Are Scrambler Motorcycles Good for Adventure Riding

To most motorcycle riders, some motorbike types don’t make good sense. Most different types of motorbikes are there to serve a specific purpose. However, certain motorbike categories are there just to promote a unique sense of motorbike styling. They are likely designed to keep a specific motorbiking culture alive and remind riders of a tradition.

For example, chopper bikes have very little to do with practicality. They are there only to promote the very old chopper culture. Similarly, most bike riders don’t understand the purpose of scrambler motorcycles.

If you talk about the dual riding purpose, including both on- and off-roading, riders are usually confused between the unkillable dual sports bikes and lightweight adventure bikes. Only a few are seen mentioning scrambler motorbikes as an option.

Riders don’t know what scrambler bikes are good for and what purpose they serve. Continue reading this article to learn in detail about scrambler bikes and whether they are good for adventure riding or not.

A scrambler bike is a dual-purpose motorbike, designed for both on- and off-road terrains. However, they are more geared towards on-road performance and can handle light off-roading trails. You can do only a certain level of adventure riding on scrambler motorbikes, only if it is built to do so.

Scrambler bikes evolved from street bikes. Initially, riders used to modify their street motorbikes to make them suitable for light off-roading and adventure riding. The purpose was to compete in scrambler off-road racing and competitions.

From there, scrambler motorbikes became a separate category. These bikes are different and unique in terms of their look. Later, scrambler motorbikes were produced in factories by many notable manufacturers. Even today, there are many popular scrambler models that sell well.

• Triumph Scrambler 400 X

• Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled

• BMW R NineT Scrambler

• Indian FTR Rally

• Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE

• Royal Enfield Scram 411

• Fantic Caballero 500 Rally

• Honda SCL500

Some of these popular modern scrambler models have good on- and off-road riding ability. They can be used for light off-roading as well. However, some of these scrambler models are only good for paved roads. They have only received the iconic scrambler bke styling cues. However, practically, they are a decent road/street bikes.

The most identifiable key feature of scrambler bikes is their high-mounted exhaust pipes. These are also known as the scrambler-style exhaust pipes. They are positioned higher than normal to ensure a better ground clearance for off-roading purposes.

Also, they have a shield installed for protection against heat to make sure the riders legs are safe. In most scrambler motorbikes, on top of being high mounted, exhaust pipes are usually installed on one side of the bike, near the saddle. Such positioning of exhaust pipes in scrambler bikes also helps in avoiding damage to the parts.

To keep the overall weight on the lower side and to ensure a reasonable off-road performance, scrambler motorbikes usually come with wire-spoke wheels. These wire-spoke wheels are lightweight options, and they help in off-road maneuvers and traveling.

Scrambler motorbikes also feature decently knobby tires. However, they are not as knobby as other off-road bikes. These tires offer a good balance between better on-road performance and light off-road ability as well. Such a wheel and tires setup ensure decent grip and traction on different terrains or surfaces.

Scrambler bikes have adequate long wheel travel suspension due to being versatile than other road bikes. However, the suspension isn’t as soft as other off-road bikes, including dirt bikes, dual sport bikes, and adventure bikes. Scrambler motorbikes can comfortable handle road conditions and light off-road obstacles and bumps, depending whether they are a pure scrambler bikes or just the ones with the scrambler aesthetics.

Being versatile and ideally designed for on-road and light off-road performance, scramblers feature a lightweight design with the stripped-down look. The extra and heavy parts are usually removed with only the essential parts attached to the bike. The build is usually narrower with only essential features installed on these bikes.

The parts and equipment installed on scrambler bikes are usually small. These include a small gas tank, a small headlight, minimal electronics, and a single-piece saddle.

A straightforward answer to this question is “No”. Scrambler bikes are not the best or good for adventure riding. They are not designed for extreme adventure riding or off-roading. Compared to dirt bikes, enduros, dual sports bikes, or even adventure bikes, scrambler motorbikes are not as maneuverable and agile for better off-roading.

Most scrambler bikes that are factory-made by different notable bike manufacturers are only street-oriented. They have received scrambler styling with retro elements. However, they are not at all suitable for off-roading.

If you are looking for a scrambler motorbike, you must know that they are not primarily built for off-road use. You must check a few things before buying a scrambler bike, especially for dual-purpose riding. You must confirm if the scrambler bike has off-road capability, good ground clearance, off-road knobby tires, sharp brakes, and long wheel travel suspension.

If adventure riding means mostly road travel and a little dirt riding for you, a scrambler bike is a good option. If you are impressed by the looks of these bikes, there are a few scrambler bikes that can prove to be good enough for dirt riding on gravel roads and unpaved terrains.

A pure dirt bike, including enduros and motocross bikes, is the best suited for off-roading. They are primarily built for dirt tracks and an extreme off-roading experience. If you want the best of both worlds, dual-sport bikes and adventure motorbikes are great options. However, there are a few major differences between these two categories.

Dual-sport bikes are lightweight, more rugged, affordable, and better off-road. They also ensure a decent paved road performance.

Meanwhile, adventure bikes are more geared towards better on-road performance. Most of these bikes are also used for long-distance adventure touring due to being one of the most comfortable bikes. However, they are heavy, very well-equipped, modern, trendy, and quite expensive bikes.

Meanwhile, scrambler bikes are more popular for their unique rugged looks that seem to be retro-inspired. Some of the scrambler bikes that are currently produced make amazing urban commuters and road bikes. Though these bikes are not the most ideal off-roaders, they are still considered versatile bikes.

Scrambler bikes may not be the best off-road bikes on the market. They are still very fun-inspiring bikes due to their light weight, agility, and maneuverability. The vibrant color schemes, rugged look, and robust build make scrambler bikes very fun, inspiring riders to ride more.

