Ducati Desert Sled: What makes a scrambler?

[@danmcgowan4761]

Also a pround DS owner! Man living in Vermont with all our dirt roads this bike rips! Ergos on it are perfect for standing. Running some Motoz tractionators Rallz on it for dirt. Plus adjustable front and rear suspension for on and off riding. For all you DS owners best mod is a G2 ergonomics throttle tube and new throttle cam. I think I went with a 600 profile. Just makes the bike so much more responsive, wakes it up. With Ducati discontinuing this bike I don’t think I capsule ever sell it…just a fabulous fun bike!

[@waltercardenas3480]

Proud owner of a Desert Sled. I live in Los Angeles surprisingly the DS makes a great street bike. It's narrow and nimble for lane splitting. You get a lot of ground clearence therefore you sit up high and are able to see up coming obstacles. You can even see over some car lol. I maybe biased but the DS is gorgeous looking bike. It'll definitely age well because it already looks aged!

[@VanBlamm]

Well put! I'm sure being able to filter there helps alleviate any heat issues.

[@briangc1972]

I agree, I get compliments on mine all the time. I think it is a gorgeous bike; classic lines and sexy color schemes. Pure Italian !!!

[@motobg1]

Amen

[@peterford9369]

I've always wanted a Enduro style bike, when I was younger. In my bicycle days I loved jumping ditches and riding in woods. Then when I got my first bike at 20 something, it was a Suzuki GT 500 two stroke. I married young right out of the Army to a woman with a couple of kids, so was a family man early in life. So there went the experimental Enduro ideas. But watching the series, "Time Rider", sure made me think about an Enduro again. But,it never happened. Would ride the Suzuki on dirt roads, but soon as you hit anything very deep, you knew thats not what street tires are for. You definitely need tires with some grab in dirt. Anyway your segment reminded me of those days. I'm 70 now, no more Enduro wishes now. Just happy with my triumph t100 air cooled. Gives me enough... thrill? But thanks for the thought.

[@VanBlamm]

Hah, I've tried taking my Speed Twin off the pavement here and there too. It does not like it.

[@peterford9369]

@@VanBlamm So true. Not a long enough suspension,and no dirt grab, a definite unhealthy and friendly ride, for sure. Especially the tires. Nobbies always made the difference when I was a kid. You don't run track in cleats. You don't play ball in running shoes.

[@Iceman240Z]

“Motorcycles are for everyone.” 🏍️ 😎

[@williamheinsinger7390]

I have a 2022 Ducati Scrambler Urban Motard with the same Leo Vince slip on ,Love it 💟

[@TheTreeWhisperer]

Great review 👍 really enjoyed travelling with you 🫡

[@hamishbartholomaeus]

Absolutely love this bike!! Hits the sweet spot for dirt bike riders looking for a gravel/rough pavement bike, old school duel sport, rather than an adventure bike.

[@VanBlamm]

It's a hoot, that's for sure!

[@briangc1972]

I agree, bought the Aprilia Taureg and the Desert Sled within a week of each other. Definitely different abilities and strengths. Like owning a Porsche and a Lexus, different though similar.

[@JustAGuyYaKnow42]

Good review. I think you should have talked to the two people at the 4h boat launch to see what they said about going down there.

[@VanBlamm]

Can't believe I didn't even think of that 🤦

[@VVoltz]

Awesome video, great review as usual. This a great, great bike for sure

[@pdbordelon]

Great video - I have a 2022 DS and LOVE it!

[@VanBlamm]

Nice, I love the colors on the new ones

[@grubb910]

In regard to standing ergonomics, my complaints as a Sled owner are; the upper mounting bolt on the rear shock bothers my inner thigh, and the foot pegs are a little slippery, as stated in the video. The foot pegs should be a little bit longer and have slightly more aggressive teeth (one could sharpen the teeth easily). The shock bolt could be designed to protrude less into my leg's area. I only make contact with the shock bolt while standing up on the pegs, but it does become uncomfortable, after a short time. It fits my needs very well. I'll continue with other comments. I wish it had a little bit more fuel capacity... It would be nice to have about 5-10 more horsepower, for highway riding. (Everyone enjoys more power, and I do like the power delivery, overall. If it had a little bit more on the big end, I would give it 10/10 for the engine.) All of that being considered, I enjoy the bike immensely. The front end is a little heavier than I expected, and it does take an earnest effort to get it into a balanced wheelie position. You'll have to do some clutch work and use body english to get the front end up. It's a smile factory as a rider. It handles like a dirt bike after 10 mph. At low speeds you can feel the weight, but it feels very light at any speed above that. The steering may be too light, if you expect to spend much time cruising on the interstate. It takes almost no effort to change course at highway speeds, so you may feel unstable with crosswinds and passing traffic. It's easy to manage, but it's not "cruiser-stable". The suspension is not perfect, but the adjustable settings make a very noticeable difference, allowing you to get it dialed in closer to your desires. It's not good at taking large bumps. It wants to bulk up a little. Likewise, it seems very soft until you hit a pothole, and then it wants to jar you. Must be something in the high speed compression dampening, and partly due to the limited travel. After all, it is not a motocross bike. It feels confident on gravel roads and poorly maintained back roads, but the big bumps do seem to come as a surprise, initially. I do get many compliments on the looks, coming from people in traffic, at the store, gas station, or a biker bar. Harley guys in Tennessee stare at it for a half hour while they ask questions, and assume that it is fast. It's my favorite bike, so far. I highly recommend it.

