Ducati Scrambler ‘most beautiful bike’

For the second year in a row, Ducati has ridden away with the most beautiful bike award at the annual EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.

Last year it was the Monster 1200 and this year it’s the cute little Scrambler.

It’s understandable that Italian bikes keep winning as the award is judged by patrons at the show in northern Italy through Italian motorcycle magazine Motociclismo. The past decade has been an all-Italian affair with Ducati now leading MV Agusta by six to four.

However, this year the competition was extremely tough from non-Italian manufacturers including Kawasaki’s supercharged Ninja H2 with its F1-styled aero and all-chrome bodywork, Husqvarna’s stylish 401 concepts and stunning machines from returning British brands, Matchless and Brough Superior. 

Yet, the very simple Ducati Scrambler was the bike that stole the hearts of 43% of more than 10,000 visitors to the show. Even though it had already debuted at the Intermot show in Cologne last month, the Scrambler won with almost three times the votes of the second place bike, the MV Agusta Brutale RR Dragster 800. In third place was the Yamaha YZF-R1.

Despite the patriotism of the awards process, I gave to agree the Scrambler is not only beautiful, but a breath of fresh air in world of hi-tech. Thankfully, Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali has suggested more “fun” bikes like the Scrambler will be coming form the Italian factory.

Ducati Australia says the Scrambler will arrive by the end of February from $12,990 (plus on-road costs) for the base model Icon with 10-spoke mag wheels. A 1962 yellow Icon will cost $13,140.

The Icon model will be followed by the Urban Enduro (wire wheels, fork protectors, handlebar crossbrace, sump guard, chunky brown seat, wire mesh headlight protector and high front fender), Classic (wire wheels, aluminium mudguards and chunky brown seat), and Full Throttle (bobbed tail, low aluminium handlebars, black low-profile seat, double Termignoni muffler and cast wheels), all costing $14,990.