Ducati Scrambler
Discussion
Hi all, asking for a mate and i am hoping him seeing this post he may register and add his thoughts.
He used to be a fellow biker with me from early to late eighties...i continued, he didnt for one reason or another. Considering coming back to biking, and these have caught his eye.
The bike above...i think they look amazing but have no idea whether they are a good thing, bad thing, reliability issues, depreciate like feck, fast, slow, require a lot of tlc etc etc.
Anyone here got any direct experience of one of these and care to help a fellow lockdown-er out?
He used to be a fellow biker with me from early to late eighties...i continued, he didnt for one reason or another. Considering coming back to biking, and these have caught his eye.
The bike above...i think they look amazing but have no idea whether they are a good thing, bad thing, reliability issues, depreciate like feck, fast, slow, require a lot of tlc etc etc.
Anyone here got any direct experience of one of these and care to help a fellow lockdown-er out?
Not personally owned one, but had a good look around one and talked to a few owners.
The engine is a revised version of the motor used in the Monster 796 (for the scrambler 800) and the Monster 1100 Evo - they lost some power in the rework, but improved emissions. The engines are good units, and bulletproof.
The rest of it is a fairly gucci Scrambler, if it's anything close to the quality of my Monster (which they look to be) it'll be very reliable. At the end of the day there's not that much on them to go wrong. Residuals seem pretty good, and there's loads of customisation options.
The engine is a revised version of the motor used in the Monster 796 (for the scrambler 800) and the Monster 1100 Evo - they lost some power in the rework, but improved emissions. The engines are good units, and bulletproof.
The rest of it is a fairly gucci Scrambler, if it's anything close to the quality of my Monster (which they look to be) it'll be very reliable. At the end of the day there's not that much on them to go wrong. Residuals seem pretty good, and there's loads of customisation options.
I have a 2015 Scrambler Icon (the basic one), and it's waaay nicer to ride than the specs would suggest.
Just 75bhp, so not exactly powerful, but weighing just 175kg it's more than capable of hustling along at licence-losing speed. Even if it won't rip your face off getting there.
It does definitely come alive over about 5500 rpm, which makes it great fun to thrash a bit.
Build quality is okay-ish. Mine has a little corrosion in places – but I barely ever clean it so that's probably on me.
Beware of the suspension, which is rock hard and yet weirdly bouncy also. This can be fixed, at a price. Bike still seems to handle on the stock stuff though.
The original MT60 tyres are really, really good but wear quicker than warm edam (same compound as Diablo Rossos I'm told). Replacements are tricky for to the 18" front, but this isn;'t an issue if you choose the Café Racer version.
In the end, it's like a slightly softer original Monster, with all the simplicity and character that makes Monsters great.
I've had mine for 4 years and have no burning desire to change it because it's just plain fun.
That said, if I were buying again, I'd go for the Café Racer, partly for the 17" front wheel, but also for the much better riding position (my Icon had road tyres and low bars before it was 6 months old).
k
Just 75bhp, so not exactly powerful, but weighing just 175kg it's more than capable of hustling along at licence-losing speed. Even if it won't rip your face off getting there.
It does definitely come alive over about 5500 rpm, which makes it great fun to thrash a bit.
Build quality is okay-ish. Mine has a little corrosion in places – but I barely ever clean it so that's probably on me.
Beware of the suspension, which is rock hard and yet weirdly bouncy also. This can be fixed, at a price. Bike still seems to handle on the stock stuff though.
The original MT60 tyres are really, really good but wear quicker than warm edam (same compound as Diablo Rossos I'm told). Replacements are tricky for to the 18" front, but this isn;'t an issue if you choose the Café Racer version.
In the end, it's like a slightly softer original Monster, with all the simplicity and character that makes Monsters great.
I've had mine for 4 years and have no burning desire to change it because it's just plain fun.
That said, if I were buying again, I'd go for the Café Racer, partly for the 17" front wheel, but also for the much better riding position (my Icon had road tyres and low bars before it was 6 months old).
k
Edited by klootzak on Friday 8th May 23:32
I had a 2017 Full Throttle model that I kept for a year.
I only got rid of really because I'm 6'-2" and while I didn't feel cramped at all on the bike, it felt rather small underneath me.
In that 1 year and approx 8k miles I had zero relaliability issues with mine.
75bhp isnt much, but it picked its skirt up and ran pretty decently.
Handling I thought was spot on. Maybe it's because im a taller guy and was able to muscle it around a bit easier? Or with it being the Full Throttle model the lower set bars helped handling? I dont know?? I do know that I could chuck that thing about all over and had total confidence in it.
Stock MT60 tyres are excellent. They look like they should move around all over the place and not offer the best grip, but in reality they are a cracking tyre.
Suspension as already mentioned is a bit compromised and harsh. Had I kept mine I would definitely have looked at doing something with that. That's not to say it's terrible. You can certainly live with it, but it could be better.
The throttle on the early ones were known for being a bit snatchy. Once you have ridden the bike for a while though you learn how to ride around that and it's never an issue. If anything I believe it has taught me better throttle control overall. When I did my CSS at Cadwell it was something one of the instructors picked up on.
Servicing is a little steep, but not eye watering.
I rode mine right through winter and ACF50'd it before the salt started to get laid down and come the spring it cleaned up perfectly with no corrosion anywhere.
