Ducati SCRAMBLER 400 Sixty2 2016 — Specifications

Who did Ducati have in mind with this Scrambler 400 Sixty2? The basic idea seemed brilliant: to adapt the cool recipe of the Scrambler into a softer, more accessible version, ideal for an A2 license or for those who find the Icon 800 cm3 a bit too powerful. The result is a motorcycle that undeniably has the looks of its big sister. The 90° L-twin, air-cooled, is still there, but its internals have been modified to reach 399 cm3. It delivers a power of 41 horsepower, right at the A2 limit, and a torque of 34.3 Nm. Enough to run at a top speed of around 150 km/h, so as not to feel left behind on national roads.

But let's open the hood on this commercial strategy. To reach this price of €7,990, Ducati had to cut back, and it shows. Farewell to the inverted fork, replaced by a classic, non-adjustable 41 mm fork. The radial Brembo caliper gives way to a two-piston axial model. The swingarm goes from aluminum to steel, and the rear tire narrows to 160 wide. That's the game, we accept it. The real sticking point is that the price difference with the Scrambler Icon 800 is laughable, a mere €600. For this supplement, you get almost double the power and much more noble equipment. The question of value for money becomes immediate.

So, who is ready to put nearly €8,000 into this entry-level model? Clearly, the young public targeted by the A2 license will have difficulty justifying the investment compared to much cheaper Asian competitors. The weight of the Ducati Scrambler 400 Sixty2, 183 kg fully fueled, and its 790 mm seat height nevertheless make it a maneuverable and easy-to-live-with motorcycle. But its price positions it more as a desirable object for a stylish urbanite, more attracted by the Ducati badge and retro aesthetics than by pure rationality. After a test ride of the Ducati Scrambler 400 Sixty2, we come away charmed by its character, its deep sound and its perfectly successful look. But when consulting advertisements for a used Ducati Scrambler 400 Sixty2, you quickly realize that this is perhaps where the good deal is to be found, far from the new price which suffers from its ambiguous positioning.