At the ongoing 2015 EICMA motorcycle show being held in Milan, Italian bikemaker, Ducati, has unveiled its line-up of new bikes for 2016. At the press conference, the CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., Claudio Domenicali commented on how well Ducati has performed in 2015 signifying that the motorcycle industry is on the mend. Of the impressive 50,000 plus Ducati bikes sold this year, he went on to single out the popular Scrambler range as one of the biggest reasons for the company's recent resurgence.
The Scrambler brand currently consists of 4 models and has been praised by biking enthusiasts, world-over. In lieu of its success, Ducati has showcased 2 new versions of the Scrambler at the 2015 EICMA show - the Scrambler Flat Track Pro and the highly anticipated Scrambler Sixty2. The Flat Track Pro, which features a new Termignoni exhaust and flatter handlebars, is a sporty version of the standard 803cc Scrambler. On the other hand, the Sixty2 is the lowest capacity bike in Ducati's stable making it an attractive and affordable proposition for prospective consumers. This should see it generate heavy demand in Indian markets when it launches. The bike will come equipped with a Euro4 rated, 400cc, V-Twin engine that's good for 41bhp of power and 34Nm of torque. However despite it being a budget Scrambler, Ducati has maintained its aesthetic appeal by opting to stick with the retro design of the standard Scrambler albeit with a slimmer fuel tank.
In addition to the 2 new Scramblers, Ducati also showed off its all-new Multistrada 1200 Enduro all-terrain motorcycle. The Enduro's 1,199cc Testastretta 11 Degrees engine comes equipped with a Desmodromic Variable Timing (DVT) system and is capable of producing power to the tune of 160bhp and 136Nm of torque. Since the bike was designed to not only be ridden on tarmac, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro's suspension travels 200mm and the bike itself stands 250mm off the ground.
However the Enduro wasn't the only new Multistrada to be unveiled by Ducati at EICMA 2015. The sportier Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak tourer was named in honour of the world-famous Pikes Peak hill-climb race that takes place in Colorado. The Multistrada Pikes Peak will get a 1,199cc engine equipped with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and DVT.
Ducati also showcased the new Hypermotard range which includes a base variant Hypermotard 939, a sportier Hypermotard 939 SP version and the Hyperstrada 939 touring bike. The engine used in all three models is an updated version of the 821cc L-Twin Testastretta 11 Degrees used in previous models. Thanks to a larger cylinder-bore size, the capacity of the engine has been increased to 937cc with a power output of 113bhp and a maximum torque figure of 97.9Nm. All bikes come equipped with ABS and Traction Control, adjustable Ohlins suspension and lightweight Machesini wheels.
Ducati also unveiled the higher capacity version of its Panigale superbike called the Panigale 959. Replacing the old 898cc engine is Ducati's new Euro 4 compliant, 955cc, twin-cylinder, V-Twin Superquadro mill which derives 157bhp of power and 107Nm of torque. The bike has been designed to be as light as possible and weighs in at an impressively low 176kg.
The last bike unveiled by Ducati was its newly designed XDiavel cruiser. This new motorbike is slated to be a crossover between a traditional low speed cruiser and a high performance motorcycle. The XDiavel has 60 ergonomic riding position configurations and a maximum lean angle of 40 degrees. In terms of chassis design, cruiser-characteristics have been kept in mind but allowances have been made for sportier handling. Additionally, the XDiavel also happens to be the first Ducati to use final belt drive, the benefits of which include silence, low maintenance and a smooth, fluid power curve during acceleration. Powering Ducati's new cruiser is a 1,262cc, Testastretta DVT engine that makes 156bhp and 128Nm of maximum torque at a mere 5000rpm. In addition to the base model, an 'S' model will also be made available which will include a host of bells and whistles such as machined frame plates, Bluetooth, 12-spoke wheels, and Brembo M50 brake calipers.
Additionally, 2 more models are expected to be launch by the end of this year including another Scrambler and the new Monster 1200 R.
