2021 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled

The Desert Sled is Ducati’s more off-road-capable scrambler that is easy to ride and fun to slide. The paint may have changed, but the fun factor did not.

The 2021 Ducati Desert Sled is reminiscent of scramblers that laid claim to the rugged Southern California and Baja terrain in the ’60s and ’70s. It offers throwback styling, modern tech, and even genuine off-road capability. It features a high fender, 19-/17-inch rims, and adjustable suspension, paired with handling that makes it an easy-to-ride and fun-loving standard.

About that nod to yesteryear, the new livery pays homage to enduro bikes from the ’80s. The seat is also new with an anti-slip lining that helps keep the rider in place when the roads get rough.

The Desert Sled retails at $11,995, which is the highest price among its fellow 803cc Ducati Scrambler street-oriented siblings such as the new Nightshift ($10,995) and Icon ($9,695).

Propelling the Sled is the 803cc air-cooled L-twin. This engine produces a claimed 73 hp at 8,250 rpm and 48.9 pound-feet at 5,750 rpm. It is described by test rider Chris Northover as being an engine that “has enough power to be entertaining without being overwhelming for newer riders or too aggressive in nasty off-road situations.”

Clutch pull is light so the rider can click through the six-speed gearbox easily.

In his test ride, Northover said the bike is “great fun in a relaxed kind of way.” Supporting comments refer to the bike’s chassis and how it doesn’t necessarily dart into the corners, but it doesn’t take a whole lot of persuasion to make a turn either. The chassis “follows obediently without shaking its head or resisting.”

The fully adjustable fork and preload/rebound-adjustable shock provide 7.9 inches of travel.

A large 330mm front disc and four-piston caliper is effective in bringing the bike to a stop. Pushing the bike supermoto-style, however, may require a little more power. The rear unit is situated with a 245mm disc and single-piston floating caliper.

Stopping in midcorner turns is mitigated by cornering ABS and comes standard at both ends.

A reasonable 3.6 gallons of fuel can be loaded up in the tank. Fuel economy and real-world mpg is currently unrecorded.

The wide and tall handlebars offer leverage for tossing the bike from turn to turn. The seat is at a tallish 33.9 inches, but those who require something shorter, there is the 33-inch option. The seat’s flat base and anti-slip cover limit the rider from sliding around. Let’s leave the sliding to the gravel roads to the Off-Road ride mode, 19- and 17-inch wheels, and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires.

The Scrambler Desert Sled has modern electronics including cornering ABS, Journey and Off-Road riding modes, LED lighting, and is compatible with the Ducati Multimedia System (i.e., smartphone connectivity).

A two-year unlimited mileage warranty is included.

Minor changes with the striking new paint scheme and new seat may not seem like a lot, but this bike provides a good deal of fun both on and off-road with tidy top-shelf quality that Ducati is known for.