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Showing posts with label yamaha motorcycle dealer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yamaha motorcycle dealer. Show all posts
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Manhattan to mud: 700 miles on a Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
Decades after Bud Ekins and Steve McQueen seared the form into our collective memory, the scrambler formula is seeing a resurgence. From BMW’s R nineT Scrambler to Yamaha’s SCR 950, companies are recasting street platforms as modern-classic adventure bikes.
Then there's Ducati’s 801 cc Desert Sled, the latest addition to the
Italian company’s Scrambler line, which promises to provide more
off-road capability. There’s a lot of buzz around these 21st century
scramblers. Are they legitimate dual-sport machines or lifestyle bikes
with bolt-on enduro styling for a millennial market?
I haven’t ridden all the new entries, but I did get nearly two weeks on
the Desert Sled. Eager to see how well the bike performed on and off
pavement, I put the Ducati through its paces over 700 miles and three
states, from Manhattan to mud.
 |
| The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled promises to be the most dual-sport-like of the recent street-based scramblers. Ducati photo. |
Not your grandfather’s Scrambler
In name and concept, the $11,395 Desert Sled
is a merger of two retro genres, both aimed at making the road machines
of yesteryear dirt-capable. By mods and design, the bike goes furthest
in Ducati’s Scrambler line — and beyond other scramblers on the market —
toward dual-sport use.
To start, the Sled got better suspension and clearance: a fully
adjustable KYB fork and shock give it nearly eight inches of travel
front and rear, compared to 5.9 inches on standard Scramblers.
Additional mods include a beefed-up frame and swingarm, spoked aluminum
wheels, MX-style handlebar, an off-road seat, more ground clearance,
mudguard fenders, and an underframe skid plate.
 |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires aim for a balance of pavement and dirt use. Ducati photo. |
For skins, Ducati added Pirelli’s Scorpion Rally STR enduro tire.
With a full 3.57-gallon gas tank, the Desert Sled weighs 456 pounds, up
46 from a standard Scrambler. And keeping to Ducati form, the Sled
sports a pretty sleek dual-sport profile — more contemporary cool than
the Transformers look of many adventure bikes.
 |
| My ride on the Desert Sled started in Manhattan. Photo by Jake Bright. |
Road-biased, dirt-capable
I picked up the Desert Sled in Manhattan before taking it through
upstate New York, on to Connecticut, and then off-road. On the pavement,
from first wheel roll I found the new Ducati an incredibly fun bike to
ride.
The Desert Sled is easy to maneuver in tight urban areas, as I noted
taking it through NYC’s Soho. It was also stable and capable when I
upped the acceleration and corner angles out on the open road. In terms
of handling, the handlebar, seat, and overall ergonomics give it a
supermoto feel.
The Desert Sled’s 75-horsepower engine is quiet and smooth at low revs,
but comes alive with a growl as soon as you grab some throttle. Torque
isn’t a problem on the bike and it’s easy to pop the front wheel up from
first through third gear.
 |
| Traffic, rain, wet manhole covers. Sometimes the city produces just as many obstacles as the country off-road riding. Photo by Jake Bright. |
The 801 cc fuel-injected engine delivers solid power delivery. Out on
the highway, sixth gear required no downshifting as low as 4,200 rpm at
50 mph, and the engine still had plenty of rev left at 85 mph. The
Desert Sled’s Pirellis delivered great grip (even in the rain) and
produced little of that enduro tire vibration or hum, even when I opened
the bike up out on I-95.
So as a dual-sport, Ducati’s Desert Sled exceeded expectations on the
street, but how about off-road? To test that I took the bike to
Connecticut’s Thomaston Dam riding area, which offers a lot of varied terrain.
 |
| If you're going to go off chasing rainbows, a Desert Sled is a pretty good choice for go-anywhere ability. Photo by Jake Bright. |
The Desert sled excelled on dirt roads and hard-pack trails, where it
felt stable riding at a decent pace. The suspension didn't bottom out or
leave me wobbling from being too soft. The bike felt solid off-road,
where nothing clanked or rattled. While I did get the Ducati airborne a
couple of times, it’s more of a two-wheels-on-the-ground motorcycle.
 |
| For a street-biased, 456-pound machine, the Desert Sled performed well once the going got muddy. Folding mirrors and Ducati's accessory aluminum foot pegs would make it a better performer. Photo by Jake Bright. |
So the Desert Sled is a legitimate dual-sport machine, though one
should manage expectations of what it can do compared to lighter,
dirt-specific enduro bikes.
What to change
On and off-road, I found several pet peeves with the Desert Sled —
things that can be taken care of in the aftermarket or improved upon by
Ducati. The stock mirrors are cumbersome on tight trails and hard to
adjust without a wrench. The stock rubber-top pegs are a bit narrow and
lose grip when dirty or muddy. Ducati offers an aluminum Scrambler accessory peg that can remedy this.
