By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Scrambler vs Retro Classic
Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle (MY2015) vs Yamaha XSR700 (RM11)
Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle vs Yamaha XSR700: buy with your heart, but read this first.
Out of a slow corner, the Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle's air-cooled twin pulls in one even swell, and it's barking loudest through the middle revs. The Yamaha XSR700's front wheel lifts at the slightest twist.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the Scrambler Full Throttle if…
Keeping running costs low
Better bet: Scrambler Full Throttle
If every service bill hurts, the Scrambler Full Throttle is your bike. It's the easier one on your wallet.
The Scrambler Full Throttle has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: Scrambler Full Throttle
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the Scrambler Full Throttle. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
Which one's the smarter buy
Apples and oranges
The Scrambler Full Throttle costs less, but the XSR700 does a different job. Neither is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Scrambler Full Throttle
Wide grips and a low seat let the Full Throttle dart through city gaps and twisty back roads. Brembo calipers answer the brake lever, and there's care in the finish down to the small parts. The engine doesn't find much more once you chase the top of the tach. Its exhaust keeps a throaty bark.
XSR700
Sitting neither forward nor back, the XSR700 puts you upright and relaxed, and its steering's light on the bar. Getting the front wheel up is dead simple. The bike is built to be changed. Pushed hard over a bump, the suspension's quick to hit its limits. The gearbox snaps through every shift.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Scrambler Full Throttle has the lower seat: 31.1 in (790 mm) vs 32.1 in (815 mm).
- The Scrambler Full Throttle has the larger engine: 803 cc vs 689 cc.
- Slipper Clutch: standard on the Scrambler Full Throttle, not offered on the XSR700.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither one fits
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
Nothing splits them on commuting and a first bike. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
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
XSR700
Strengths
- Handling You Trust Immediately
- Cheap To Keep Running
- A Genuine Blank Canvas
- Settled At Highway Speed
- Punchy, characterful CP2 engine
Trade-offs
- Occasional False Neutral
- Surface Rust Shows Early
- Sticky Starter Switch
- Wiring After Winter Storage
- Budget suspension limits fast riding
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.
XSR700
- Swingarm and fastener corrosion Surface rust appears on the swingarm, frame welds, and zinc-plated fasteners, particularly when ridden in wet conditions or exposed to winter road salt.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 5-year-old Scrambler Full Throttle with a 5-year-old XSR700.
- Scrambler Full Throttle
- about $5,100
- XSR700
- about $7,000
At five years old, the Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle sits around $5,100 while the Yamaha XSR700 runs about $7,000. That's a $1,900 gap in the Scrambler's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Wet weight
- 410 lb (186 kg)
- Torque
- 50 lb-ft (68 Nm)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Scrambler Full Throttle | XSR700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 32.1 in (815 mm) |
| Scrambler Full Throttle | XSR700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 803 cc | 689 cc |
| Engine | L-twin | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) | 75 hp (55 kW) |
| Peak power at | 8,250 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Peak torque at | 5,750 rpm | 6,500 rpm |
| Scrambler Full Throttle | XSR700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 44 mpg (US) / 5.4 L/100 km | 55 mpg (US) / 4.3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.6 US gal (13.5 L) | 3.7 US gal (14 L) |
| Scrambler Full Throttle | XSR700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 330 mm | 282 mm |
| Front tire | 110/80-18 | 120/70-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.9 in (1445 mm) | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Scrambler Full Throttle | XSR700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
