RIDE REVIEW I DUCATI HYPERMOTARD 698 MONO
P84
at the rear), attacking the track
felt natural. The fuel tank is in the
conventional position (it's under
the seat on some bikes), and
there's noticeable weight over
the front, which means that you
can feel what the front Pirelli is
doing, much like a conventional
sports-naked, and don't feel dis
-
tanced from the contact patch by
the long-travel forks. Mid-corner,
the 'pegs did occasionally tickle
the track, but this was only with
slick tires fitted. Even at big lean,
the Ducati felt planted and didn't
drift wide, which some bikes with
long-travel suspension can do
when pushing for a lap time.
But it's the electronics that
truly elevate the Hypermotard
698 Mono to a higher level. The
collective effect of those riding
and power modes and myriad
rider aids grants all riders, no
matter their skill or risk level,
permission to exploit the bike in
safety. Those new to supermoto
can, for example, add extra
lean-sensitive traction control
and ABS, set the wheelie control
low so the front Pirelli hovers an
inch or two over the track, and
go cut a lap. As their skills and
confidence grow, the electronics
can be trimmed to suit.
The Slide by Brake Bosch corn
-
ing ABS is particularly empower-
ing. Getting a bike to back in is a
tough skill to learn as you must
brake heavily, crunch down the
gears, balance clutch and back
brake, and do so with enough
aggression to break traction. Get
it wrong and a painful highside
beckons—but the 698 Mono
holds your hand all the way.
Slide by Brake has four set
-
tings. Setting four gives con-
ventional lean-sensitive ABS,
meaning the rear tire won't break
free or back in. Level three, which
I used in the wet, is for super-
moto novices and allows a small
slide. Level two allows the rear
to back in on the brakes but not
lock. Level one is for experts and
has no cornering function; the
rear wheel will lock, but the front
still has ABS. Using Level Two,
I could brake hard, downshift,
release the clutch, and jump on
the back brake—and simply allow
the electronics to do the rest.
The system won't turn you into
a supermoto legend overnight,
but you will start to feel the rear
The Ducati
Wheelie Control
will allow you
to get close
to 12 o'clock if
you dare.
