Best Donor Bikes for Scrambler Builds
Yamaha XT500 by Motorelic
Scramblers are one of our favorite types of motorcycles here at BikeBound. The origin of the term goes back to 1920s England, when shed and garage builders would modify their primitive road-going motorcycles for cross-country races that followed no set trail or track. Rather, they were point A to point B races across the rough, varying terrain of the English countryside.
Triumph T140 Scrambler
Over time, these races evolved into closed-circuit hare scrambles and motocross courses, though desert racing in the American West would keep the open-range format alive for many years to come. During the 1960s, California desert racers could be found modifying 650cc Triumphs and other street bikes to survive the extreme punishment of off-road racing.
Soon, aftermarket frame kits like the Rickman Metisse became available, which incorporated such innovations as oil-in-frame design for better cooling, heavy-duty Ceriani forks, nickel-plated tubing, reinforced stress points, and more. These could be purchased to accommodate engines from Triumph, Norton, Matchless, etc.
Rickman Metisse by Chelsea B.
By the 1960s, manufacturers were beginning to offer production scramblers, which were derived from street-legal models and lightly modified for some off-road use. Examples include the Honda CL and Ducati Scrambler series. These were really “street scramblers,” and their off-road prowess was limited. Still, these production scramblers signaled the riding public’s desire for dual-purpose machines that could be ridden both on and off the road.
Honda CB360 Scrambler by Slipstream Creations
In 1969, Yamaha introduced the 250cc two-stroke DT-1, which would take the market by storm. Now a lightweight, true dual-purpose machine was widely available and affordable for the average consumer:
Yamaha DT-1
A new breed of machine was born, the dual-sport or enduro — a cheaper, lighter weight, single-cylinder alternative to the scramblers of yore.
Barbour International Triumph Scrambler by Unik Edition
Here at BikeBound, we generally define as a scrambler as a street bike modified for light to moderate off-road duty. Defining traits often include some combination of the following:
We’re reluctant to pigeonhole this breed of bike inside a strict definition or set of defining traits, but these are the traits most recognizable in today’s new wave custom scramblers — one of our favorite types of machine to feature here at BikeBound.
In recent years, this scene has exerted a profound influence on the major manufacturers, many of which have begun to offer production scrambler models. The Ducati Scrambler and Triumph Scrambler are the most obvious examples, though both have received flak for being “scramblers” more in name than function.
Perhaps in response, they’ve begun to offer more aggressive, long-travel off-road editions, such as Ducati’s Desert Sled and Triumph’s 1200 Scrambler — truly capable machines in the dirt.
We’ve seen scramblers built from a staggering array of donor motorcycles, some more successful than others. Below, we list some of our favorite platforms to help you decide the base bike for your next build. These are in alphabetical order, not any kind of ranking.
Sportster Scrambler by K&H Co.
In continuous production since 1957, the Sportster has long served as Harley’s most lightweight, performance-oriented V-twin offering outside the Buell series, available with the Ironhead engine until 1985 and the Evolution after that. While this 500+lb cruiser may seem like an odd choice for a scrambler conversion, these bikes have been ripping down dirt roads since their inception, while the American television series Then Came Bronson helped establish the Sporty’s scrambling potential in the public mind. A number of aftermarket companies now supply off-road parts for modern Sportsters, and builds such as Biltwell’s Frijole 883 desert race bike and the Carducci Dual Sport S3 Adventure have displayed the surprising potential of this platform. Hell, we even built and ride a Sportster scrambler ourselves, Blitzen!
Beach Cruiser: Black Petrol’s 1200 Sportster - The Harley-Davidson Sportster has now been in production for more than 60 years, an air-cooled 45° V-twin machine that’s served as the company’s most performance-oriented offering for most of its run. In 1986, the Evolution […]
The OVRLANDR: 1200R Sportster by Combustion Industries - The Sportster is one of our favorite, most versatile platforms for customization. In production since 1957, the V-twin cruiser has been transformed into scrambler, tracker, cafe racer, and full-out adventure bike. However, few Sportsters seem […]
Harley Street Tracker: XL1200 Sportster by Fastec Racing - For Sale: Fastec Sportster street tracker! By Mark Turner of Blacktop Media. Fastec Racing was established in 2010 and has been designing and manufacturing engineered parts for a variety of race, custom, and street bikes […]
Honda CL360 Scrambler by Inglorious Motorcycles
The Honda CB350 was one of Honda’s bestsellers from 1968-1973, featuring a 36-hp twin-carb parallel-twin engine that earned a reputation for reliability. In fact, it’s still one of the most popular motorcycles in vintage road racing.
