[Armo]

I feel really bad as I've just upset the new potential buyer and cancelled him picking up my bike as after test riding the xsr900 this morning i realised I've made a massive mistake!!
If you are thinking of selling yours for an xsr don't as the 900's are fast but boring as hell! I always love every minute on mine but the fire breathing xsr900 is really boring, too smooth and soulless.
Long live the scrambler!!!!

 

[Joooooooosh]

Ha... that was short lived!

I also test rode an XSR when I was looking to 'upgrade' from the Scrambler. Came to the exact same conclusion..
In theory it makes so much sense, pretty cheap, fast as hell, 3cyl wail and half decent looks.

Spent an hour on it and was not arsed about ever riding one again. Full throttle was great. Sounded amazing! but you get to enjoy 2.. maybe 3 gears before you're in prison. Around down you could cruise around in 6th if you wanted to. No excitement below flat out.

Then I started to pay attention to the way the thing is put together. Lots of plastic, lots of random bits stuck out here and there.

Take the Scrambler to Luigi Moto... spend all that new bike money and go mad with the engine upgrades!
That's my eventual goal. I'm sure with an uprated clutch and some specialist engine fettling, 85-90 bhp is possible and would make the Scrambler a right laugh.

 

[Simon Audi]

Or buy the 1100

Thinking of selling mine..

 

[Armo]

Or buy the 1100

Thinking of selling mine..

What bike do you fancy next?

 

[Armo]

Ha... that was short lived!

I also test rode an XSR when I was looking to 'upgrade' from the Scrambler. Came to the exact same conclusion..
In theory it makes so much sense, pretty cheap, fast as hell, 3cyl wail and half decent looks.

Spent an hour on it and was not arsed about ever riding one again. Full throttle was great. Sounded amazing! but you get to enjoy 2.. maybe 3 gears before you're in prison. Around down you could cruise around in 6th if you wanted to. No excitement below flat out.

Then I started to pay attention to the way the thing is put together. Lots of plastic, lots of random bits stuck out here and there.

Take the Scrambler to Luigi Moto... spend all that new bike money and go mad with the engine upgrades!
That's my eventual goal. I'm sure with an uprated clutch and some specialist engine fettling, 85-90 bhp is possible and would make the Scrambler a right laugh.

You nailed the feeling I got, a hoot at full throttle (wheelied in 3rd off the throttle) but that was it, it felt boring around town and didn't feel special. I then realised not every bike has the feeling I get on the scrambler.
The wife's spending the money saved on another holiday:angryfire: but 90hp would be amazing on our little bikes.

 

[Simon Audi]

Another Multistrada - I had a 17 Plate DVT and the Scrambler - with Multi being main bike and the scrambler a second toy.

Last September - I was rear ended when stopped at a roundabout and multi was written off.

Should get the second half of the settlement soon... the bike value (if you can call it that) was paid out immediately by my Insurance - well - early October... that JUST settled the finance... and I lost about 2K extras and 3K of deposit + injury and gear damage...

So finally getting the second part of the settlement - not what I wanted £ wise... but all I can get them to pay...

So thinking to get another Multi... but wife said no ... just 1 bike... and she does not want me to change it.... waste of money...

I was offered really low PX for the scrambler ... again basically what I owe on the finance and the 2K of accessories and 4K deposit would be gone...(11 months old)

The PX value is basically just £400 more than the GFV in 2 years time...

So brain says keep it another 2 years... wife says keep it...

But I do miss the acceleration and top end rush of the Multi... as well as the improved comfort..

I have also picked up tennis elbow the last 3 months... and am not sure if its as a result of the Scrambler.... its harder work than the Multi (holding on at speed)

So not really sure what to do...

Plus I have to say in a years time - I need to swap my car (lease ends) and fancy a new (or nearly new) Discovery... so am also considering overall costs....

Decisions....

 

[Armo]

Another Multistrada - I had a 17 Plate DVT and the Scrambler - with Multi being main bike and the scrambler a second toy.

Last September - I was rear ended when stopped at a roundabout and multi was written off.

Should get the second half of the settlement soon... the bike value (if you can call it that) was paid out immediately by my Insurance - well - early October... that JUST settled the finance... and I lost about 2K extras and 3K of deposit + injury and gear damage...

So finally getting the second part of the settlement - not what I wanted £ wise... but all I can get them to pay...

So thinking to get another Multi... but wife said no ... just 1 bike... and she does not want me to change it.... waste of money...

I was offered really low PX for the scrambler ... again basically what I owe on the finance and the 2K of accessories and 4K deposit would be gone...(11 months old)

The PX value is basically just £400 more than the GFV in 2 years time...

So brain says keep it another 2 years... wife says keep it...

But I do miss the acceleration and top end rush of the Multi... as well as the improved comfort..

I have also picked up tennis elbow the last 3 months... and am not sure if its as a result of the Scrambler.... its harder work than the Multi (holding on at speed)

So not really sure what to do...

Plus I have to say in a years time - I need to swap my car (lease ends) and fancy a new (or nearly new) Discovery... so am also considering overall costs....

Decisions....

It's always a tough call spending money, I sold mine for £5000 but it has got alot of extras but with 9000 miles on it I think I wont get that offer again once it goes over 10k but I only paid £4700 3 years ago so it owes me very little really.

It already had the suspension, seat, exhaust, new tyres, crash protection and custom paint when I bought it, all I've done is change them to my taste.

Yes you can get a more reliable / cheaper to service bike but I don't think any will have the same attraction as a ducati (my opinion).

 

[Max Kool]

Then I started to pay attention to the way the thing is put together. Lots of plastic, lots of random bits stuck out here and there.

