If you ride retro motorbikes but need some semblance of touring or off-road capability, you’re likely leaning towards a scrambler motorcycle.
Until recently your options were limited but not so in 2024. The scrambler motorcycle trend shows no signs of abating. And here are 5 of the best scramblers you can buy in 2024. Skip to the list
Scrambler Motorcycles 2024 Onwards
So with that in mind, you may be wondering ‘Which is the best scrambler or retro-style adventure bike?’ These bikes pay close adherence to classic motorcycle styling.
Truly the answer to that question lies with the individual rider (obviously). A fantastic performing bike which doesn’t meet your quality and aesthetic ideals, or vice versa is probably not the best bike for you.
1. Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and XE
First up is the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and its meaner off-road-focused sibling, the 1200 XE. Launched in October of 2018, the Scrambler 1200 is a natural addition to Triumph’s ever-growing ‘Modern Classics‘ range – now numbering ten bikes. All of which have additional derivative sub-models, with varying specifications.
With a distinctive tear-drop tank, high-sided 2-into-2 exhaust and brushed aluminium components, the Scrambler 1200 radiates retro style. In fact, it’s probably the bike that immediately springs to mind if the term scrambler or retro enduro/adventure motorcycle happens to be mentioned in conversation. The emphasis is on retro.
Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 channels McQueen cool. Specifically, the cool of the ‘Great Escape’ film. And that’s no accident. The marque’s marketing has successfully invoked heritage as its sales hook. In turn, to firmly tether the bike to the Triumph TR6. That same model was used for the Bud Ekins jump in the film.
To ramp up marketing to 6th
On the Scrambler 1200, you’ll find a detuned version of the same twin 1200cc engine used on Triumph’s Thruxton. Or maybe, a tuned version of the Bonneville T120 – depending on whether you’re a glass-half-full or half-empty rider.
The bike comes in two variations: the XC and XE. The XC is a street scrambler with off-road capability. The XE is the pure off-roader.
Both have a thoroughly modern TFT display to house instruments. Surprisingly, the TFT screen blends incredibly well into the retro styling. And just in case you want to film yourself taking a spill in the sand, Triumph has graciously integrated a GoPro control system. Allegedly, a world first.
You get five rider modes on the XC and an additional mode on the XE [‘Off-Road Pro’]. The pro-mode allows rider control of ABS and traction control settings for maximum off-road feel.
Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
Anecdotally, the XC seems to be the most popular of the two models. Likely, this is due to its lower seat height which is 840 mm versus the XE at 870mm. And, more so its road-going prowess over the XE model.
The XC is probably the more sensible option for most riders. That’s to say it’ll handle the commute to work, a weekend ride, light off-roading and definitely a road trip.
It’s available with two tank liveries ‘Jet Black/Matt Black’ and ‘Khaki Green/Brooklands Green’
Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
The 1200 XE is the taller of the two bikes and offers all the enhancements you wish to see in an off-roader. Most importantly, front and rear suspension with more significant travel. The suspension is provided in the form of Showa 47mm, fully adjustable upside-down forks with 250mm travel. At the rear, the XE‘s suspension also has an additional 50mm of travel over the XC model.
Seat height might put off less confident riders. However, that’s probably a secondary consideration for riders not intending to do much extreme off-roading.
Complaints about this bike are that at 207kg it’s too heavy and too torquey for off-roading. Those complaints are confined mainly to… you guessed it, those that haven’t ridden it. Besides, Triumph factory rider Ernie Vigil will most certainly disagree with that assessment. He finished 5th in the Ironman class of 2019’s Norra Mexican 1000.
The Scrambler 1200 is a looker. It’s bound to be a conversation starter when you pop up at a service station, in some distant country somewhere on your travels.
Triumph Scrambler 1200 Cost From £11,500 (XC) or £12,300 (XE)
Triumph Scrambler 1200 Specifications at a Glance:
- High Power, high performance, liquid-cooled 1200cc Bonneville engine with dedicated ‘scrambler’ tune.