The CL350 was the production street scrambler variant, offering a high-mount exhaust and larger 19-inch front wheel. The SL350 was even more dirt-oriented from the factory, especially the 1971-73 models, which had a 21-inch front wheel and weighed 50+lbs less than the 1969-70 versions.
Any of these models make great scrambler donors, as do the larger displacement CB/CL360 and CB/CL450 models. They are heavier and less capable than some of the single-cylinder, mono-shock machines below, but they are well-built, reliable, easy to maintain, and have a vintage charm that some of the modern donors lack.
Honda CL350 Brat-Scrambler by Offset Moto - Going Equilateral: Long-Armed CL350 from San Francisco… The Honda CL350 was the scrambler version of the beloved CB350 twin, featuring a high-mount exhaust and 19-inch front wheel. While the 346 curb weight and 33 horsepower […]
Best in Show: Honda CL350 Scrambler by CEM - Recently, we had the pleasure of attending the 2018 Victory Moto Show in Savannah, Georgia — one of our favorite places on earth. The rise of Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) has given […]
Honda CL360 Scrambler by Offset Motorcycles - A $1000 Dirtbag Chopper gets turned into a Big Sur banger… Jason Lisica of San Francisco’s Offset Motorcycles has been involved with the city’s Dirtbag Challenge. The challenge, which has been the subject of two […]
Honda NX650 by Matt Butts
The Honda Dominator was a more street-oriented dual-purpose motorcycle derived from the XR series, featuring a 44-horsepower air-cooled single-cylinder engine and five-speed transmission. It was produced from 1988-2003, but only available in the US market for two years. In Europe, it’s become one of the most popular donors for custom scrambler builds due to its ruggedness, availability, low purchase price, low cost of ownership, good power, and off-road potential. What’s more, the 650cc engine’s dual exhaust outlets mean that custom high-pipe dual exhaust setups are common. For US builders, the Honda XR650L is a readily available alternative that shares the same engine and many of the same parts and character traits.
Desert Dominator: Honda NX650 ‘Sled - “A lighter, more powerful, more aggressive, go anywhere version of the Dominator…” The Honda NX650 Dominator has become one of the world’s most popular custom platforms, featuring an XR-based 644cc four-valve single-cylinder engine, twin stainless […]
Fear Nothing: Honda NX650 Dominator “Witaca 001” - A Honda Dominator built for the path, not the destination… When Honda introduced the NX650 Dominator in 1988, we can safely assume they had no idea this “urbanized trail bike” would become a favorite […]
650 Twin-Shocker: Marmisto’s TT-NX Street Tracker - The Honda NX650 Dominator has become one of the world’s most custom platforms. The 45-hp four-valve single has plenty of punch, coupled with electric start and a reputation for rugged reliability. But for stonemason, author, […]
Honda XR600R “XLsinore”
As stated above, the Honda Dominator is rare in the US market, but Honda’s venerable XL and XR series provide a great alternative. In the early days, the XL was the company’s range of street-legal dual-sports, complete with electric start, blinkers, license plate brackets, batteries, and more. Meanwhile, the XR was the purpose-built off-road series, typically kickstart only, with the headlight and taillight run directly from the stator — no battery. Later, the XL models were folded into the XR series, and the street-legal models were identified by the “L” suffix, such as the XR250L and XR650L. What’s more, many early XR models can be found on the used market with license plates and street-legal titles. The XL600R and XR600R are probably the most popular donors for scrambler models, but the smaller displacement models should also be considered.
