Rennie Scaysbrook | November 7, 2016
The Ducati Scrambler has been a roaring success for the Bologna brand since it was launched two years ago, and now we have the latest evolution of the brand in the Café Racer.
Ducati calls this new machine an “interpretation of the legendary ’60s bikes that triggered a motorcycling revolution. Free spirit and style: with its “Black Coffee” color scheme, the Ducati Scrambler Café Racer takes us from the 1960s all the way to today’s Land of Joy.”
Make of that what you will.
As far as the hard specs go, the Café Racer is powered by the 803cc air/oil-cooled L-twin found in the Scrambler Icon, which is EURO 4-compliant with Termignoni mufflers and with black-trimmed covers and machined cooling fins.
The Café Racer is another design exercise evolved from the original Scrambler of 2014, with the segment-inspired teardrop tank and interchangeable side panels that are emblazoned with the number 54 – a special number for Ducati.
That #54 belongs to company hero Bruno Spaggiari, a legendary Italian racer inexoribaly linked to Ducati for his racing exploits in the 1960s. The story goes that in 1968, Spaggiari raced in the Mototemporada Romagnola, a classic Italian street race held between 1945 and 1971, using a 350cc single-cylinder engine from the original Ducati Scrambler. It was a race Ducati says invoked the free spirit of design, and for a rider in which they wanted to pay tribute.
Back to the bike. The chassis is derived from the Scrambler Icon, with obvious changes including the wheels and bodywork, which includes a passenger seat cover to give a single-seat race style look.
There’ll also be a large range of accessories aimed at the Café Racer, including a new headlight, flat seat, spoked wheels and exhaust cover.
2017 Ducati Scrambler Café Racer key features
Color
Black Coffee with black frame and gold wheels
Equipment
- Desmodue twin-cylinder engine, EURO 4-compliant, with black finish and machined cooling fins.
- Termignoni exhaust with dual tailpipes and black anodized aluminum cover
- 17” Pirelli DIABLOTM ROSSO II tyres, 120/70 ZR 17 up front and 180/55 ZR17 at the rear
- Dedicated seat with cover for passenger section
- Lateral number holders
- Separate aluminum handlebars
- Fully adjustable upside-down fork with black anodized sleeves
- Sporty front mudguard
- Rear-view mirrors mounted on aluminum handlebars
- “Caféracer” nose fairing
- Front radial brake master-cylinder
- Steel tear drop fuel tank with interchangeable side panels
- Dedicated logo
- Low plate holder
- MSRP – $11,395
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