- 90PS peak power at 7,400rpm
- 110Nm peak torque at 3,950rpm
- Category-leading Brembo twin 320mm floating discs with Monobloc M50 front calipers
- 2nd generation TFT instruments
- Five riding modes (Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road and Rider-Configurable)
- Torque-assist clutch
- ABS & switchable traction control
- All-LED lighting with DRL headlight
- Six riding modes (Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road, Rider-Configurable and Off-Road Pro) [XE only]
- Keyless ignition
- Single-button cruise control
2. BMW RnineT URBAN G/S
Believe it or not, the BMW R nineT was launched in 2013. Has it really been that long? With the power to rival modern roadsters, it was a game-changer within retro motorcycle circles.
Finally, in October 2020 the retro boxer received its long-awaited Euro5 update, alongside other bikes within the R9T range.
And, just in time for the 40-year anniversary of the G/S line.
A neo-retro take on enduro bikes of yesteryear (meant for urban or inter-urban terrain) is how you can view the G/S.
With its rugged enduro looks, this motorbike is not easily ruled out.
As is the case with all retro motorcycles, a firm link to the past is required. For successful marketing that is. The Urban G/S (besides its boxer engine), achieves this through its livery. It’s a finish that plainly mirrors the blue-blue and red paint scheme of ‘BMW Motorsports‘ of the eighties era.
And of course ‘G/S’ are letters that you might recognise from the marque’s original enduro bike – the 1980 R 80 G/S and its current crop of modern adventure bikes.
Solidifying its classic scrambler enduro/adventure credentials you’ll find a large 19‑inch wheel up-front, but cast in a thoroughly modern light alloy or for the standard model. Or, a traditional spoked wheel for the Option 719 and 40-year Anniversary edition.
This flat-twin is capable of 110hp at 7,750 RPM. And it’s torquey too – with reported figures of 116Nm at 6,000rpm. No doubt, that power comes with the unmistakable and euphonious sound of an air/oil-cooled, Bavarian boxer twin.
With all BMW motorcycles, the one thing you can be assured of is build quality. Beyond its looks, the Urban G/S’ shaft drive combined with the above, may well make this bike more attractive for your long-distance road trip.
R nineT Urban G/S Price From £6,750 / ~$8,500 / ~€7,800 – Check Price on eBay
BMW R nineT Urban GS specifications at a glance:
- Steel fuel tank, 17 litres
- One-piece seat (seat height: 850 mm)
- Pillion passenger frame, rear seat and pillion footpegs can also be fitted (see special accessories)
- One key system for ignition tank, seat and steering
- Side stands with cut-out switch
- Brake lever and clutch lever adjustable – multiple settings
- On-board literature and tools
- BMW Motorrad ABS (switchable)
- Footpegs
- Stainless steel exhaust system with sound flap
- Permanently illuminated lights and hazard warning lights system
- Multi-functional display on the tachometer
- Power socket
- CAN bus with Single Wire System (SWS)
- Electronic immobilizer
- Diagnostic interface
- 720-W generator
- White indicators and LED rear light
3. Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
The first iteration of the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled was released back in 2017 – when modern retro scramblers were that in name only. Or to be kinder you could say, ‘street scramblers designed primarily for cafe hopping’. Unlike the majority of the bikes on this
list, it wasn’t so much Dakar that was on the minds of Ducati designers when creating the Desert Sled. Rather, it was California. Specifically, the bikes or sleds, that were built and raced by amateur bike builders in the Californian desert in the sixties and seventies.
Regardless, Ducati changed the modern scrambler landscape for all retro motorcycle manufacturers from that point. Deciding that it would no longer pay lip service to the scrambler moniker, it created a true offroader.
With its jacked-up front end, the Desert Sled is distinctive from other bikes in the Ducati Scrambler range which now numbers (a not-so-hard to believe) thirteen. The popularity of the range remains high – by October 2018 (according to Ducati) over 55,000 Scramblers had been sold worldwide. A mere four years after launch.