Honda XR400R “Rat Bike” from R.L. Allman’s Peter Pan - In this darkly re-imagined new series, Peter Pan flies on two wheels… Ronnie Allman is a young filmmaker whose fascination with motorcycles can be traced back to his boyhood days. He grew up in Texas, […]
Honda XR250 Tornado Scrambler by LBC Motorcycles - Retro Enduro built by Argentina’s Low Budget Customs… The Honda XR250 Tornado was a Latin American equivalent of the XR250L, sporting an air/oil-cooled 4-valve DOHC tuned for better low-end torque and slightly less peak power […]
Honda XR350R “Hoodoo” by Buscadero Motorcycles - Drool-worthy XR built for vintage motocross… The Honda XR350R debuted to a good bit of fanfare in 1983. Together with its big brother, the XR500R, the big red enduro would help change the way people […]
Triumph Bonneville by Absolut Motorcraft
The first-gen Triumph Bonneville and its predecessor, the TR6 Trophy, were some of the most popular machines in California desert racing in the 1960s. Today, the third-generation Hinckley Triumph Bonneville, produced from 2001 onward, remains a popular donor for scrambler builds. The parallel-twin engine serves up a decent dose of horsepower and low-end torque — a prime prerequisite for off-road antics — and companies such as British Customs have been testing and developing a broad range of parts for the Triumph Bonneville Carb, SE, T100, T120, and more.
McQueen Machine: Triumph 865 by Absolut Motorcraft - Built for exploring the hidden paths, coves, and beaches of Ibiza… In the climactic scene of 1963’s WWII epic, The Great Escape, USAAF Virgil Hilts, played by none other than Steve McQueen, guns his stolen […]
Burly Bonnie: Triumph Bonneville “Laia” by Tamarit Motorcycles - The Triumph “New Bonneville” has proven to be one of the most versatile contemporary platforms for customization. The straight-twin roadster competes directly with the 883 Sportster: “The Triumph Bonneville is unquestionably the better motorcycle. The […]
Racer-Built: Triumph T140 Scrambler - A Triumph triple racer builds himself a scrambler… Introduced in the early 1970s, the Triumph T140 Bonneville was the 750cc evolution of the 650cc T120, featuring an oil-in-frame design, 360-degree parallel twin, gear-driven cams, twin […]
Yamaha XT550 “She-Wolf” by Francis Von Tuto
The Yamaha DT series (two-stroke) and XT series (four-stroke) are two of our favorite motorcycle platforms, bar none. These single-cylinder dual-sport/enduro bikes are more capable than most factory scramblers in stock trim. In fact, the XT500 won the very first Paris-Dakar Rallies in 1979 and 1980. At the same time, they are quite capable road-going machines, especially in the 250+cc models. With a few stylistic customizations, such as custom seat/bars/tank/crash protection, they look great, and their performance potential is huge, with upgraded suspension, 12-volt electrical systems, and more available.
Dirt Road Ripper: Yamaha XT500 by MotoRelic - “Foot down and elbows up! Braaap!” The Yamaha XT500 is one of the most successful dual-purpose machines of all time, a big-bore four-stroke that proved itself in professional desert racing and on thousands of miles […]
She-Wolf: Yamaha XT550 “La Lupa” by Francis Von Tuto - A modernized classic, elegant and streamlined… The Yamaha XT550 debuted in 1982, a successor of the beloved XT500 — itself one of the most successful “thumpers” of all time, highly regarded by pro racers and […]
Yamaha XT250 “Dragonfly” by Francis Von Tuto - A dragonfly built from a $150 box of parts… Introduced in 1980, the Yamaha XT250 quickly became a popular workhorse on farms and ranches, earning a bit of notoriety in 1982 as Rambo’s getaway bike […]
Best Donor Bikes for Scrambler Builds - Scramblers are one of our favorite types of motorcycles here at BikeBound. The origin of the term goes back to 1920s England, when shed and garage builders would modify their primitive road-going motorcycles for cross-country […]
Beach Cruiser: Black Petrol’s 1200 Sportster - The Harley-Davidson Sportster has now been in production for more than 60 years, an air-cooled 45° V-twin machine that’s served as the company’s most performance-oriented offering for most of its run. In 1986, the Evolution […]
Big Bore Restomod: Honda XL600R by Motorieep - In 1983, Honda introduced the XL600R (aka 600 XLR), a big-bore dual-purpose machine with nearly 11 inches of ground clearance, 8+ inches of suspension travel, and 45 horsepower on tap. Like other open-class dual-sports of […]
