Ducati's Hypermotard garnered alot of attention when it was first unveiled, and the love affair hasn't really slowed down since. It was an entry into a niche that had very little competition, and some of its characteristics made it a truly unique option. Now Ducati has introduced a little brother to the family, with the lighter Hypermotard 796. A brand new smaller engine, a revamped frame, and a number of other interesting changes ought to make this bike even more fun to throw around. Pictures and Ducati's description of the new model are below. Full specs yet to come.

Here's what Ducati has to say about this brand new bike:

Ducati North America is delighted to introduce the newest model in its successful Hypermotard family: the Hypermotard 796.

A brand new model for 2010, the Hypermotard 796 incorporates many new features requested by Ducatisti worldwide; striking color selections, lighter weight, lower price point, lower seat height, and the inclusion of a super-light action APTC clutch. Whether it's dicing through the daily commute or attacking the open roads, the 796 perfectly balances Ducati’s unrivalled twin-cylinder power and sportbike heredity with the lightweight and minimalist Supermotard concept.

The Hypermotard 796’s engine is a brand new powerplant; air-cooled with 2 valves per cylinder as per Ducati tradition. Rated at 81hp and 56 lb/ft of torque, the engine promises to deliver an exhilarating ride without compromising the smooth tractability found in Ducati’s other L-Twin engines.

Continued chassis development to the Hypermotard includes redesigned top and bottom fork clamps, and an improved frame layout which eliminates almost all of the forged elements used previously on the 1100. This adds up to an agile, lightweight, 368 pound package that is guaranteed to attack corners.

The Hypermotard 796 will be available at authorized Ducati showrooms beginning in December 2009. Color selections will include Ducati red, matte black, and matte white. MSRP for the Hypermotard 796 will be US$9,995, joining the Monster 696 in Ducati’s sub- $10,000 price bracket; a bargain for the handmade Italian motorcycle.

The first public showing of the Hypermotard 796 will be at Milan’s EICMA international motorcycle show. Full information on the entire range of Ducati motorcycles can be found at www.ducatiusa.com.










Source: Ducati USA