2017–2020 · Scrambler · Buyer's Guide
Style-First, Corner-Ready
The Café Racer takes the 803 cc air/oil-cooled L-twin and wraps it in a shape that actually commits to the idea. Clip-ons, rearsets, a hunched solo-look seat, bar-end mirrors, gold wheels against black-and-gold paint with a number plate on the flank. Underneath sits a 17-inch front wheel, a 180-section rear and an upside-down fork, so this is the sharpest-steering member of the Scrambler family rather than a paint job on the naked bike. 73 hp and 50 lb-ft at 5,750 rpm through a 6-speed box is enough. The point was never the number.
At 417 lb wet with 31.7 in of seat height, it stays easy to place on a road you don't know, and 5.9 in of travel at both ends keeps it honest about what a scrambler chassis should be. ABS is standard, and so is a USB port, but there's no traction control and no ride modes, which suits the bike's plain-spoken nature. It ages well because the good part is the metal and the shape, not a screen that dates. The caveats: 3.6 gal and 47 mpg set your range, the seat is built for style first, and the front fork gives you nothing to adjust.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) @ 5,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 803 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Air/oil-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Ground clearance | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.6 gal (13.5 L) |
| Fuel economy | 47 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
You notice the riding position before anything else. The clip-ons put weight through your wrists and drop your shoulders forward, so at town speeds you're holding yourself up, and past 50 mph the airflow starts carrying you instead. The L-twin thumps through the pegs and the tank at idle and settles into a hard, dry air-cooled bark once it's warm, the kind of noise you hear bouncing back off a rock cut. Bar-end mirrors sit wide enough to be useful, which isn't always true of the look. The bike feels narrow between your knees and light on its feet in traffic, and it tracks straight and calm when you get a long open sweeper. Two hours in, your neck and your backside will tell you it's a day bike, not a week bike.
Front brake master cylinder recall
Ducati recalled 2017‑2018 Scrambler 800 Café Racer models for a faulty Brembo front brake master cylinder piston that could fail, leading to loss of front braking. Dealers replace the piston free of charge.
Low‑speed throttle stumble
Some owners report a hesitation or stumble when opening the throttle slightly at low rpm, possibly due to fouled throttle bodies or sensor issues on higher‑mileage examples.
Minor oil leaks from loose filter
A few owners experienced oil seepage from the oil filter because of insufficient tightening from the factory; easily fixed by re‑torquing the filter.
Where this Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Scrambler Cafe Racer is actually built for.
For short heritage runs and small-town stops this is the right kind of bike, and it looks the part parked outside a diner. But 3.6 gal, a firm seat and clip-ons mean you'll plan shorter days than you would on a bar-and-saddle classic.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
This is the sweet spot. Hill Country's tight, rolling stuff is exactly what the 17-inch front and light steering were built for, and 73 hp is plenty on those roads. Ride it out, eat, ride home.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
Honest answer: this isn't your bike. It has presence and a real V-twin voice, but the forward-leaning stance and modest fuel range work against long rally miles and all-day interstate slabs.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2015–2021
Fun Chassis, Honest Soul
Roughly $900 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr
Competitor · 2015–2016
Ace Cafe Style, Delivered
Competitor · 2004–2015
The Cafe Racer That Delivers
Same Platform · 2017–2018
Joy With Actual Scrambler Looks
Roughly $1,800 cheaper used than this bike at 9 yr