11-03-2018, 01:39 AM
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.
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.