To make sense of the Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro is to understand product hierarchy: It exists to offer Scrambler riders a place to go if they want to stay in Ducati’s Land of Joy sub-brand but want a little more power and a little more performance. If such a paint-by-numbers approach to describing a motorcycle’s reason for being feels constraining, that’s because the apotheotic Scrambler’s appeal transcends its product rationale.
There are certainly more affordable and higher-performing motorcycles in Ducati’s lineup (e.g., the Monster Plus), but the Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro stands apart in large part by marrying classic style with top-notch componentry and air-cooled charm. Powered by a hot-rodded air-cooled SOHC 1,079cc desmo twin, good for a claimed 86 hp at 7,500 rpm and 65 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,750 rpm, the Scrambler 1100 is the latest in a long line of legendary Desmodues. Its hot 11.0:1 compression ratio and mild cam overlap of 16 degrees delivers a broad torque curve that’s been a hallmark of motorcycles from Borgo Panigale for decades. Lean-angle-sensitive traction control and ABS, and three ride modes contribute to the 1100′s climb to modernity—as do the Öhlins suspension and Bembo brakes. The flat handlebar (complete with bar-end mirrors) further puts the rider in a sporty frame of mind. On the style side, we love the absence of plastic panels and components that give the bike a substantial and quality feel. In all, what’s not to like about a Scrambler turned up to 11(00)?
The 2024 Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro starts at $17,195. Ducati says that the Scrambler 1100 Sport pro will not return in 2025.