Scramblers are ideal motorcycles for some light off-roading. Their off-road-centric underpinnings coupled with sprightly dynamics make them fun to ride on roads untraveled. Even though Triumph has been one of the early pacesetters in the genre, it is in fact Ducati who has popularised what is essentially a Brit-originated style of motorcycle. The two brands felt there is potential in this segment for a full-sized one, and Ducati here led the charge by introducing the Scrambler 1100, with three variants.
The British bikemaker wasn’t that far behind as it was evident from spy shots that surfaced in March this year. With the recent launch of the Scrambler 1200 XC & XE, the competition has got that much more interesting. The XE trim is completely off-road centric and comes with longer (even more than the XC’s 200mm) travel suspension as well, among many other sophisticated features. However, this motorcycle is more in tune with the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled when it comes to off-road dynamics. Hence we found it fair to compare the base XC variant with the slightly off-road-ish Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special. Let the fight begin!
Design & Features:
The scramblers from both Triumph and Ducati have a quite functional, no-nonsense design. You get round headlamp, easy-to-reach handlebar and a single-piece seat in both the motorcycles. The Triumph gets a typical scrambler-style sweeping exhausts while the Ducati comes with under-seat twin exhaust. For optimal off-road ability, the two bikes roll on spoke wheels that are compatible with tubeless tyres.
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC packs a circular TFT instrument console, whose usability is enhanced by the 5-way joystick in the backlit switchgear. As a world’s first feature in a motorcycle, Triumph offers GoPro control system whose connection is displayed in the TFT console, and the camera can be operated by the switchgear. However, for this, one needs to opt in for the Bluetooth connectivity module to use the feature. Pair the console with the Triumph app, and it’ll help you manage your navigation as well. The app-compatibility comes as standard, though. The Scrambler also comes with a standard keyless ignition.
The Ducati has a relatively simpler yet multifunctional LCD display with a quirky offset design. The Special variant comes with a low handlebar, aluminium fenders, chromed exhaust pipes, black spoke wheels, anodized aluminium fuel tank side covers, brushed finish on the swingarm and a premium diamond-seamed seat. A nifty feature in both the bikes is the inclusion of a USB charger under the seat.
Powertrain:
| Specifications | Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC | Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special |
| Engine | 1200cc 8-valve parallel twin engine with liquid cooling | 1079cc L-twin air cooled 4-valve Desmodromic engine with oil cooler |
| Peak power | 90PS at 7400rpm | 85.6PS at 7500rpm |
| Maximum torque | 110Nm at 3950rpm | 88Nm at 4750rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed transmission with torque-assist clutch | 6-speed transmission with hydraulically actuated slipper clutch |
The difference is pretty obvious, as Triumph comes with a much larger engine, complete with liquid-cooling. Looking at the numbers, the Triumph seems to be torquier, with the peak figure arriving much earlier than the Ducati. This should help in more effortless off-road performance. All that power and torque are reined by ride-by-wire throttle with 5 riding modes (Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road and Rider-Configurable); switchable traction control and cruise control - all being offered as standard.
The Ducati comes with three riding modes: Active, Journey and City. However, the USP of this motorcycle is the inclusion of cornering ABS, which is a segment-first. There’s Ducati Traction Control and dual-channel ABS as well. Triumph also offers cornering ABS in the Scrambler 1200, but it is exclusive only to the top-end XE variant.
Underpinnings:
| Specifications | Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC | Ducati Scrambler 1100 Special |
| Chassis type | Tubular steel frame with aluminium downtubes | Steel trellis frame |
| Front Suspension | 45mm Showa USDs, fully adjustable, 200mm travel | 45mm Marzocchi USDs, fully adjustable |
| Rear Suspension | Twin Ohlins piggyback shocks, fully adjustable, 200mm travel | Kayaba monoshock, preload and rebound adjustable |
| Front Brakes | Dual 320mm discs with Brembo M50 monobloc callipers | Dual 320mm discs with Brembo M4.32 monobloc callipers |
| Rear Brakes | 255mm disc with a Brembo twin piston calliper | 245mm disc with a single piston calliper |
| Tyre Size (Front) | 21-inch | 18-inch |
| Tyre Size (Rear) | 17-inch | 17-inch |
| Dry Weight | 205kg | 194kg |
| Fuel tank | 16-litre | 15-litre |
| Seat height | 840mm | 810mm |
| Wheelbase | 1530mm | 1514mm |
Just one look at the spec sheet and you know that the Brit outscores the Italian on most fronts. Fully adjustable suspension units, better braking components, a larger and skinnier front wheel and lastly, even though it holds just a litre more, a larger fuel tank tips the odds in the Triumph’s camp.
The Ducati claws back when it comes to weight as well as a lower saddle height. It is lighter by a good ten kilos and the rider sits 30mm lower on the 1100. Also a slightly smaller wheelbase will help the Ducati be a bit more agile when it comes to the twisty bits. The Scrambler 1100 gets Cornering ABS as standard which this trim of the Scrambler 1200 misses out on.
Pricing:
Of these two, currently the Ducati is the only one of sale which retails at Rs. 11.12 lakh, ex-showroom India. There is a more affordable version called the Standard where in you miss out on a few aesthetical elements as well as the spoke rims but it could be fetched for Rs 19 grand less.
We expect the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC to go on sale sometime around March-April 2019. What price tag will it bear? An educated man’s guess would be somewhere around the twelve lakh mark and that means at a good premium of close to a lakh over the Scrambler 1100 Special. However, for that extra money you get a bike that will be more proficient at the off-road game. We just cannot wait for to get our hands on one soon enough and maybe even pit the two.
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