What is a Scrambler? Why is it so important and relevant? What makes it the hot topic of a discussion between enthusiasts? What makes it so desirable and fun? Today, I am going to talk about that.
So, what is the scrambler? If I skip the history lesson and give you the short version, a scrambler is a street motorcycle with a bit of off-road ability and minimalist, simple and bare, retro looks. Now let’s get to the long version, shall we?
In the late 1940’s and 50’s, the “Scrambler culture” started. Basically, after WW2, American soldiers decided that street riding was boring. So, they took their Harleys, stripped them off all the essential parts like windscreen, bags etc. and binned them off-road and did some crazy hill-climbing with them. It also started in England where a bunch of crazy Englishmen began to dabble in a new form of motorcycle racing, one that took place far from the beaten path. Some of the regular modifications to the street bikes were- taller suspension, fenders and exhaust pipes for more ground clearance and some spoked and knobby tires (knobby tires- tires meant for off-roading) to put the power down. It wasn’t just Harleys. Triumph Bonnevilles were another one of the weapons of choice for hill-climbing, popping wheelies, sliding the rear wheel and doing crazy, hooligan stuff and just having fun!
If you think about it, a scrambler seems like a fashion accessory. It doesn’t really make any practical sense. You have a very heavy motorcycle that is not really good at refinement and vibrates, a big lumpy, torquey and loud engine. It does not make the most horsepower, its not the most affordable, it’s not the best city and highway bike, not the best corner-carver and since it has less range, no windscreen and almost zero luggage carrying capacity, its not even a good tourer! To add salt to the wounds, most of them don’t even have off-road capability! So why would I buy a Scrambler?
Well, the truth is, that scramblers were never meant to be practical! If you observe them, scramblers were built to have fun! They were meant to be loud, braapy and spinning the rear wheel and going crazy off-road, while looking retro and classy! They were meant to symbolize that motorcycling isn’t just commuting on the street, but having fun! They were invented by rebellious people who were just not satisfied by what they got from the factory. They were meant to be beautiful and to have a hand-built quality, and of course, good quality of parts. They were meant to have a blast, to skid and wheelie all the way, whether in the city, the highway, or off-road. They were meant to be free, in the truest sense. Also, they are really cool!
(Honestly, even I dream of owning a Ducati Scrambler Desert sled or a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC)
