First Ride: 2019 Ducati Scrambler Icon & Desert Sled

By thoriq, 10 April 2019

Land Of Joy
Conceived in 2014, the Scrambler line up saw Ducati properly enter the ever-growing modern retro bikes segment since. Unlike its core performance models, the Scrambler was fashioned from the ground up purely as a fun lifestyle tool instead.

By merging Ducati’s very own heritage-driven design with a dash of its renowned modern performance magic, it didn’t take long for the Scrambler to gain in popularity worldwide, spawning a myriad of variants and special versions along the way too.

Basically, if you wanted a fun, retro-styled bike with an unmistakable Italian flavour and flair, you’d probably want a Ducati Scrambler. Like anything good, there’s always room for improvement, bringing forth the updated 2019 version featured here.

2019 Ducati Scrambler Icon
2019 Ducati Scrambler Icon
2019 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
2019 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled

For 2019, the range has been streamlined into four main variants, those being the Icon, Café Racer, Full Throttle and the Desert Sled. Of the four, we were able to sample the Icon base model and the dirt-busting Desert Sled variant during the #LandOfJoyAsia press ride held in Khao Lak, Thailand recently.

As good as the existing model was, it did miss the mark in a few areas. Thankfully, Ducati have not only remedied these quirks altogether with this mid-life refresh, they’ve also taken steps at making the main Scrambler range even better than ever.

Here’s what we garnered after riding both bikes back-to-back for a full day through this picturesque Thai seaside retreat.

Icon – Good before, even better now
Like before, the Icon serves as the entry point into the main Scrambler line up. Even in this rather ‘basic’ iteration, much of the revisions performed here were key and critical to say the least, turning this into a much friendlier bike for all than before.

Visually, the changes are subtle. Highlights include a lightly restyled steel teardrop tank with new and robust aluminium side panels, black-painted crankcase cover, brush-finished cylinder head fins, redesigned seat, as well as a redesigned headlight assembly with a matching new LED DRL layout.

Visual tweaks aside, what’s indeed welcoming are many key new features on board. Highlights include an updated digital instrument display and switchgear set, the adoption of a new hydraulic clutch system, not forgetting the presence of new and improved suspension front and aft, as well as the addition of Cornering ABS.

Altogether, these changes have made a world of difference, especially once we got the Icon going. We’ll start by highlighting the Icon’s improved ride and handling, which surely is the result of the new and recalibrated suspension hardware it rides on now.

Like before, the Icon still employs a pair of fixed 41mm inverted front forks and a pre-load adjustable rear monoshock. This newer hardware however felt noticeably softer and much more supple. Adding to that is the enhanced comfort of the new seat design, which also sits slightly lower now at 798mm and comes with more padding.

In terms of power and performance, this base Scrambler variant employ Ducati’s signature air-cooled 803cc Desmodromic L-twin as before. This update sees the mill getting polished further, gaining an improved throttle body and exhaust system that have bumped its output figures to 73HP and 67Nm.

Though not as raunchy as Ducati’s renowned Monster or Hypermotard, this mill still has enough to make point-to-point bursts in between corners, as well as high-speed cruising, a joy. What will impress most is the powertrain’s enhanced versatility as it’s easy to control in both urban and non-urban riding conditions.

New Digital instrument Display
New Digital instrument Display

Note the newly added fuel gauge and gear position indicator.

Redesigned Headlight + LED DRL
Redesigned Headlight + LED DRL

Mild nip-tuck sees a new headlight +LED DRL design.

Redesigned Seat
Redesigned Seat

New seat design feels much more comfortable now.

Updated Desmo Heart
Peppier Desmo Heart

Still air-cooled, but has more power and twist now.

Adding to this are the new hydraulic clutch and new instrument display mentioned earlier. The former delivers a lighter pull action compared to the older cable-driven type, and it comes with an adjustable lever to boot. The latter sees Ducati finally adding both a fuel and gear position indicators, thus promising a stress-free ride.

Whilst here, it’s also worth mentioning said display’s newly added Ducati Multimedia System function. This Bluetooth-enabled smartphone connectivity module allows riders to listen to music and answer calls – a feature not present in the outgoing model.

Furthermore, Ducati hasn’t skimped on safety either in this refreshed Scrambler range. For the first time, the Scrambler now gets a new Cornering ABS suite from Bosch and yes, even the humble Icon base model gets it too, and it supplements the existing standard-equipped two-channel ABS module.

By the end of our half-day stint in the 2019 Scrambler Icon’s hot seat, we’re certain that Ducati have struck the right chord with this entry-level offering. It’s evidently clear that the Icon is ‘entry-level’ by name as it offers more than just the basics anyone expects out of the premium Italian marque’s offerings.

