2017 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Review

2017 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Review

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Design

Rather than being a slave to history, the new Scramblers pay a passing tribute while forging a path all their own.

The factory calls it "post-heritage," and it's easy to see why. Sure, it sorta-kinda looks like a historical scrambler in that it's a standard streetbike similar to the basis of the originals, but rather than being a slave to history, the new Scramblers pay a passing tribute while forging a path all their own. One such link is found right up front at the front fender that is chopped down far beyond the normal limits of functionality, and one can argue that it also ties into the flat-track design as well though actual race bikes typically run without any fender whatsoever.

Inverted front forks impart an impression of great strength with splash guards to protect the swept area of the inner fork tube, thus prolonging the life of the seal. A round headlight can makes another classic connection, but only in outward appearances; the can contains super bright LED emitters that provide high-beam, low-beam and DRL functions with standoff LED turn signals to finish off the forward lighting. A single round instrument housing contains a digital display that covers all the bases to include speedo, tach, three odometers, a gas light (not to be confused with a gaslight) and a host of idiot lights for everything else.

Pullback bars give the rider the necessary leverage to keep the front end under control, even if you're brave enough to take the corners sideways. That rules me out, I can assure you. The bars push the rider into a more upright position than you would get from its café racer sibling, but not as upright as the more relaxed classics in the lineup for a compromise that leaves room for the extreme body contortions needed to properly pull off the above maneuver (reference the note about courage.)

A narrow waist accommodates the rider's legs with deep cutaways at the front of the seat ahead of a shallow scoop that segregates it from the pillion pad. J.C. handles ride tucked away inconspicuously along each side of the p-pad where they serve the usual dual purpose as a grab rail for the passenger and an anchor point for a bungee net/backseat storage. At the tip of the tail, the LED taillight rides tucked out of harm's way with turn-signal whiskers as the only clutter at the terminus of the subframe thanks to the one-sided hugger that eliminates the rear fender and relocates the tag down to where it will do the least amount of visual damage. Upswept pipes give it a final sporty kick that really helps to sell the whole flat-track package.

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Chassis

Chassis geometry makes the FT eager in the corners, but it also keeps the parking lot behavior reasonable as well.

Tubular steel is the material of choice for the Trellis frame that serves as a structural web and adds aesthetic value as well, 'cause who doesn't like a nice Trellis cage? Yeah, the engine replaces much of the frame as a stressed unit, and while that certainly saves some weight, it just doesn't look quite as cool as the full monty.

Cast-alloy, 10-spoke rims round out the rolling chassis with a Pirelli MT 60 RS 110/80-18 up front opposite a 180/55-17 out back. The tread pattern reflects the dual-surface-purpose of the bike, and it should provide balanced performance with a bias toward the blacktop. Kayaba provides the suspension with a 41 mm usd fork up front and monoshock out back. Vanilla is the flavor of the day up front, but the rear shock adds an adjustable rebound damper to the spring preload feature for a little lagniappe.

The steering head holds the forks at a 24-degree angle with 4.4 inches of trail and a 35-degree lock-to-lock range over a 56.9-inch wheelbase. Not only does this make the FT eager in the corners, it also keeps the parking lot behavior reasonable as well. Is it enough for the extreme steering angles associated with flat-track racing? You're welcome to test that for yourself, dear reader, and get back to me.

Brembo supplies the anchors with a four-pot, M4.32B monobloc caliper and large, 330 mm disc to slow the front wheel. Out back, a single-piston caliper bites a 245 mm disc with a Bosch 9.1 MP anti-lock system as a safety net to prevent loss of traction due to overenthusiastic braking.

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Drivetrain

It's the same engine as the Monster and Hypermotard, but with a milder cam for a friendlier and linear power curve.

Ducati's 803 cc, L-twin Desmodue engine provides the power with a total of 75 horsepower at 8,250 rpm backed up by 50.2 pound-feet that develops fully at the 5,750 rpm mark. Some of the innards — the crankshaft and the pistons to be precise — come from Ducati's race-tastic Monster and Hypermotard 796 engine, but the factory opted for a milder cam for a friendlier and linear power curve. That's particularly good news for the entry-level crowd since it gives the FT rather noob-friendly delivery that is unlikely to take an inexperienced rider by surprise.

