Scrambler Icon

[koko64]

Having ticked off the bucket list item of touring Chianti on a Ducati with the GLW, I have always had a soft spot for the Scrambler. The speed limits in many country areas near me have been dropped from 60 to 50 mph and my Evo1100 kept straining at the leash. A few mates got adventure bikes like the big GS tanks but I wasn't interested in the Range Rover of motorcycles (as one mate put it). I guess nostalgia about Tuscany led me towards another Scrambler Icon.

A customer bought my Evo and I found a Scrambler in a country area about 150 miles away at a good price. Low miles, one owner, service history, books, keys, extras, etc.

I'll ad pics and updates over time.

First impressions:
73 hp feels slow
The handlebars are ridiculous
That's the largest catalyc converter I've seen on a bike
About time the battery was under the seat (with ECU, ABS, etc)
The number plate holder will break off on our busted up roads
A steel petrol tank held on with a few bolts is a welcome change
The tank panels are silly and without them another litre or two of fuel could have been added.
The indicators are not bad for stockers and have flexible stalks
The cambelt covers are solid and are not obscured by frame rails once the pipes are removed.
Getting the rear wheel off is not that simple with rear stands blocking the axel and the gull wing swingarm  letting the bike slide down the stand
Lifting the bike near the swingarm pivot after removing the cat was the most secure way to remove the rear wheel
The handlebars are silly
First Ducati I've owned with a cable clutch
Low rpm mapping was snatchy but the bars position contributed to a lack of finesse
The handlebars are stupid and will be replaced with a Renthal mid rise option

[ducpainter]

 How do you really feel about the bars?

[Howie]

I have a feeling the bars are only the beginning of the mod list.

Congrats on the new ride!

[koko64]

 

[ungeheuer]

The endless Victorian creep of the 80km/h limit.

73hp will still be enough to keep VicPol in doughnuts  

I happen the believe that Scambler is more Monster than current Monster is Monster.  Enjoy the new ride  

Oh and where's the bloody pics mate?

[koko64]

  bxmc982hdtpbqcvzmlnrtagnf by Tony Kokonis, on Flickr 

[Howie]

The bars gotta go!

[ungeheuer]

How you gonna stand up, drifting sideways on the dirt if you put lower handlebars on it? 


They have to go.

[koko64]

I think flat tracker bars.

[koko64]

Riders complain of a snatchy throttle and blame the mapping. I note that the throttle is a quick turn throttle with less than a quarter turn of travel. Thats pretty aggressive. I like quick throttles. After changing the bars to medium Renthal street/tracker bars the jerky throttle action was gone. Quick, yes! Aggressive, hell yeah! Responsive, but no longer snatchy. We get the EU mapping here and with high octane fuel it smooths out, but very perky. The bike handled better too with more weight pinning down those forks. The bars are high enough for me to stand on the pegs as I'm only 5'8".

Parts that comply with local regulations replace the groovy, but fragile swingarm mounted plate holder with all its weight and leverage waiting to break off and end up locking the rear wheel, chain, swingarm. A disaster waiting to happen under harsh Aussie road conditions.

I removed the DP Headlight fairing kit and will fit one of those tiny colour coded cowls to keep rain out of the instrument panel.

I picked up satin black tank panels for a great price. I haven't fitted the scrambler stickers. Maybe a tiny DMF sticker over each panel bolt.

The DP bash plate is useful.

Pics soon.

[koko64]

  20230802_172109 by Tony Kokonis, on Flickr

[koko64]

20230802_172059 by Tony Kokonis, on Flickr

[koko64]

[ 20230802_171959 by Tony Kokonis, on Flickr 

[koko64]

  20230802_172127 by Tony Kokonis, on Flickr

[koko64]

I'll exhaust wrap the pipe under the heat shield which will be blacked out.

To ride it feels like an old M900 with a light flywheel and jet kit.