Ducati North America has announced that the Hypermotard 796 will be in dealerships before the New Year, and some dealerships will have the new motard as early as this weekend (that’s tomorrow, or today if you work in the A&R office!).

If you’re having a hard time finding the right gift for that special motorcyclist in your life, this might be the chance to get them what they really want this year. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a $9,995 lightweight red Ducati Hypermotard 796 with a bow on it. Press release after the jump.


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French site Moto-Station is reporting, and multiple other sites are confirming, that Ducati is about to debut a Hypermotard 796. Just as the current Hypermotard 1100 borrows on the basic design of the Monster 1100, the 796 will center around the same 696cc, air-cooled, two-valve, motor found in the Monster 696.

We’re not sure where the 796 nomenclature is coming from, as the Hypermotard 796 is supposedly keeping the 696cc displacement from the Monster 696. With the HM 1100 making 90hp and 76lbs•ft of torque, and the Monster 696 making 80hp and 50.6lbs•ft of torque, it seems logical for the Hypermotard 796 to fit in-between those two power ranges if Ducati plans on justifying the 796 badge.


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