Cycle News

2018 DUCATI SCRAMBLER 1100 FIRST TEST P98 Monster 1100 Evo, but accord- ing to Ducati, it has largely been redesigned. "The only parts that are shared between the Monster 1100 Evo and the Scrambler 1100 are the pistons, rods, belts and desmo- dromic system," explains Claudio Fonti, vehicle project engineer. "All the other parts are completely new designs, or significantly updated for this specific application." Among other challenges, Fonti was faced with the task of updat- ing the engine to meet Euro 4 regulations. One change that helped facilitate this was reducing valve overlap. "On the Monster it was 39 degrees, and now (on the Scrambler 1100), it's only 16 degrees," Fonti told us. This adjustment, in addition to newly featured ride-by-wire, is designed give smoother throttle response. Fonti worked in concert with Scrambler designer Jeremy Faraud to slim down the engine to accommodate a narrower chassis, which in turn makes the Scrambler's increased height more manageable. "Now we have a single throttle body at 55mm diameter," Fonti said. "This helps because we had the opportunity to install the throttle body inside the airbox and (keep) the bike compact." Faraud, who was tasked with designing the new Scrambler noted, "The big- gest challenge was designing a larger Scrambler, while keep- ing the proportions correct, so it didn't look out of place." The narrower chassis was part of that goal, and is offset by the longer swingarm, which increases the 1100's footprint. In the cockpit, a new LCD gauge displays menus access- ing technology entirely new to Scrambler history in a nutshell Ducati's first Scrambler rolled off the assembly line in 1962, aimed squarely at the American market, and was received with great enthusiasm. With a 250cc single-cylinder engine, the new off-road-capable bike was sold as a "four-in-one," meant to serve as a street bike, road racer, enduro and flat tracker. It's easy to see where the modern day Scramblers get their inspiration. In 1964, a five-speed version was released, and then later a 350 came out in 1968. In 1969, the 450 Scrambler "Jupiter" was being made here in the states, but was much more road oriented. The largest of the first generation of Scramblers, this model was built until 1976, after which Scrambler production was halted. Ducati went on to focus more heavily on road and racing models through the '70s, '80s and '90s, mostly with full fairings and increasing horsepower. It would be four decades before we would see the moniker return, with the new generation of Scramblers as we know them today. The OG Ducati Scrambler 450 in all its glory. LED headlight features a similar cross design found elsewhere on the bike. It's still an air cooled V-twin that doesn't jump and twitch if you merely breathe on the twist-grip, but it's no slouch, either.

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