2019 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer

Ducati’s popular Scrambler line comprises eight air-/oil-cooled, two-valve-per-cylinder V-twins, of which five are either low-slung-exhaust 399cc or 803cc models while the others displace 1,079cc and are fitted with underseat mufflers. Introduced three years ago, the Scrambler Cafe Racer is the raciest of the bunch, its clip-on-style handlebars providing more of a hotted-up back-road sportbike look than the upright ergonomics and rugged, off-road attitude of its semi-knobby-tired brethren. In fact, the number 54 emblazoned on the side-mounted plates pays homage to Bruno Spaggiari, the Italian racer who won the 125cc edition of the 1958 Nations Grand Prix at Monza on a Ducati.

The Scrambler Cafe Racer’s teardrop-shaped gas tank incorporates interchangeable aluminum side panels, and the seat has a removable cover for the passenger section, providing a solo appearance should you want it. Blending retro looks with modern technology, this motorcycle rolls on sportbike-size wire-spoked wheels and radial rubber. The Brembo braking system utilizes a 330mm front disc with a four-piston monoblock Brembo caliper and includes Bosch cornering ABS. Café racer-esque handlebar-end-mounted mirrors provide an interesting contrast to the radial-mount front master cylinder. The engine features 7,500-mile maintenance intervals.

Likes: Lightweight and light feeling, quick tip-in; LED lighting a plus

Dislikes: Missing the jingle-jangle dry-clutch sound of Ducatis of yore

Verdict: A sporty-looking, sporty-riding air-cooled V-twin with a rich history

“When looking to create a café racer, Ducati had to look no further than its own history for the blueprint. The 1980 900SS, with its black-and-gold paint scheme, is a bike so beautiful even our own Peter Egan owns one and says it takes his breath away every time the lights in his garage come on.”

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With the “classic heritage” motorcycle craze continuing to rev up interest, motorcycle manufacturers are building sporty models styled after this increasingly popular genre. Like Ducati, BMW, Triumph, and Yamaha, for example, have exploited their own history, using the boxer- and parallel-twin platforms to create the retro Racer, Thruxton, and XSR700.

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The Scrambler Cafe Racer is offered in just one color, Silver Ice Matt, with a blue frame, blue seat, and further complemented by black-rimmed wheels. A broad range of factory accessories is available, including heated handgrips, waterproof saddlebags, a flatter more passenger-friendly seat, gas-tank protection, and a throaty Termignoni exhaust.