Back in 2015, this engine churned out 69.8 horsepower at the rear wheel on the Jett Tuning dyno, and it’s as fun as ever to run through its six gears. The 2-valve, SOHC twin is the same one used in the other Scrambler models, as well as the new Monster 797. Hard deceleration can produce a few muffled pops, music to my ears as we climbed and descended the narrow roads traversing the Apennine Mountains near Bologna. The air-cooled 803cc L-twin engine is unchanged, its spunky vibes accompanied by a nice throaty rasp out of the black Termi exhaust pipes. Hard deceleration produced a few muffled pops, music to my ears as we ascended and descended the Apennine mountains roads.
DUCATI CAFE RACER FULL
Like the Full Throttle, Termignoni exhaust with anodized black covers is standard. I could only hope that some of that cool rubbed off on me as I swung a leg over and thumbed the starter. In short, the new Café Racer looks really cool. The black and gold color scheme hearkens back to the famous Ducati 900 Super Sport of the 1970s and ’80s. Special styling licks include a short front fender, a black finish with brushed fins on the engine, a new tank logo, gold wheels, a “black coffee” color scheme and a number plate bearing the 54 of Ducati racer Bruno Spaggiari, who raced in the 1960s. Other functional changes include a humped seat with cover, bar-end mirrors, standard Termignoni mufflers, a small windscreen and lowered headlight. The Cafe Racer proved to be nimble and easy to handle on the technical mountain roads. Sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires keep the bike connected to the curves, and a radial front brake is suitably strong. The rake and trail have both been shortened, and along with stiffer fork springs and a smaller, 17-inch front wheel, the Café Racer is more nimble and quicker steering than its Scrambler brethren. In profile, many of the differences are obvious: changes to the rear subframe and a longer rear shock lift the seat more than half an inch higher than the Icon’s, while the wide clip-ons are 6 inches farther forward and almost 7 inches lower, putting the rider in a comfortably sporty riding position. The rich brown seat includes a cover for the passenger section. Wide, low clip-ons place the rider low and forward over the front of the bike, although it wasn’t so extreme as to be uncomfortable. Read our first ride review of the 2015 Ducati Scrambler Icon While it is based on the Icon, Ducati was quick to point out that the Café Racer is not just an Icon with clip-ons and a new seat it’s a whole new take on the Scrambler concept.
Like the Desert Sled unveiled last fall, the Café Racer is a step beyond the basic, mostly cosmetic differences among the core Scrambler family members: the Icon, Classic, Full Throttle and Urban Enduro (the last of which has been discontinued for 2017). We were there to check out the newest Scrambler version, the pragmatically named Café Racer. The “Black Coffee” and gold color scheme is a throwback to the 900 Super Sport of the 1970s, while the “54” number plate is a tribute to famous Ducati racer Bruno Spaggiari. The overwhelming vibe was young, hip and fun. The Food Factory is an officially licensed restaurant, although it operates independently of Ducati, and inside patrons eat their fill of local specialties (sliced mortadella, mozzarella and pistachio pizza, anyone?) surrounded by Ducati Scrambler merchandise and custom-built Scramblers. There, we were presented with the proper accouterments (Scrambler-branded trucker cap and knapsack) and taken to the Scrambler Ducati Food Factory for dinner ( carchuterie, pizzas, pasta and, of course, plenty of wine).
Our invitation to the global press launch in Ducati’s hometown of Bologna, Italy, certainly conveyed that message, as it beckoned us to visit “the Land of Joy,” a.k.a. If the Ducati Scrambler Café Racer has a raison d’être, it’s simple: having fun. Some bikes are built for a purpose, whether it’s turning fast laps, touring, cruising, adventure or flying 40 feet in the air over a motocross track.
DUCATI CAFE RACER PLUS
Numerous geometry changes, plus stiffer suspension and a smaller front wheel, make the Cafe Racer a bona fide corner-eating machine. The new Cafe Racer is perhaps the biggest departure yet from the standard Scrambler Ducati platform.