2022–2024 · Scrambler · Buyer's Guide
The City Supermoto With Soul
The Urban Motard takes the Scrambler platform and drops the dirt pretense. Seventeen-inch spoked wheels front and rear, a 180-section rear tire, wide bars, and a supermoto stance built for pavement instead of gravel. The 803 cc air-cooled L-twin makes 73 hp and 49 lb-ft, which is exactly the kind of muscle a light trellis-framed bike wants: enough shove to make a stoplight sprint interesting, never enough to feel like homework. Ducati kept the equipment sane too. ABS, smartphone connectivity, and a USB port are standard, and nothing on the bike asks you to learn a menu tree before you ride it.
At 432 lb wet and 31.7 in to the seat, it is one of the easier Ducatis to simply get on and go. Steering is quick without being nervous, and it stays planted enough that a 112 mph top end never feels like a stunt. The honest caveat is the suspension story. You get 5.9 in of travel at both ends, which is real scrambler numbers rather than badge engineering, but the fork is non-adjustable and only the shock takes preload. This is a bike for riders who want Italian character on urban and back-road pavement, not a long-haul tool.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 49 lb-ft (66 Nm) |
| Displacement | 803 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 432 lb (196 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.6 gal (13.5 L) |
| Top speed | 112 mph (180 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 45 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Safety
The first thing that registers is the noise. That air-cooled twin has a dry, mechanical rattle at idle and a hard bark once you crack the throttle, and the vibration through the bars and pegs is present without ever going numb-fingered. You sit tall and open on it, wide bars pushing your elbows out, weight forward over the front wheel in a way that makes you want to lean on it. Controls are light and predictable, so you stop thinking about the machine within a couple of miles. On real roads at real speed it feels smaller than the numbers say, flicking between lines with a wrist and a shoulder. At highway pace the fairing-free front end puts the wind squarely on your chest, and 3.6 gal at 45 mpg sets a natural rhythm of stops. It is a bike that rewards short, intense rides.
Warped front brake rotor
A few reports of warped front rotor causing pulsing under braking; may require rotor replacement.
Engine hesitation and stalling
Some owners report intermittent engine stalling and hesitation when applying throttle, sometimes accompanied by backfiring and inability to reach highway speeds. Possible causes include fouled injectors or throttle body issues, especially on bikes with low mileage.
Shift lever bolt loosening
The shift lever bolt can come loose over time, leading to play in the shifter; fixable with thread-locking compound.
Oil leaks from filter and bolts
Some owners have experienced oil leaks due to improperly torqued factory bolts or filter seal issues, requiring early service visits.
Chain rusts easily
The stock chain is prone to rust if not meticulously lubed and maintained, requiring more frequent care than some competitors.
Rusting fasteners
Cheap fasteners, like fuel cap screws and exhaust washers, can rust prematurely, especially in humid climates.
Where this Ducati Scrambler Urban Motard 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 Urban Motard is actually built for.
For Hill Country loops this is a genuinely fun weapon: light, quick-steering and loud in the right way. Just know the 3.6 gal tank turns the long empty stretches into a fuel-planning exercise.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
The style is right and the character is real, but this one is built for a hard Sunday rather than a week on the road. Great for day trips out of town, thin on range and wind protection for touring.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
If you want sound, presence and a bike people ask about, the Urban Motard delivers all three with an Italian accent. It is not a highway-mile cruiser though, so match it to shorter rides.
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 Urban Motard. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
