2015 Ducati Scrambler is Retro and Ready

10 years, 2 months ago - 9 October 2014, Autoblog
2015 Ducati Scrambler is Retro and Ready
Casual motorcycle fans will know Ducati best as purveyors of cutting-edge superbikes and nakeds, but with the market for retro cycles heating up, the Italian manufacturer has finally unleashed its long-awaited Scrambler.

First shown earlier this week at the International Motorcycle Fair in Cologne, Germany, the new bike has also been revealed here at the Paris Motor Show adjacent to offerings from its parent automakers Audi and Lamborghini.

The Scrambler's upright design is seemingly a mix of dirt bike cues and vintage '60s Ducati flair, and it features an 803cc L-twin engine rated at 74 horsepower and 50 pound-feet of torque. The oil- and air-cooled engine employs a six-speed gearbox and a chain drive to get power to the ground, and anti-lock brakes are standard fit. Weight is quoted at 375 pounds dry or 410 pounds all wet and ready to play.

At first blush, we're quite taken with the 2015 Scrambler, as it promises both a more comfortable riding position and real versatility to go along with its handsome trellis frame, thin-spoke wheels backed by Brembo brakes and throwback big-eyed headlamp – the latter secreting LED guts.

When it arrives stateside in January, the Scrambler will carry an unusually accessible price point for a Ducati, as well, starting from $8,495, with an additional trio of trims – Classic, Full Throttle and Urban Enduro to follow wearing $9,995 MSRPs.