Ducati's 2010 Multistrada Unveiled

DUCATI HYPERMOTARD

The Hypermotard family expands for 2010 with the addition of the exciting new Hypermotard 796, the new and enhanced Hypermotard 1100EVO and the extreme Hypermotard 1100EVO SP.

Hot on the heels of its early model year 2010 launch in October, the lightweight 796 is now joined by an evolution of the 1100 model that rolls out at an incredible 15.5 pounds lighter and 5hp more powerful than the original.

And if further weight reduction and more punch wasn't already enough on a bike that was built to thrill, the Hypermotard 1100EVO SP pushes the limits even further with a model intended to perform on the track as well as the street.

The latest evolution models, in addition to the new 796, represent Ducati's continued excitement in the Hypermotard concept and their commitment to the family's future development. Many features of the new models were in response to requests from Ducatisti worldwide and represent the factory's ongoing ability to respond to direct owner feedback .

The Hypermotard prototype was an instant success when first shown in Milan at the end of 2005 and soon became a top seller when its production started in 2007. Since then, its unique design has excited riders around the world and praise for this thrilling and versatile bike has never stopped - and neither has its evolution.

So what's all the hype for 2010?

The original Hypermotard was built to thrill, with its dirtbike stance, empowering, asphalt-attacking riding position and enough torque on tap to elicit a smile with each twist of the throttle. But what could really be changed to make it better? Ducati applied their usual engineering process of evolution to an already successful model by improving it in the two most effective ways possible: Less weight and more power.

LIGHTER TRELLIS FRAME

The quick and precise handling that the Hypermotard provides is down to the construction and geometry of its famous Trellis frame. Its ability to handle the abundant torque from the L-Twin engine and its rigidity under powerful Brembo braking are just a few reasons why Ducati's chassis department would never want to change it. But it could be made lighter. They realized that almost all of the heavy forged sections of the construction could be completely removed without reducing its strength or its performance, so they applied it to the entire family.

LIGHTER, MORE POWERFUL ENGINES

While the chassis department was busy reducing the weight of the frame, the engine department went back to the drawing board for the 796 and started with a clean sheet of paper. Their complete redesign of the crankcases rewarded them with an incredible saving of 2.64 pounds compared to the 696 castings, and the new 796 crankshaft with 848-style flywheel further reduced the overall engine weight to an impressive 4.2 pounds savings over the 696 power unit. And with 81hp (59.6kW) of smooth and flexible power, the 796 is a very credible package.

The 1100 air-cooled Desmodue Evoluzione engine truly is an "evolution" - both in power and weight - and is responsible for the model name extension 1100 EVO. Engineers used the same Vacural technology employed for the lightweight Superbike engines when they vacuum die-cast the Hypermotard 1100 crankcases, a process that achieves a significant weight saving and ensures consistent wall thickness and increased strength. This process - combined with the lightweight crankshaft assembly that uses an 848-style flywheel and use of lighter rare-earth magnets in the alternator - reduced the 1100 power unit's weight by a staggering 11.5lb. Couple those savings with a 5hp boost to 95hp (69.9kW) and it becomes clear why there's all the hype.

Compact and efficient, the Desmodue engine's hyper-lightweight and narrow L-Twin layout, no wider than a single cylinder, ensures that all Hypermotards remain lean and agile. The air-cooled design eliminates the need for water radiators, hoses, reservoirs and pumps, keeping the motorcycle's weight down to a minimum and its lines clean and race-like.

NEW CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTATION

The entire Hypermotard family now inherits the electronic advances made in the compact and user-friendly switchgear and instrumentation first created for the Streetfighter.

The slim-line switch bodies house easy-to-use switches and buttons, and feature a unique weapons-like "trigger catch" that slides down to cover the starter button when the kill-switch is activated. Their minimalist design fits perfectly in the clean and essential lines of the Hypermotard's sporting image.

Looking clean and purposeful, the display provides an extensive amount of data including speed, revs, time, oil temperature, battery voltage, A & B trips, fuel reserve trip and scheduled maintenance, while the warning lights illuminate for neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, oil pressure and fuel reserve. In addition, it can list recorded lap times by using the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch. Both the 1100EVO and 1100EVO SP use a white back-lighting while the 796 uses an orange back-lighting.

The instrument display also doubles as a control panel for the activation of the Ducati Data Analyser (DDA) system, which is available as an accessory from Ducati Performance for the 'system-ready' Hypermotard 796 and 1100EVO and supplied as standard equipment on the 1100EVO SP. The DDA-intended USB connection port under all of the Hypermotard seats doubles as a charging point for a handy new battery charger, which is available as an accessory from Ducati Performance.

MIRRORS

Ducati pushed motorcycle design limits to find an innovative solution for the original Hypermotard mirrors and these are now used throughout the family. The challenge of maintaining a clean, racing look around the handlebar area motivated the design of the folding mirror concept which is based on the hand guards typically found on off-road bikes. Flipped out for high visibility street mode and easily folded in for a quick change to 'Hypermode', the mirror hand guard assemblies also integrate the LED directional indicators for an even cleaner front-end.

LIGHTING AND INDICATORS

The headlamp uses a highly compact lighting shape which blends with the single piece nose fairing and front fender molding, while the rear light employs a specially designed strip of LEDs enhanced by a high diffusion lens shaped into the sleek lines of the tailpiece. The same LEDs are intensified under braking. The front directional indicators also employ the latest in LED technology for illumination, and are ingeniously integrated into the hand guards which support the foldable rear view mirrors.