In 2018 Ducati updated the Desert Sled for the model year 2019. Giving the tank meatier aluminium side panels, a new seat with colour-coordinated stitching and spoked wheels with black rims.
Aside from the aesthetic changes, the Sled has been upgraded with a reinforced frame, adjustable Kayaba suspension and an LED DRL (Daytime Running Light). Additionally, a new Off-Road Riding Mode allows ABS to be disengaged. Speaking of which, all Scramblers now come with ‘Bosch Cornering ABS‘ fitted as standard.
In terms of power, the 803cc engine generates 73 hp (54 kW) at 8250 rpm and churns out 49 lb-ft (67 Nm) at 5750 RPM. So, it’s not as powerful as some of the bikes that appear on this list but more than enough to cope with most types of riding likely to be experienced on a moto adventure.
Henry Crew is a testament to that. He rode the earlier version of the Desert Sled around the world, to become the youngest person to complete a solo circumnavigation of the globe on a motorcycle. That hopefully means it should work for your summer tour.
And if the tarmac runs out, then this beauty will have no qualms about taking a more arduous route.
Ducati Desert Sled specifications at a glance:
- Bosh Cornering ABS
- Riding Mode Off-Road
- Exhaust with dual tailpipe and black covers
- Reinforced off-road frame
- Dedicated aluminium swingarm
- Spoked wheels, 19″ at the front and 17″ at the rear, with Pirelli SCORPION™
- RALLY STR tyres, 120/70 R 19 M/C 60V M+S TL at the front and 170/60 R 17
- New seat with a height of 860 mm
- Tapered handlebars with reinforcement strut
- Adjustable Kayaba upside-down fork with 200 mm of travel
- Adjustable Kayaba rear shock absorber with separate gas cartridge
- Steel teardrop fuel tank with interchangeable side panels
4. Royal Enfield Himalayan EFI
Conceived by CEO, Siddhartha Lal and launched in 2016 the Royal Enfield Himalayan was slightly ahead of the curve in retro adventure terms. While its direct competitors were still producing just street scramblers the designers and engineers at RE sought to create a bike that could tackle broken roads.
In fact, the goal was to create an affordable Adventure Tourer / dual-sport motorcycle that could even circumvent dilapidated roads entirely, if need be and ride across harsher terrain. It seems that Royal Enfield succeeded. More importantly, it’s produced a bike which is held in high affection.
The single-cylinder 411cc four-stroke, OHC engine makes just 24.5-hp and offers 23 ft-lb of torque which seemingly makes it underpowered. Nevertheless, if you want to know how that works in the real world and not just on paper look no further than Fuel Motorcycles.
The Barcelona-based workshop wasn’t put off by the low power figures of the Royal Enfield Himalayan. And, in 2019 the team took a lightly modified 2018 Himalayan EFI on their SCRAM AFRICA rally.
Ultimately, Fuel rode the bike 3000 km on tracks through the Atlas Mountains and across the Moroccan desert without issue.
In typical Royal Enfield fashion, the Himalayan is currently available in three eccentrically named colour schemes. Sleet, Snow and Granite. That’s white, grey/white and black respectively.
At EICMA 2019 Royal Enfield announced new accessories including panniers and handlebar guards which will be made available for the Himalayan in 2020.
The marque will also add three equally eccentrically named dual-tone colour schemes: Rock Red, Lake Blue, and Gravel Grey. So, if those colours sound more appealing a small delay in handing over your deposit is required.
Likely, one of the most appealing aspects of the Himalayan other than its solid classic scrambler, enduro looks, is the price tag. You’ll be able to get going on your adventure at a price that seems positively retro in comparison to other bikes on this list.
