If you like your two-wheeled goodness served up with a side of darkness, then Ducati's Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO is definitely on the menu just for you. New for 2021, the “Dark PRO” brings the usual youthful attitude to the table along with its “Dark Stealth” livery that shows a gritty streak for a unique look. It relies on the same 1,079 cc plant as the rest of the 1100 PRO family and sports cornering ABS along with other top-shelf electronics. A fairly-bare bike, the Dark PRO makes for a good blank canvas for custom-bike enthusiasts, and like the rest of its kameraden, is a suitable machine for a new rider.

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO

Specifications

• Make: Ducati
• Model: 2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO
• Engine/Motor: L-Twin
• [do not use] Vehicle Model: scrambler

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO Design

The Dark PRO leads the way with the blackout treatment that gives it its name, and plenty of it. Essentially, everything that can be shot black has been, leaving only the business areas of the inner fork tube and brake components untouched.

A heavily bobbed front fender extends the Dark Stealth treatment to the sheet metal/plastic/whatever. While the fender is pushing the envelope of efficacy due to its small size, it contributes to the nimbleness of the suspension by limiting the unsprung weight at the front axle, plus it acts as a spoiler for the lower fork tube to further reduce drag. The instrumentation is all located in an asymmetrical 2-in-1 LCD screen just ahead of a wide short-rise handlebar and standoff-style mirrors that also come shot in the prevalent monochromatic hue.

A 3.96-gallon steel fuel tank defines the forward flyline ahead of the faux tuck-and-roll bench seat tuck-and-roll bench seat}} that comes stock in a two-up arrangement so you can share the fun with a friend. Since the fold-up passenger footpegs are actually mounted to the frame instead of the swingarm itself, your riding partner can count on a comfy riding experience, relatively speaking considering the compact size of the Scrambler 1100 line.

Shorter riders may find the 31.9-inch seat height a bit taxing and will be forced to use them tippy-toes at stops and around your parking spots. As for the lighting, LED tech abounds in the skinny taillight and turn signals, and the headlight comes with a stylized “X” in a nod to the old-school racers with an LED DRL ring that ensures two-way visibility with your immediate surrounds.

Blackout treatment abounds on the Dark PRO, but it also rocks machined-aluminum inspection covers and highlights to prevent the details of the Dark PRO's design from disappearing into the existential void that enshrouds the rest of the machine. Ducati bills this new Scrambler as an entry-level candidate for its Scrambler 1100 line.

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO Chassis

A tubular steel front frame section bolts directly to the engine to eliminate a large section of framing along with its associated weight. It establishes a rake angle of 24.5 degrees with 4.4 inches of trail over a compact 59.6-inch wheelbase to make the Dark PRO very agile, responsive to steering inputs for eager cornering, quick flicks, and snappy reversals. The steering sweeps through a 34-degree arc lock-to-lock, which is pretty generous. It's sure to make your parking-lot maneuvers more handy overall. For you power-drifters out there, it allows for extreme counter-steering inputs that will in turn produce an aggressive angle of attack.

A set of 45 mm Marzocchi forks float the front end on the full trinity of adjustments while the Kayaba monoshock out back comes with adjustable preload and rebound-damping to hit 2-out-of-3. According to Meatloaf, “Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad.”

Lightweight alloy rims round out the rolling chassis in a 10-spoke design with an 18-inch rim ahead of a 17-incher out back. They come lined with a set of Pirelli MT60 RS stealth knobbies that will handle both on- and off-road operation with an affinity for soft terrain such as sand and soil.

Wet weight is a claimed 454 pounds, so it's a tad surprising to see dual front brakes on the thing, albeit a pleasant surprise. Brembo supplies the anchors with a pair of four-piston, M4.32 Monobloc calipers that bites dual 320 mm discs up front. Out back, a single-piston anchor takes care of business along with a 245 mm rear disc, and both ends fall under the protection of the Bosch cornering ABS feature that lets you get the most out of your binders.