Moreover, it still has the charming Italian style and character as before, only now it’s a lot easier ride. In other words, this refreshed Scrambler Icon should welcome just about anyone to jump into Ducati’s hip, retro bandwagon easily.

Desert Sled – Retro dirt-buster made better
Introduced in 2017, the Desert Sled variant saw Ducati finally answering cries from fans for a proper retro-styled off-roader. For 2019, the Desert Sled also gets treated with host of subtle changes in similar fashion as its Icon sibling did.

New in the 2019 Desert Sled are its seat, suspension, hydraulic clutch, digital instrument display and switchgear set, Cornering ABS, not forgetting the redesigned headlight and matching LED DRL layout.

By the way, both the Icon and Desert Sled share the same air-cooled 803cc Desmodromic L-Twin heart, and that’s where their similarities end. Hop into the Desert Sled’s taller 860mm hot seat and it becomes evidently clear that this is a retro bike that’s ready to tackle the rough stuff.

Ensuring this are bits like its fully-adjustable high-travel suspension, which are all-new in this refreshed-for-2019 version. Indeed, they go well with the 19-inch front and 17-inch rear spoked wheels setup, both appropriately shod in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR dual-sport tires.

Despite those off-road-specific bits, the Desert Sled surprisingly doesn’t feel too blunt on the pavement as most off-roaders do. It certainly has a comfier ride here compared to the Icon, and we reckon the improved seat design has contributed to this on top of the revised suspension mentioned earlier.

Of course, the Desert Sled shine brightest when it’s let loose across an open dirt trail. The affair is sweetened thanks to its dedicated Off Road riding mode present on board, which in turn brings forth the option to disengage ABS at the rear wheel. Experienced off-road and enduro riders will be chuffed with this bit indeed.

Truth be told, this writer isn’t a fan of riding through the rough. That being said, it was surprising to see just how much confidence the Desert Sled inspired this rookie off-roader when time came to blast through several dirt trails planned by Ducati during this press ride.

Redesigned Headlight + LED DRL
Redesigned Headlight + LED DRL

New headlight design also gets a protective grille.

New and improved seat
New and improved seat

The Desert Sled's seat has been revised for 2019 too.

Proper Off-Roader
Proper Off-Roader

High-travel suspension is both new for 2019 and fully adjustable.

Off-Road Mode
Off-Road Mode

Off-Road riding mode is present, and it lets you deactivate the rear wheel ABS too.

To sum up the Desert Sled, it’s a bike that’s surprisingly comfortable on road, extremely capable when taken off-road, and also one that still looks pretty even after getting itself dirty playing in the rough.

Surely, the Desert Sled’s appeal towards retro off-road enthusiasts remains as clear it was before. With the small improvements it boasts all round in its 2019MY guise, they’ve only sweeten things further indeed.

Sweet! But what’s the catch?
There’s no denying that in their updated 2019 forms, both the Scrambler Icon and Scrambler Desert Sled are a pair of exciting bikes indeed. However, avid Malaysian Ducatista need to wait for a bit for them to make landfall locally.

When exactly remains unclear, but the folks at Ducati Malaysia have hinted that both the Icon and Desert Sled, as well as its Full Throttle and Café Racer siblings will arrive “very soon.” You'll definitely here from us when they do, so stay tuned...

Specs - 2019 Ducati Scrambler Icon
Specs - 2019 Ducati Scrambler Icon

ENGINE

Air-cooled 803cc Desmodromic L-twin

TRANSMISSION

6-speed manual with hydraulic

slipper clutch, chain drive

POWER

73HP @ 8,250RPM

TORQUE

67NM @ 5,750RPM

FUEL TANK

13.5 litres

WEIGHT

173kg (dry)

SEAT HEIGHT

798mm

Specs - 2019 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
Specs - 2019 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled

ENGINE

Air-cooled 803cc Desmodromic L-twin

TRANSMISSION

6-speed manual with hydraulic

slipper clutch, chain drive

POWER

73HP @ 8,250RPM

TORQUE

67NM @ 5,750RPM

FUEL TANK

13.5 litres

WEIGHT

193kg (dry)

SEAT HEIGHT

860mm

 

 

UPDATE (21 June 2019)
Ducati Malaysia (Next Bike Sdn Bhd) have finally launched the entire 2019 Scrambler line up locally, along with five other models including the manic Panigale V4R superbike [Click here for full report].

Locally, the new Scrambler Icon commands a base retail price tag of RM52,900 whilst the Scrambler Desert Sled commands RM67,900 instead.