | 12 litres |
| Dry weight | 151kg |
| Seat height | 904mm (889mm with low seat option) |
| Wheelbase | 1,443mm |
| Front suspension | 45mm Marzocchi fully adjustable fork, 215mm travel |
|---|---|
| Rear suspension | Sachs fully adjustable monoshock, 240mm travel |
| Front brake | 330mm disc, Brembo M4.32 caliper, cornering ABS |
| Rear brake | 245mm disc, single-piston caliper, cornering ABS |
| Tyres | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV - 120/70 ZR17 (f) / 160/60 ZR17 (r) |
| Electronics | Cornering ABS, DTC, DWC, EBC, DPL, Slide-by-Brake, DQS |
| Warranty | 24 months / unlimited mileage |
| Service interval | 9,000 miles / 24 months |
| OTR price | From £11,995 |
ELECTRONICS BUILT FOR THE WAY SUPERMOTARDS ACTUALLY RIDE
Slide-by-Brake: A Ducati First
The Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera's electronics suite is extensive for a single-cylinder motorcycle - but the headline feature is one you won't find described on many spec sheets. Ducati's Slide-by-Brake system is specifically developed for supermotard-style riding, where the rear brake is used to initiate a controlled rear slide when backing the bike into corners. Most ABS systems would intervene and prevent exactly this kind of deliberate wheel lock; Slide-by-Brake recognises the input and adjusts accordingly, allowing the technique while maintaining the control benefits of the wider ABS system.
It's a detail that tells you a great deal about what Ducati was trying to achieve with the 698 Mono: a road bike that can be ridden properly, not just posed at a standstill.
The Full Electronic Package
Beyond Slide-by-Brake, the Nera carries the complete Ducati electronics suite as standard:
Cornering ABS - Bosch Cornering ABS adjusts intervention based on lean angle, providing braking confidence without intrusion.
Ducati Traction Control (DTC)- monitors rear wheel spin and manages power delivery, particularly useful on slippery or variable road surfaces.
Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) - manages front-wheel lift under acceleration. On the track, this can be configured to allow longer wheelies rather than cutting it completely.
Engine Brake Control (EBC) - adjusts engine braking force on the overrun, useful for matching corner entry speed to riding style.
Ducati Power Launch (DPL) v launch control, for consistent, repeatable off-the-line performance on track.
Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up/Down - clutchless shifts in both directions, standard on the Nera.
HYPERMOTARD 698 MONO NERA VS KTM 690 SMC R VS HUSQVARNA 701 SUPERMOTO
The Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera does not exist in a vacuum. The KTM 690 SMC R and Husqvarna 701 Supermoto are the natural competitors — both updated for 2026, both powered by the same LC4 single-cylinder engine platform (KTM and Husqvarna share a parent company and the same engine architecture), and both available for around £1,500 less than the Ducati. Here is how the three line up on paper.
| Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera | KTM 690 SMC R (2026) | Husqvarna 701 Supermoto (2026) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 659cc Superquadro Mono, Desmodromic, liquid-cooled | 693cc LC4 single, conventional valves, liquid-cooled | 692cc LC4 single, conventional valves, liquid-cooled |
| Power | 77.5hp at 9,750rpm | 78hp | 78hp |
| Torque | 63Nm at 8,000rpm | 73Nm | 73Nm |
| Weight | 151kg dry | 153.5kg (operating weight) | Similar to KTM |
| Front suspension | 45mm Marzocchi fully adjustable, 215mm travel | WP XACT USD fork | 48mm WP APEX fully adjustable, 224mm travel |
| Rear suspension | Sachs fully adjustable monoshock, 240mm travel | WP XACT monoshock | WP APEX Pro-Lever linkage shock, 240mm travel |
| Front brake | 330mm disc, Brembo M4.32 radial caliper | Brembo caliper | Brembo caliper |
| Tyres | Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV | Pirelli Scorpion STR | Pirelli Scorpion STR |
| Key electronics | Cornering ABS, Slide-by-Brake, DTC, DWC, EBC, DPL, DQS Up/Down | Cornering ABS, Cornering MTC, 4.2" TFT | Cornering ABS, MTC, TFT display |
| Exhaust | Homologated Termignoni silencers (standard fit) | Standard | Standard |
| UK OTR price | From £11,995 | £10,499 | £10,499 |
The Case for Each
On raw numbers, the KTM and Husqvarna make a compelling argument. Both are £1,500 cheaper, produce meaningfully more torque (73Nm versus 63Nm), and the larger 693/692cc displacement gives them a broader, more accessible powerband from lower in the rev range, particularly useful in town. The 2026 KTM is significantly revised with an engine described as 50% new, and gains a 4.2" full-colour TFT display, upgraded rider aids, and a sharper look. The Husqvarna adds the same engine improvements with fully adjustable WP APEX suspension at both ends and its own more restrained visual character.
The Ducati asks for more money and gives you something different in return. The Superquadro Mono's Desmodromic valve system is a fundamentally different engineering approach, more complex, more exotic, and the primary reason the engine can rev to 10,250rpm with the immediacy it does. The Brembo M4.32 radial caliper is the premium racing brake standard, not a cost-effective alternative. The Termignoni silencers are on the bike before you leave the dealership. And Slide-by-Brake, the system that allows you to actually use the rear brake to initiate cornering slides without the ABS killing the technique, is a feature neither competitor offers.
The KTM and Husqvarna are excellent machines, and the price difference is real. But the Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera is not simply a more expensive supermotard, it is a different kind of machine, engineered with a precision and a level of specification that justifies the premium for the right buyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera?
The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera is a high-specification variant of Ducati's first single-cylinder road Supermotard. Announced in May 2026 and arriving at dealers from June 2026, it features an all-black livery with Ducati Red accents, factory-fitted homologated Termignoni silencers, and Ducati Quick Shift Up/Down as standard equipment. It shares the 659cc Superquadro Mono engine producing 77.5hp with the rest of the 698 Mono range.
How much does the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera cost in the UK?
The Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera is priced from £11,995 OTR. For context, the standard Hypermotard 698 Mono (Ducati Red) starts from £11,595, and the Graffiti RVE version is £12,671. Finance options are available through Ducati Financial Services. Speak to the team at Ducati Oxford for the latest packages. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Blade Motorcycles is a credit broker, not a lender.
What is the difference between the Nera and the standard Hypermotard 698 Mono?
The Nera differs from the standard model in three specific areas: an all-black livery (with Ducati Red wheels and frame detail), factory-fitted homologated Termignoni silencers, and Ducati Quick Shift Up/Down as standard. The engine, chassis, electronics suite, performance figures, and dimensions are otherwise identical across the 698 Mono range.
Is the Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera suitable for everyday riding?
Yes, it's Euro 5 compliant and fully road-legal. At 151kg dry with a 12-litre tank, it's light enough to be practical in traffic and easy to manoeuvre at low speeds. The 904mm seat height is on the tall side (typical for a supermotard), but a low seat accessory is available from Ducati, reducing it to 889mm. The 9,000-mile/24-month service interval means running costs are manageable for a machine of this specification.
Can I arrange a test ride on the Hypermotard 698 Mono Nera at Ducati Oxford?
Yes. Contact Ducati Oxford on 01235 466089 or visit us at 9b Nuffield Way, Abingdon OX14 1RL to enquire about availability and arrange a test ride. You can also submit a test ride request directly from the Hypermotard product page on the Blade Ducati website.
Visit Ducati Oxford
9b Nuffield Way, Abingdon OX14 1RL
Tel: 01235 466089
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