a ride out of schedule on the Ducati Scrambler Cafè Racer
Are you familiar with the Chaos Theory and the Butterfly Effect?
“a butterfly flaps its wings in Beijing, and weather in New York is different”
(It's amazing how Jurassic Park influenced pop culture)
There is apparently no direct connection among those bearded chaps wearing cuffed trousers and motorcycle riders. But the motorcycle neo-retro wave is a consequence of all that hipster thing (even though none of them will ever get rid of his fixed gear bike).
“few blokes spend time sipping an americano nearby a MacBook, and OEMs fill their product ranges with lifestyle oriented motorbikes”
There is a silver lining to every cloud, isn’t there?
These new bikes are not meant to be daily commuters or make you go fast like a fighter jet. They’re born to let you enjoy the fresh air on your face, when getting out on a sunny morning. They’re an instrument to fill your time beautifully. When it’s about enjoying your life, stopwatches are pointless, the question is: how much do you feel good?
We got the Scrambler Café Racer in a Friday afternoon. It arrived together with perfect weather conditions, so even though the schedule was to begin the shooting on Monday, we suddenly got a fancy motorbike, no rain and the weekend incoming.
When you go to Disneyland you don’t waste time in the parking lot, right?
“a butterfly flaps its wings in Beijing, and weather in New York is different”
(It's amazing how Jurassic Park influenced pop culture)
There is apparently no direct connection among those bearded chaps wearing cuffed trousers and motorcycle riders. But the motorcycle neo-retro wave is a consequence of all that hipster thing (even though none of them will ever get rid of his fixed gear bike).
“few blokes spend time sipping an americano nearby a MacBook, and OEMs fill their product ranges with lifestyle oriented motorbikes”
There is a silver lining to every cloud, isn’t there?
These new bikes are not meant to be daily commuters or make you go fast like a fighter jet. They’re born to let you enjoy the fresh air on your face, when getting out on a sunny morning. They’re an instrument to fill your time beautifully. When it’s about enjoying your life, stopwatches are pointless, the question is: how much do you feel good?
We got the Scrambler Café Racer in a Friday afternoon. It arrived together with perfect weather conditions, so even though the schedule was to begin the shooting on Monday, we suddenly got a fancy motorbike, no rain and the weekend incoming.
When you go to Disneyland you don’t waste time in the parking lot, right?
1. Daily Racer
The Scrambler Cafè Racer shares the platform with the rest of the midsize Scrambler lineup, but is way more than a lightly tweaked Scrambler: the guys in Borgo Panigale headquarter were able to make this bike stand alone as a model apart with its own -roadster- character.
The Desert Sled (we tested some time ago) seems to belong to a different galaxy.
What all the Scrambler 800 share, is the one and only riding mode available: the no-stress one.
When it comes to cafe racers, manufacturers use to pay way more attention to the aesthetics than to the ergonomics and so do most customers (of course the latters happen to regret it during every ride lasting more than 5 minutes).
The Scrambler Cafè Racer, is quite different: it features the seductive clip-on handlebars, but is made to be ridden whenever you want.
The knobs height is higher than usual and the clip-ons are reassuringly open. In addition, the foot-pegs are in the same (low) position of the other Scrambler 800.
At the end of the day, the riding position is non-extreme at all and somehow relaxed either.
The Scrambler Cafè Racer can easily be your daily ride if you’re into it.
The Desert Sled (we tested some time ago) seems to belong to a different galaxy.
What all the Scrambler 800 share, is the one and only riding mode available: the no-stress one.
When it comes to cafe racers, manufacturers use to pay way more attention to the aesthetics than to the ergonomics and so do most customers (of course the latters happen to regret it during every ride lasting more than 5 minutes).
The Scrambler Cafè Racer, is quite different: it features the seductive clip-on handlebars, but is made to be ridden whenever you want.
The knobs height is higher than usual and the clip-ons are reassuringly open. In addition, the foot-pegs are in the same (low) position of the other Scrambler 800.
At the end of the day, the riding position is non-extreme at all and somehow relaxed either.
The Scrambler Cafè Racer can easily be your daily ride if you’re into it.
2. minimal born Racer
The checkered-flag logo, the No.54 and the black-gold livery (the last two are a nod to the brand heritage) give to the Cafè Racer a go-faster racing halo.
By the way, the leather seat, the black Termignoni exhaust and the radial front brake pump also deserve a mention.
Cafe racer’s goal is collect glances when they’re parked and this Scrambler Cafe Racer is a straight shooter.
By the way, the leather seat, the black Termignoni exhaust and the radial front brake pump also deserve a mention.
