Move over 690, the Superquadro Mono is here!

[Couchy]

Most will be bought by typical ducatisti that’ll never wheelie or skid them or worry the sides of the tyres they’ll own them hoping people think they can do wheelies

[mboy]

Nice review here

Full Chris Northover fanboi here, he's a big part of the reason I bought my SM700!

He does love a Supermoto...

Interesting that he's stopped short of any direct comparisons already, waiting to do a back to back road test of the Ducati vs KTM.

MCN's test rider did go so far as to make a few comparisons, saying the Ducati is quite a bit more polished than the KTM and the rider aids are brilliant for wannabe hooligans on the track, but that the KTM still feels a bit more raw and whilst it doesn't rev as high, still offers a bit more low end punch. This Superquadro Mono engine is a true race engine by all accounts, crazily oversquare and revs 1250rpm higher than the KTM LC4, which probably makes it better on a track but remains to be seen how it compares on the road I guess.

I will be getting a test ride as soon as I can, though I'm realistic that it's going to cost me £5k on top of selling my SM700 if I go for one, so it's going to have to be a significant step up if I do!

[Supermofo]

I noticed Chris did intimate that it was more top-endy than the KTM and it certainly seems more advanced in terms of electronics, be interesting to see a back to back. I suspect the Ducati will be more Gucci than the 690 but given what you can pick a 690 up for you'd have to really want a Ducati. I did laugh when Ducati said it's to attract young riders, like they'll be able to afford one! I suppose it's the way of biking that young probably means late 20s now or something, plus I forget you can't ride what you want anymore below mid 20s.

[KungFooBob]

It's probably the 2nd cheapest bike Ducati make after the £10k base model Scrambler.

[Bustaspoke]

I've just watched this video,much as I think it'll be a hoot on the back roads around here it's a bit pricey for me.

[Potter]

I saw Foggy posting that he’d been out on one for the day and really liked it. Perhaps he’s being paid to say that, but either way he genuinely did seem to be having a good day on it.

I’m struggling to see anything to get really excited about though, maybe it’s just me but these new releases, of any new bikes, don’t seem to punch like they used to back in the 80s and 90s when we used to get some really special looking stuff released that you could really get excited about.

[Supermofo]

Fun comparison test by Chris.



Sounds like the Duc might slightly edge it as a road bike from his comments. But I'd guess you'd be able to get a 690 at a discount somewhere esp in Gas Gas form.

[mboy]

Finally got to ride the 698 Hypermotard...



Got a call from Kal Heer the "Hypermotardking" on YouTube, he wanted to do a comparison video with the Gasgas SM700 (of which I have one) and he doesn't live too far from me, so I showed him some of my favourite local roads too...

Video incoming no doubt...

[weeksy]

Finally got to ride the 698 Hypermotard...



Got a call from Kal Heer the "Hypermotardking" on YouTube, he wanted to do a comparison video with the Gasgas SM700 (of which I have one) and he doesn't live too far from me, so I showed him some of my favourite local roads too...

Video incoming no doubt...

Yeah but, what did you think?

[Yorick]

Finally got to ride the 698 Hypermotard...



Got a call from Kal Heer the "Hypermotardking" on YouTube, he wanted to do a comparison video with the Gasgas SM700 (of which I have one) and he doesn't live too far from me, so I showed him some of my favourite local roads too...

Video incoming no doubt...

Yeah but, what did you think?

I'm dying to know too

[mboy]

Yeah… It’s good!

Really good!

Video up in YouTube tonight Kal reckons… I’ll post it up as soon as it is ready. Lots of his thoughts whilst riding and also bit of a discussion between both of us at the end…

[Yorick]

Yeah… It’s good!

Really good!

Video up in YouTube tonight Kal reckons… I’ll post it up as soon as it is ready. Lots of his thoughts whilst riding and also bit of a discussion between both of us at the end…

I tried the SM700 and didn't like it. Sorry.

Is the new bike better?

I'm impatient

[mboy]

Yeah… It’s good!

Really good!

Video up in YouTube tonight Kal reckons… I’ll post it up as soon as it is ready. Lots of his thoughts whilst riding and also bit of a discussion between both of us at the end…

I tried the SM700 and didn't like it. Sorry.

Is the new bike better?

I'm impatient

I very much doubt you’ll like the 698 Hypermotard in that case… They’re subtly different ways of doing the same thing. They don’t feel radically different, the Ducati feels more premium and has a revvier engine and better electronics. The Gasgas/KTM/Husqvarna is a bit more stripped back and basic but the engine pulls harder from lower rpm but runs out of steam about 1krpm earlier…

[Yorick]

Yeah… It’s good!

Really good!

Video up in YouTube tonight Kal reckons… I’ll post it up as soon as it is ready. Lots of his thoughts whilst riding and also bit of a discussion between both of us at the end…

I tried the SM700 and didn't like it. Sorry.

Is the new bike better?

I'm impatient

I very much doubt you’ll like the 698 Hypermotard in that case… They’re subtly different ways of doing the same thing. They don’t feel radically different, the Ducati feels more premium and has a revvier engine and better electronics. The Gasgas/KTM/Husqvarna is a bit more stripped back and basic but the engine pulls harder from lower rpm but runs out of steam about 1krpm earlier…

I may have said before, but have GasGas EC300 and 2018 GSXR1000 and wanted something in between.

The 690 just lacked a bit of excitement. Maybe wheelie control was locked on.

[mboy]

I may have said before, but have GasGas EC300 and 2018 GSXR1000 and wanted something in between.

The 690 just lacked a bit of excitement. Maybe wheelie control was locked on.

With the Gasgas/KTM/Husqvarna you've got 2 modes, very simply called mode 1 and mode 2... In mode 1 it feels a bit docile, very slightly softened throttle response, traction control interferes much earlier, wheelie control interferes pretty heavily and ABS is on on both wheels... Mode 2 the throttle response is sharpened, traction control interference is lessened (you can turn it off fully with a different button press independent of the mode button), wheelie control significantly lessened and the ABS is turned off on the rear wheel only...

I did about 10 miles in mode 1 on my bike... It has been in mode 2 ever since!

[Yorick]

I might have another go

[mboy]

[MrLongbeard]

9:20 you're on my doorstep, had tea @ the pub you pass at 9:22 last night

[mangocrazy]

That looked so much fun. Nice one!

[mboy]

9:20 you're on my doorstep, had tea @ the pub you pass at 9:22 last night

You must live doors away from my mate Andy then… Got an immaculate RD350. I go through Tenbury a LOT and often stop off at his house (either on my Gasgas or my KTM 1290SAS usually, but sometimes in black Caddy Van) often for a cuppa on the way home…