With so many spy photos circulating, it makes sense that Ducati has decided to teasingly unveil the Scrambler model, which it says will be formally unveiled in production form this Fall. Ducati recently allowed its factory employees to view the bike, at a festive event described in the following press release.
In addition, Ducati has released a single teaser photo (see the bottom of this article) and a video that you can find here. That video includes some shots of the bike at roughly the 30 second mark, and we have used a couple of screen grabs for the top photo and the middle photo. Either Ducati has a giant astride the Scrambler in the photo above, or this will be a small, light weight, air-cooled machine reminiscent of simpler times decades ago. Frankly, we can’t wait to see the production bike and ride it.
Here is the press release we received from Ducati:
- Ducati officially announces new Scrambler to be launched in 2015
- Ducati employees in Bologna awarded special first prototype viewing
- Dedicated website Scramblerducati.com to show project evolution online
Borgo Panigale, Bologna (Italy) 9 June, 2014 – Ducati gave its Bologna factory employees a surprise treat as they arrived for work on Monday, 9 June, with a private viewing of the prototype Scrambler intended for launch in 2015. Setting a characteristic ambience for the new model, workers arrived to discover music and a beach atmosphere with surfboards, street food and a big yellow container in which they were able view the new model undercover.
Following many years of rumour and speculation around the project, Ducati’s creative internal stunt at the Italian manufacturer’s headquarters stylishly confirms the existence of the Ducati Scrambler with the added promise that it will be available from early 2015 onwards.
Ducati’s decision to announce the arrival of the new model to its employees first, underlines the appreciation it has of its workforce, regarding it as the beating heart of the company. With them, project personnel are creating an entire world around the Scrambler with, as their impromptu beach suggested, a lifestyle of fun, creativity and free expression.
While the new Scrambler is created from the same core values that contributed to an important period of the company’s history during the 60s and 70s, it seems set to reinterpret the original model in an entirely up-to-date way. Confirmation of the Scrambler will undoubtedly delight the thousands of fans who have been dreaming of such a project for many years.
Non-conformist, accessible and essential, the new Ducati Scrambler is said to represent the perfect combination of the traditional and contemporary, while returning to the pure essence of motorcycling – two wheels, wide handlebars, a simple engine and a lot of fun.
As yet no official images have been released and none of the lucky Ducati employees were allowed to take photos inside the big yellow viewing container, but Ducati confirms the new Scrambler will finally break cover this autumn and become available from early 2015 in Ducati Stores worldwide.
Those hungry for more information and who wish to follow the fascinating journey through the development of the project can do so on the dedicated website http://www.scramblerducati.com or gather content via the #scramblerducati hashtag.
It is not a scrambler of the 60 and 70s. Where are the high pipes and long rear? Scramblers climbed hills and not dunes. Italians don’t make American Scramblers.
The original Ducati Scrambler had a low mount pipe just as this one appears to, looks like a solid modern interpretation to me. I’m getting tired of re-stamps of 40 year old motorcycles, I’m excited to see something that’s actually NEW and has some heritage.
This is an ugly bike a Scrambler with a L-Twin
Some good pics of an undisguised test bike can be seen on motorcycle.com. I’m sure MD will post them up soon.
At least it’s bigger than the Grom. While it’s a cute little bike, the Grom it’s just a bit on the wee side for a lot of folks. This new Duc seems small but rideable.
Somehow I don’t think I would ever mention the two in the same sentence! The two seem worlds apart.
do a google search guys. you’ve just gotta dig the pics of the scrambler with the crazy test rig, in theory shows a twin. thought it was a joke at first, but is this how stringent emissions testing has gotten to…? not sure we’ve seen anything like this EVER. looks like something used by the Purple Helmets during the TT. LOL
So far it looks kinda ugly. Yet another seat and subframe that slide the rider into the tank. Almost like throwing another tank on the Monster and calling it a Scrambler. I suppose putting a flatter and higher seat on there would be no problem. We shall see.
re: “So far it looks kinda ugly.”
you ain’t seen nothing. 🙂
Or just another PhotoShop exercise?
