Ducati showcased two more variants for its successful Scrambler lineup. The Desert Sled and the Cafe Racer.
Desert Sled
Directly from the desert and mountains of California comes the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled: a new version that draws its inspiration from the off-road bikes that, back in the ’60s and ’70s, made US motorcycling history.
Desert Sleds were American-born bikes that appeared in South-West California and in Mexico’s Baja California in the ’60s and ’70s. These were road bikes with engine displacements of over 500 cm3 , stripped of any non-essential accessories, fitted with off-road tyres, wheels and spokes and given modified suspension systems and engine skid plates. In fact, it’s the engine skid plate – indispensable in shielding the bike from rocks, stones and the unforgiving desert terrain – that gave the Desert Sled its name.
Over the years these bikes became a motorcycle category in their own right: until their arrival, no comparable style had ever been seen.
The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled faithfully revives that spirit – but without abandoning the unique Scrambler lifestyle values – and extends the new Bolognabuilt brand into the “easy off-road” sector. Thanks to the modified frame and suspension, the spoked wheels (19″ at the front) and ground-breaking lines, this bike is simply perfect for those who want to be able to get off the asphalt and take a less-beaten track. The off-road capability of the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled is also evident in the type-approved headlight mesh guard, the high mudguards (specially designed for this version) and, of course, the engine skid plate.
Thanks to a higher seat (a 20 mm lower one is available as an optional), suspension with extended travel (now 200 mm) and off-road style footpegs with removable rubber pads, this Scrambler is also characterised by a new riding position. The passenger pegs – separated from the rider’s – are removable.
The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled inherits its logo from the Urban Enduro and is a natural evolution of the latter towards a more off-road style.
Colours
1. “White Mirage” with black frame and spoked wheels with gold rims
2. “Red Dusk” with black frame and spoked wheels with gold rims
Equipment
Desmodue twin-cylinder engine, EURO 4-compliant with black finish
Exhaust with dual tail pipe and black covers
Reinforced off-road frame
New aluminium swingarm
Spoked wheels, 19″ at the front and 17″ at the rear, with Pirelli SCORPION™ RALLY STR tyres, 120/70 R19 M/C 60V M+S TL at the front and 170/60 R 17 M/C 72V M+S TL at the rear
Dedicated seat with a height of 860 mm
Tapered handlebars with reinforcement strut
Adjustable Kayaba upside down fork with 200 mm of travel
Adjustable Kayaba rear shock absorber with separate gas cartridge
Steel teardrop fuel tank with interchangeable side panels
Front headlight with type-approved mesh guard
High front mudguard
Extended rear mudguard
High plate holder
Revolution 54
Just two years ago, when the new Ducati Scrambler brand was launched, nobody would have believed that today we would be here talking about a Scrambler Café Racer.
The Ducati Scrambler Café Racer is the Scrambler interpretation of the legendary ’60s bikes that triggered a motorcycling revolution. Free spirit and style: with its “Black Coffee” colour scheme, the Ducati Scrambler Café Racer takes us from the 1960s all the way to today’s Land of Joy.
Back in the day, in London, a bold, forward-thinking group of young motorcyclists, the “Ton–Up Boys” of the Rocker movement, began setting up their bikes to win the sprint from one café to the next (each race was supposed to last as long as a Juke Box single).
Since then, the Café Racer culture has gone on to become a global phenomenon.
The Ducati Scrambler world and Café Racer culture share a style that extends beyond the bike to encompass apparel and accessories.
The Ducati Scrambler Café Racer thus broadens the scope of the Scrambler brand which, now, for the first time, offers a fresh take on what was one of motorcycling’s most influential movements.
This version has 17” wheels with Pirelli DIABLO™ ROSSO II tyres (120/70 ZR 17 at the front and 180/55 ZR17 at the rear), a pivotal feature on this more-Scramblerthan-ever version that provides plenty of scope for personalisation.
The Ducati Scrambler Café Racer is powered by the air and oil-cooled twin-cylinder Desmodue engine taken from the Icon, EURO 4-compliant and with black-trimmed covers and machined cooling fins.
The characteristic teardrop tank with interchangeable aluminium side panels is combined with a dedicated seat featuring a cover for the passenger section.
Rear-view mirrors mounted on the aluminium handlebar ends draw their inspiration from the ’60s “race” look, while the radial front brake pump is a typically modern component able to ensure true sport bike braking performance. And that’s not all: the Termignoni exhaust with dual tailpipes and black anodized aluminium cover, the nose fairing, lateral number holders and stubby mudguard are all clear references to the bikes that roared down British streets back in the ’60s.
Colours
Black Coffee with black frame and gold wheels
Equipment
Desmodue twin-cylinder engine, EURO 4-compliant, with black finish and machined cooling fins.
Termignoni exhaust with dual tailpipes and black anodized aluminium cover
17” Pirelli DIABLO™ ROSSO II tyres, 120/70 ZR 17 up front and 180/55 ZR17 at the rear
Dedicated seat with cover for passenger section
Lateral number holders
Separate aluminium handlebars
Fully adjustable upside down fork with black anodized sleeves
Sporty front mudguard
Rear-view mirrors mounted on aluminium handlebars
“Café racer” nose fairing
Front radial brake pump
Steel teardrop fuel tank with interchangeable side panels
Dedicated logo
Low plate holder