Californian Scrambler: Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor - Le Motographe builds a classy beach scrambler… In 2018, Royal Enfield introduced the Interceptor 650, an air/oil-cooled parallel twin with Bosch fuel injection, slipper clutch, frame-mounted oil cooler, and a solid 46 bhp on tap. […]
McQueen Machine: Triumph 865 by Absolut Motorcraft - Built for exploring the hidden paths, coves, and beaches of Ibiza… In the climactic scene of 1963’s WWII epic, The Great Escape, USAAF Virgil Hilts, played by none other than Steve McQueen, guns his stolen […]
Yamaha XS650 “MUTO” Tracker - “May the FUN be with you!” Rémy Pagart of France’s MUTO Motorbikes has quickly become one of our favorite builders, a self-described “all-terrain artist” who brings a fresh boldness and joy to his work, operating […]
Frateschi Funduro: BMW F650 Custom - The BMW F650 Funduro debuted in 1994 as the company’s lightweight, single-cylinder adventure bike — a baby GS packing a 50-hp four-valve Rotax engine, top-notch build quality, and ultra-low running costs. But Visordown.com claims there’s […]
Desert Dominator: Honda NX650 ‘Sled - “A lighter, more powerful, more aggressive, go anywhere version of the Dominator…” The Honda NX650 Dominator has become one of the world’s most popular custom platforms, featuring an XR-based 644cc four-valve single-cylinder engine, twin stainless […]
Full Metal Beast: Honda CBX750F by Grego’s Customs - A Brazilian Custom Motorcycle of the Year! The Honda CBX750F, launched in 1983, was an evolution of the “original superbike” — the beloved CB750. The air-cooled 16-valve DOHC engine produced 91 bhp, capable of propelling […]
Lightweight V-Twin Scrambler: Kaisar Ruby 250 by Jowo Kustom - A 250cc V-twin scrambler by Jowo Kustom… The Kaisar Ruby V250 — also sold as the Keeway Dorado 250 in some markets — is a 250cc V-twin built in the style of a classic cruiser, […]
Continue reading...
Yamaha XT500 by Motorelic
Scramblers are one of our favorite types of motorcycles here at BikeBound. The origin of the term goes back to 1920s England, when shed and garage builders would modify their primitive road-going motorcycles for cross-country races that followed no set trail or track. Rather, they were point A to point B races across the rough, varying terrain of the English countryside.
Triumph T140 Scrambler
Over time, these races evolved into closed-circuit hare scrambles and motocross courses, though desert racing in the American West would keep the open-range format alive for many years to come. During the 1960s, California desert racers could be found modifying 650cc Triumphs and other street bikes to survive the extreme punishment of off-road racing.
Soon, aftermarket frame kits like the Rickman Metisse became available, which incorporated such innovations as oil-in-frame design for better cooling, heavy-duty Ceriani forks, nickel-plated tubing, reinforced stress points, and more. These could be purchased to accommodate engines from Triumph, Norton, Matchless, etc.
Rickman Metisse by Chelsea B.
By the 1960s, manufacturers were beginning to offer production scramblers, which were derived from street-legal models and lightly modified for some off-road use. Examples include the Honda CL and Ducati Scrambler series. These were really “street scramblers,” and their off-road prowess was limited. Still, these production scramblers signaled the riding public’s desire for dual-purpose machines that could be ridden both on and off the road.
Honda CB360 Scrambler by Slipstream Creations
In 1969, Yamaha introduced the 250cc two-stroke DT-1, which would take the market by storm. Now a lightweight, true dual-purpose machine was widely available and affordable for the average consumer:
Yamaha DT-1
A new breed of machine was born, the dual-sport or enduro — a cheaper, lighter weight, single-cylinder alternative to the scramblers of yore.
So what is a Scrambler Motorcycle?
Barbour International Triumph Scrambler by Unik Edition
Here at BikeBound, we generally define as a scrambler as a street bike modified for light to moderate off-road duty. Defining traits often include some combination of the following:
- DOT-legal dual-purpose rubber, from 50/50 to 90/10
- Taller, longer-travel front/rear suspension
- Skid/Bash plates and rock protection
- Motocross handlebars / footpegs
- Accessory lighting / luggage
- Full mudguards / fenders
We’re reluctant to pigeonhole this breed of bike inside a strict definition or set of defining traits, but these are the traits most recognizable in today’s new wave custom scramblers — one of our favorite types of machine to feature here at BikeBound.
