Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 2021
Retro bikes are still at the peak of popularity, and many manufacturers are clearing the foam from this, from the British Triumph to the Japanese Kawasaki - specially trained designers study retro models and create classic motorcycles with modern filling. And the main thing that pleases us about the current wave of retro motorcycles is that, for all their visual old-school quality, they are equipped at a completely modern level. Of course, the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled can hardly be called a real rally motorcycle, but it can do something like stock.
Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 2021
The fully adjustable fork and Kayaba monoshock with adjustable preload and rebound smoothing have 20 cm of travel, and with a ground clearance of 23 cm, you can safely conquer difficult places without the risk of rubbing a hole in the crankcase. Of course, on off-road, a 21st wheel would be more appropriate, but 19/17-inch spoked wheels are a proven set for touring bikes, comfortable both on off-road and on asphalt.
No less important than ground clearance and suspension are ergonomics. No amount of suspension travel can replace the comfort of riding in a standing position and the ease of changing position. In this regard, the Sled is designed well: it is a little wide, especially for those who are used to real enduro and motocross motorcycles, but the handlebars are conveniently shaped and well positioned for riding in a stand-up position. The only drawback is underfoot: the aluminum running boards look nice, but even with the rubber inserts removed, they are slippery, especially with dirt and water involved.
The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 2021 is not much different from the previous version, the only difference is in the colors - a new seat and new colors. It definitely suits the metallic paint on the minimalistic body kit, and the blackened L-twin air-oil cooling with milled fins adds a laconic look, being devoid of hoses and a radiator of the cooling system. But even apart from the advantages of the vintage layout, the side view of the motorcycle is incredibly pleasing to the eye - there are almost no various wires and sensors here. And despite the fact that the platform lends itself quite well to customization and tuning, the stock Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled looks extremely well thought out, tightly built and solid, if you like.
Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 2021
There are nine models based on the Scrambler platform: two 1100 cc versions and seven 803 cc versions. There is something from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, don’t you think? The seven dwarves are named Icon, Icon Dark, Nightshift, Café Racer, Desert Sled, Full Throttle, and Sixty2.
Yamaha SCR950
At the beginning of the YardBuilt program, Yamaha turned to Greg Hageman, who at the time was operating under the Doc's Chops brand. The company was so pleased with Hageman's work that they made a few minor changes and put him into production, resulting in a Japanese V-Twin-powered car. A stunningly unique design from one of Japan's Big Four, the SCR boasts quintessential elements of both cruisers and scramblers. Despite the SCR branding, this bike's nearly 250kg curb weight, narrow front fender, low-hanging exhaust and meager 5.5-inch ground clearance mean it's better off on the road for the most part. Engine: V-twin 942 cc engine cm air-cooled and 51 hp.
Engine Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
The Desert Sled engine starts with a familiar sound that evokes sad thoughts about a dead battery. This is their trick - all Scramblers start this way. The simple digital speedometer is quite functional, and the two driving modes are called Journey (a pleasant, easy journey) and, of course, Off-Road. In the latter, the ABS system can be turned off to unlock “slip mode” - Ducati doesn’t use this term, although it should. The minimalistic dashboard is compatible with the Ducati multimedia system, allowing the rider to control music on a smartphone and even answer calls using the handlebar remote control.
Fantic Caballero 500 Rally
The 500 Rally is one of the lesser known models in the scrambler world, which is a shame because it has a lot going for it. As well as a truly eye-catching look that perfectly blends retro and modern design, the bike features components from leading companies including Tommaselli, Domino, Brembo and Arrow, the latter of which is responsible for the 500s. The model also features a chrome-molybdenum steel center tube frame, 41mm FRS inverted fork and monoshock, both of which are adjustable and provide approximately two-thirds of the travel. With power figures on par with the latest and greatest MX models, this bike is without a doubt one of the most off-road scramblers currently in production. Engine: 449 cc cm with liquid cooling and a power of 40 hp.
Handling Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
Like any of the seven 803cc Scramblers, the Desert Sled is a comfortable and easy-to-ride motorcycle. For those who prefer to have both feet on the ground, the tall 86cm saddle can be swapped out for an optional 84cm saddle, but overall the 2021 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled is hardly scary. The clutch is light, the gas is smooth, the engine does not stall at low speeds - a dream for beginners, allowing them to quickly get used to it and get used to traveling on a large all-terrain motorcycle. But even more advanced all-terrain vehicles will find a certain charm in the Desert Sled - it easily allows you to perform all sorts of parking tricks such as wheelies, drift turns, and so on.
