Ducati Scrambler Review

[Frulk_imp]

In my opinion the Scrambler does not qualify as a dual sports. Not nearly enough suspension travel either at the front or the rear.

Henrik....There's a tendency( by some) to apply ADV bike/Dual Sport/ and finally Enduro and Scrambler (for those of us that were riding in the 70's), the same meaning as in "capability". I see ADV's as the upper end of the serious off-road bikes... usually the big BMW's/KTM/Guzzi Stelvio etc. bikes that travel well on pavement but have serious off-road capability when you press them into that role....

Dual Sports in my mind are the KLR/VStroms et. all (less dirt with more pavement orientation). The term Enduro seems to have kind of dropped out of favor but I supposed a few bikes would still fit that niche....for sure the KTM 690 and the Suzuki DR650 (much more dirt leaning in nature but still able to roll on pavement with a serious compromise in comfort).

Lastly is the Scrambler. Scrambler to me means heavy, all steel English bikes with raised exhaust capable of riding well maintained forest and unpaved gravel roads.

Mind you, much of this is subject to interpretation as a good rider can just about make anything do the job at hand and blur those lines significantly. Case in point is my buddy who rides his Triumph Scrambler anywhere my "dual sport" KLR will go. His suspension is bone stock. This is a pic of my KLR after haven ridden it 50 miles down a dirt road, the last mile on a Wyoming cattle trail through a creek bottom of bread loafed sized rounded rocks to get to this camping spot



And this is my buddies Scrambler, 60 pounds heavier with a much less compliant suspension in the same spot.



My point is this...depending on what age group you're in Scrambler means "dirt capable" or the British version of "dual sport".

Utah by many is considered the dual sport/ADV mecca of the USA. When I was in at the Duc dealer 6 weeks ago they had almost their entire yearly Scrambler allotment sold out. I'm guessing many of these bikes will see the Utah backcountry...much of it on dirt.

"If" Honda brings their bike into the US it could impact sales for the Duc because some folks (like myself) would prefer a bike with a more robust dealer network and long standing reputation for reliability in a class of bikes that takes more than it's fair share of abuse.