Royal Enfield Himalayan EFI Price from £4,199 – Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield Himalayan EFI Specifications at a glance:
- Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, SOHC
- Air Cooled, 411 cc, 24.5 bhp @ 6500 rpm
- 32 Nm @ 4000 – 4500 rpm, CO2 emissions – 74.3 g/km
- Half-duplex split cradle frame
- Front suspension: telescopic, 41 mm Forks, 200 mm travel Rear suspension: monoshock with linkage, 180 mm travel
- Front tyre: 90/90-21”
- Rear tyre: 120/90-17”
- Front brake: 300 mm disc
- Rear brake: 240 mm disc ABS: Dual channel
- 2190 mm x 840 mm x 1360 mm
- Fuel capacity: 15 +/- 0.5 Ltr
- Kerb weight: 185 Kg
- Ground clearance: 220 mm
6. Moto Morini – 6½ Seiemmezzo SCR
In 2016 Moto Morini returned to the world stage at the Milan show with the launch of the Corsaro ZZ and a stunning one-off custom. In 2018, they revealed the Milano, a 1200 v-twin retro roadster, quickly succeeded by the visually captivating Super Scrambler. With the 2022 launch of the Seiemmezzo range—including the SCR scrambler—the marque continues its artful blend of tradition and modernity.
Moto Morini’s tale might not be as familiar to some as other Italian names but is equally compelling. Filled with iconic motorcycles, Grand Prix wins, shifts in ownership, insolvency, and an eventual revival, the company embodies the challenges and victories typical of many of Europe’s leading motorcycle marques.
Moto Morini was established in Bologna and is now headquartered in Milan – the marque that gave us the 3½ v-twin secured its future in 2018 when acquired by Chinese firm Zhongneng from Italian owner Eagle Bikes. Importantly, the motorcycles continue to be manufactured in Italy, primarily using Italian components, preserving the brand’s authentic Italian essence.
As for the Seiemmezzo SCR scrambler featured here, it melds seamlessly into this storied backdrop. Aimed at riders who savour the blend of modern functionality with retro aesthetics, the bike is versatile enough for both daily commuting and spirited weekend jaunts.
When it comes to ride and handling, the Seiemmezzo SCR’s robust steel trellis frame and aluminium swingarm offer an assured ride. Front suspension comes in the form of an upside-down Kayaba 43 mm with 120 mm wheel travel, adjustable for spring preload and damping setting in rebound and compression. The rear suspension boasts a Kayaba monoshock, also adjustable and with 120 mm wheel travel.
Riding on 18” front and 17” rear tubeless spoked rims, clad in Pirelli MT60RS tyres, the SCR provides both form and function in one package. Tyre pressure is continuously monitored by sensors, making sure you get optimum performance. The bike’s stopping power is courtesy of a Brembo braking system, complete with dual 298 mm front discs and a single 255 mm rear disc, bolstered by Bosch ABS 9.1 Mb for extra safety.
The SCR’s 16-litre fuel tank ensures a generous range between fuel stops. On the tech front, it comes kitted with a 5-inch TFT screen offering Bluetooth connectivity, while full LED headlights and backlit handlebar controls bolster its practical appeal.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the SCR distinguishes itself with a high-set fender, heritage saddle in a leather hue and gold-hued fork. Its visual lexicon pays homage to the past but is tethered firmly to the present.
Available in Night Black, Blue Storm, and Navy Green, and with an ergonomic saddle height of 810 mm, the SCR is a strong contender in the middleweight scrambler segment. It offers a balanced and pleasurable riding experience and should appeal to new and seasoned riders.
Moto Morini Seiemmezzo SCR Price From £6,990 / $7,799 / €6.990 – Moto Morini
Moto Morini Super Scrambler specifications at a glance:
- Inline-Two-Cylinder, 4 stroke
- 649 cc
- 54Nm/5,5 kgm @7000rpm
- 54Nm/5,5 kgm @ 7,000rpm
- 44,5kW/61hp @ 8,250rpm
- 441 lbs / 200 kg
- 810 mm Seat Height
Buyer’s Guide Scrambler: Things to Consider
Off-Road Capability
If you intend to use your scrambler for serious off-roading you’ll need to consider whether the machine you buy is capable of it.
