The past few weeks have seen a bunch of new bikes hit the scene from OEMs, and the 2017 Ducati lineup is no exception. At EICMA and Intermot this year, Ducati unveiled a whole range of model upgrades and new motorcycles that we’ll see for 2017. It’s everything from an ultra-rarified, featherweight supersport bike to a new dirt-inspired twist on an old favorite. Let’s break it down.
Two New Ducati Scrambler Models
Few bikes have made as big a splash on the motorcycle scene as the Scrambler Ducati. Its light weight, approachable character and fun vibe make the Scrambler an easy choice for riders of virtually any skill level. With two engine sizes (400cc and 800cc) and several model variations already available, Ducati have expanded the Scrambler lineup with two new exciting versions.
2017 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer
Taking a big cue from the global custom scene, Ducati have created a Cafe Racer version of the Scrambler to give people that street-oriented, classic vibe they’ve been looking for. Ducati have taken this rebellious, British tradition and infused it with three shots of Italian espresso. Yet the details on the Scrambler Cafe Racer aren’t just stylistic, they’re performance-oriented as well. The 2017 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer will feature a unique paint color called “Black Coffee”. A unique seat and passenger seat cover cowl further set the Cafe Racer version of the Scrambler apart from its siblings. Clip-ons and bar end mirrors come standard, as does a double-pipe Termignoni exhaust system for extra growl. Rounding out the looks of the Scrambler Cafe Racer are a tidy little headlight cowl and a set of very cool side cover number plates. A pair of 17″ aluminum rims are shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires for terrorizing the streets.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the 2017 Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer will be available starting April 2017, and you can reserve one right now.
2017 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
The Scrambler Ducati is just one bike of many, across a variety of manufacturers, designed to sate people’s growing appetite for bikes they can take off-pavement. We’ve ridden both the Scrambler and the Scrambler Sixty2 on the pavement and the dirt and so far they’ve been well up to the challenge. Now Ducati have taken that idea and turned it up to eleven with the 2017 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled.
Much like the classic scrambler motorcycles of the ’60s and ’70s that were basically just street bikes modified for off-road use, the desert sled was a bike that’d been specifically modified for desert racing. The 2017 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled pays homage to that idea not just with styling, but with actual component upgrades designed to take you out among the cacti. Specifically, Ducati have reinforced the Scrambler Desert Sled’s frame. They’ve given it taller, fully-adjustable suspension with nearly 8″ of travel. They’ve also given it a taller seat, making it easier to get into the pegs and ready to roost your way out of the deep stuff. A headlight stone-guard comes as standard, as do 19″/17″ spoked wheels front and rear shod in Pirelli ScorpionTM Rally STR rubber.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the 2017 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled will be available starting April 2017, and you can reserve one right now.
New Ducati Monsters Are Coming
For 2017 Ducati have updated both the midsize and big Monsters alike, keeping this icon charging forward.
2017 Ducati Monster 797
The midsize Monster returns for 2017 after several years away, retaining all the fierceness of what a naked sport bike can be. While there isn’t anything revolutionary here (if it ain’t broke…) the 2017 Ducati Monster 797 offers folks an easier entry into the Ducati sportbike lineup. The new bike will be available in Star White Silk, Ducati Red, and Dark Stealth with options for the frame and wheels in black or red. So it’s going to look as sharp as we expect it to ride.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the 2017 Ducati Monster 797 will be available starting April 2017, and you can reserve one right now.
2017 Ducati Monster 1200 and 1200S
Next year marks the first refresh since the Monster 1200 went liquid-cooled. It’s a bike we and many of our customers have really enjoyed. Like its midsize sibling, the 797, the 2017 Ducati Monster 1200 and 1200S are seeing minor updates to color choices and a handful of aesthetic details. Most notable being a 15 hp jump in the engine’s power to 150hp at 9,250rpm and 93 pound-feet of torque. The 1200S in particular provides a suite of premium features, including Ohlins suspension, Brembo M50 brakes, a unique set of rims and full LED indicators and daytime running lights. All as standard.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the 2017 Ducati Monster 1200 and 1200S will be available starting April 2017, and you can reserve one right now.
The All-new 2017 Ducati Supersport and Supersport S
While some models in the Ducati lineup for next year are gentle refreshes to already superb bikes, Ducati has also expanded their lineup with entirely new models. The 2017 Ducati Supersport is one of those. The Supersport takes its 937cc L-twin engine from the fantastic Ducati Hypermotard, creating a less serious, more approachable sport riding experience. While it might look like its Panigale siblings, the Supersport has slightly higher bars and revised seating geometry to make it more comfortable for daily riding and even touring. Tuned for low-end torque (71.3 ft-lb to be exact), the Supersport makes more of the bike’s power available where you’ll actually use it on the street.
Like other models in their lineup, the 2017 Ducati Supersport S adds a number of premium components. Fully-adjustable Ohlins suspension comes front and rear, as you’d expect for an S. What you might not expect is the included DQS quick-shifter that comes standard on the Supersport S.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the 2017 Ducati Supersport and Supersport S will be available starting April 2017, and you can reserve one right now.
The All-new 2017 Ducati Multistrada 950
The Ducati Multistrada is one of our absolute favorite motorcycles. It’s a genuinely capable bike that will eat big miles on the slab, or even big dirt off-pavement. Yet for the past two generations, the Multi has only been available in a 1200. For 2017 Ducati is expanding the Multistrada lineup to include the Multistrada 950, a bike aimed squarely at midsize adventure bikes like the Triumph Tiger 800XC and the BMW F800GS. Given its pedigree, this new Multi should give both a real run for it.
Like the bigger Multistrada Enduro, the Multistrada 950 features a 19″ front and 17″ rear wheel combo, and the slightly smaller engine still packs a 113 hp punch. A tall 6.7″ of suspension travel should eat up rough terrain and crappy Chicago streets with equal aplomb.
What has us particularly excited about a smaller Multi is how much fun we expect it to be. The Multi handles, goes and stops in a way that gives the rider a ton of confidence. Additional rider aids such as adjustable ABS and Traction Control riding modes add to the readability of these bikes. It’s a special thing, really. Ridden well, a Multi will chase any sport bike down a paved canyon road, only to then turn up the gravel trail and keep exploring.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the 2017 Ducati Multistrada 950 will be available starting April 2017, and you can reserve one right now.
2017 Ducati 1299 Superleggera
Last, but certainly not least, Ducati have released a new, featherlight version of the venerable 1299 Panigale. The 2017 Ducati 1299 Superlaggera is packed with technology and craft, but there’s really only one critical thing to understand about this bike, and that’s power to weight ratio. Any motorcycle that puts down 215 hp would be impressive, but to put 215 hp aboard a bike with a dry weight of just 344 lbs is a whole other level of bonkers. Imagine the family car with 1,800 hp.
Yeah, it’s gonna be fast.
That incredible weight figure is thanks to our old friend carbon fiber. Ducati have essentially built the entire bike out of it, frame and all. They’re boasting that the Superlaggera is the “greatest expression of engineering, technology and performance ever put into mass production by a motorcycle manufacturer.” Strong words, but looking at the stats, it’s tough to argue.
Your own personal rocket ship is within reach, but keep in mind that only 500 of these remarkable motorcycles will be produced. So if you want one, let us know ASAP.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the 2017 Ducati 1299 Superlaggera will be available starting April 2017, and you can reserve one right now.