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+--- Thread: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? (/showthread.php?tid=6935)
Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - dbarkdoll_imp - 11-01-2018
How do you feel about this new scrambler craze? I realize that they use to be all the rage, and that “old is cool” will always have a place in contemporary motorcycle culture, but, they had their time. IMO. Technology has progressed. Long travel suspension is a thing now. Has been, for a long time. If you want a big, ungangly street bike to take off road, it already exists. It’s called an adventure bike now. And it’s far more capable than any scrambler being produced currently. Just seems like a regression, or fad. Where’s the utility? Is anyone actually taking these things off road?
All legitimate questions, curious of y’alls opinions.
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - Olyrider - 11-01-2018
Riders come in all shapes and sizes.
I’m tall.
I like to ride long-distance touring with hard luggage. (ST1300 with ABS, electric windshield, and luggage).
I love to ride forest service roads on my BMW F800GS.
And I like my CB100 in town...even though it is a little heavy.
I REALLY like the 2019 Triumph 1200 Scrambler XE. It appeals to me visually like few other bikes. If I bought it, it would replace the CB, not the BMW.
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - LongRanger_imp - 11-01-2018
I don't see many scramblers around here. ADV bikes, however, are very popular. I too question the utility of a modern scrambler (especially knobbies on pavement). I think they're simply the current fashion trend, not unlike choppers a few years ago. But I respect anyone who decides to buy one. At least they're out riding!
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - Olyrider - 11-01-2018
I have TKC 80s on my F800GS. They are 85/15 street/off-road tires.
No problems with them on the road...even in the rain...which it is doing right now in Seattle.
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - the Ferret - 11-01-2018
I like the looks of street scramblers, particularly the new Triumphs, more so than the new Ducati's. My first "big" street bike was a Honda 305 scrambler, and prior to that I had ridden a friends BSA 650 Scrambler. But imo these are really street bikes than can do fireroads, mild dirt trails etc and never intended to be real " dirt bikes" even though some people are capable of taking them there. Feel the same way about ADV bikes, so these are no different than ADV bikes imo.
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - Olyrider - 11-01-2018
Being a long-time member of ADVrider.com, I think I can comfortably say there is something of a consensus amongst the inmates that an “adventure” bike is any bike that can be expected to be dropped, picked up, and ridden away in remote places. Without the fear of breaking off important pieces of kit. Small or large, size doesn’t matter.
I don’t think anyone that buys the new Triumph scrambler would be the least bit happy if they dropped their bike. I don’t expect to see many, if any, of them off-road.
;-)
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - Frulk_imp - 11-02-2018
"I don’t think anyone that buys the new Triumph scrambler would be the least bit happy if they dropped their bike. I don’t expect to see many, if any, of them off-road."
I think that position holds true the further away you live from the urban/rural interface. Good chance if you're down-town San Francisco and see a Scrambler, it probably has never left pavement.
Out here in Utah, where gravel/forest roads/desert etc. are just minutes away these machines will see dirt.
I've posted this pic before of my buddies Scrambler at 9,100 feet approx. 10 miles up a dirt road. Another buddy that runs frequently with him has a Ducati Desert Sled edition that routinely gets flogged off the pavement.
![[Image: 62c0f32caeac19a29d9653aa078eacf9.jpg?1]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201811/62c0f32caeac19a29d9653aa078eacf9.jpg?1)
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - Olyrider - 11-03-2018
frulk,
Great photo!
I think that road surface is a perfect example of the difference between riding “off-pavement” and “off-road”.
Many riders viewing a new bike such as the Triumph or Ducati don’t make that distinction. All adventure bikes, including the big heavy ones, are more than capable of riding off-pavement but not that many can be easily ridden off-road or “in the dirt”.
As Clint said “A man has got to know his limitations.”
And his bike’s....
;-)
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - SportsterDoc - 11-03-2018
I like the appearance of upswept pipes and also access to chain and rear axle they usually provide.
My 1967 CL160 and 1970 CL350 were light enough that they were OK on fire roads, but certainly not comparable with my ~230# 2 stroke enduros with full knobby tires.
Modern day scramblers would do well to design exhausts with lines as clean as those Hondas.
Since most scramblers are no lighter than street versions, most are rather heavy for off-road, but scrambler tires are a benefit off the asphalt...which is why I put Perelli Scorpions on my CB1100...better handling just getting on/off the shoulder of Nevada rural highways.
Even with their weight, I would not scoff at modern scramblers used off-highway...and, I have taken street bikes on forest roads, much rougher than fire roads. The first and only time I dropped my 2003 H-D Sportster XLH883 was on a fire road, north of Los Angeles. No problem...if I had picked it up properly (back to it), the first time.
In 2013, I took my 2012 Triumph Bonneville (495#) on a solo ride to our Arizona ranch: ~220 miles, of which ~210 was asphalt (~100 on old Route 66). But the unmaintained "road" from the highway is 8 miles of rough, rocky dirt, with the last 3/4 mile a steep Jeep trail. Steep enough to require 4WD low, Jeep or truck, when hauling a water tank.
Unfortunately, I still had the stock tires on the bike, which caused a spin out/stall on a sharp uphill turn, mid-Jeep trail. That was not a problem, as I just straightened it out, hit the starter and continued up. Never seen that bike so dusty!
However, when I headed back down, the next day, the street tire was much more of a challenge. Supplies I hauled on the luggage rack (which may have helped uphill traction) were used or left at the ranch, lessening weight on rear tire. At one point, I got into a deep rut, hit a large rock, and ended up at about a 45 degree angle... more than I could bring up sitting on the seat. The left muffler (similar placement to CB1100) kept it from going over, while I got off to push it close to upright.
After a coin operated car wash (first time at about 6,000 miles) in Kingman, the Bonneville looked new, other than rock marks on the tire sidewalls.
Did not try to take the lighter weight (417#) , no-chain-to-lube 2016 Moto Guzzi V7II, there. Did not take the 2018 XT250 (293#), which would have been very well suited for the Jeep trail, but traffic on highway 95 is 70-80+ and cruising at over 70 on it was less than comfortable.
Did not try this with the CB1100! But, I were able to continue riding, there is nothing I would want more than my 2014 standard CB1100.
RE: Modern Scramblers: yay or nay? - Rocky_imp - 11-03-2018
I'm not a scrambler guy, but I really like that picture of the bike on the mountain