In recent years, this scene has exerted a profound influence on the major manufacturers, many of which have begun to offer production scrambler models. The Ducati Scrambler and Triumph Scrambler are the most obvious examples, though both have received flak for being “scramblers” more in name than function.
Perhaps in response, they’ve begun to offer more aggressive, long-travel off-road editions, such as Ducati’s Desert Sled and Triumph’s 1200 Scrambler — truly capable machines in the dirt.
Best Motorcycles for Scrambler Builds
We’ve seen scramblers built from a staggering array of donor motorcycles, some more successful than others. Below, we list some of our favorite platforms to help you decide the base bike for your next build. These are in alphabetical order, not any kind of ranking.
Harley-Davidson Sportster
Sportster Scrambler by K&H Co.
In continuous production since 1957, the Sportster has long served as Harley’s most lightweight, performance-oriented V-twin offering outside the Buell series, available with the Ironhead engine until 1985 and the Evolution after that. While this 500+lb cruiser may seem like an odd choice for a scrambler conversion, these bikes have been ripping down dirt roads since their inception, while the American television series Then Came Bronson helped establish the Sporty’s scrambling potential in the public mind. A number of aftermarket companies now supply off-road parts for modern Sportsters, and builds such as Biltwell’s Frijole 883 desert race bike and the Carducci Dual Sport S3 Adventure have displayed the surprising potential of this platform. Hell, we even built and ride a Sportster scrambler ourselves, Blitzen!
Beach Cruiser: Black Petrol’s 1200 Sportster - The Harley-Davidson Sportster has now been in production for more than 60 years, an air-cooled 45° V-twin machine that’s served as the company’s most performance-oriented offering for most of its run. In 1986, the Evolution […]
The OVRLANDR: 1200R Sportster by Combustion Industries - The Sportster is one of our favorite, most versatile platforms for customization. In production since 1957, the V-twin cruiser has been transformed into scrambler, tracker, cafe racer, and full-out adventure bike. However, few Sportsters seem […]
Harley Street Tracker: XL1200 Sportster by Fastec Racing - For Sale: Fastec Sportster street tracker! By Mark Turner of Blacktop Media. Fastec Racing was established in 2010 and has been designing and manufacturing engineered parts for a variety of race, custom, and street bikes […]Honda CB/CL/SL Twins
Honda CL360 Scrambler by Inglorious Motorcycles
The Honda CB350 was one of Honda’s bestsellers from 1968-1973, featuring a 36-hp twin-carb parallel-twin engine that earned a reputation for reliability. In fact, it’s still one of the most popular motorcycles in vintage road racing.
The CL350 was the production street scrambler variant, offering a high-mount exhaust and larger 19-inch front wheel. The SL350 was even more dirt-oriented from the factory, especially the 1971-73 models, which had a 21-inch front wheel and weighed 50+lbs less than the 1969-70 versions.
Any of these models make great scrambler donors, as do the larger displacement CB/CL360 and CB/CL450 models. They are heavier and less capable than some of the single-cylinder, mono-shock machines below, but they are well-built, reliable, easy to maintain, and have a vintage charm that some of the modern donors lack.
Honda CL350 Brat-Scrambler by Offset Moto - Going Equilateral: Long-Armed CL350 from San Francisco… The Honda CL350 was the scrambler version of the beloved CB350 twin, featuring a high-mount exhaust and 19-inch front wheel. While the 346 curb weight and 33 horsepower […]
Best in Show: Honda CL350 Scrambler by CEM - Recently, we had the pleasure of attending the 2018 Victory Moto Show in Savannah, Georgia — one of our favorite places on earth. The rise of Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) has given […]
Honda CL360 Scrambler by Offset Motorcycles - A $1000 Dirtbag Chopper gets turned into a Big Sur banger… Jason Lisica of San Francisco’s Offset Motorcycles has been involved with the city’s Dirtbag Challenge. The challenge, which has been the subject of two […]Honda NX650 Dominator
Honda NX650 by Matt Butts
The Honda Dominator was a more street-oriented dual-purpose motorcycle derived from the XR series, featuring a 44-horsepower air-cooled single-cylinder engine and five-speed transmission. It was produced from 1988-2003, but only available in the US market for two years. In Europe, it’s become one of the most popular donors for custom scrambler builds due to its ruggedness, availability, low purchase price, low cost of ownership, good power, and off-road potential. What’s more, the 650cc engine’s dual exhaust outlets mean that custom high-pipe dual exhaust setups are common. For US builders, the Honda XR650L is a readily available alternative that shares the same engine and many of the same parts and character traits.
