Big miles on Ducati’s Scrambler 1100 are a breeze

The first 2500 miles have been a voyage of discovery as big Scrambler walks the walk

10 miles

I’m a sucker for the retro style and Ducati have nailed it with the new-for-2018 Scrambler 1100. It almost looks like an original Monster, which does it for me. But it was when I jumped on it and first opened the throttle that I realised just how much character this bike has.

802 miles

After running it in for 600 miles to get it to its first service, I was finally able to stretch the Scrambler’s legs. In terms of power, it’s not got an abundance, in fact at 86bhp it’s only gained 10bhp over its 803cc stablemate. On paper that’s a little disappointing, but there’s bags of torque and with its linear power delivery and excellent ride-by-wire throttle connection, it feels creamy and punchy at the same time.

1230 miles

The more time you spend on the Scrambler, the more it gets under your skin. For a quintessential jacket-and-jeans Sunday ride sort of bike it’s a surprisingly composed ride. The way it peels into corners and then flicks back onto the fat part of the tyre as you open the throttle is pleasingly effortless, underpinning Ducati’s ethos that every one of their bikes should handle. This composure is aided by a comfortable riding position, spacious seat and wide bars. At 211kg, it’s a little on the heavy side, but you don’t notice while riding.

1758 miles

After a few longer trips and a month of riding to our Peterborough office (70 miles from where I live), I can say the Scrambler is a little on the thirsty side. I’ve found I can get 140 miles to the 15-litre tank, meaning fuel consumption of around 42mpg. That’s pretty thirsty for such a low-revving under-stressed twin. Frustratingly for a geek like me, there is no MPG reading on the dash. Over a motorway trip at sensible speeds, you can stretch to 160 miles per tank but that’s still only 48mpg.

2000 miles

Given the Scrambler is designed to hit a particular aesthetic rather than practicality, I was concerned how it’d be over longer distances. But a 300-mile round trip to Morecambe revealed that it’s surprisingly good at munching big miles. After two hours in the saddle your arse is starting to ache, but by then you’re about ready to stop for fuel anyway.

2498 miles

After only 2500 miles the rear Pirelli MT60 is showing obvious signs of wear. The tyres don’t offer as much grip as a sports or sports touring tyre, but they are much better than you’d expect for something that looks like it should only work off-road.

With the time to replace them approaching, I’m trying to decide whether to choose a more roadfocused tyre or go for something that suits the Scrambler’s retro looks. Function or fashion?

The Scrambler is more than just a fashion statement. It looks the part, sounds the part and most importantly feels the part. Every time you ride it you find yourself grinning from ear to ear.