Cafe racer’s goal is collect glances when they’re parked and this Scrambler Cafe Racer is a straight shooter.
In contrast to the high-end aesthetic, the suspension dept. is basic. No adjustable fork nor Swedish rear mono is featured. The equipment supplied by Kayaba is definitely minimal.
On the bright side, the suspensions do their job thanks to the fine tuning: the setting is enough composed when you push into the bends and soft enough to filter the road bumps.
The trellis frame combined with the L-Twin is a good old Italian recipe from Borgo Panigale. It’s a classic that fits perfectly, blending stiffness and lightness.
The bike is lightweight with just enough engine. It’s not unresponsive (is an L-twin bred in Bologna) but is very nice to the rider.
In all fairness, the behaved 803cc mill is fruity enough to have fun, but has not the adequate number of ponies to brag with your friends at the pub.
It is too quiet also, but still makes a good noise thanks to the air-cooling and to the exhaust note.
(If you are looking for more grunt, maybe you should go for the growling (and grown) Scrambler 1100, except is not available with the appealing clip-on handlebars).
On the other hand, when it comes to handling, this Scrambler Cafè Racer is the best in class, hands down. Just try to catch this nimble roadster on a windy road: is quick as a wildcat.
There is no electronic help, apart the ones required to be law compliant but it is not a downside after all. Thanks to the great balance of this motorcycle, you never feel that with electronic magics you could go faster.
The traction control is still the guy on the saddle, the RBW is a deal involving your wrist and a wire of steel. That’s not just idiotically romantic: the more you drive, the more you feel good. A bike like this produce sensations digital stuff can’t duplicate.
On the bright side, the suspensions do their job thanks to the fine tuning: the setting is enough composed when you push into the bends and soft enough to filter the road bumps.
The trellis frame combined with the L-Twin is a good old Italian recipe from Borgo Panigale. It’s a classic that fits perfectly, blending stiffness and lightness.
The bike is lightweight with just enough engine. It’s not unresponsive (is an L-twin bred in Bologna) but is very nice to the rider.
In all fairness, the behaved 803cc mill is fruity enough to have fun, but has not the adequate number of ponies to brag with your friends at the pub.
It is too quiet also, but still makes a good noise thanks to the air-cooling and to the exhaust note.
(If you are looking for more grunt, maybe you should go for the growling (and grown) Scrambler 1100, except is not available with the appealing clip-on handlebars).
On the other hand, when it comes to handling, this Scrambler Cafè Racer is the best in class, hands down. Just try to catch this nimble roadster on a windy road: is quick as a wildcat.
There is no electronic help, apart the ones required to be law compliant but it is not a downside after all. Thanks to the great balance of this motorcycle, you never feel that with electronic magics you could go faster.
The traction control is still the guy on the saddle, the RBW is a deal involving your wrist and a wire of steel. That’s not just idiotically romantic: the more you drive, the more you feel good. A bike like this produce sensations digital stuff can’t duplicate.
3. Ace Cafè
At the end of the day, this Scrambler is a looker (but it’s not for posers). Its ace in the hole, is the playful feeling that delivers whenever you grab the handlebars: you feel like your age is irrelevant.
This easy-going roadster features only the best bits of an old-school ride: it offers pure and unadulterated driving pleasure.
If you allow an analogy with cars, the Scrambler Cafè Racer is comparable to the British Roadsters. It’s all about the emphasis on sporting appearance and character. Like those cars, this is a sports machine engineered to be enjoyed at its limits. You get the opportunity to drive something it at its fullest.
Don’t stop at the nice, fast-looking design. The Cafè Racer it’s genuinely capable and will respond to some spirited riding, but above everything, it’s a lovely thing to drive.
On the way home, you will happen to choose the longest road.
This easy-going roadster features only the best bits of an old-school ride: it offers pure and unadulterated driving pleasure.
If you allow an analogy with cars, the Scrambler Cafè Racer is comparable to the British Roadsters. It’s all about the emphasis on sporting appearance and character. Like those cars, this is a sports machine engineered to be enjoyed at its limits. You get the opportunity to drive something it at its fullest.
Don’t stop at the nice, fast-looking design. The Cafè Racer it’s genuinely capable and will respond to some spirited riding, but above everything, it’s a lovely thing to drive.
On the way home, you will happen to choose the longest road.
PICTURES BY LEONARDO PERUGINI
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Saturday Morning Call is on SPECIAL CAFE #42
SCRAMBLER CAFÈ RACER 2019
CAFÈ RACER MY 2019 comes with "SILVER ICE MATT" painting and spoked rims.
SCRAMBLER CAFÈ RACER 2019 image courtesy of Ducati Motor Holding
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