Motorcycle specifications DucatiSCRAMBLER 800 Icon 2018 Promenade à Malibu

Ducati Scrambler. A name out of time. Younger riders will think that Bologna is tackling its own interpretation of this type of machine, ancestor of the trail bike. Those with a little more bottle age will remember the firm's first Scramblers, when it manufactured single-cylinder bikes. It was the '60s, and Scramblers came in 250, 350 and even 450 models from 1969. They smacked of music, carefree fun, the Beatles, jeans, the ugly orange color of the time...

we take the same sauce and start again to acidify the second chapter of the 21st century. Except that we've got rid of the vomit-inducing orange, and Coldplay and Daft Punk are filling the charts; but the new Scrambler still smells of fun, of pleasure, and above all, up close and personal, it looks super nice and you immediately want to become a buddy. The Scrambler as a buddy?!? Ducati has got us used to muscular bikes, especially recently. Sportbikes with 200 horsepower, a Diavel that'll scratch your skin, a trail bike as powerful as a 750 GSX-R, Monsters with a minimum of 115 hp...
But what was missing was a fun, accessible machine. The spot had been vacant since the 696 Monster was withdrawn from the catalog. So, a Scrambler with a vacation look, not too much power and accessible, that's really good.

isn't this Ducati 800 Scrambler cute?! It almost looks like a TW, but a little bigger. It's not taut like a Streetfighter, rather compact in its proportions, not in the pursuit of pure, high-fashion styling like MV-Agusta. No, it's just as cute as a button. And yet, the pencil stroke has not been idle in making it endearing. Yes, it's vintage, and that's part of what makes it stand out. It's the descendant and evolution of the Scrambler of the hippie years. Technically, it oscillates between the tried and tested and the modern. A single brake disc? Yes, it's visually lighter, but it's more than enough to calm this 170-kilo beast: a 330 mm disc clamped by a 4-piston monobloc caliper, and a Bosch 9.1 MP ABS, that's already caustic. Another 254 mm disc with a single-piston caliper is present at the rear.

Does a Scrambler go fast? It's not really made for... No, it's made for fun. So, Ducati has put in some horsepower, but not too much. First of all, the 803 cm3 twin from the late 796 Monster and Hypermotard is recovered, the 2 valves per cylinder are kept, the desmo system is retained, the camshafts are changed, and 75 hp are delivered at 8250 rpm. Torque is 6.9 mkg at 5750 rpm. Not huge, but just about right for the displacement, and in the end, we won't need more. To make matters worse, we appreciate the attention to detail, such as the machined aluminum patterns on the crankcases and belt covers.

the trellis frame is de rigueur as usual. Discreet and minimalist, it supports the seat at a very accessible 790 mm, holds a 41 mm inverted fork, a banana-type swingarm and 10-spoke rims on each side.
But that's not what's most appealing. Quidams, the curious and the charmed, will see above all the fuel tank, which takes its shape from that of the Scrambler of yesteryear. The brushed-aluminum covers are interchangeable, so as to multiply the number of customizations and keep the marketing machine running at full speed. Ducat' has planned a whole universe around its new toy, for everyone to enjoy.
The 800 Scrambler also plays on a certain impertinence and distinctive features. These include the inscription "born in 1962" on the fuel tank, enduro-type large-block tires made exclusively for the Scrambler, an 18-inch rear rim, and a fine gum shield.110 gumshoe on the bow, while the stern reveals a hefty 180, and 150 mm of suspension travel, allowing it to venture onto the paths leading to the beach.

from afar, the round headlamp and minimalist instrumentation with a single, off-center speedometer look classic. Someone turns on the ignition. Then the Scrambler reveals its light signature. Four arcs form an instantly recognizable circle. So we move closer to discover more. The instrument panel is indeed a simple dial, but it's all digital. The speed display has been chosen for the best visibility. RPM will have to make do with a few bars displayed at the bottom edge.

The Scrambler becomes the entry-level model in the Ducati range, a little more so in its 400 Sixty2 version. And perhaps the most fun, too. Good looks, stylish references to the past, old-fashioned engine (air-cooled 2-valve Desmo), it smells of vacations, rides and aperitifs.
But there's only one thing you'll want to do: have fun. Far from the glitz, the bleeding trajectories, the frightening power and the "always more", the Ducati Scrambler brings a real breath of fresh air and that simple little taste that is increasingly hard to find. Except that when your name is Ducati, simple is mixed with premium, and that has an impact on pricing. It used to be that you camped for your vacations; now it's a mobile home. But the desire for the beach hasn't changed.

M.B - Manufacturer media