My thoughts too, looks very much as if they tried to reuse as many MT-09 parts as possible, and just change to looks a bit, not coherent.

And the tank looks like as high as a tank bag.

 

[ScrambleEgg-Pepe]

I have two, one for city scrambling and rough goat/fire roads. One for screaming on backroads and, hopefully, more track days.

I went to a Ducati Scrambler Demo days at Alice's Restaurant. I want to demo the Desert Sled again and try to figure out which is better, Triumph's 1200 Scrambler or Ducati's. It's hard. They're both good and different in their own ways. I've been hunkering for longer legs Scramblers. I think l preferred the Desert Sled due to its price and weight. I like the Triumph but the price put me off quickly. So, I will be patient and wait for the right time to get the Desert Sled.

I did demo'ed the 1100cc. Just wow. I was on Highway 84 leaving Alice's Restaurant following the host on the smaller brethren. He was keeping an eye on me and testing how fast I was going. I wanted more speed and, here we went, boom. We left the slower group and we were tearing up 84. We had to wait for a minute or so for the group to arrive at La Honda. So, we all left back to the joint. The host and I just disappeared again. I got to say the 1100cc is a great bike and has the best of both worlds, freeway cruising, backroad sweeping, and goat road zipping. It can be a touring rig if one change the seat and add a good windscreen.

When Yamaha released the FZ09/MT09, I demo the bike in Santa Rosa. I love the engine but I loathe the suspension. It was not predictable and wallowed a bit. However, it was just a short ride. It should be well sort by now and there are plenty of suspension upgrades for it.

 

[Joooooooosh]

I really wanted to like the 1100 but with the extra heft, it’s didnt feel any quicker than the 800.

In some ways it felt more sluggish as the change to an electronic throttle drastically alters the character of the bike.

I’m sure with the same usual upgrades a lot of us do to the 800, the 1100 would be much improved. Maybe even more so than the 800.

 

[Simon Audi]

You do not need to do the seat or suspension on the 1100 or the exhaust.. they all work as standard.

Cosmetic changes are personal preference..

 

[ScrambleEgg-Pepe]

Joooooooosh

The 1100cc is very fast, easier to get to higher speed and I am sure it's a better freeway cruiser.

 

[Joooooooosh]

Joooooooosh
The 1100cc is very fast, easier to get to higher speed and I am sure it's a better freeway cruiser.

It does look a very good bike and I did have fun riding an 1100 for an afternoon but the 20kg weight penalty for 10bhp gain seems a lot to me.
I didn't get chance to ride it on the motorway but I bet just having more bike in front of you helps a lot.

I'd like to try an 1100 with a de-cat exhaust and remap. I bet the 1100 motor really comes to life then!

I'm sure the inevitable 1100 cafe racer will have me wanting to switch bikes again!

 

[ScrambleEgg-Pepe]

 

[Max Kool]

but the 20kg weight penalty for 10bhp gain seems a lot to me.

it's not the HP gain on the 1100, but the added torque at lower revs.

(and I don't think these extra 20kg's matter much, an 1100 weighs about the same as a Sled, which is certainly no slouch...)

I for one would love second gear wheelies at 3500 rpm on my Sled and I would not be surprised if an 1100 Sled only weighs a few lbs more than an 800.....

 

[xPepi]

Wow interesting post as I myself often think about the "what if I bought the XSR900" instead and it haunts me...I love my Italia and it's this specific model that sold me over the XSR900. That and the fact that I was a new rider and 115hp scared the hell out of me.

I'd love to read more of a detailed opinion on what made the XSR boring and soulless? The sound being a factor of course.

 

[Conissah]

20kg weight penalty for 10bhp gain seems a lot to me.

10hp is a lot. 70hp compared to 80hp is a 13.33% increase... Let's say our bikes weigh 420lbs and make 70hp. That is 6lbs per 1hp. If we had 80hp, that would be 5.25lbs per 1hp.

20kg is 44lbs, which would (theoretically) put our bike at 464lbs, if I'm using the number above. That's a 9.95% increase in weight, which is large, but it's less than the 13.33% increase in power.

800cc Scrambler = 420lbs / 70hp = 6lbs per 1 hp.
1100cc Scrambler = 464lbs / 80hp = 5.8lbs per 1 hp.

Difference of 3.39% as far as power to weight goes.

 

[Armo]

Wow interesting post as I myself often think about the "what if I bought the XSR900" instead and it haunts me...I love my Italia and it's this specific model that sold me over the XSR900. That and the fact that I was a new rider and 115hp scared the hell out of me.

I'd love to read more of a detailed opinion on what made the XSR boring and soulless? The sound being a factor of course.

I suppose it's mainly down to what you want out of a bike, if you travel on main roads, like going 100+mph everywhere and don't mind the looks, then the xsr will be fine.
I don't do the above much and when riding my normal roads (country lanes) the xsr felt like I was riding a fazer or a fridge and didn't give me that connection/feeling I get on the scrambler.
2nd gear wheelies and the extra power tempted me but I feel riding a bike is more than just going fast and I cant fully explain how the scrambler does it but it makes me feel great on 90% of my rides plus I never keep my bikes but I've had a scrambler now for 4 years which for me is unbelievable!

 

[Max Kool]

It's torque dudes, midrange torque, not hp...

 

[Conissah]

It's torque dudes, midrange torque, not hp...

Yeah I get that, I was just making a point that 10hp is nothing to laugh at. I can NOT find a dyno graph of the 1100. Ducati is claiming 65lb/ft at 4750 rpm, but I want to see that curve.