2025 Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark and Full Throttle First Look

Ducati created the first edition of what today we might call its on-off road model in 1962, and at that time it was called Motocross and was based on the Ducati 250 Mach 1 Diana, but its styling was fresh and daring—nothing to do with the same 250 Diana and the rest of the Italian lightweights. Taller suspension, a tinier tank with smart graphics treatment, and a short exhaust with what looks like a marginal silencer gave it a lot of extra grit. It was a positive success in the US market. That suggested the US Ducati importer, the Berliner Brothers, ask Ducati to develop a second edition, strongly inspired by the typical American dirt-track racers. The new model was officially named Scrambler on both sides of the pond. It started one of Ducati’s greatest successes immediately after it was unveiled at the Milan 1967 EICMA.

Its styling remains an absolute icon in the domain of motorcycling, and only mechanical reliability problems put the Scrambler out of production at the end of 1976. Even Maestro Massimo Tamburini declared that in his younger years he spent hours admiring the Ducati Scramblers on show at the dealer in his hometown of Rimini. Despite its reliability problems, the end of the Ducati Scrambler generated a big crisis of nostalgia in the hearts of both the Ducati workers and Ducatisti around the world. But Ducati was living one of its most troubled times, cyclically changing hands—and not for the better

When things finally stabilized, the new management decided that it was time to bring the Scrambler back into production. In 2014 the new Ducati Scrambler created such a passionate expression that Ducati made the Scrambler a sort of independent brand.

Ducati resurrected the Scrambler, but not with an updated edition of the legendary bevel-gear SOHC air-cooled single. Very rationally, power came from the excellent, Pantah-derived air-cooled SOHC V-twin that had been tuned to comply with Euro 4 emission standards, in both 800cc and 1,100cc displacements. That solid V-twin changed the personality of the scrambler, making it a highly versatile runabout and mid-tourer. At this stage the new Scrambler would share with its ancestors a few basic touches of the original styling and extroverted nature.

In 2023 came Ducati Scrambler’s new generation that featured an upgraded electronic suite and chassis, while the air-cooled SOHC desmo two-valve V-twin was still available in both 800cc and 1,100cc editions, respectively rated at 73 hp and 86 hp. Numerous executions and variants were offered.

Now, Ducati Scrambler undergoes an update for 2025. The 1,100cc version of the desmo V-twin is gone and only the 803cc is available—fully refined to comply with the latest Euro 5+ emission standards. To reach this goal, three lambda sensors were adopted in combination with a more advanced catalytic converter. Power from the 88mm bore and 66mm stroke mill is still rated at a claimed 73 hp at 8,250 rpm, with 48.1 lb.-ft. of peak torque coming at 7,000 rpm. The previous edition of this unit delivered 48.8 lb.-ft. at a much lower 5,750 rpm. Compression ratio is unchanged at 11:1 while the new ECU adds full electronic control to the single, 50mm throttle body fuel injection system in order to offer traction control and four riding modes.

Braking is handled by a single 330mm rotor with Brembo four-piston caliper front disc brake and a 245mm rotor with floating single-piston caliper rear brake—both ends equipped with cornering ABS.

The chassis is based on a classic steel-tube trellis frame which retains the geometry of the previous 800cc versions: Wheelbase spanning 57 inches, steering rake at 24 degrees, and trail at 4.3 inches. At the front is a 41mm Kayaba fork while at the rear a cantilevered Kayaba single shock is actuated by a cast aluminum swingarm. The new Scrambler versions roll on front Pirelli MT 60 RS in 110/80-18 size and on rear Pirelli MT 60 RS 180/55-17 size. Seat height is 31.3 inches.

Two new 2025 versions are named Icon Dark and Full Throttle and share the same technical components and geometrical features as above. They are separated mainly by graphics and a few details.

Iron Dark comes in black-on-black graphics that underlines the clean design of the classic teardrop-shaped tank. Everything else is in black: side panels, wheels, frame, clutch, and cam belt drive covers. On the tank, the classic Ducati logo is inscribed in the Ducati wing. A modern LED headlight, classically shaped handlebar, and 4.3-inch TFT dashboard finish off the Icon Dark.

The Full Throttle version features golden wheels, full LED lighting equipment, a Termignoni exhaust system, and an up-and-down quickshifter. The handlebar is lower for a sportier stance and uses a variable gauge aluminum tubing. It also comes in black but the logo on the tank loudly proclaims Scrambler Ducati in modern character, while the seat has a more accurate ergonomic profile and a large No. 62 is inscribed on the side panels to celebrate the year of the birth of the Ducati Scrambler.

Pricing for the Icon Dark starts at $9,995 while the Full Throttle is $12,395. Both will arrive at Ducati dealers March 2025.