[outofthebox]

A big hi to all Ducati Scrambler fans from sunny North India. My name is Amit and I have been a riding enthusiast for years. Used to own a TW200 in the late 90s and lately been riding a Royal Enfield Classic 500 since 2011. I am a music buff - (classic rock, 80's pop, blues & jazz etc), Audiophile, DIY and gadget freak. I have lived and worked in SE Asia for a decade and half, and also done short stints in Europe, UK and Japan.

Not just the Scrambler, but brand Ducati itself is very new to India. Ducati has only just officially entered the Indian market this year - previously some models were available through the import route since 2012 and sold just a handful.

Scrambler launch is expected around April/May 2015 and expected to cost in $10k to $11k ballpark. Anxiously awaiting the official launch and hoping to learn a thing or two from the Ducati experts/Scrambler owners here before placing my deposit on the Scrambler.

Here's a pic of my current ride:

 

[Jerry Winder]

Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to seeing some pics of your Scrambler.

Jerry

 

[alepplew]

I have admired the Royal Enfield on my trips to India, that's a real motorbike.

Congrats and welcome to the modern world of biking, the contrast will be quite beautiful I am sure, engine and suspensionwise! I really admire you for having the courage to ride a bike in Indian traffic... Would probably soil my pants

Cheers from France

 

[outofthebox]

Jerry, alepplew, many thanks for your kind words.

alepplew, good to know you are familiar with Royal Enfield and India. You are absolutely spot on about Indian riding conditions. It is a scary prospect indeed and India has a disturbingly high accident & fatality rate.

In India, riding licenses are 'handed' out on compassionate grounds rather than merit. Two wheelers are considered to be a primary means of transport for the economically challenged sections of the society. That also explains the skewed proportion of two wheelers vs cars in the country - last year, 15 Million two wheelers were sold as against just 2.5 Million cars. There are still no laws or infrastructure in place to grade and issue licenses based on cubic capacity of a motorbike.

I voluntarily unlearned the Indian riding & driving habits and 'earned' my proper four and two wheeler licenses based on the Japanese license grading system, for riding and driving in other countries. Took me about 3 years and I still could not complete the Class 2 riding license which would enable me to ride bikes greater than 400cc capacity.

 

[Timmy]

Welcome to the forum!

Can't wait to see some pictures as well! Indian is a beautiful place!

 

[alepplew]

:laugh: " lane driving is sane driving "
has always been my favorite bumper sticker in India
Traffic felt more like hydraulics, oil molecules filling the least available niche ...
I remember once in my desperation to cross a major road on foot I resorted to taking a riksha cab around the next roundabout to the other side of the road. I simply couldn't find a gap in the traffic to cross while staying alive

Drive very safely out there

 

[outofthebox]

Traffic felt more like hydraulics, oil molecules filling the least available niche ...
/QUOTE]

yes alepplew, so true. Russell Peters - Indo Canadian stand up artist had a similar observation as you ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pR0kpqi_TQ&feature=youtu.be&t=2m23s