Is this a photo of the new bike? just did an Google image search for Ducati Scrambler;
http://carplace.virgula.uol.com.br/ducati-vai-reviver-scrambler-sucesso-dos-anos-1960-com-vendas-inclusive-no-brasil/
The silhouette photo above isn’t consistent with your image – too much space above the rear wheel to have twin high mufflers. Per my post below I wish it did look like the image you found.
That’s an artistic rendering. The rear hub is way off center in the wheel.
There was another rendering of a much more modern bike attached to this story line (Ducati Scrambler) that was a very modern looking bike on Cycle World’s site too.
Make mine a single, please
650 works for me . . . . . . .
To me, Scrambler = high pipes. Can’t tell much by the teasers but it looks like a low exhaust. If true I’m disappointed.
Ducati abandoning desmo valves on the new scrambler? Don’t hold your breath. A 250 or 350 single would be nice, but I don’t think that’s going to happen either.
I think 15,000 mile valve train service intervals are for their water cooled engines… 7,500 for the air cooled ones.
re: “Ducati abandoning desmo valves on the new scrambler? Don’t hold your breath.”
unfortunately, that’s what we said about dry clutches, belts, and trellis frames. the trellis being a “sacred cow” in particular. instead of calling this the Scrambler…? a better name might be the “Rogue”, cause that’s what they’ve gone.
…time and technology march on! Free-Marketism drives innovation – we all benefit.
Two years ago I got a ride on a GT1000. While I loved the looks, the performance left me underwhelmed. Bring on the future!
Looks like a Buell Lightning without the mini windscreen and an extra little rear fender piece to me. Those were compact little bikes that were a hoot to ride.
re: “a simple engine”
how simple…?
Maybe a single.
maybe a single and no desmo.
Somewhere I read speculation that it would sport the engine from the 696 Monster. Makes sense as I can’t imagine that they would undertake a new air-cooled design at this point.
re: “Somewhere I read speculation that it would sport the engine from the 696 Monster.”
the smallest engine would be a natural starting point, but still costly to produce and sustain. enter fancy engineering stage left. redesign the heads (same as the new water cooled monsters) to adopt the half-trellis or ally monocoque while adding tappet adjust spring valves, or maybe even recommission the old supermono cases…? then you cut the # of pistons in half, the # of heads in half, the # number of belts in half for massive savings, and you open the door to whole new line of 125, 250, and 500cc displacement singles for the emerging markets.
I’d be shocked if Ducati abandoned desmo: it has become synonymous with their brand.
Of course I was shocked when Ducati produced a power cruiser as well.
re: “it has become synonymous with their brand.”
it’s also become synonymous with being difficult to pass emissions.
What characteristics of desmo actuation that makes it more difficult to pass emissions?
I wouldn’t mind seeing desmo go away. I am sure it had its place in the dark days when a valve spring wasn’t much better than a Slinky above 7K rpm. However, if desmo does offer any advantage over modern springs, Ducati has yet to demonstrate.
re: “What characteristics of desmo actuation that makes it more difficult to pass emissions?”
seat pressure or lack thereof, begets blow by. not as much of a problem with a relatively large coil spring retaining the valve. zero lash.
Thanks. Never considered that.
If the silhouette is the real bike then it’s an air cooled V-twin. There’s no radiator and the front cylinder is oriented in a position that only makes sense of there’s a rear cylinder (or it’s a Honda Trail 70).
The thing sure does look small.
The second picture sure looks like the front cylinder from the “current” air cooled twin design. My guess is there is still some life left in that tooling or maybe even some existing inventory……..
re: “there is still some life left in that tooling”
there’s MORE than enough life left in the tooling for the 11 degree testa…? but that didn’t stop them from changing the heads for the new water cooled monsters.
since logic dictates they’re planning to be in the business in the future…? any and all opportunities to reduce costs and streamline production (not to be confused with offering you a lower MSRP) are being seized by Audi. behold German efficiency at work.
