Last year, the Ducati Scrambler range set a new milestone, as it breached 100,000 sales. Couple this with its general fandom, and it’s safe to say the neo-retro motorcycle lineup has been a monumental success for the Italian bikemaker. Given its prowess in the field, it's only fair we (and probably you too) expect the Bologna brand to focus whip up more old-school-flavored motorcycles in the future. But we’re afraid that’s not what the company thinks, as revealed by Rocco Canosa (Head Of Ducati’s Scrambler program).
Ducati Has No New Neo-Retro Motorcycles In The Works
In an interview with MCN, Team Red's top honcho has confirmed there are no plans to diversify or expand the company’s retro motorcycle range. The focus will remain on the new six-motorcycle 2023 Scrambler range for now, with just some scope for a new variant if the need (or customer interest) arises. To quote the top honcho - “For the moment, we are just focusing on Scrambler and that’s the best option that we can give to customers who are looking for a classic flavor, but don’t want a vintage bike. They want to have a modern Ducati motorcycle with technology belonging to Ducati and with an attitude”.
Though the Scrambler range is somewhat extensive, the news comes as a slight surprise, considering the platform could easily help birth many destined-for-success street motorcycles. For instance, a toned-down, old-school Ducati Monster 800–inspired by the S2R 800–could be rather perfect for newer riders and would make complete sense under the new, almost liter-class Monster 950. Perhaps, even a modern resurrection of the iconic Sport Classic GT could do wonders. And if these do come out, the new neo-retro Ducatis will ultimately help the bikemaker cater to a wider audience.
The Ducati Scrambler Lineup Comprises Six Motorcycles
With no upcoming retro models in the works, it looks like you’ll have to stick with Ducati’s current lineup. It comprises six Scrambler iterations, three with an 800cc engine and three in an 1,100cc trim. The former underwent an overhaul for 2023, (with new features, plus a design refresh) and includes the Scrambler Icon, Nightshift, and Full Throttle. The first serves as the entry point, while the other two promise more sportiness with different ergonomics and more premium liveries. In contrast, the Scrambler 1100 range has remained more or less unchanged for upwards of three years. It comprises Sport Pro, Dark Pro, and Tribute Pro variants.
The prices of the 2023 Ducati Scramblers start from $10,995 and go up to $17,195. In the market, the lineup goes against the Triumph Scrambler 900 and 1200, as well as the CFMoto 700 CL-X. Meanwhile, in related news, Ducati is also planning to uproot its Desmodromic valves on the Scrambler.