Very nice bike. I was kinda hoping they would have come out with a hypermotard around the 696 engine to make the price even lower. PS. Yellow boots did nothing for the pics. You are gonna look back on these one day and think, 'what was I thinkin?'.Where is the "meat" of this "ride" article? What are the power levels? What is the weight? Mpg? Sound? C'mon...this article lacks most of what riders are looking for (other than described ergonomics). This bike looks much more "Street Triple" than it does "motard" (More motard would help it because without it, it competes directly with the Street Triple...which will kill this thing). What 4-valve heads on a Ducati air-cooled engine? I don't think so. Your comments on the trans are interesting. I've owned four Ducatis over the past twenty years and each had a great transmission feel, including the ability to find neutral.The engine is hung within a steel frame of identical measurement as the 1100. The 796 has mirrors that can be folded in based on rider preference. The Hypermotard 796 comes in three colorways: Dark; White; Red. The 796 gets an instrument display similar to the Streetfighter only it features orange backlighting.TBesides the suspension, tires and instrument display it can be difficult to spot the differences between the Hypermotard 796 and the 1100. Although we appreciated the 796’s overall suspension balance front-to-rear it could be significantly improved with even more initial damping front and rear. Despite the suspension being softly sprung, the 796 offers fantastic stability at speed. the 796’s frame however benefits from a new forming process which reduces weight without compromising rigidity. Both the top and bottom fork clamps are also new. The clamps hold a new non-adjustable 43mm Marzocchi inverted fork. Above is a tapered aluminum handlebar. Rear suspension consists of a Sachs hydraulic shock absorber that moves through a linkage and connects to the aluminum single-sided swingarm. As opposed to the fork, the shock offers adjustment for spring preload and rebound damping. Lastly, the seat itself was shortened by 0.8 inches and now measures 32.5-inches from the ground.
The 796 rolls on similar-spec aluminum wheels as the 1100, measuring 3.5 x 17-inches up front and 5.5 x 17-inches at the rear. The rims are shod with Bridgestone BT-016 multi-compound tires in sizes 120/70 front and 180/55 rear. Brakes consist of twin 305mm rotors up front, which are controlled by radial-mount 4-piston Brembo calipers. The rear brake disc measures 245mm in diameter and is independently controlled by a twin-piston caliper. Stainless-steel brake lines front and rear complement the set-up.
Engine: 803cc air-cooled L-Twin, 4-valve
Bore x Stroke: 88 x 66mm
Compression Ratio: 11.1:1
Fuel Delivery: Electronic fuel-injection
Clutch: APTC wet multi-plate, hydraulic actuation
Transmission: 6-speed, chain final drive
Frame: Steel-trellis
Front Suspension: Marzocchi 43mm inverted fork, non-adjustable; 6.5 in. travel
Rear Suspension: Sachs hydraulic shock absorber, spring preload and rebound damping adjustment; 5.6 in. travel
Front Brakes: Dual 305mm discs with radial-mount Brembo 4-piston calipers
Rear Brake: 245mm disc with Brembo twin-piston caliper
Front Tire: Bridgestone BT-016 120/70-17
Rear Tire: Bridgestone BT-016 180/55-17
Wheelbase: 57.3 in.
Length: 83.5 in.
Rake: 24 deg. Trail: 3.9 in.
Seat Height: 32.5 in.
Fuel Capacity: 3.3 gal.
MSRP: $9995
Colors: Dark; White; Red
Warranty: Two years, unlimited mileage
