For MY2018, Ducati released the Scrambler 1100 Sport elevating the family line to a whole new level with some top-shelf suspension components and race-tastic livery meant to appeal primarily to the go-fast crowd. Much is shared with its big-bore siblings -- chassis, engine, and electronics -- but the Sport endeavors to increase the line's inclusivity by drawing in those fiery-eyed pegdraggers.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Design

Ducati really made a splash when it reintroduced its Scrambler line back in 2014. The 800 cc model begat the 400 cc model, but the factory didn't stop there, it also reached up into the higher displacements as well with the Scrambler 1100 series.

The Scramblers are but a sign of the times as the market shifts to grab the next generation of bike enthusiasts. Retro-tastic good looks and new-user-friendly configurations have held the family in good stead thus far with all bases covered across the entry-level market, but what do you do when you outgrow the small- to mid-range Scramblers? Why, you graduate up to the 1100 of course.

Set up as a “big-boy” bike with a longer wheelbase and larger saddle area than its smaller brothers, the Sport leads off with the same minimal front fender as with many of the other Scramblers. In an effort to simplify the machine, a number of pieces and parts hit the cutting-room floor to include some plastic bits that nobody in their right mind will miss. Blackout tripleclamps mount gold anodized struts behind a round headlight can that sports a stylish “X” that quarters the face and a DRL ring around the circumference of the assembly. Both sharp looking and effective.

A blackout handlebar, mirrors, and dashingly off-center instrument housing match the achromatic components forward of the clamp for a nice continuity of design with a definite custom kick. The black, 3.96-gallon teardrop tank sports a yellow pinstripe on each side that accentuates the shape as well as the Scrambler badge, but it's the double racing stripes along the top that really makes the tank stand out.

Twin silencers follow the lines of the subframe to stay well clear of the ground and lend the rear end a race-tastic finish. Admittedly, as with the rest of the Scrambler lineup the differences are subtle, but the Sport does manage to bring a slightly different flavor to the table for fans who are looking for something a bit more mature and capable. At the end of the day, the Sport still conveys the same impetuous spirit of youth and fun as the rest of the family.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Chassis

A composite structure supports the Scrambler 1100 Sport with a tubular-steel, twin-spar Trellis main frame to keep it strong, and an aluminum subframe to keep it light. The rolling chassis is rounded out with a 10-spoke, 18-inch rim up front and a 17 out back made of lightweight alloy to keep unsprung weight low. A gull-wing, dual-side swingarm articulates the rear wheel with a coil-over Öhlins monoshock on damping duty.

Öhlins supplies the inverted front forks as well, and both ends enjoy the same adjustable preload and rebound-damping feature so you can dial in for cargo weight, terrain, and preference. Plus, Öhlins is recognized as a top-shelf brand, and even though the Marzocchi and Kayaba suspension on the other 1100s is hardly a slouch by any means, the Sport takes the top tier here.

Handling is kept crisp by the 24.5-degree steering head, 110 mm fork offset and 4.4-inch trail, figures that lend the Scramblers an eager attitude in the corners. Pirelli provides the MT60 RS rubber with a 120/80 up front and 180/55 out back. The treads on these hoops have deep grooves between generous flats, and that gives them decent soft-surface performance with an affinity for the streets.

In spite of the relatively light, 454-pound wet weight, the factory didn't hold back one little bit with the brakes. Dual, 320 mm front discs and radial-mount, Brembo Monobloc M4.32 calipers slow the front wheel with a 245 mm disc and single-pot anchor to slow the rear. A Bosch 9.1 MP Cornering ABS stands ready to intervene to prevent lockups due to overbraking, even when the available traction is being shared by both steering- and braking-forces; just what the doctor ordered for safety in aggressive corners or decreasing-radius turns.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Drivetrain

Ducati's 1,079 cc Desmodue L-twin powers the Sport with a generous 65 pound-feet of torque that develops by 4,750 rpm and 86 horsepower at 7,500 rpm. The 11-to-1 compression ratio falls in the mid-range overall, but is actually toward the top of the scale for a non-crotchrocket ride. A combination of cooling fins on the heads and jugs as well as an oil radiator mounted high on the downtubes takes care of waste heat.

Twin-valve heads are timed by Ducati's world-famous Desmodromic valvetrain that, rather than using a push-open cam and spring-type return, uses a push-open cam and a pull-closed cam for positive poppet control with and}. Ride-by-Wire throttle control manages the induction with electronic fuel injection to meter the dinosaur juice, but the fandanglery doesn't stop there. Twin-plug (per jug) ignition and a secondary-air system helps ensure efficient combustion.

Ready for some more? Good, 'cause the factory chucked on a no chance of high-rpm valve float or valve-to-piston contact system and a four-channel-plus-'Off' traction control that allows you to dial in the desired throttle response and even rein in the output to 75 ponies. What does it all mean? Well, in a nutshell, the above systems lend the Sport three-mode, variable power-curve feature, especially when paired with the dual, on/off-road nature of the Scrambler family in general.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Pricing

The Ducati Scrambler Sport rolls in Viper Black for $15,095. Warranty packages range from a base, 7,500-mile tier to a 24-month, unlimited-mileage plan.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Competitors

Ducati has some deep roots, that's not to be denied, and so when I went looking for a worthy competitor I was hoping for another venerable marque. Since it seems as though most manufacturers have something with scramble-tastic tendencies on the market nowadays, I had plenty from which to choose, but the Triumph Street Scrambler really grabbed me, so here we go.

Triumph Street Scrambler

Trumpet's SS carries itself with the same stance as the Duc -- a tribute to the scramblers of old -- but rather than go for a fresh-and-young look, the SS maintains an air of dignity with a dash of recklessness that I find very appealing. Blackout touches are prevalent across the board for that crucial tie-in to the custom culture. Though similar at a glance, the details quickly set them apart.

Triumph runs with the classic shotgun exhaust that sees both pipes on the right side with ample heat shielding to protect the legs of rider and passenger both. However, the best protection is avoidance, and the routing of the Duc's pipe should keep it clear of leg and foot. A downtube/cradle frame serves as the skeleton for the Street Scrambler for an entirely different look close up.

Ducati enjoys the advantage in the suspension as the SS rocks a non-adjustable KYB fork up front with KYB shocks out back that come only with the obligatory preload adjustment. The pain continues for Trumpet with only a single front disc versus the dual anchors on the Duc, but at least there's ABS on board.

Power comes from the 900 cc, parallel-twin plant, and it predictably falls a skosh short with 55 ponies and 59 pounds o' grunt. Triumph keeps up in the electronics department though, with TC and an immobilizer feature to go with the switchable ABS as standard features. Equally unsurprising is the price advantage enjoyed by Triumph at only $10,800 for the bottom-tier Jet Black model.

Read our full review of the Triumph Street Scrambler.

He Said

“As cool as the Scramblers are, I still have to wonder if Ducati is trying to get too much mileage out of the line. A liter-plus mill seems like it's really pushing the boundaries of the genre, but at the end of the day, it's all about what the buyers want. As for me, at that displacement and pricing point, there are plenty of other options available, just none that have those Scrambler looks.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “With rider modes, traction control, and cornering ABS, the 1100's are really stepping up the scrambler game. This 'Sport' model is the bad-boy sibling of the new 1100 Scrambler family with the upgraded suspension, but understand that Marzocchi and Kayaba are nothing to sneeze at. It's early in the game, but it'll be interesting to see how these larger scramblers play out in the market.”

Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Specifications

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