Ducati SCRAMBLER 400 Sixty2 2020 — Specifications

Do you dream of a Ducati Scrambler but the 800 intimidates you, or does your A2 license restrict you? The Bologna manufacturer thought of you by releasing the SCRAMBLER 400 Sixty2. A name that packs a punch, a look copied and pasted from the larger model, and this enticing promise: Ducati fun in an accessible version. Except when you scratch the retro varnish, the picture is less idyllic. At nearly €8,000, does this motorcycle think it’s something it’s not?

Under the 14-liter tank and the iconic trellis frame, beats a 399 cm3 L-twin air-cooled engine. It delivers 40 horsepower at 8750 rpm and 34.3 Nm of torque, figures perfectly suited to the A2 license. The top speed of the Ducati Scrambler 400 Sixty2 flirts with 150 km/h, sufficient for national roads or relaxed outings. The engine is lively, sonorous, but it loses the raw energy of its big brother. Here we are in the register of cool cruising, not warrior riding. The announced weight of 183 kg fully fueled remains honest for a custom, even if we are far from the lightness of a sportbike.

Just talking about equipment. To reach this price, Ducati has made choices. The inverted fork gives way to a classic 41 mm non-adjustable fork. The radial Brembo caliper is replaced by an axial two-piston caliper, although the 320 mm front disc ensures correct braking. The swingarm switches to steel, the rear wheel is shod with a 160/60 tire, and the finishes lose cachet. It’s the game, but at this price, the pill is hard to swallow. A Ducati Scrambler 400 Sixty2 test reveals a pleasant motorcycle, easy to handle with its 79 cm seat height, but which sorely lacks bite and premium finish to justify its price tag.

Because that's where the shoe pinches. At €7,990, it finds itself in direct competition with better-equipped Japanese bikes, or facing low-cost alternatives like the Mash 400, almost twice as cheap. The used Ducati Scrambler 400 Sixty2 then becomes a more interesting subject, allowing to mitigate the shock of the new price. It clearly targets young license holders or urban dwellers seeking image, willing to pay the glamour supplement for the logo on the handlebars. But for the demanding motorcyclist who looks at the pleasure/price ratio, the math doesn’t add up. You buy here a style, a dream, not the most accomplished or the most reasonable machine in the segment.