Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro (2020-on)

The 2020-on Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro is the firm's new Euro5 compliant large-capacity street Scrambler, complete with fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension, a plethora of design updates - including a restyled rear end, a repositioned numberplate and a double-stacked exhaust - plus the same lovely air-cooled 1079cc desmo twin as the rest of the models in the line-up.

The Sport Pro is not the only new Scrambler for 2020 though, with a slightly cheaper £11,385 1100 Pro also now available. Distinguishable by its Marzocchi front suspension and Kayaba rear, as well as a more relaxed riding position, both are superbly enjoyable road bikes. The hard decision now is Pro or Sport Pro.

This bike replaced the 2018-2019 Ducati Scrambler 1100

⏱️ Join us for #60secondswith the new Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro. Full review coming soon. pic.twitter.com/XMxNMgjliP

— Motor Cycle News (@MCNnews) July 15, 2020

On the sportier, Öhlins-clad Sport Pro the bars are much lower and straighter, giving an aggressive stance, especially when compared to the standard Pro model with its traditionally wide Scrambler bars.

The Sport’s new ergonomics move you further forward on the bike, while bar-end café racer-style mirrors give the new model a sportier feel. On both models you immediately feel the Scrambler’s plus points: ease-of-use and natural ability, which is mainly down to its intuitive handling and that low weight.

At speed, when you really start to push, the Öhlins set up is always controlled. On the road, you’re nowhere near the limits of the Sport’s suspension. On the Pro, however, the limitations of the 45mm Marzocchi forks and preload and rebound-adjustable Kayaba set up wouldn’t be too far away.

In reality, new or inexperienced riders may prefer the softer ride of the standard model. And if you’re riding a Scrambler hard, pushing the handling boundaries, you’ve possibly bought the wrong bike in the first place. No, the Scrambler is designed to flow and be a relaxing ride. And if you haven’t ridden the Sport version you’ll find little to fault with the standard Pro.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 electronics

The Ducati safety pack comes as standard on both models and is identical on both machines. There’s excellent cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control, which can be deactivated at a standstill.

To make life simpler there are three rider modes – City, Journey and Active… yes, they moved away from the normal 'Urban, Touring and Sport' to keep the Scrambler marketeers happy. City mode cuts 10bhp, offers a soft throttle map and increase the traction control. Journey and Active are both full power but have different engine and throttle characteristics and TC settings.

Both the 1100 Pro and Sport Pro share the same powerplant; the iconic, air-cooled 1079cc V-twin. Despite having to comply to tight new Euro-5 emissions regs, power and torque remain the same at around 85bhp at 7500rpm and 65ftlb at a just 4750rpm.

Revised fuelling hasn’t meant any loss of sophistication either. From small throttle openings, response is smooth and precise – and with plenty of usable torque available from low down in the rev range both Pros are happy and willing to pull cleanly away from slow speeds in a tall gear.

This is usable, unintimidating performance yet easy enough to have fun with. On the road you just keep short-shifting though the smooth gearbox while enjoying successive helpings of grunt. Ride the torque and the Pro is more than quick enough, especially as it weighs just 189kg dry.

Being a new model, it's hard to talk about the reliability, however it has already been tried and tested in the Euro4 compliant first-generation Scrambler 1100, which arrived in 2018. A strong dealer network, two year unlimited mileage warranty and decent service intervals of 7500 miles are also in its favour.

Our 2020 Ducati Scrambler 1100 owners' reviews show a few issues with paintwork bubbling, but nothing serious to worry about from a reliability perspective.

At £12,885 for Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro and £11,385 for the Pro model, both 2020 Ducati retros are a heavy investment. That said, both are sophisticated, stylish and desirable with easy handling and a soulful, unintimidating air-cooled engine.

Both machines are superbly enjoyable road bikes. If you were hoping for more power and sharper handling, you’ll be disappointed, but if you wanted class leading style, then look no further.

The large-capacity road bike class is strongly contested, with the 1100s facing stiff competition from the likes of the BMW R nineT, Triumph Speed Twin and Scrambler 1200, Honda CB1100 range and more.

Twin test: Ducati Scrambler 1100 vs BMW R nine T

First published in MCN 23 September 2020 by Phil West

During 2020 Phil West pit the Scrambler 1100 against its main rival, the BMW R nine T, to find out which retro's best.

West said: "'Show’ and ‘go’ are always uneasy bedfellows, as the new Scrambler 1100 Sport PRO most conspicuously shows by being a retro roadster with sporty  Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes yet bizarrely retaining a 19in front wheel and semi-knobbly tyres. Even so, it’s a sweet-handling, cultured scratcher worthy of the name. Instead, Ducati’s two main criticisms arise elsewhere: Its fairly bland, unremarkable 85bhp performance and its uninspiring and sometimes gimmicky styling.

"The R nineT, however, as its success and spin-offs since 2014 demonstrate, wins on both counts: Its standard looks with lots of alloy, wires, boxer engine and twin dials, tick all the right boxes yet are almost endlessly customisable. While its base mechanicals, being R1200R but uprated with S1000RR cycle parts, are more than enough for the retro roadster style. Sure, it’s now aging a little, but as a retro that’s not a deal breaker."

The Italian-made engine is one of the most attractive motors you can buy while the Pro’s new, double stacked exhaust looks like a classy factory aftermarket item and is a huge visual improvement over the old model. Thankfully, it sounds as good as it looks and has a nice little burble at tickover and a charismatic chorus on the throttle.

Ducati’s designers have upped their game even further for 2020 and the new styling, graphics and separate number plate holder have cleaned up the rear end. For styling and image, the new Pros tick all boxes and is a significant step above over the older bike. Both models have a high-end finish and are dripping in quality.

The Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro uses the same air-cooled engine as the lesser-specced Pro, but gains fully adjustable, 48mm Öhlins forks and an Öhlins rear shock, again directly side-mounted and adjustable for pre-load and rebound. The bars are now lower, with café racer-style bar end mirrors and is presented in matt black.

• Related: Best base bikes for customising

Meanwhile, the standard Scrambler 1100 Pro comes with fully adjustable 45mm Marzocchi forks and a Kayaba side-mounted shock, adjustable for pre-load and rebound. It comes in an 'Ocean Drive' livery and with wide bars, which you’d normally associate with the traditional Scrambler.

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Tribute Pro

Finished in a striking yellow livery, reminiscent of the beautiful 750 Sport model of the 1970s, the Tribute Pro features the Ducati logo of the day across the petrol tank, with black spoked wheels completing the look.

Although it may be designed to look like a bike from five decades ago, it’s thoroughly modern underneath, featuring the same spec as the £11,385 Scrambler 1100 Pro which arrived back in 2020.

That means you get three riding modes – each offering a differing amount of power and intervention from the traction control system. Other touches include LED lighting and twin radial Brembo calipers – complete with cornering ABS.

Stuffed inside the competent steel trellis chassis is a Euro5 1079cc V-twin delivering a claimed 84.8bhp at 7500rpm and 66.5lb.ft of torque at 4750rpm.