[The Dark Knight]

hello all,

Want some advice from you guys.

I’m a new rider, never rode a bike other than a moped outside of my driving course and exams.

I’ve got my heart set on a Ducati scrambler 800. Some say it’s too much others say it’s fine.

What is the general consensus on here?

Also should I bother with getting a new one? The main draw being a new rider is the cornering ABS but is this going to make the bike much safer for me or is it just a great sales pitch?

I want to fully customise the bike anyway so getting an older one makes much more sense financially.

I’m in Essex in the UK. If there’s anyone in the Essex/London area that would suggest a good place to get some of the work done on it in time? Again being a new rider and having no knowledge or clue about doing my own work is like to just give it to someone and have them sort it for me

Regards

 

[stavely]

Scramblers are light, agile and easy to ride. They appeal to experienced and new riders so you will be fine.
Some people find the throttle snatchy at low speed but this is easily sorted. search on here for "throttle tamer" or "snatchy throttle". Also the late throttle tube is better and can be bought at your dealer.
Get a secondhand bike, cornering ABS is really not that important, agility,good handling, good feeling are way more important, and thinking ahead renders it almost redundant. Its not magic, it may stop you locking the front in a cranked over cornering panic, but you´re already in too hot and it´s unlikely to stop you running off the road or into oncoming traffic! Don´t ever ever expect it to. Ride within your limits. push your limits progressively. Try a track day for that. In the slow group to start.
Get a bike that has proof (a receipt) the desmo service has already been done. Its an expensive service, usually well over 500 quid.
Get on, ride, don´t over think it. Expect the un-expected though and you´ll be fine.

 

[The Dark Knight]

Thanks for your reply mate, exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

So I will go with an older model.

What is a Desmo service? Excuse the ignorance

I’ll look into the throttle thing for sure, is there any other mods that could improve this bike for a new rider?

 

[stavely]

Ducati´s have desmodromic valve control. Only Ducati´s have these types of valves. They work really well but are expensive to service as the rear ones in particular are tricky to get at. Don´t let it worry you but really it´s a specialist job unless you are a very experienced mechanic.
The desmo service is at every 7500 miles so be aware that an expensive service may be due depending on the mileage of the bike.
The original seat is an instrument of torture, (this is true of many bikes though),this will limit the amount of miles you can put on before the pain becomes unbearably distracting, or your manhood goes numb! But if you are customising there is a stack of better seats out there. In fact a sack of barbed wire rusty nails and red hot pokers would be better than the original. Well in my opinion anyway.
Any other mods are very personal, silencers, paint jobs,rear suspension, brake pads, mirrors that work, so not new rider issues.
Oh but get ear plugs, the cheap throw away foam ones (as used by motoGP gods) are fine. Motorbike helmet wind noise is very damaging and you can´t exchange your hearing once it´s damaged.

 

[Braaptothefuture]

Hi mate,

My sled is my first bike, I wanted to customise it too which is steadily happening. A lot of the work to do so is very simple and doing it yourself or with the help of a friend is really rewarding and you'll feel more connected to your bike...which makes you spend more on it. It's a slippery slope!

 

[MartyWax]

Get it! You will be fine! My first street bike was a 650 and it took me about 2 months to be over it! You'll be happy you bought it... Don't look back! Haha!

 

[The Dark Knight]

Thanks for clarifying that, something I’ll bare in mind.

I will be changing the seat anyway and will probably have bought it before the bike lol love the look of the Mugello seats.

Ear plugs are something I never thought of too

Has there been any change to the scramblers prior to the release of the 2019? Is the 2015 the same as the 2018 model?

Ducati´s have desmodromic valve control. Only Ducati´s have these types of valves.

The original seat is an instrument of torture,
Any other mods are very personal, silencers, paint jobs,rear suspension, brake pads, mirrors that work, so not new rider issues.

Oh but get ear plugs, the cheap throw away foam ones (as used by motoGP gods) are fine. Motorbike helmet wind noise is very damaging and you can´t exchange your hearing once it´s damaged.

 

[The Dark Knight]

Hi mate,

My sled is my first bike, I wanted to customise it too which is steadily happening. A lot of the work to do so is very simple and doing it yourself or with the help of a friend is really rewarding and you'll feel more connected to your bike...which makes you spend more on it. It's a slippery slope!

Yeah it’s a bit daunting doing the work myself. I suppose once I’ve got it I can start playing with it and will see what I’m comfortable doing. I know what I want it to look like roughly in my head. Just need to get the bike. Should have enough money by the end of August for the bike and riding gear (helmet, jacket etc etc)

 

[The Dark Knight]

Get it! You will be fine! My first street bike was a 650 and it took me about 2 months to be over it! You'll be happy you bought it... Don't look back! Haha!

I’ve been obsessed for 2 months now. No looking back

 

[Braaptothefuture]

Yeah it’s a bit daunting doing the work myself. I suppose once I’ve got it I can start playing with it and will see what I’m comfortable doing. I know what I want it to look like roughly in my head. Just need to get the bike. Should have enough money by the end of August for the bike and riding gear (helmet, jacket etc etc)

Think of it this way; if you cock it up then pay someone to fix it. Same as paying in the first place

You'll get plenty guidance here and on YouTube

 

[AdminBot47]

I rode a 97cc scooter for the whole year prior to buying my scrambler. Yes, it's bigger and louder and faster, but it's also ergonomically logical and infinitely flickable. Super user-friendly bike.

So I understand the hesitation but I don't recommend any bike OTHER than a scrambler to make the transition.

 

[DesertPilot]

...But if you are customising there is a stack of better seats out there. In fact a sack of barbed wire rusty nails and red hot pokers would be better than the original.

Ah ha! That's the advice I've been looking for! I'll nip on down to the hardware store this afternoon!

 

[DesertPilot]

Actually, the seats on the 2019s have been sorted out and are actually quite nice. If those will fit the earlier models, you might want to check them out.

Do get earplugs! Stavely's spot on about this! If you're taller than 5'8"-5'10" you might want to consider a flyscreen someday. And do budget money to make the suspension as good as the rest of the bike when you feel ready for this -- no big hurry there, but you'll be glad you did.