LOS ANGELES — Ducati is known for a lot of things — speed, performance, sex appeal.
The Italian motorcycle maker has a long history of producing two-wheelers that are as likely to get you a speeding ticket as a dinner date. And now, Bologna-based company is bringing that same DNA to electric bicycles.
On Wednesday, Ducati announced it will bring two new mountain bikes and one new street bike model to select dealerships, starting this month.
The E-Scrambler bicycle (starting at $3,995) is inspired by the gas-powered dual sport Ducati Scrambler motorcycle. A trekking bike with high-end trimmings, it is powered with a Shimano Steps E7000 motor and 504Wh Shimano battery and rolls on Pirelli tires. It also includes a luggage rack for side bags, as well as front and rear headlights, so it can make an entrance wherever it goes, whether the road is paved or gravel.
The MIG-S (starting at $5,295) is a sporty off-roader. An electric mountain bike powered with a Shimano Steps E8000 motor, it has a 504Wh Shimano battery situated below the downtube, a 12-speed transmission, and a Marzocchi fork and Fox rear shock with at least 140mm of travel for increased rideability when climbing and descending rough terrain like a mountain goat.
The TK-01RR enduro e-bicycle (starting at $7,995) is for “off-road riding in its maximum expression, even on the most inaccessible routes,” according to Ducati. The most extreme of the three bikes, its Shimano drive unit is a featherweight 5.72 pounds that cranks out 85 newton-meters of torque, with a premium Ohlins fork and Pirelli Scorpion tires to tame the beast.
“The introduction of these e-bikes continues the Ducati tradition of creating exhilarating two-wheeled experiences and expands our product range into a growing segment,” said Jason Chinnock, chief executive officer of Ducati North America in Mountain View, Calif.
He added that the new e-bikes highlight the connection between bicycles and the motorcycle racers that use them to train, including Ducati Corse team members.
Ducati’s move into electric bicycles comes on the heels of Harley-Davidson announcing it, too, is getting into e-bikes. Last month, the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker showed off four new electric bicycles that are currently available for preorder and will go into production next spring.
Ducati’s new e-bikes are an expansion of the company’s licensing agreement with THOK Ebike, founded by a downhill mountain bike champion and a former Ducati Corse MotoGP project leader who worked with MotoGP world champion, and Ducati racer, Casey Stoner.
The E-Scrambler and MIG-S will be available for test rides and purchase starting this month, with the TK-01RR following in February. They will be sold at a handful of dealerships around the country, including three in Southern California: Ducati Newport Beach in Costa Mesa, Beverly Hills Ducati, and Wheels in Motion in L.A.