Desert Dominator: Honda NX650 ‘Sled - “A lighter, more powerful, more aggressive, go anywhere version of the Dominator…” The Honda NX650 Dominator has become one of the world’s most popular custom platforms, featuring an XR-based 644cc four-valve single-cylinder engine, twin stainless […]
Fear Nothing: Honda NX650 Dominator “Witaca 001” - A Honda Dominator built for the path, not the destination… When Honda introduced the NX650 Dominator in 1988, we can safely assume they had no idea this “urbanized trail bike” would become a favorite […]
650 Twin-Shocker: Marmisto’s TT-NX Street Tracker - The Honda NX650 Dominator has become one of the world’s most custom platforms. The 45-hp four-valve single has plenty of punch, coupled with electric start and a reputation for rugged reliability. But for stonemason, author, […]Honda XR / XL Series
Honda XR600R “XLsinore”
As stated above, the Honda Dominator is rare in the US market, but Honda’s venerable XL and XR series provide a great alternative. In the early days, the XL was the company’s range of street-legal dual-sports, complete with electric start, blinkers, license plate brackets, batteries, and more. Meanwhile, the XR was the purpose-built off-road series, typically kickstart only, with the headlight and taillight run directly from the stator — no battery. Later, the XL models were folded into the XR series, and the street-legal models were identified by the “L” suffix, such as the XR250L and XR650L. What’s more, many early XR models can be found on the used market with license plates and street-legal titles. The XL600R and XR600R are probably the most popular donors for scrambler models, but the smaller displacement models should also be considered.
Honda XR400R “Rat Bike” from R.L. Allman’s Peter Pan - In this darkly re-imagined new series, Peter Pan flies on two wheels… Ronnie Allman is a young filmmaker whose fascination with motorcycles can be traced back to his boyhood days. He grew up in Texas, […]
Honda XR250 Tornado Scrambler by LBC Motorcycles - Retro Enduro built by Argentina’s Low Budget Customs… The Honda XR250 Tornado was a Latin American equivalent of the XR250L, sporting an air/oil-cooled 4-valve DOHC tuned for better low-end torque and slightly less peak power […]
Honda XR350R “Hoodoo” by Buscadero Motorcycles - Drool-worthy XR built for vintage motocross… The Honda XR350R debuted to a good bit of fanfare in 1983. Together with its big brother, the XR500R, the big red enduro would help change the way people […]Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville by Absolut Motorcraft
The first-gen Triumph Bonneville and its predecessor, the TR6 Trophy, were some of the most popular machines in California desert racing in the 1960s. Today, the third-generation Hinckley Triumph Bonneville, produced from 2001 onward, remains a popular donor for scrambler builds. The parallel-twin engine serves up a decent dose of horsepower and low-end torque — a prime prerequisite for off-road antics — and companies such as British Customs have been testing and developing a broad range of parts for the Triumph Bonneville Carb, SE, T100, T120, and more.
