The presence of custom scenes, especially in movies, has dramatically affected the motorcycle industry. Scrambler motorcycles were initially street bikes adapted for the dirt. However, the incredible performance they offer after being stripped down has caused many motorcycle manufacturing companies to start offering production scrambler motorcycles. Scrambler bikes are fantastic, and just like bobber motorcycles, the crowd has grown to love them immensely.
For those who can afford it, customizing your small street bike to a scrambler is an excellent idea, but if you cannot afford the upgrades that make it a well-able off-road machine, then going for the factory model could be the better option.
The primary difference between a factory and a custom scrambler is that the modern ones are coming fully-loaded with both road and off-road features. With that in mind, let us dive in for five awesome factory scramblers, and five custom-builds we would rather ride.
10 Factory: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is by far the best scrambler motorcycle with a real touch of modern flair. It is a sleek city motorcycle that comes with some of the best off-road features you can find – integrated luggage racks, shod spoked hoops, and a bash-guard.
The Svartpilen is built around KTM's 390 platforms and sports a large amount of high-tech componentry. Some of the high-tech features include a slipper clutch, and WP APEX suspension on both front and back, as well as a ride-by-wire throttle. The bike is fitted with a 373cc, liquid-cooled engine that produces 44 horsepower, and 27.3lb.-ft of torque.
9 Custom: Honda NX650 Dominator
The NX650 Dominator is the work of a motorcycle customizer Andrew Greenland. Surprisingly enough, the guy does not have a big garage or a workshop, he works from his shed in Wales, from he has worked on some of the big Hondas like the XL and XR race bikes.
When he decided to create a small scrambler that he could reach the floor, he chose this NX650 Dominator. The bike features a fat front wheel of 17 inches, a rebuild of the motor, and almost everything else.
8 Factory: Yamaha SCR950
Early on, in Yamaha Yard Build Program, the company brought in a pro customizer, Greg Hageman, to work on a bolt. He did a splendid job customizing the bike, and Yamaha was pleased.
As a result, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer made slight amendments to what Hageman had done customizing the Yamaha Bolt and put it on production. The result is this V-Twin powered scrambler called the SCR950.
7 Custom: Yamaha XT600 "B003"
The Yamaha XT600 "B003" is the creation of Pedro and João, two long-time friends living in Sertã, Portugal. Sertã is located in the middle of the N2 road, the longest and the most mythical road in Portugal. The XT600 "B003" is their third work, and they did it for a friend, a Portuguese photographer called Ricardo Santos.
Ricardo gave the two-person team only two words of direction – dry green. What they created is this incredible dual-sport scrambler from Yamaha XT600. The work was so amazing that it became one of the most famous scrambler creations in 2018.
6 Factory: BMW R NineT Scrambler
The BMW R NineT Scrambler is one of the biggest scramblers in this list. And any other list for that matter. Remember that excellent sound from Tom Cruise's motorcycle scene in Mission Impossible: Fallout? That is the sound of the potent 1170cc flat-twin air/oil-cooled engine that produces enough horsepower and torque to take you wherever you want to go.
Some of the major off-road features include the high mounted double exhaust for improved ground clearance, the 19-inch front tire, rugged finishes, and the comfy seating position. The BMW R NineT has the looks of a scrambler, although it might fail a little when it comes to riding on the dirt.
5 Custom: Harley WR/WRTT "Leonard Special"
The Harley WR/WRTT "Leonard Special" is the creation of a graphic designer and bike builder, Fredrick Fortune. The San Francisco resident created this scrambler racing monster in honor of the nation's first Grand National Champion, Joe Leonard, hence the name "Leonard Special."
After several interviews with the champ, Leonard gave the designer his blessings for the project. Fredrick then picked a brutally chopped and raked vintage 45 WL Solo model and transformed it into this excellent, street-legal tank-shift race bike.
4 Factory: Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
The Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled is an 800cc dirt bike that comes in the same line with the Scrambler Icon, and the Scrambler Full-Throttle. All of them come with some brown-top scrambling. The three scramblers are all perfect for both on-road and off-road riding, but the Desert Sled is more versatile.
It has a heavy-duty and fully adjustable 46mm USD fork. The bike also features a stouter swingarm, Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber, and a 19-ich front wheel. All scrambler 800 models come with Bosch Cornering ABS as standard, which makes them the only scrambler motorcycles in their class with that sort of safety technology.
3 Custom: Ducati "HyperScrambler"
When someone loves something, they dedicate their lives to making it better, that is true for Kaspar Ilves, a true Italian Bike enthusiast who loves Ducati motorcycles in particular. The project began as a Ducati Hypermotard 796 basket case creation, which the builder wanted to abandon, maybe because his vision was not so clear what he wanted to build.
Before he could make a parting decision, he spoke to a fellow Ducati lover who wished to have a custom creation of an Italian bike to ride across the European trail roads. The idea was to create a Ducati Scrambler that was way better than the factory model. The result is this HyperScrambler that features everything custom-built to make it as perfect as the owner wanted it.
2 Factory: Indian FTR 1200
The Indian FTR 1200 is a street bike – but it is also a machine of its own caliber. The 2019 model is based on the Indian FTR750 dirt track racer, but that does not mean that the FTR1200 cannot stand ground on its own. The 1200cc powertrain is enclosed in a steel trellis space frame. The bike has an upright riding position, and it is comfortable.
The FTR 1200 features an 18-inch rear wheel and 19 inches at the front, which gives the rider a pleasant riding experience both on and off the racetrack. The scrambler features triple disc Brembo brakes and ABS as stock. There are still many options for customizing the bike – but the factory features are still one of a kind. Thus, you might find no reason for customizing.
1 Custom: Moto Guzzi Pony
The Moto Guzzi Pony was created by a Spanish bike builder, Chus Valencia. The creation was like a rescue mission for the bike; he found the Moto Guzzi Pony lying in a shed waiting for its days to end. He disassembled it and gave it a new life, fitting it with an S6 engine and converting it to a rear mono-shock. The rest of the bodywork is hand-crafted.