THE BEST SCRAMBLER BY FAR
THERE is a Scrambler for everyone in Ducati’s best-selling stable.
The Sixty-2 is the entry-level Scrambler while the Icons will do excellent city duty. The Urban Enduro will handle light off-road while retaining the Icon’s low seat height and the Cafe Racer will carve canyon roads. Then there is the Scrambler Desert Sled, the most extreme Scrambler yet.
The family ties are still apparent and the iconic tank and style remain the same and exerts the same attraction as the other Scramblers. But there is no denying the fact that the Sled is “more” than the others.
The engine remains the same 803cc air-cooled ‘L’ Twin, pumping out the same 75hp at 8,250rpm. The frame, while outwardly similar, has been strengthened to withstand heavier offroad duties.
The swingarm too is more robust. It is 50mm taller than the Icon, and comes with fully-adjustable Kayaba suspension front and rear with 200mm of suspension travel.
The Sled runs wider front and rear wheels and wider (120 and 170 combo) Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres. The extra 50mm (860mm seat height) in the inseam makes the Sled feel like a proper off-road bike and also makes you tiptoe at a stop. This is also due to the fact that the new suspension is also much firmer and sags much less than other Scramblers.
It all adds to the Sled’s presence on the road. The handlebars clear most car’s side mirrors and allows easy filtering even though those handlebars are wide. The tall seat allows a better view ahead as well.
The firm and well damped suspension allows small imperfections in the road to be felt but at higher speeds, it soaks up the same imperfections easily. This would only mean one thing, the Sled is built to go fast, on or off-road.
Instrumentation is the same as the Icon (simple and clear) and the antibraking system is switchable for offroad duties. The aforementioned Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres are excellent on the tarmac but also shine off-road.
The firm suspension needs speed to work and the Sled feels nervous in the slow stuff, perhaps a function of the wider tyres being more suitable for sandy (or smoother) stuff, like a desert, for instance (hint, hint). A rocky riverbed would be hard to negotiate, I think.
Luckily, the Sled is not as heavy as some dual-purpose bikes out there. It weighs 191kg dry, around 20kg more than the Urban Enduro, its nearest cousin.
It allows you to kick the Sled straight if necessary (a frequent occurrence offroad), something a larger, wider dualpurpose bike would not allow. Critically, the dynamics of the Sled is as good as any off-road bike, it turns and accelerates just as well, with just its weight and wider tyres needing to be accounted for.
Otherwise, it feels as though you are riding a more powerful, heavier enduro bike. High praise, indeed.
The Sled is Euro4 compliant and the 75hp allows cruising the highways above 150kph easily. It is, however, geared more for the possibility of an off-road excursion, thus it revs higher at those speeds than an Urban, for instance.
The handling is heavier than the other Scramblers and feels secure and planted. But the Sled is quite stable and predictable at higher speeds despite the high mudguard and those off-road capable tyres.
Speaking of touring, even averaging 130kph on the highway, I managed a run from Rawang R&R straight up to the Sungai Perak R&R, about 202km, without the reserve light coming on.
The 13.5-litre tank allows at least 250km in touring mode but town riding will definitely not be as frugal.
The only fly in the ointment, for me at least, is the seating accommodations. That single 202km run had the 64kg me fidgeting on the Sled as the seat is quite firm. Heavier riders might not have this problem but to be fair, the seat was good for the first hour or so.
The single front four-piston Brembo caliper, biting on a 330mm disc, and the single 245mm rear disc with a singlepiston Brembo caliper, are perfectly adequate.
The engine is also now equipped with an aluminium engine guard and the twin-exit exhaust looks good and keeps the centre of gravity low.
A Termignoni exhaust is an option. Vibrations are well damped, with the footpegs lined with rubber (easily removable for off-road) and with the smooth powerplant not transferring much to the handlebars or footpegs, anyway.
The Desert Sled is by far the best Scrambler in the stable and the most serious one. While the others may lean on the image of hipster-chic and Seventies cool a little, the Sled makes no excuses and just gets on with it. It just so happens to look so darn cool doing it.
Me, I’ll take the white one which goes so well with the gold wheels, sir. And a black sheep’s fur-lined seat to go with it.