By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Scrambler
Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle (MY2015) vs Scrambler Desert Sled (MY2017)
Tip into a tight bend on the Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle and it's turned before you've finished pushing the wide bar. The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled sits you higher on longer-travel suspension, and its balanced chassis tips in without a fight. It flicks over light and keeps asking for more lean.
So which one do you buy?
The Scrambler Full Throttle has the edge if…
Character, looks and sound
A touch ahead: Scrambler Full Throttle
Parked side by side, the Scrambler Full Throttle draws the eye a little more. The difference is a better engine note and more engine character. Only a little, and taste can flip it.
The Scrambler Desert Sled has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: Scrambler Desert Sled
The Scrambler Desert Sled nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Credit better suspension. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
The price gap doesn't produce a clear winner. Neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Scrambler Full Throttle
Light on its feet and low in the saddle, the Full Throttle threads city traffic and drops into back-road corners at a nudge of the bar. Each roll of the throttle draws a steady pull from the air-cooled twin, and there's real punch once the revs reach the middle of the band. Up top, it's out of breath. The exhaust keeps up a throaty bark.
Scrambler Desert Sled
The Desert Sled doesn't stop where the pavement turns to gravel, with its upright stance and big front wheel tracking fire roads and light trails in comfort. Down low, there's real grunt from the air/oil-cooled twin, and the middle revs add a second shove of their own. A pothole sinks into 7.9 in (200 mm) of travel at each end. Gravel ruts barely reach the bars.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Scrambler Full Throttle has the lower seat: 31.1 in (790 mm) vs 33.9 in (860 mm).
- The Scrambler Full Throttle has the lower wet weight: 410 lb (186 kg) vs 456 lb (207 kg).
- Front Suspension Adjustable: standard on the Scrambler Desert Sled, not offered on the Scrambler Full Throttle.
Which one for the way you ride
Real off-road capability
Wrong tool: Scrambler Full Throttle
The Scrambler Full Throttle belongs on pavement. Don't plan real off-road miles on it.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
Big miles aren't where either one shines. You'll be watching for the next rest stop.
Call it even on commuting. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Scrambler Full Throttle
What owners say
Strengths
- Charismatic air-cooled V-twin engine
- High build quality and attention to detail
Trade-offs
- Basic suspension adjustment
- Lacks top-end rush
Scrambler Desert Sled
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile handling on pavement
- Genuine off-road capability
- Torquey, characterful engine
Known problems to check before you buy
Scrambler Full Throttle
- Oil leaks from filter area Some owners have reported oil leaks, often traced to a poorly torqued oil filter or loose drain bolt from the factory.
Scrambler Desert Sled
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 9-year-old Scrambler Full Throttle with a 9-year-old Scrambler Desert Sled.
- Scrambler Full Throttle
- about $5,900
- Scrambler Desert Sled
- about $6,500
At nine years old, the Scrambler Full Throttle sits around $5,900 while the Scrambler Desert Sled runs about $6,500. That's a $600 gap in the Full Throttle's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Displacement
- 803 cc
- Engine
- L-twin
- Power
- 73 hp (54 kW)
- Peak power at
- 8,250 rpm
- Torque
- 50 lb-ft (68 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 5,750 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 3.6 US gal (13.5 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 330 mm
Where the spec sheets split
| Scrambler Full Throttle | Scrambler Desert Sled | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 33.9 in (860 mm) |
| Wet weight | 410 lb (186 kg) | 456 lb (207 kg) |
| Scrambler Full Throttle | Scrambler Desert Sled | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Air/oil-cooled |
| Scrambler Full Throttle | Scrambler Desert Sled | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Telescopic | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 110/80-18 | 120/70-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 170/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.9 in (1445 mm) | 59.3 in (1505 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 6.3 in (160 mm) | 9.1 in (230 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 7.9 in (200 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 7.9 in (200 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Scrambler Full Throttle | Scrambler Desert Sled | |
|---|---|---|
| Front Suspension Adjustable | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
