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Meet Ducati’s Motard and Desert X Scramblers

2020 Ducati Scrambler Desert X and Motard
Ducati Scrambler Desert X and Motard

Ducati is poised to add two more Ducati Scrambler models to its fleet, an 803cc street motard and an 1100cc desert-racing Dakar model.

Boss Claudio Domenicali showed the future direction for Scrambler at the recent launch of the 2020 model range in Italy.

Among the new bikes is a Scrambler Icon Dark the new entry level 803cc model. It will be €800 cheaper which should mean at least $A1000 off the current price of $A13,990.

It features a matt black frame, black engine with polished fin ends, black seat with grey trim and round black mirrors.

Claudio also presented two styling department drawings of a Motard version and a Desert X racer.

Motard Scrambler2020 Ducati Scrambler Motard

He says their styling department was asked to create “something unprecedented but entirely possible”.

The results are these concepts shown at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.2020 Ducati Scrambler Motard

The Motard will be based on the 803cc Scrambler.

“This is a bike we are working on right now,” says Claudio, so a production version can’t be far away.2020 Ducati Scrambler Motard

Desert X Scrambler2020 Ducati Scrambler Desert X

The Desert X is based on the 1100cc Scrambler and celebrates the 1990 Paris-Dakar Rally victory by Italian rider Edi Orioli on the Ducati-powered Cagiva Elefant. That bike is in now in Ducati’s museum above their Bologna factory.

Ducati Scrambler Motard Desert X
Dakar-winning Cagiva

“We want to build the future without forgetting the past,” Claudio said.

Interestingly, Desert X is the name of a contemporary art exhibition held in the Coachella Valley in Southern California.2020 Ducati Scrambler Desert X

While Ducati already has an 803cc Desert Sled which is more off-road capable, the Desert X will be the 1100cc equivalent.

Scrambler Ducati Desert Sled country road
Scrambler Ducati Desert Sled

Claudio says Scrambler is now the company’s biggest seller with more than 70,000 sales since launch in 2015.

The production versions of these and other new Scramblers are likely to be announced this time next year.