You can have real fun on the Scrambler and carry corner speed with confidence. The Pirelli MT60 tyres work well in both the dry and the wet and offer great feedback. However it is just as happy on the faster stuff as it is cutting up traffic around town. Suspension was updated in 2019, and continues to offer a forgiving ride, with preload adjustment on the rear The bike is light at 173 kg dry (20 kg lighter than the Desert Sled version), flickable and almost toy-like at times. But this hasn’t turned the Scrambler into a bouncing mess it still holds its line and the basic chassis with just pre-load adjustment on the Kayaba rear shock works well enough. In 2019 Ducati revised the suspension, increasing the static sag on the rear to improve the ride, making it more forgiving with added travel. With an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear shod with off-road-looking rubber, it shouldn’t really work that well, but it does. I like it, though the riding position encourages you to tuck in and push the lightweight chassis a little more. You feel more compelled to hang off the Scrambler mid-corner rather than sit back and simply turn in a traditional manner. The Scrambler Nightshift encourages a more aggressive riding style I’ve ridden numerous miles on different variants of the Scrambler over the years, and I’m always pleasantly surprised by its sprightly and well-measured performance, which generally proves more than enough for the road, while also comfortably cruising at highway speeds without it feeling out of breath. That flat torque curve gives great drive from anywhere and, combined with typical Scrambler lightness, you soon realise this is anything but a slow bike. Peak torque is at just 5700 rpm so there’s no real need to rev the twin instead, short-shift and enjoy the usability of the Desmo motor. Power delivery is smooth and friendly, and there is a lovely connection to the throttle, even at low speeds. The Scrambler 800 still features the L-twin based on the old Ducati Monster 796 (803cc) engine, with a quoted power output of 72 and 66.2 Nm. Ducati could have gone searching for more power with a modern, water-cooled engine but it wouldn’t have had the visual charm and character of the simple air-cooled L-twin. These figures may not impress your mates down the pub, but the engine is bulletproof, eminently usable and, importantly in this market, attractive.
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