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO Drivetrain

Power on the Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO comes from an air-cooled L-Twin, or 90-degree V-twin if you prefer, that meets EU-5 emissions requirements, at least in all markets that require said standards. The valvetrain is a mixed bag with a seemingly simple head that sports only two poppets per cylinder. But Ducati uses its signature Desmodromic valve system that replaces the valve-spring with a pull-closed cam and follower that delivers safe operation at high rpm and utterly eliminates harmonic valve float to prevent valve-to-piston contact when you wind it up.

A 98 mm bore and 71 mm stroke gives it a total displacement of 1,079 cc with a medium-hot 11-to-1 compression ratio. Ride-by-wire throttle inputs make the connection between rider and machine with a 55 mm throttle body to control the induction and electronic fuel injection to deliver the dinosaur juice. The engine relies on a catalyst in the exhaust to burn off any free hydrocarbons that make it into the exhaust stream along with dual Lambda probes to monitor the exhaust so that the engine control can make adjustments on the fly to maintain clean emissions.

A slip-and-assist clutch delivers a light pull at the lever along with back-torque mitigation that adds another of layer of protection for your rear contact patch and even more peace-of-mind. The six-speed transmission and chain-type final drive turns in a top speed in the neighborhood of 130 mph, though individual results may vary.

Perhaps more important than the top speed is the 86 ponies and 65 pounds o' grunt that will launch the Dark PRO out of the hole like a scalded dog. The Ducati Safety Pack adds traction control to the cornering abs, with variable Power Delivery modes that let you dial down for slippery conditions and Riding Modes to bind them.

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO Price

The Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO rolls in only one color package here in its world debut, Dark Stealth, and given its nature I wouldn't be surprised if that never changes. It can be had for $12,495 MSRP, but the factory has a full line of accessories that will allow you to make the bike your own while ballooning the sticker.

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO Competitors

Ducati will be taking on our domestic manufacturers on their own soil, so with that in mind, it seems a good fit to grab the FTR S from America's oldest brand, Indian Motorcycle.

Indian FTR S

The FTR S gets its name from Indian's wildly successful Flat Track Racing bike, and is meant to bring the look and much of the performance of the racebike to the general riding public. To improve front suspension response, it leads off with a severely whacked front fender that's perhaps even more abbreviated than the Scramblers own bobbed fender.

The blackout treatment is constant across the board, though Indian breaks up the monochromatic monotony with a choice between a two-tone, white with black panel paint package on the tank cover and fender, and a Maroon Metallic package that covers the tank and front fender. Side by side, these two display a similar overall build with a slight incline in the subframe and saddle, blackout treatment to accentuate their racing chops.

Indian gives Ducati a run for its money in the ride-control electronics with its a compact rider's triangle and upswept dual exhaust The FTR S gets a leg up in the suspension with cornering ABS, wheelie control, and rear wheel-lift mitigation., and the pain continues for Ducati in the power figures as Indian claims a staggering fully-adjustable Sachs wizardry all around against the Dark PRO's 86/65.

You'll pay for that advantage though. 120 horsepower and 87 pound-feet of torque at the checkout, but “regular Joe” riders probably won't miss the extra performance that Indian brings to the table.

Read our full review of the Indian FTR S.

He Said

“This is a proper little pocket rocket with measurements not entirely unlike Harley-Davidson's Sportster lineup, but with performance that is head-and-shoulders above. The usual youthful exuberance of the Scrambler family is tempered somewhat by the ample black paint and brushed aluminum finishes, just the thing for riders with a bona fide dark streak in their personality dark streak in their personality}}.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “This is a blast to ride. You have ample torque even at low revs. With the revise frame and subframe introduced on the 1100 PRO, handling is responsive and fun, like really a lot of fun. It offers a nice base package and sets the stage for your customizations. The electronics are a sweet mix of charm and technology. So yeah, Nice bike.”

2021 Ducati Scrambler 1100 Dark PRO Specifications

Further Reading

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