Questions
What is a scrambler motorcycle?
A scrambler motorcycle is an on/off-road style with a higher-set exhaust, a more upright stance and dual-purpose tyres built to handle tarmac and rough ground alike.
The scrambler traces back to riders entering road bikes in off-road time trials, long before motocross became its own sport with its own dedicated machines. To survive rutted tracks, the exhaust was rerouted up and out of the way of mud and rocks, the bars were widened for control while standing on the pegs, and the tyres were swapped for a knobblier tread that still copes with a normal road. The riding position sits more upright than a cafe racer's crouch, which suits those stand-up moments rough ground demands. Modern scramblers mostly keep the shape for looks, since few owners ever leave the tarmac, but the format still handles a gravel track or farm lane better than most road bikes.
See our scrambler art page for the ink and blueprint studies, or send a photo of yours through the same process. Fans of the look often like the cafe racer too, its tarmac-only sibling.
Written by Craig Fearn, Throttlefolio.
Transmissions
Questions, answered
Do scramblers need to be ridden off-road?+
No - most scrambler owners ride mostly on the road and enjoy the upright stance and looks. The tyres and ground clearance simply mean it copes with rough surfaces if you do venture off.
What is the main visual giveaway of a scrambler?+
The high-level exhaust, usually run along one side under the seat, well clear of the rear wheel and any mud it throws up.
From the journal