Superficially, this can be assessed through the manufacturer’s stated intent. But the best indicators are the equipment supplied as standard, coupled with the aftermarket parts and accessories available for the bike.
In comparison to original scramblers, the factory machines on this list may appear to be merely styling exercises or street scramblers.
Nonetheless, all are capable of light off-roading and some are capable of serious off-roading.
Here are some of the specific components, gadgetry and features you’ll need, plus other considerations if you’re heading off-road:
The Ducati Desert Sled and Triumph Scrambler XE are the only bona fide modern-classic off-roaders.
As such, it’s towards the neo-retro-adventure bikes that you must look for greater diversity if off-roading is your primary motivation.
High travel, fully adjustable forks & rear suspension
Having hi-performance suspension that can be adjusted for your specific needs is mandatory if you want to head off-road. Negotiating bumpy off-road terrain can be a little tricky without a finessed setup.
Bash Plate / Sump Guard
If the machine you choose isn’t equipped with a bash plate as standard, you should seriously consider fitting one. Otherwise, you risk ruining a day of riding, courtesy of a punctured sump tank.
There are usually several options available in the manufacturers’ parts catalogues and a host of other aftermarket parts suppliers.
Fuel Tank
The size of the fuel tank may be important if you’re planning on long-distance off-roading. Some modern-classic scramblers have small tanks, which may not be sufficient for your needs. Consider a bike with a larger fuel tank. That way, you won’t continually need to stop to fill up or worse run dry on a trail in the middle of nowhere.
Engine Guards
Engine guards are an absolute must if you’re going off-road. Rocks and other obstacles can easily damage the engine case, leading to costly repairs or even a ruined engine. So, make sure that the bike you’re considering has engine guards as standard or that they are available as an accessory.
Bar End Guards
Bar end guards are designed to protect the handlebars and levers in the event of a fall or slide. They’re a small thing but they can save you a lot of hassle and expense if you take a spill while off-roading.
High-Mounted Exhausts & Mudguards (Fenders)
High-mounted exhausts and fenders are a common feature of off-road bikes. They provide better clearance over rough terrain and prevent debris from getting caught up in the moving parts of the bike. If you’re planning on serious off-roading, make sure the bike you’re considering has these features.
Riding Modes
Some modern-classic scramblers have multiple riding modes, which can be useful if you’re planning on both on-road and off-road use. Look for bikes with modes that can adjust the throttle response, traction control and other parameters to suit different terrain conditions.
Style
Of course, style is a big factor when choosing a modern-classic scrambler. Scramblers are known for their retro-inspired looks but there are many variations in style.
Some bikes have a more classic look, while others have a more modern, aggressive look. Consider what style appeals to you and what will suit your riding needs.
Engine
Engine performance is another important consideration. Look for a bike with good low-end torque, which will help you navigate challenging off-road terrain.
High torque found low in the rev range will be useful for getting out of sticky situations in the mud and dirt. You may also want to consider the bike’s top speed if you plan on motorway cruising.
Electronics
Modern-classic scramblers often come equipped with advanced electronics, such as ABS and traction control. These features can be very useful for both on-road and off-road riding. Consider what electronics are important to you and what is available on the bikes you’re considering.
If you’re going for a purer off-roading experience free from the shackles of space-age electronics then something like the Royal Enfield Himalayan might be right for you. Otherwise, you should look towards the Africa Twin.
Weight
Weight is a critical factor in off-road riding. A lighter bike will be easier to handle and manoeuvre over rough terrain. Consider the weight of the bike and how it will impact your riding experience, both on and off-road.
If you get stuck, are you strong enough to pull out the weightier scrambler motorcycles on this list?
Summary
So there you have it, a choice of sensible touring scrambler motorcycles, with modern classic or neo-retro looks. Your wanderlust can now be satisfied in true retro enduro style. Send us a postcard when you reach your destination.