[@VanBlamm]

Thank you for the insight!

[@davidfisch7654]

Great review as always! Although I like scramblers, I think an ADV like the Triumph Tiger 900 would sooner join my stable. And for more serious off-road fun, I can’t wait for Triumph to introduce their line of enduros! Ya, I’m kind of a Triumph fan boy

[@VanBlamm]

My next bike will be an ADV in the 1200 class. Gotta cover a lot of ground to get from my home to the dirt roads haha

[@HISWSMARINE]

Great video. The sled isn't hot ... try sitting on a Ducati Streetfighter in traffic! Haha Shopping for a sled now - this was a good start.

[@haroldshull6848]

Bought a Desert Sled new in 2020. A good machine to be sure, but the handling was a bit slow... Had Buchanan put a 21" rim on the front hub and I installed a couple of DOT approved knobbys. Next, to get rake n trail back to usable the fork tubes were slid up the tripple clamps 9/10ths of an inch. I stopped there so the top mounted fork adjustments wouldn't be against the instrument housing. The handling is what I was expecting and when stopped my feet are flat on the ground. Well, one is - but I can choose which one.

[@VanBlamm]

That's awesome! I wonder if you made it handle more like the Desert X with its stock 21" front

[@maybeerainmaybeesnow]

Great video! Thanks!

[@richardstoner866]

This is my fave bike....😊🇬🇧🇺🇸✊

[@davebowden3338]

Hi Van did you have a tune or map added with the leo vince end can and the decat . Ive got the same on my sled but notice a loss of mid range umph cheers dave

[@motobg1]

Great video

[@Nick_ADV]

Solid review!

[@CEEPMDEE]

As for the heat of the Desert Sled. With that Leo Vince pipe, you eliminated the catalytic converter box that sits right under the cylinder that is between the rider's legs. That is what really makes the Scrambler 800 so hot. I have the Leo Vince GP slip on which is a little longer but still sounds amazing and does not hold that heat under where your sitting. Before I used to get burned so bad that I exhaust wrapped the frame bar by the right thigh area along with the entire exhaust.

[@philroylittlekip4882]

Did you leave your cat on?

[@CEEPMDEE]

@@philroylittlekip4882 No.. I removed it as it is a part of the factory exhaust. The bike will still get hot if your sitting in traffic but not nearly as hot as it did with the factory muffler and Cat-box.

[@yrrah89]

my dream bike

[@maybeerainmaybeesnow]

Does anyone know who makes those tucked in fold down mirrors?

[@Fee.1]

What gloves are those?

[@VanBlamm]

The Indie Ridge Golden Gloves: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5XLhnxrfMh5rqs

[@Phaedrus-th7bi]

Mine says 'Born Free 1962' on the gas cap. Does anyone know why?

[@VanBlamm]

1962 is when the original Scrambler came out. "Born free" is probably just a marketing catchphrase.

[@Phaedrus-th7bi]

@@VanBlamm That's cool. I bought a Sled a few months ago as a present to myself for turning 60. (1962 was my birth year.) I saw some sort of writing on the gas cap but never could read it, until one day I was gassing up and read 'Born Free 1962'. OMG !!!

[@OM-sb2bd]

@@Phaedrus-th7bi that’s cool! you definitely got the right bike ☮️🔥

[@jimmyjoe1871]

@@Phaedrus-th7bime too!!!

[@jimmyjoe1871]

March 62!

[@dfleon75]

👍

[@realdevbro447]

Is the mirror even useful considering the placement.

[@VanBlamm]

It's useful for passing state safety inspection and not much else

[@Malikot911]

For a min, I thought I was listening to Fort9

[@Fee.1]

I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know “scrambling” was a thing. How is that defined

[@VanBlamm]

That's just what dirt riding used to be called before purpose-built dirt bikes were invented

[@KeepItSimpleSailor]

I want one 👍🏻

[@briangc1972]

I'm in Phoenix, Arizona, I don't find the engine or exhaust heat an issue at all. You obviously are not familiar with the Desert Sled's suspension. The rear shock needs to be adjusted for your weight, it was much too stiff based upon the video. The forks have external preload adjustment, which you also didn't adjust. The suspension can be stiff for street or plush for off road; it has a very large range of adjustment. I've ridden mine on and off road and find it is a very capable off road machine. I've driven over 80 mph and it is stable and though the RPMs may seem high, the engine is very well balanced and there is zero buzz or vibration. Maybe riding motorcycles is a little too tough for you; there is nothing wrong with the Scrambler when it is used for what it is designed for.

[@kaytme5915]

"MIDDLE WEIGHT"? AT 450 POUNDS!...?🙄