The cam operates the twin valve heads using Ducati's famous Desmodromic system that replaces the traditional spring-return setup with a push-open/pull-closed system. To help meet Euro 4 emissions standards, the factory limits the valve overlap — that period of rotation where both the intake and exhaust valves are open and exhaust-gas scavenging is occurring — to a mere 11 degrees to prevent excessive free hydrocarbons from finding their way into the exhaust stream with a catalytic converter downstream to burn off anything that manages to make it past the exhaust valves.

A 50 mm throttle body manages the induction without the complication of traction control or any other such fandanglery, but the rear contact patch gets some more love in the form of a slipper clutch that inhibits the effects of backtorque on the system during aggressive downshifts. It couples engine power to the six-speed transmission and chain final drive.

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Price

Priced above entry-level, the Full Throttle will hit the wallet for almost $11k.

The Full Throttle comes in Shining Black with a distinctive yellow-and-black checkerboard pattern on both tank and front fender for $10,695 MSRP with a 24-month, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Competitors

Power delivery is a trade off that leaves the Triumph a bit short, but the RbW feature and switchable traction control make up for a handful of ponies every time.

Adventure bikes are a dime-a-dozen nowadays, but scramblers are more like their homebuilt grandparents, and truly capable dual-surface machines are somewhat rare in spite of the heritage associated with the genre. Triumph's Street Scrambler is one such ride. The "SS" carries itself with the dignity and the classic standard build one expects of the marque. Sure you could call it stodgy and mired in the past, but I quite like the look, myself.

Cut-down fenders and generous blackout treatment makes the custom connection for the SS with the traditional tank shape that comes complete with knee pads. A shotgun exhaust gives it a classic-sport panache that completes the ensemble and the wire wheels just put it over the top. I know I'm showing my age, and I know that the FT is intended to grab a younger buyer, but the Triumph triumphs in the aesthetics department.

Trumpet stumbles in the stems with straight-up vanilla front and rear, and the brakes are somewhat less-noble as well even though the SS does at least come with ABS protection to match the FT. Power delivery is a trade off that leaves the Brit with the short end of the stick with 55 horsepower and 59 pounds o' grunt against 75/50, but the RbW feature and switchable traction control make up for a handful of ponies every time.

Duc gets a minor victory at the checkout — very minor. The Triumph Street Scrambler starts out at $10,800 in Jet Black but goes on up to $11,300 for the Korosi Red/Frozen Silver two-tone finish. Sure, it ain't much, but it may make a difference to someone on a budget.

He Said

"I don't know y'all; it looks like someone took the lid off the flat-tracker jar and just waved it over the Full Throttle. It looks cool, to be sure, but it doesn't really strike me as anything approaching a proper flat-track bike, and would probably lose badly to the Triumph Street Scrambler in a real race. That said, most folks will never even set foot on a flat track, myself included, so it doesn't really matter how capable it is, now does it?"

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, "This is really a city bike, and I'm not sure how scrambler-esque it is beyond country roads. As a commuter, it's quite nice as long as you don't have too far to go and that ride to work doesn't take you more than a couple of exits up the interstate. The seat is not very comfortable for anything but short hops and the pillion is pretty much nonexistent. Even though it has the hint of a dual seat, I consider this a solo seat in practical use. It gives the impression of a flat tracker without actually being a flat tracker and it has the hint of a scrambler without actually being a scrambler. As an urban commuter, though, it is quite nice."

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Specifications

References

Triumph Street Scrambler

See our review of the Triumph Street Scrambler

<h4 Ducati Monster 797

See our review of the Ducati Monster 797.

<Ducati Hypermotard 939

See our review of the Ducati Hypermotard 939.

TJ Hinton

T.J got an early start from his father and other family members who owned and rode motorcycles, and by helping with various mechanical repairs throughout childhood. That planted a seed that grew into a well-rounded appreciation of all things mechanical, and eventually, into a formal education of same. Though primarily a Harley rider, he has an appreciation for all sorts of bikes and doesn't discriminate against any particular brand or region of origin. He currently holds an Associate's degree in applied mechanical science from his time at the M.M.I.  Read full bio

About the author

2017 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle Review

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/ducati/2017-2018-ducati-scrambler-full-throttle-ar181237.html

SHARE