Stripped and retro, did someone say hip? No we won't go there, its far too basic a narrative and does a disservice to the existing Ducatisti who have fallen head over heels with the idea of the Scrambler project since announcement.
So nostalgic, lets agree on that, and Nostalgic it is! The last legs of Ducatis venerable air cooled 803cc V-Twin (actually its an L, but hey whats in a name) of Monster and Hypomotard fame. The nostalgia doesn't stop at the airhead, it permeates the entire project, a toss back to the original Scrambler single that first showed its face in 1962 and continued with enthusiasm through the mid 70's.
In typical Borgo Panigale fashion the Scrambler uses a tried and true trellis, linked to a cast aluminum swingarm by a preload adjustable Kayaba shock. While up front the 41 mm forks, also sourced from Kayaba, do the duty, however without provisions for adjustment.
The presence of the Scrambler is just right, like a McQueen era dirt bike the tank sits low, the bars keep the rider in an upright and comfy position with their high rise and the banana seat hits all the right notes. The finish is fantastic, tasteful use of aluminum on the side of the tank and under the seat provide a measured amount of contrast.
Where the scrambler truely shines (literally) is its LED lighting all round. The round headlight surrounded by LED DRL's provides one of the prettiest silhouettes on the market.
The Pirellis are bespoke for the Scrambler, with a blocky tread pattern that looks comfortable in the dirt or prowling the pavement. Adding to the look is the 18 inch front rim. Arresting progress are Brembo calipers. Single 330mm disc up front clamped by a 4 pot radial caliper. While the reas uses a single pot cliper and a 245 mm rotor. ABS standard.
But how about the cost? Well your most basic Scrambler will run you $8,495 in classic Ducati Red, while opting for the "65 Yellow will cost you an extra $100. Where the fun begins is with the three other available models (Classic, Enduro, Full Throttle) which come in at a cool $9,995.
Ostensibly the Scrambler seems like the perfect rival to pinch a piece of Triumphs Bonneville pie, its retro, its rugged and realistically, its sexy. The question that begs to be answered though, is how long the market will sustain selling retro bikes to the nostalgic and the nearly hip?
