Ducati pump the brakes on Scrambler concept hype and confirm departure of 1100 Sport Pro

Following the global launch of two Scrambler prototypes at the recent Bike Shed Moto Show in London, Ducati bosses have told MCN that we could see a production bike come to market, but not anytime soon.

With the bike unveiled to the 16,000-strong crowd at London’s Tobacco Dock on May 24, the Italian brand showcased a stripped-back, upright RR241 and CR241 café racer – both of which carry their own distinct retro flavour. 

“Our goal was to reinterpret the Scrambler model by trying to really push it towards a different direction and with it being such a flexible base, it’s perfect for this kind of experiment,” Ducati Chief Designer, Andrea Amato told MCN. 

“We looked at the fashions of the 1960s and we came up with two main ideas. One was a kind of rebel adventurer that we express with the RR241 and the other was the café racer, which is simply iconic in terms of sportiness, sophistication and elegance.” 

A clear fan favourite is yet to come up trumps among potential customers, but Ducati UK Managing Director, Fabrizio Cazzoli told MCN: “The café racer seems to be the one with the highest interest.” 

Reality check 

Although both machines are built upon the existing technical base of the current Scrambler range, packing the same 803cc Desmodue air-cooled V-twin motor and tubular steel trellis frame as the ongoing Nightshift, Icon and Full Throttle models, bringing either machine to production is not guaranteed just yet and doing so could take up to two years. 

“I think they could have a big potential because the direction is so different,” Amato continued. “People who grew up dreaming of bikes in the 1960s and 1970s are likely to be attracted by the café racer, but I think it’s also a great option for women. Its sensual where the RR241 is more masculine. There’s two kinds of flavours.”

Whether they will make it to showrooms is a different matter with Cazzoli saying: “It’s too early to say if either will eventually hit the market, but it’s important to understand what the audience is saying and if there is a strong interest we will keep that in mind.” 

Cazzoli told MCN that there is unlikely to be an expansion of the Scrambler range in the near future, stating: “In the past I believe we went too far. It wasn’t practical to have so many bikes.” 

Sales success 

That said, the current Scrambler line-up is certainly a strong player for the Bologna brand, with the existing three-model selection seeing its best ever sales figure last month following the introduction of Ducati’s 50-2-50 finance.  

Others in the Ducati camp are slightly more open to the idea of adding new Scrambler metal, with Marketing and Communications Manager for the manufacturer, Patrizia Cianetti saying: “The Scrambler brand for sure can support a wider range. It has the values, it has the strength, and it has the allure. We love to experiment and listen to clients, so who knows what the future holds.”

Streamline production

Although either bike could feasibly come to fruition, there are various technical challenges that will need to be overcome first.

The main frame, engine and suspension may be the same as the existing bikes on sale, but totally redesigned bodywork, clip-on handlebars, a modified subframe and a change to new 17in wheels (for the CR241 only), are among some of the differences that could influence production.

Ducati may have offered a café racer as part of the Scrambler range in the past, but the company’s decision to streamline production to models which all feature shared components could act as a barrier to future production plans.  

Farwell, 1100 Scrambler

With the introduction of new Euro5+ emissions standards for 2025, Ducati have confirmed to MCN that the Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro will be struck from the model lineup at the end of the year. 

Ducati UK Managing Director, Fabrizio Cazzoli delivered the exclusive news, but insisted that any changes to the range are the result of “regular and ongoing product updates and product developments that are coming in the future.” 

It should be noted that the 1100 has been somewhat of an outlier in the Scrambler family for a while now, not sharing the same market success as its smaller displacement siblings. 

The brand has confirmed that the 803cc range will all be compliant with the new emissions regs, which build upon the Euro5 classification introduced in 2021. 

Euro5+ standards revolve around the effectiveness of a motorcycle’s catalyst, with consideration given to the time taken to get up to effective temperature, as well as the durability of catalysts over the service life of the machine. 

As well as meaning exhaust systems will have to become efficient, catalysts will be required to be assessed over time for effectiveness, with an electronic monitoring system now required through the bike’s ECU.