Ground clearance is poor if you ride enthusiastically. The headers grind down pretty bad on the RH side I think it was?? And if the bike has the shotgun type Termi pipes fitted they grind out pretty good too.
I fitted a SC Project exhaust on mine which was loud as f**k but it didn't grind on the floor thankfully. The headers still did though and I guess only a suspension change would sort that out.
Insurance was very reasonable, dealer was excellent, fuel economy was ok I think? (That and tyre wear is not something I ever take notice of) brakes were canny, comfort was spot on. I dont really have a bad word to say about them to be honest.
Infact my Mrs is aiming to complete her bike test and we will very likely get her one as a 1st big bike and tbh, I can't wait to ride one again. I love the little things.
Just please, please dont wear a plaid shirt and ride it to your favourite artisanal bread shop. ... Actually that is the one negative of the bike. Their image, never really bothered me though.
I only got rid of really because I'm 6'-2" and while I didn't feel cramped at all on the bike, it felt rather small underneath me.
In that 1 year and approx 8k miles I had zero relaliability issues with mine.
75bhp isnt much, but it picked its skirt up and ran pretty decently.
Handling I thought was spot on. Maybe it's because im a taller guy and was able to muscle it around a bit easier? Or with it being the Full Throttle model the lower set bars helped handling? I dont know?? I do know that I could chuck that thing about all over and had total confidence in it.
Stock MT60 tyres are excellent. They look like they should move around all over the place and not offer the best grip, but in reality they are a cracking tyre.
Suspension as already mentioned is a bit compromised and harsh. Had I kept mine I would definitely have looked at doing something with that. That's not to say it's terrible. You can certainly live with it, but it could be better.
The throttle on the early ones were known for being a bit snatchy. Once you have ridden the bike for a while though you learn how to ride around that and it's never an issue. If anything I believe it has taught me better throttle control overall. When I did my CSS at Cadwell it was something one of the instructors picked up on.
Servicing is a little steep, but not eye watering.
I rode mine right through winter and ACF50'd it before the salt started to get laid down and come the spring it cleaned up perfectly with no corrosion anywhere.
Ground clearance is poor if you ride enthusiastically. The headers grind down pretty bad on the RH side I think it was?? And if the bike has the shotgun type Termi pipes fitted they grind out pretty good too.
I fitted a SC Project exhaust on mine which was loud as f**k but it didn't grind on the floor thankfully. The headers still did though and I guess only a suspension change would sort that out.
Insurance was very reasonable, dealer was excellent, fuel economy was ok I think? (That and tyre wear is not something I ever take notice of) brakes were canny, comfort was spot on. I dont really have a bad word to say about them to be honest.
Infact my Mrs is aiming to complete her bike test and we will very likely get her one as a 1st big bike and tbh, I can't wait to ride one again. I love the little things.
Just please, please dont wear a plaid shirt and ride it to your favourite artisanal bread shop. ... Actually that is the one negative of the bike. Their image, never really bothered me though.
I have access to an 19 1100 Sport with the dual Termi full system.
It is really nice. Smooth engine which was actually smoother than my old 821, when I rode it back to back. Power delivery is great across the Rev range.
The Ohlins are really good, but comes set very soft. The bike comes sprung for about 14 stone max.
The riding position is very comfortable much more upright than my 1200S.
Motorway speeds can be a chore for long journeys as there is not wind protection, but no more than any other upright bike.
The tyres look great but do compromise the grip a bit.
Cockpit is very retro, but very nice. Controls light up and the menu is easy to access and use.
Overall a really nice bike. Not too sure about the 800 or non-Ohlins specc’d model.
It is really nice. Smooth engine which was actually smoother than my old 821, when I rode it back to back. Power delivery is great across the Rev range.
The Ohlins are really good, but comes set very soft. The bike comes sprung for about 14 stone max.
The riding position is very comfortable much more upright than my 1200S.
Motorway speeds can be a chore for long journeys as there is not wind protection, but no more than any other upright bike.
The tyres look great but do compromise the grip a bit.
Cockpit is very retro, but very nice. Controls light up and the menu is easy to access and use.
Overall a really nice bike. Not too sure about the 800 or non-Ohlins specc’d model.
I looked at one when I was returning to biking a few months back. Nice looking bikes, plenty of good reviews of them but it just felt a little small to me. Don't get me wrong I'm a big guy anyway (6ft 1, well built) but compared to the XSR700 I eventually bought it was noticeably smaller.
Cracking bike to get back out there though (assuming the 800), 75bhp is a nice amount of power, I had litre bikes before, and just got too carried away too quickly, these days there are very few chances too exploit the capabilities of a powerful bike. While the 75bhp twin might not set records, it's plenty enough to have fun with.
Cracking bike to get back out there though (assuming the 800), 75bhp is a nice amount of power, I had litre bikes before, and just got too carried away too quickly, these days there are very few chances too exploit the capabilities of a powerful bike. While the 75bhp twin might not set records, it's plenty enough to have fun with.
pmr01 said:
Many thanks to everyone for their feedback...worthwhile and good insight. I think he is going to go for one and possibly the full throttle. I haven't looked at the specs but the ohlins that people talked about would sound good.
Thanks again all.
Just be aware that the 800cc Full Throttle does not have Ohlins.Thanks again all.
Only the newer 1100cc Full Throttles come with it.
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