Ducati Scrambler | 2015 new motorcycles

The Ducati Scrambler has just been revealed, with the Italian company claiming it’s “more than just a new bike: it’s a whole new world”.

The bike features front and rear LED lighting (with a traditional bulb for main-beam), and has LCD instruments in a single, round housing. The bike is being backed up with a range of “personalisation and lifestyle” options, and is said to be a contemporary take on the iconic bike built by Ducati in the 1970s.

The Icon version, in ‘Icon62 Yellow’ and ‘Ducati Red’ paint options, is joined by three others – Urban Enduro, Full Throttle and Classic – each offering its own style and performance-related interpretation of the Scrambler spirit. The Urban Enduro, with its “Wild Green” paintjob, is for enduro style enthusiasts and ready to switch from city streets to country backroads in an instant. The Full Throttle is for riders enthralled by the flat-track racing world who have a penchant for pushing things to the limit. And the Classic is for devotees to details and a 1970s look who want the uncompromising riding pleasure and comfort of a modern-day bike.

The teardrop-shaped tank features interchangeable aluminium side panels, while the low seat height of 790mm should make it easy to scramble through city traffic with the oil-cooled 90° V-twin (or L-twin as Ducati calls it) 803cc motor making 75bhp @ 8250rpm and 50-lb-ft @ 5750rpm.

The enduro-style Pirelli rubber is wrapped around 10-spoke alloy wheels with dual-channel ABS as standard. Unadjustable Kayaba forks and a preload-adjustable shock link to the tubular steel trellis frame. UK prices are: Scrambler Icon (Red) £6895, Icon(Yellow) £6995, Full Throttle, Urban Enduro and Classic £7995.

The original Scrambler was designed following a request from the Berliner brothers, the US importers of Ducati bikes in the 1960s. They wanted a bike that would suit the tastes of American bikers. Initial contact was established by Giorgio Monetti – famous for his round-the-world ride together with Leopoldo Tartarini – who was then Sales Manager at Ducati. It was agreed that the bike would have to be extremely practical and the design work was entrusted to Renzo Neri, who, even though he was Technical Department Manager at the time, was known to have a skilled hand: the designs for the tank, seat and mudguards are, in fact, his. The first Scrambler went into production in 1962 and was modified uninterruptedly until 1968, when the real “long engine cover” Scramblers appeared, followed by the 250 and 350 versions and, in 1969, the 450. The first Scrambler series included some bikes with desmodromic cylinder heads and was the subject of continuous technical adjustments until production was discontinued in 1975.

TECH SPEC

Engine

Type: L-Twin, Desmodromic distribution, 2 valves per cylinder, air cooled

Displacement: 803 cc

Bore x Stroke: 88 x 66 mm

Compression: Ratio 11:1

Power: 75 bhp (55 kW) 8250 rpm

Torque: 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) @ 5750 rpm

Fuel injection: Electronic fuel injection, 50 mm throttle body

Exhaust: Exhaust system with single stainless steel muffler with aluminium exterior cover, catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes

Emissions: Euro 3

Transmission

Gearbox: 6 speed

Ratio: 1=32/13 2=30/18 3=28/21 4=26/23 5=22/22 6=24/26

Primary drive: Straight cut gears, Ratio 1.85:1

Final drive: Chain, front spocket 15, rear sprocket 46

Clutch: APTC wet multiplate with mechanical control

Chassis

Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame

Wheelbase: 1445 mm (56.9 in)

Rake: 24°

Trail: 112 mm (4.4 in)

Total steering lock: 35°

Front suspension: Upside down Kayaba 41 mm fork

Front wheel travel: 150 mm (5.9 in)

Front wheel: 10-spoke in light alloy 3.00″ x 18″

Front tyre: 110/80 R18 Pirelli MT 60 RS

Rear suspension: Kayaba rear shock, pre-load adjustable

Rear wheel travel: 150 mm (5.9 in)

Rear wheel: 10-spoke light alloy 5.50″ x 17″

Rear tyre: 180/55 R17 Pirelli MT 60 RS

Front brake: Single 330 mm disc, radial 4-piston calliper with ABS as standard equipment

Rear brake: 245 mm disc, 1-piston floating calliper with ABS as standard equipment

Fuel tank capacity: 13.5 l – 3.57 gallon (US)

Dry weight: 170 kg (375 lb)

Wet weight: 186 kg (410 lb)

Seat height: 790 mm (31.1 in) – low seat 770 mm (30.3 in) available as accessory

Max height: 1150 mm (45.3 in) (brake reservoir)

Max width: 845 mm (33.3 in) (mirrors)

Max length: 2100 – 2165 mm (82.7 – 85.2 in)

Ducati electronics Dual-channel ABS

Warranty: 2 years unlimited mileage

Versions: Dual seat

www.ducati.co.uk