Opinion: Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono: Why Is It India’s Costliest Single

Supermotos are fun, brash, don’t make much sense and completely illogical. If you aren’t looking to ride a bike with one wheel in the air almost anytime, then supermotos aren’t your thing. In India, though, there have been only two firms who have tried their luck by giving us a taste of the crazy action. Both Italian and only one firm continues to offer the fun: Ducati. The Hypermotard is one of the coolest and craziest motorcycles that one can aspire to own and ride.

So, when the Borgo Panigale-based bikemaker built a single-cylinder version, we were whetting our appetite. It could have potentially been welcoming and accessible and still fun like a Hypermotard should be. However, our dreams were dashed a while back itself. And we knew the asking price was going to be extremely steep. ₹16.50 lakh for a single-cylinder motorcycle! What were the Italians thinking?

But it is more to do with something closer to home: our import taxation laws. For a CBU motorcycle under 800 cc, there is no FTA (free trade agreement) benefit with South East Asian countries. Most Ducatis are built at its Thailand facility and imported here, and hence we aren’t subjected to exorbitantly outrageous rates for the Italian steeds. Only the special Ducatis, the ones that are limited edition or homologation special models, that are built in Italy cost a bomb. And in the latter’s list is the Hypermotard 698 Mono now.

The ₹16.50 lakh price tag is just so unjustifiable that for ₹ 45,000 less, you could have the larger and more powerful Hypermotard 950 RVE! 77 ponies are no match for the 114 stallions. Yes, the 950 RVE has been one of the rather saner and more polished supermotos from the brand, but it is like saying Metallica is one of the calmest metal rock bands out there.

Would I still like to ride the 698 Mono given the chance? HELL YEAH! It is the last of the big piston singles out there and surprisingly, Ducati’s first in decades. Plus, it is perhaps the most (il)logical step up after my third-gen KTM 390 Duke that I would like to own. So, yeah, if the opportunity arises for me to ride one, I will leap at it. Although, my savings and brain will never let me buy one at full retail price.