Mash X-Ride Classic 650
A superbly designed French motorcycle, it was clearly inspired by the old Yamaha DT models. This machine has a wide range of elements that evoke the spirit of cars of yesteryear, such as its gold anodized wheels and blacked-out transmission. The bike also boasts a host of modern features including LED lighting and a dual muffler exhaust. With its tall fenders, wide handlebars, knobby rubber and skid plate, the X-Ride Classic 650 feels quite confident in the mud. The model has yet to hit showrooms and pricing has yet to be announced, although it is expected to be priced the same as other existing Mash Motor 650 models, which is around $6k. Engine: 644 cc cm air-cooled, 40 hp.
Desert Sled on the Road
On the road, the Sled is a pleasant, fun and relaxed bike. The 73-horsepower engine won’t propel you to the moon, but it’s quite capable of getting you where you need to go comfortably, without straining yourself when overtaking and cornering smoothly. For sports riding, however, it would be better to choose another motorcycle - it can aggressively click gears, enter turns with a slide and exit them on the rear, but the same Hypermotard from Ducati is much better suited for this. The chassis is consistent: the motorcycle does not fly to the apex like a sportbike, but it also does not require you to start leaning it 100 meters before the turn, like some long-wheelbase cruiser. The wide handlebar makes it easy to turn and push into corners, and the chassis follows the direction you choose without question. When seated, the handlebars feel high - it feels like you're sitting behind it, and this makes it even easier to shift the bike from turn to turn. The large front brake is effective, but not overly sharp - for supermoto-style riding, it would be nice to have a stronger brake. Otherwise, the Sled follows the overall theme of simplicity and practicality.
But the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled truly reveals itself only when it leaves the asphalt.
Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 2021
Easy handling at low speeds and predictable response make for a comfortable ride with fun slides. If it were more powerful, driving it off-road would be even more fun, but its best feature is that it is calm, which is why it is perfect as a large training desk for beginning all-terrain vehicles.
On washed-out rocky paths, the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled copes well with stones and holes, but as soon as you add gas, the rear shock absorber reminds itself of itself on large bumps. The Desert Sled is generally capable of going fairly quickly off-road, as long as it's not too rough. In competition with, for example, the KTM 890 Adventure R, the Sled rider will quickly fall behind - but will look cool even at the tail end of the race. But how good the Desert Sled is off-road at a low pace makes you quickly forget that this is, in essence, a road bike, and in retro style, too. It is able to crawl where it cannot go at a fast pace - and it is not for nothing that to scramble is translated from English as “climb” - a soft clutch, smooth traction, good ground clearance will allow you to go to places where no hipster scrambler can reach.
The attitude towards retro bikes in the motorcycle community is biased: many people think that manufacturers of such models are riding on design, selling vintage at the price of modern equipment.
The Rise of Motocross
The Point A to Point B races in the UK have become closed off-road circuits. The popularity of desert racing also exploded around this time, and as a result, a number of specialist companies began creating increasingly capable dedicated framesets, such as the iconic Rickman Metisse scramblers.
From this point on, manufacturers began experimenting with more and more specialized off-road motorcycles, producing increasingly better machines. However, in 1966, everything changed when four-time 250 cc world champion, Swedish-born Thorsten Hollman, introduced a new off-road model from Husqvarna. Hollman continued to absolutely dominate every race he entered and in the process he coined the term "motocross" to describe a new, lightweight style of off-road motorcycle.
From this point onwards, scramblers tended to lose weight, being steadily replaced by increasingly modern, increasingly powerful machines with more power, less weight, more agile handling, noticeably superior suspension and overall improved handling. With the advent of dedicated production off-road models now available from dealerships, there was no longer a need to modify road bikes for off-road use, and thus the original scrambler models became extinct.
Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled Design 2021
When it comes to design, the 2021 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled is definitely a good one: gold wheels, a big flat seat, a lean, muscular design - Ducati designers have done a good job of bringing the best design elements of the past to modern realities. But the 73-horsepower engine and 20 kilograms of weight gain relative to the Scrambler Icon make one wonder if the 803 engine is not enough for it? The test dispelled all doubts: not enough.
Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled 2021
This is not an adrenaline pump or a sportbike. This is a bike for those who like stunning views, not mind-blowing speed on the way to them.
It's a pity that there is no 1100th version of the Desert Sled, but Ducati can correct this omission if such a desire arises.
The 803 version with a new seat and a beautiful scheme is quite worthy of attention.
The Modern Rise of the Scrambler
While the first wave of scrambler motorcycles died out in the 1970s, the segment experienced a major resurgence in the mid-aughts. Soon after reviving the iconic Bonneville line, Triumph continued the revival with the release of the Bonnie variant, complete with tall bars, high suspension, knobby tires and an overall design in the style of early Triumphs. The enormous success of this new Bonneville encouraged other major manufacturers to follow suit.
Over the next decade, more and more motorcycle companies began introducing their own scrambler models, sometimes as versions of existing offerings and sometimes as specially designed products. Brands such as Yamaha and BMW introduced scramblers as part of their traditional model ranges, companies such as Moto Guzzi and CCM introduced scrambled versions of models already in their line-up, and Ducati introduced an entire product range under the Scrambler Ducati name, which in less than a year, already accounted for more than a quarter of all Ducati sales.
Moto Guzzi V7 II Stornello Scrambler
Moto Guzzi has previously offered scrambler-style accessories and kits for its popular V7 model, and in 2014 introduced the V7 II Stornello Scrambler at EICMA. Although objectively a more street-oriented machine with off-road styling, the V7 II Stornello has no problem tackling trails and the like. Taking inspiration from the Stornello 125cc scrambler. cm late 60s - early 70s. The modern V7 Stornello features many unique elements, such as a welded frame and a stunning high-mount exhaust system from Arrow. Old-school fenders, a wind deflector, side license plates, and spoked rims wrapped in dual sport tires complete the package on this Italian motorcycle. Engine: 744 cc air-cooled with 48 hp.
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Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and XE
Triumph is largely responsible for igniting the trend that has led to many scrambler models today when the company launched the bike that started it all in 2006. Initially there were several scrambler models offered, they were pretty much regular Bonnevilles that came with tall tubes, bumps and the like. So, for its latest offering, the iconic British marque decided to go all out, designing a new model from the ground up that not only looked tasteful, but could also stand up to dirt. The result was the eponymous Scrambler 1200 XC and XE, with the latter of the two variants being the top model. And by all accounts, Triumph has delivered on this challenge, delivering a machine truly worthy of the title of off-road scrambler. Engine: 1200 cc cm and power 89 hp.
BMW R nineT Urban GS
The R nineT Urban GS is a themed version of the R80/GS from the Bavarian brand's highly modular R9T line-up and features several visual nods to the legendary Dakar-winning Beemer, such as the red saddle, white and blue bodywork, and headlight housing. As the name suggests: this model is primarily designed for urban environments, adorned with vintage off-road visual elements. And while BMW does produce a real variant of the R9T Scrambler, the Urban GS with original wheels actually fits this description better. The clever engineering and versatility of the R9T platform also make this bike ideal for further customization. Engine: 1170 cc and power 110 hp.
Norton Atlas Ranger
The Atlas Ranger is a top-of-the-line scrambler model that can really go through the mud. This premium scrambler has it all: long-travel suspension, sport tires, 19-inch front and 17-inch rear, crash protection, high-mounted fender and a ready-to-glide saddle. In addition to the surprisingly well-engineered drivetrain, developed entirely by Norton, the Atlas also features some stellar little touches, like the Roadholder forks (which are actually just rebadged Marzocchi), side covers, and skid plate. Engine: 650 cc and power 84 hp.
Indian FTR1200 "Rally Kit"
At first glance, the Indian FTR1200 probably fits more into the tracker than scrambler genre, although that didn't stop America's oldest motorcycle maker from opting for a 1.2-liter V-Twin with a Rally Kit. The kit consists of new bow and stern mudguards (fenders), a pearl-colored gas tank, aluminum wheels, all-weather seating and high titanium Akrapovic slip-ons. And while this set of parts ultimately makes the FTR more capable for the dirt than a stock bike, the kit is less about giving it a scrambler look and more about creating performance. Engine: V-twin 1203 cc. cm and power 120 hp.