Scrambler bikes make a very decent option if you are looking for an ideal urban commuter. They are very easy to ride and lightweight enough to help you maneuver them easily on busy roads with lots of traffic. They can easily zip through busy streets thanks to their slim and lightweight build.

On top of being lightweight and easy, scrambler bikes are adequately comfortable. They offer an upright riding posture. These bikes may be good for comfortable road travel, but off-roading can get very uncomfortable on these bikes due to their limited dirt riding ability.

Due to being lightweight, slim, and smaller than most adventure bikes, scrambler bikes are easier to manage. On mild off-road conditions, you can easily manage these bikes, which makes riding more fun and enjoyable.

Scrambler bikes are only good for road travel, urban commuting, and light off-roading. You can simply get off the road in case of traffic jams. However, you can not take these bikes intentionally for extreme off-roading performance. There are only certain scrambler bike models that can be used for light-to-average off-roading. They do not have exceptional suspension wheel travel and ground clearance. Also, scrambler bikes don’t have the desired flexibility as dirt bikes, dual sport bikes, or ADV bikes.

Scramblers are also not built for long-distance motorbike riding. As already discussed, these bikes are good for daily riding and city traveling. They can get uncomfortable if you try to go a long distance on scramblers. They have no such motorcycle touring features or equipment.

The suspension installed on scrambler bikes is not as good as that on adventure bikes. These shocks are not very capable of handling harsh off-road riding conditions.

A good number of factory-made scrambler bikes feature road-biased tires. They lack off-road knobby tires for pure off-roading adventures. The smooth tires installed on these scramblers are nowhere near suitable for dirt riding. They lack traction and grip in different versatile riding conditions.

The Ducati Desert Sled is a powerful scrambler bike from Ducati. Out of all the very popular Scrambler series from Ducati, the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled is the most capable off-road bike. As the name suggests, the Desert Sled is a popular choice for those who want more than just a decent dirt riding performance. The knobby tires, adequate ground clearance, wire-spoke wheels, lightweight build, powerful engine, narrow design, and top-end adjustable long wheel travel suspension offer an overall great riding experience on both road and dirt.

It has a good advantage over the other scrambler bikes, especially the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE, due to being lighter. This allows for better maneuverability, agility, and performance over various terrains. On top of great performance, the Ducati Desert Sled has a top-notch, attractive look and design, making it a desirable scrambler bike.

The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled is a retro-style scrambler with an 803 cc air-cooled, L-Twin engine. It is capable of producing 75 hp at 8,250 rpm and 67.79 Nm of torque at 5,750 rpm. The front KYB forks are fully adjustable, along with a rear preload-adjustable Kayaba shock. Above all, it is quite an affordable scrambler bike compared to the scrambler from Triumph, despite being made by Ducati.

The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE is the most capable off-road scrambler bike in the lineup. It has a pure classic retro-style design, which Triumph is known for. Like most Triumph bikes, there is an obvious element of a true classic look even in the Scrambler 1200 XE.

The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE is a very capable off-road scrambler that can even compete with many adventure bikes. It is great for adventure riding. However, considering the classic look and build, riders may not want to take this bike for dirt biking to avoid causing damage to it.

Being a 1200 cc class bike, the parallel-twin engine produced a great amount of power that can match many top-end adventure bikes. The engine produces 90 hp of horsepower and 110 Nm of torque. That is something very substantial for a scrambler bike like this, which is built for both on- and off-roading.

With off-road knobby tires, wire-spoke wheels, and top-end fully off-road-capable suspension make the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE is a great contender for adventure riding. This is the kind of scrambler bike that can compete with many top-of-the-line adventure bikes, including the Honda Africa Twin and other KTM adventure bikes.

Nonetheless, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE is the most expensive scrambler bike option on this list. Considering the performance and its capabilities, this bike is totally worth it. However, as already said, you may not want to take this bike off-road.

The Fantic Cabarello 500 Rally may be a little less-known bike, but those who know it admire the look and performance of this bike. It is a scrambler bike with flat track-inspired aesthetics. The fact that it features a 460 cc single-cylinder engine makes it a more enduro-style scrambler bike. Being lightweight, it is more capable of doing extreme off-road adventure riding. The 40 hp of horsepower and 43 Nm of torque are quite decent figures for a dirt-bike style scrambler bike.

The Fantic Caballero 500 Rally is a pretty lightweight, simple, and minimalist scrambler bike. It weighs only 150 kg without the fuel. Meanwhile, the tires are pretty knobby and off-road biased. It is also quite tall with good ground clearance, making adventure riding easy and fun.

Above all, the suspension technology is also top-notch, just like the other top-end scrambler bikes on this list. The suspension offers long wheel travel and is also adjustable, making it a very capable off-road bike. This bike may not be very well known, but it is still available in different bike markets, and it serves the purpose.

Scrambler bikes may not be the ideal option for adventure riding and extreme off-roading. However, they are still a popular bike category due to their unique retro-inspired looks. Considering their background and origin, scrambler bikes were not originally built as off-road bikes. Instead, they were initially street bikes, which riders modified for dirt track racing.

If you don’t find ADV bikes attractive and reasonable for both on- and off-roading, scramblers can serve the purpose. Not all scramblers are good for adventure riding and off-roading. However, the ones mentioned above are somewhat better than specific ADV bikes. If you are looking for the most versatile scrambler bikes, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE is the best premium option out there.

You want a lightweight, yet powerful option, the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled takes the lead. In the end, if all you want is an ideal scrambler bike for a superior off-road experience at an affordable price range, the Fantic Caballero 500 Rally is on top of the list.