TAILPIECE

The high intensity LED rear light assembly is molded into a unique tailpiece positioned high behind the seat. The supporting structure has been designed so that the under tray of the tailpiece is formed perfectly to offer a sturdy pair of pillion grab-handles. This ingenious solution not only helps to merge the rear light into the Hypermotard styling but also provides a safe grip for the passenger.

FOOTPEGS

Rider footpegs on all of the Hypermotard models have removable rubber inserts to expose the serrated metal edge and increase boot grip on the peg during extreme riding. The 1100EVO and 1100EVO SP provide a further minimalist and no-compromise feature by having removable passenger footpegs. This attention to detail enables a clean "monoposto" look when on the track, while allowing a fast and easy change to "biposto" for the street.

DUCATI HYPERMOTARD 796

Just as aggressively striking as the 1100, the new Hypermotard 796 features a lower seat height and brand new smooth and flexible engine to make it the perfect urban assault vehicle. Whether it's working the daily commute or attacking the open roads, the 796 rides the common ground between manners and madness by mixing Ducati's unrivalled twin-cylinder power and sportbike heredity with the lightweight and minimalist supermotard concept.

Urban upstart

The Hypermotard's rigidly triangulated and now lighter than ever Trellis frame and track-tested chassis geometry is still stylized by a distinct high fender at the front and dual under-seat silencers at the rear, but the new 796's overall profile says it all: Go Hyper!

At 32.5 inches, the seat height of the 796 is a sure-footed 20mm (0.8in) lower than the 1100 and, when combined with the new engine's smooth power delivery, this Hypermotard inspires confidence however and wherever its ridden. The upright seating position offers a commanding view of the road ahead, while the wide handlebars make the bike effortlessly flickable through the urban maze.

Extreme image, accessible character

The 796 has a dry weight of just 368 pounds, partly achieved by a lightweight engine, but also by continued chassis development that includes fork clamps, and radial fork bottoms. An improved frame layout eliminates almost all of the forged elements previously used on the Hypermotard. The lightened frame retains its torsional strength to become even more agile and easier to handle than before, while 17" wheels by Enkei are produced in lightweight aluminum to keep the unsprung weight low and handling, braking and acceleration performances high. The 796 uses exactly the same 3.50 front and 5.50 rear rim sizes and Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires as its 1100cc big brother.

Suspension duties up front are taken care of by a pair of very capable 43mm Marzocchi forks, while the rear is managed by a Sachs suspension unit featuring adjustable spring pre-load and return damping, allowing adjustments for riding style or load. The rear operates through a similar progressive link to the 1100 and uses the signature Hypermotard single-sided swingarm.

Twin 305mm semi-floating discs gripped by radially mounted 4-piston Brembo calipers provide powerful and progressive front-end braking with that all-important rider-friendly "feeling," while the rear is equipped with a 245mm disc and 2-piston caliper, also by Brembo.

A brand new Ducati engine

The 796 engine isn't just a stroked 696 - it's a completely brand new Desmodue power unit that promises to deliver an exhilarating ride without compromising the smooth tractability found in Ducati's other L-Twin engines. The crankshaft uses a lightweight 848-type flywheel, and spins with a 66mm stroke instead of the 696's 57.2mm, helping to maximize power to an impressive 81hp (59.6kW) @ 8000 rpm and torque to 55.7lb-ft (75.5Nm) @ 6250 rpm while maintaining the smooth and enjoyable character, famous of all Desmodromic L-Twins. To protect power delivery and maintain optimum efficiency, an oil cooler similar to the 1100 is used, adding even more family resemblance to its bigger brother.

Helping to increase the Hypermotard 796's agility even further, the fully redesigned crankcases save an incredible 2.64 pounds over the 696 castings, and are responsible for the major part of the impressive 4.2 pounds total saving over the 696 power unit. The clutch and alternator outer casings of the new engine are finished in an 1100-style carbon grey.

Breathing through a newly revised airbox intake duct and fed through 45mm throttle bodies, the 803cc swept volume is compressed to a ratio of 11:1 - compared to the 696's 10.7:1 - before being injected and ignited with Siemens controlled electronics. The 2-1-2 catalytic exhaust system uses an efficient pre-silencer configuration with twin lambda probes providing finer fuel mapping and Euro3 conformity. The system's lightweight and compact design is achieved by using 1mm thick tubing and terminates in Ducati's trademark twin under-seat, black exhaust mufflers, stylishly contrasted with great looking aluminum end caps.

An APTC "wet" clutch gives a "slipper"-type action that prevents destabilizing of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and also gives the extra benefit of a super-light feel at the lever, a great benefit in stop-start city traffic or during longer journeys. The 21-plate oil-bath clutch (11 friction and 10 steel) represents a power-enhancing weight reduction over the 'dry' system as well as having a quieter operation and requiring less maintenance.

The new Hypermotard 796 engine combines all recent advances in Ducati's ongoing design, manufacture and production quality campaigns to offer competitive service intervals of 7500.

796 CONTROLS

While its motard feeling is enhanced by wide, tubular handlebars and hand guards, the 796's minimalist image is further characterized with integral construction Brembo master cylinders for both the clutch and brake systems. They maintain a clean handlebar arrangement for the rider and are fitted with user-friendly 4-point adjustable levers that provide easy-to-reach control for all hand sizes. Furthermore, the APTC clutch provides a super-light lever action ideal for use in the city.

796 in three colors

The new 796 comes in an urban-style Dark finish with matte black tank and beak section, black frame and black wheels or, alternatively, matte white tank with contrasting matte black beak, black frame and black wheels. For the purists, an 1100 look-alike red tank with matching beak section, red frame and black wheels keeps the 796 in traditional livery.