The one-piece stock shifter is easily tweaked in a spill and becomes
cramped when moving from a street to an off-road boot. For $164.70, Duc
offers a length-adjustable fold-away lever. Ducati could also improve the Sled’s off-road handling by shedding some pounds on the bike.
 |
| A scrambler should be versatile, so I took it for a ride from the concrete canyons of Manhattan to the muddy trails of woodsy Connecticut. Photo by Harriette Williams. |
The balance
All in all, I had a blast on Ducati’s Desert Sled. I was surprised a
motorcycle could perform so well on the street and still take me just
about anywhere I wanted to go off-road.
That said, and in context of the scrambler revival, I think people
should be realistic about what street platforms modified for dirt can do
off the pavement. There’s a reason scramblers of the past gave way to
much lighter, specialized dirt machines. Riders looking to spend the
majority of their time going fast off-road should probably target a true
enduro bike.
But for those who want a dual-sport motorcycle that balances substance
and style, Ducati’s latest Scrambler could be for you. If we could
reincarnate Steve McQueen and show him today’s bike offerings, chances
are he’d be cruising around on a Desert Sled.
New & Used Motorcycles for Sale
Pete's Cycle is a leading motorcycle dealer in Baltimore specializing in both new and used motorcycles of all major brands. They also offer high quality vehicle parts, accessories and service of motorcycles. Know more @ http://www.petescycle.com/
The Best Road Riding in Maryland
Ever wanted a website that listed the best road rides in each state, with easy to read maps and rides that were rated by people who have actually ridden them? Well, Motorcycleroads.com does just that.
With the warmer Spring weather seemingly here to stay, this website lists a few great rides through Maryland’s scenic coasts and rolling hills. As any Marylander knows well, it only takes a few minutes to get out into some beautiful country. Which means that you have no excuse to go out riding this weekend.
Here are two highly rated rides that the website lists. First is Lighthouse Run. This modest 17 mile ride will take you through the winding roads of Elk Neck Woods, and you will be given great views of the bay, especially since the leaves are not on the trees yes.
Here are the directions: “From Elkton, MD: go south on landing lane, turn right at the stop sign on old field point road. In about a mile, turn right on Johns Chapel Rd to transfer to Old Elk Neck Road. Take left (south) on Old Elk Neck Rd for a few miles. Look for an intersection with McKinney Town Rd, turn right on McKinney Town. The road will dead end at Turkey Point Rd. Turn left on Turkey Point which takes you all the way to the light house.” The website has more specifics on the route.
The second ride is Sterling - Front Royal - Charles Town Loop, a 133 mile loop that offers just about everything, flat country roads, mountains, and nice curves.
Here are the directions: “Starting at the Sterling Park Shopping Center, head south on Sterling Blvd. Cross over Rt. 28 and turn left on Pacific Blvd. Turn right on 606 and take that all the way to Rt. 50. Head west (turn right) on 50 until you get to Rt. 15. Turn south on 15. In Haymarket, head west on 55 to Front Royal. Take 340 north to Charles Town where you pick up Rt. 9. Head east on 9 to Rt. 7. Go east on 7, turn right on Sycolin Rd. Sycolin changes names several times (Sycolin, Ashburn Farm Pkwy, Farmwell Rd, Waxpool Rd and Church Rd). Turn right off of Church onto Holly to get back to Sterling Blvd.”
View their Maryland page here.
Also be sure to see their nicely designed Google maps of the rides.
Modern, Muscular and Affordable—The New 2014 Yamaha Bolt 950
Every once in a while at Pete's Cycle we get a bike that excites us. The new 2014 Yamaha Bolt 950 is one such bike.
For starters, the Bolt 950 is an excellent entry level bike, and, what is more, it’s affordable at around $7,990. So, you’re probably asking what makes a good entry level bike? That’s a tough question, and better answered by actually sitting on the bike and taking it for a spin. Come and stop by one of three Pete's Cycle stores and give it a test ride.
What the Bolt 950 has going for it is a low seat height, which gives the rider a natural upright position and more reactive maneuvering, since their weight is closer to the ground. The bike is remarkably light and agile considering it’s a midsize bike. When tested for fuel economy, the numbers averaged 50/mpg.
In terms of hardware, this machine is powered by a fuel-injected, 4-valve, V-Star 950 engine. The design of the bike is striking, beginning with a muscular design married to a sleek minimalism that seems to go in another direction than spectacular chrome and flash.
John Bayliss, Yamaha Motor Canada Motorcycle Product Manager, put its Bolt 950 design in context with trends in the motorcycle design: “A new ‘back to basics’ trend is emerging in the motorcycle world. Designers and custom builders are stepping back to a time when the mechanical beauty of a motorcycle was highlighted in its design. The Bolt’s simple design, compact styling and V-twin power combine to offer an incredibly fun riding experience.”
The best way to learn about this bike is to actually see it. Pete's Cycle has three locations in the Baltimore area, so come to the shop and see one for yourself.
