Ducati’s Definitive Hooligan Bike Just Received One of Its Biggest Changes in 20 Years

The Borgo Panigale manufacturer has given its wheelie machine an overhaul that adds power and shaves weight — with one catch.

Close-up of a Ducati motorcycle front with gold forks and red, white, and black bodywork, with a blurred red motorcycle in the background.

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published 5 hours ago

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Two decades ago, Ducati took the motorcycle world by storm with the debut of its Hypermotard concept at EICMA 2005.

Pierre Terblanche’s design won “Best in Show” for its striking looks, thus prompting the bike’s eventual release to the public.

In the years since, Ducati has continued to tweak the Hypermotard’s formula, making updates to the bike’s engine size and chassis design (among various other areas) to keep it competitive with the rival supermotos on the market.

Two motorcyclists in red and black gear riding sport motorcycles on a racetrack under clear sky. — Ducati’s Hypermotard is ditching Desmo valves for the first time in its 20-year history.

Even still, in all that time, the Italian manufacturer has yet to give the Hypermotard an overhaul quite like this. For 2026, the bike will abandon a feature that’s defined Ducati’s twins for decades.

Breaking from tradition

That being the brand’s signature Desmodromic valves. Like the Panigale V2, the Streetfighter V2, the Multistrada V2 and the Monster V2 that Ducati has unveiled over the past year, the fourth-generation Hypermotard is adopting the V2 twin engine and its conventionally sprung (though variably timed) valves.

Red and black Ducati motorcycle parked on a road with autumn foliage in the background. — The bike still carries the spirit of the original Hypermotard, though it makes for a markedly updated model.

It’s a move that’s akin to Leica giving its signature rangefinder an electronic viewfinder or a storied mechanical watchmaker breaking into quartz — paradigmatic. Still, even if it’s part of a larger brand shift, it’s a decision that results in some impactful differences compared to previous models.

For one, it means that the Hypermotard is a solid 28.7 pounds lighter than its predecessor. The base version tips the scales at 397 pounds, while the lighter wheels and lithium battery of the up-spec SP shave a further seven pounds off that total.

What’s more, output is not only improved but also more usable. The new 890cc V2 makes a claimed 120.4 horsepower compared to the outgoing 950cc Testastretta’s 116 ponies, and, thanks to the V2’s new valve tech, Ducati says that “more than 70 percent of torque is already available at 3,000 rpm, and more than 80 percent is always available between 4,000 and 11,000 rpm.”

Motorcyclist in red and black Ducati racing gear performing a wheelie on a white and red Ducati motorcycle on a racetrack. — The bike switches to a dual-sided swingarm like the Panigale V2.

Assuming that wasn’t enough, the switch to Intake Variable Timing even brings practical benefits. Ducati now specifies valve checks at 28,000-mile intervals, which makes for a significant improvement compared to the Desmo twins of old (take it from someone with a 1994 900SS CR — you’ll appreciate the extra service time).

In conjunction with an optional track-only Termignoni pipe — good for a further four horsepower and 9.9 pounds in weight savings — along with a revised quick-shifter, the engine makes for a significant addition to Ducati’s Hypermotard story.

White and red Ducati motorcycle with gold front forks on a racetrack. — The up-spec SP model brings lighter wheels, a special livery and an upgraded battery.

New levels of hyper

Of course, Ducati’s changes to the Hypermotard aren’t exclusive to the model’s powertrain. As part of the 2026 update, the bike benefits from a variety of chassis and component revisions, too.

In a nod to the trellis design of its predecessors, the new Hypermotard V2 gets a small triangular subframe, though the bike is now mostly frameless in design with the engine acting as a stressed member. Like its stablemates, the move has resulted in less weight and improved stiffness.

Motorcyclist in red Ducati Corse suit performing a wheelie on a white Ducati motorcycle on a track. — At less than 400 pounds dry, the Hypermotard is a very flickable motorcycle.

Suspension and brakes vary depending on which trim level you spring for. Ducati will be equipping the base version with a set of 46mm Kayaba forks and an accompanying rear shock, along with some Brembo M4.32 Monoblock calipers.

The SP, on the other hand, will benefit from some 48mm Öhlins NIX 30 units up front, an Öhlins STX 46 shock out back and some up-spec M50s.

Rounded out by a standard Sachs steering damper, a suite of robust electronic aids and a beaked design that’s classic yet contemporary, the result is a Hypermotard that doesn’t just seem more modern but also more itself than ever — even without Ducati’s trademark Desmo valves.

Pricing and availability

Ducati’s Hypermotard V2 and Hypermotard V2 SP will arrive in early 2026. MSRP is reported to start at $16,995 and $20,995, respectively.

Red and black Ducati motorcycle with exposed engine and gold front forks on a white background.

2026 Ducati Hypermotard V2

Starts at $16,995

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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