2018 · Scrambler · Buyer's Guide
One Year Of Pure Scrambler
The Street Classic is the road-going reading of the Scrambler family, and it wears that intent openly. An 803 cc air-cooled L-twin makes 73 hp and 49 lb-ft, hung in a steel trellis frame, with an 18-inch front wheel and a fat 180-section rear tire saying most of what needs saying about where this bike belongs. Ducati still gave it 5.9 in (150 mm) of suspension travel front and rear, so the raised stance is real hardware rather than decoration. But nobody built this thing for trails. It is a styling statement with credible engineering underneath, and it existed for a single model year.
On the road it is more approachable than the styling promises. At 424 lb wet with a 31.0 in seat, it is easy to place and easy to trust inside the first mile. The rear shock takes preload, the fork is fixed, so you set the bike up once and get on with riding it. ABS is standard, there is a USB port on board, and that is the extent of the electronics. Ageing is where you pay attention: small hardware and plating are the weak points, not the mechanicals. Buy it because you want this exact bike, not because you need range or luggage.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) @ 8,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 49 lb-ft (67 Nm) @ 5,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 803 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Front tire | 110/80-18 |
| 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 | 31.0 in (787 mm) |
| Wet weight | 424 lb (192 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.6 gal (13.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
Warped front brake rotor
At least one owner reported a warped front brake rotor causing pulsing through the lever; replacement was required.
Throttle hesitation and lean stumble
At higher mileages, some owners report a hesitation or stumble on initial throttle opening, often traced to fuel injection issues like fouled throttle bodies or degraded injectors.
Oil leak from loose oil filter or bolts
A few owners experienced oil leaks shortly after delivery, caused by a loose oil filter or an under-torqued bolt. Typically fixed by tightening or replacing the filter.
Chain rusts easily
The OEM chain appears to be more susceptible to surface rust than normal, requiring frequent lubrication to prevent corrosion.
Rust on screws and fuel cap
Some hardware, notably the fuel cap screws, was reported to rust early in the bike's life, likely due to poor plating.
Where this Ducati Scrambler Street Classic 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 Street Classic is actually built for.
For small-town routes at an unhurried pace, this is exactly the right kind of machine to be seen on. Just plan around a 3.6 gal tank and no factory luggage, because it will not carry your week.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
73 hp and easy steering are plenty for tight Hill Country roads, and it looks right parked outside the barbecue joint. It is a day-ride bike, not a distance tool.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
It has presence and a voice, which is most of what you want. But this is a lean 424 lb Italian twin with no luggage system, so it plays the rally weekend differently than a cruiser does.
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 Street Classic. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
