It was only a matter of time until Ducati introduced us to the big brother in the Scrambler family. Meet the 2018 Scrambler 1100, the largest, most powerful, best equipped Scrambler yet, designed to offer current Scrambler owners an upgrade path as well as appeal to more experienced riders looking to enter what Ducati gleefully calls the Land of Joy.
Read our 2017 Ducati Scrambler Café Racer review
While it bears a distinct family resemblance to its 400 and 800cc siblings, the Scrambler 1100 looks to be almost entirely a new machine…albeit one that also shares a lineage with some other distinctive Ducatis of the past. The engine is an evolution of that used in the Monster 1100, last revised in 2012 before being supplanted by the more powerful, liquid-cooled Monster 1200 in 2014. This air/oil-cooled 1,079cc 2-valve-per-cylinder Desmodue L-twin was redesigned with machine-finished aluminum covers for a sharper look and a larger 55mm throttle body with two sub-injectors and throttle-by-wire for smooth power delivery. Ducati claims a peak power output of 86 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 65 lb-ft of torque at 4,750. The old dry clutch has been replaced by a wet, hydraulically-actuated assist-and-slipper clutch with an adjustable lever (the brake lever is adjustable, too).
Hugging the engine is an all-new twin-spar steel trellis frame with a removable aluminum rear subframe for easier customization. Since it didn’t simply shoe horn the larger engine into the same frame, Ducati was able to tweak the 1100’s riding geometry; it has a tighter turning radius than the Scrambler 800s, a taller seat-to-footpeg size and a handlebar that’s further forward and lower.
The new Scrambler 1100 also benefits from new electronics, with the aforementioned throttle-by-wire and an IMU allowing for 4-step Ducati Traction Control (DTC) that can be disabled, three Riding Modes (Active, which allows crisp throttle response and traction control for sport riding; Journey, which still allows full power but with a smoother throttle for everyday riding; and City, which reduces output to 75 horsepower and ups traction control intervention) and Bosch 9.1 MP Cornering ABS (which cannot be disabled). Radially mounted Brembo Monobloc M4.32 4-piston calipers bite down on dual 320mm front discs and a single-piston caliper grabs a 245mm disc at the rear.
There will be three variations: the base model Scrambler 1100, with 10-spoke cast wheels, a fully adjustable 45mm Marzocchi USD fork and a rebound/preload adjustable Kayaba rear shock; the Scrambler 1100 Special, with spoked wheels, brown seat cover, chrome pipes and the same suspension setup as the base model; and the Scrambler 1100 Sport, with cast wheels, a fully adjustable Öhlins 48mm USD fork and a preload/rebound adjustable Öhlins rear shock.
The standard Scrambler 1100 will be available in ’62 Yellow or Shining Black, with a black frame and black seat. The Scrambler 1100 Special will be available in Custom Gray with a black frame and brown seat. The Scrambler 1100 Sport will be available in Viper Black, with yellow tank sides and dual yellow striping down the middle of the tank and the mudguards, and a black frame and black seat. Pricing starts at $12,995.
Check out more new bikes in Rider’s guide to new/updated 2018 motorcycles
It would be nice if the manufacturers didn’t feel the need to detune the motors for broad appeal models. I would have loved to replace my Hypermotard with something up to date but not watered down. Sorry, I wont give up the vastly superior performance for some additional convenience when no trade off was needed. No sale.
I know I don’t speak for everyone, but if I wanted slower I’d buy the 800 or 400.
Bet it can be tuned up to over 100hp, it arrives detuned. Too much power off road – is trouble anyway. And It’s a scrambler, your never taking a sport bike where this will go