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Ducati Demo Day - For the Rest of Us
For motorcycle journalists, riding the latest dream machines is a job requirement. But for the rest of us, the chance to spend an afternoon riding a manufacturer's full 2015 offerings on some of the best motorcycle roads in the western hemisphere is little more than a fantasy. But thanks to Beverely Hills Ducati, fantasies it turns out, can come true.
Who Wants to Ride a Ducati?
In June, Beverly Hills Ducati hosted a Ducati Demo Day atop Southern California's infamous "Snake." Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, the 21 turns that make up the Snake's pristine asphalt are a magnet for SoCal motorcyclists of all stripes, and a perfect place to spend some time testing out Ducati's 2015 line-up. Anyone with a motorcycle class license, full insurance, and appropriate riding gear could sign-up and demo an impressive selection of brand new Ducati Motorcycles.
Demo machines included: the 2015, Panigale 1299, Scrambler, Diavel, Monster 821, Monster 1200 and Multistrada.
We couldn't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon, so Stacie B. London and I rode out the top of the Snake for a day of fun on some brand new Ducatis.
The Snake
THE SCRAMBLER
First on the menu was the Scrambler. The variant available to us unwashed masses to ride was a bright yellow "Icon." Many great things have been written about the Scramble from Ducati, so we were eager to take it for a spin.
Climbing aboard the retro-styled bike, the first thing I noticed was the low seat height—790mm or 31.1 inches to be precise. Being 6'3", seat height is never a concern for me, but for those not as freakishly tall, being able to plant one's feet on the ground is a confidence builder. The front wheel had a wide range of lateral movement and the equipped, wide bars gave the stylish machine a lot of low speed control and a nice tight turning radius.
READ MORE: Ducati Scrambler First Ride | RideApart
Making my way down the Snake, the Scrambler instantly lived up to the fun factor I'd read about. Easy handling and comfortable to ride, its 803cc L-Twin air cooled engine made the 75HP known down low. Throttle authority was crisp and the power came on evenly throughout the power band with no gabbiness or surprises.
Getting a better feel for the bike, I started to push it through the complex of technical corners that make up the Snake, and the Scrambler got better with each turn and transition. The pre-load adjustable rear suspension handled my 180lbs through the corners with no problems in its stock set-up, and the front 41mm upside down Kayaba forks felt sure under moderate riding loads.
The wide 17-inch 180/55 Pirelli MT 60 RS rear tire coupled with high foot pegs inspired me to push the bike faster through the twisty roads. Even with its low seat height, the Scrambler had plenty of ground clearance.
Only when I pushed the Scrambler fast and late into a corner did I tickle the limits of the front suspension. On the wrong side of the legally posted speed limit, I came in hot to a decreasing radius turn and went hard on the front brakes. The Brembo calipers did their job, but the front forks were softer than I expected and the front end dove a little deeper than I was ready for. The self-induced upset was nothing that couldn't be quickly remedied with more gas and less brake. I imagine that some front end suspension set-up could address the softness I felt from the forks. I wasn't on the brakes hard enough to test the the Scrambler's ABS, but it was enough to remind me that I wasn't on a sport bike. Riding one of those would come later that afternoon.
On the way back up the hill, I sat back on the seat and enjoyed the bike closer to the legal speed limit. The Scrambler seemed like it could be set-up in lots of different styles. With its wide bars, I imagined it as a mini cruiser of sorts—or a bobber, or even a cafe variant. It'll be fun to see what Scrambler custom builders come up with in the future.
MONSTER 821
The next course on the Ducati buffet was the '15 Monster 821.