As mentioned, that’s one pretty small bike or that dude needs to be in the movies!
Keep it simple, easy to purchase and own and maybe it will ignite some sales from those who can only afford something less expensive or don’t want to pay more for a bike than their car is worth outside!
Make it easy enough that a whole new batch of youngin’s will want to learn to adjust their own valves and it just might bring out the inner mechanic in some?
re: “Make it easy enough that a whole new batch of youngin’s will want to learn to adjust their own valves and it just might bring out the inner mechanic in some?”
but wait, wouldn’t that mean they’d get dirt, grease, and oil on their touch screens…?
Yeah, that’s always a bitch. Having my Yamaha service manual on ipad, checked during an oil change… oh em gee! #end-of-the-world #existential-crisis
#OMG! 🙂 Good one!
As a second bike,tThis may well be what I have been waiting for.
I’m so glad they are keeping an air cooled 2V engine in the line up. I’m guessing the dry clutch is history though. Regardless, they’re just great engines.
re: “I’m guessing the dry clutch is history though.”
it’s over Johnny…
Question what was the issue with the clutch? durability? did the dry ones make some nice sound? (lost on wet ones).
A dry clutch keeps the clutch dirt and heat away from the engine oil. Easy maintenance too. They look and sound cool as well. I was apprehensive but the clutch on my 1100evo works flawlessly.
And they squeal like a pig in the movie Deliverance.
Never heard a Ducati dry clutch squeal, just heard a death rattle at idle….for that much spent $?? 8^ (
re: “Question what was the issue with the clutch? durability?”
durability was part, but the consensus seemed to be the heavy clutch pull, and yes the noise. to the uninitiated, the bike sounded “broken” and broken things = COST. bathed in oil, durability’s up, sound is down, and both clutch pull and cost are reduced. all things necessary for making conquest sales off the Japanese.
cool, thanks all for the info, so was part price, part feel and part maintenance…
I guess some hardcore ducatistas would swear for the broken sound as signature…
re: “hardcore ducatistas would swear for the broken sound as signature”
yes please…!!! 🙂 LOL
I see the rider is sitting on the scrambler with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Now give it a gas tank big enough to take on back mountain roads, and pegs that stick out farther than the width of my boot. I may like one.
If it’s like a Monster, with a seating position for tall guys, I may fall in love.
I am sure you can see it was not built for tall guys, so, no thank you.
Unless that’s Shaq in the photo.
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2010/10/20/1287572550377/The-Day-the-Earth-Stood-S-006.jpg
Ducati, you have my attention.
nice silouhette innit…? screams Derbi Mulhacen.
I’d love to own a Duc if only they’d change the valve train on some of their models. I like 50k adjustment intervals, for $100.
What motorcycle offers 50,000-mile maintenance intervals other than ones with low-performance hydraulic adjusters?
Valve adjust for current air-cooled models is 15,000 miles, according to the Ducati website. That’s the same as a 2000 SV650. And it’s only a two-hour job. Throw in another $70 if you need new belts.
The closest Duc dealer to my town lists $85/hr shop rates. A two hour job gets expensive, especially if you add parts to that total. Personally, I’ll stick to the Big Four from Japan.
I don’t know of any Jap mechanics that work for much less. The days of $50 dollar hour shop rates are going the way of the Dodo bird. The only shop I know of that gets less than $75 has recent MMI grads that move to better paying shops after they’ve gotten experience. Cheap labor isn’t skilled, skilled labor isn’t cheap.
re: “going”
gone.
It’s time to learn to adjust your valves. It’s easier than you think, even a desmo isn’t that horrible if you don’t have a lot of body work to deal with. Just some extra math and shims.
re: “Just some extra math”
whoa whoa, I’m just here to ride. nobody said there was going to be MATH on this test.
re: “if only they’d change the valve train on some of their models”
beware what you wish for.
Fun! 🙂