McQueen Machine: Triumph 865 by Absolut Motorcraft - Built for exploring the hidden paths, coves, and beaches of Ibiza… In the climactic scene of 1963’s WWII epic, The Great Escape, USAAF Virgil Hilts, played by none other than Steve McQueen, guns his stolen […]
Burly Bonnie: Triumph Bonneville “Laia” by Tamarit Motorcycles - The Triumph “New Bonneville” has proven to be one of the most versatile contemporary platforms for customization. The straight-twin roadster competes directly with the 883 Sportster: “The Triumph Bonneville is unquestionably the better motorcycle. The […]
Racer-Built: Triumph T140 Scrambler - A Triumph triple racer builds himself a scrambler… Introduced in the early 1970s, the Triumph T140 Bonneville was the 750cc evolution of the 650cc T120, featuring an oil-in-frame design, 360-degree parallel twin, gear-driven cams, twin […]Yamaha XT / DT Series
Yamaha XT550 “She-Wolf” by Francis Von Tuto
The Yamaha DT series (two-stroke) and XT series (four-stroke) are two of our favorite motorcycle platforms, bar none. These single-cylinder dual-sport/enduro bikes are more capable than most factory scramblers in stock trim. In fact, the XT500 won the very first Paris-Dakar Rallies in 1979 and 1980. At the same time, they are quite capable road-going machines, especially in the 250+cc models. With a few stylistic customizations, such as custom seat/bars/tank/crash protection, they look great, and their performance potential is huge, with upgraded suspension, 12-volt electrical systems, and more available.
Dirt Road Ripper: Yamaha XT500 by MotoRelic - “Foot down and elbows up! Braaap!” The Yamaha XT500 is one of the most successful dual-purpose machines of all time, a big-bore four-stroke that proved itself in professional desert racing and on thousands of miles […]
She-Wolf: Yamaha XT550 “La Lupa” by Francis Von Tuto - A modernized classic, elegant and streamlined… The Yamaha XT550 debuted in 1982, a successor of the beloved XT500 — itself one of the most successful “thumpers” of all time, highly regarded by pro racers and […]
Yamaha XT250 “Dragonfly” by Francis Von Tuto - A dragonfly built from a $150 box of parts… Introduced in 1980, the Yamaha XT250 quickly became a popular workhorse on farms and ranches, earning a bit of notoriety in 1982 as Rambo’s getaway bike […]Recent Scrambler Builds
Best Donor Bikes for Scrambler Builds - Scramblers are one of our favorite types of motorcycles here at BikeBound. The origin of the term goes back to 1920s England, when shed and garage builders would modify their primitive road-going motorcycles for cross-country […]
Beach Cruiser: Black Petrol’s 1200 Sportster - The Harley-Davidson Sportster has now been in production for more than 60 years, an air-cooled 45° V-twin machine that’s served as the company’s most performance-oriented offering for most of its run. In 1986, the Evolution […]
Big Bore Restomod: Honda XL600R by Motorieep - In 1983, Honda introduced the XL600R (aka 600 XLR), a big-bore dual-purpose machine with nearly 11 inches of ground clearance, 8+ inches of suspension travel, and 45 horsepower on tap. Like other open-class dual-sports of […]
Californian Scrambler: Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor - Le Motographe builds a classy beach scrambler… In 2018, Royal Enfield introduced the Interceptor 650, an air/oil-cooled parallel twin with Bosch fuel injection, slipper clutch, frame-mounted oil cooler, and a solid 46 bhp on tap. […]
McQueen Machine: Triumph 865 by Absolut Motorcraft - Built for exploring the hidden paths, coves, and beaches of Ibiza… In the climactic scene of 1963’s WWII epic, The Great Escape, USAAF Virgil Hilts, played by none other than Steve McQueen, guns his stolen […]
Yamaha XS650 “MUTO” Tracker - “May the FUN be with you!” Rémy Pagart of France’s MUTO Motorbikes has quickly become one of our favorite builders, a self-described “all-terrain artist” who brings a fresh boldness and joy to his work, operating […]
Frateschi Funduro: BMW F650 Custom - The BMW F650 Funduro debuted in 1994 as the company’s lightweight, single-cylinder adventure bike — a baby GS packing a 50-hp four-valve Rotax engine, top-notch build quality, and ultra-low running costs. But Visordown.com claims there’s […]
Desert Dominator: Honda NX650 ‘Sled - “A lighter, more powerful, more aggressive, go anywhere version of the Dominator…” The Honda NX650 Dominator has become one of the world’s most popular custom platforms, featuring an XR-based 644cc four-valve single-cylinder engine, twin stainless […]
Full Metal Beast: Honda CBX750F by Grego’s Customs - A Brazilian Custom Motorcycle of the Year! The Honda CBX750F, launched in 1983, was an evolution of the “original superbike” — the beloved CB750. The air-cooled 16-valve DOHC engine produced 91 bhp, capable of propelling […]
Lightweight V-Twin Scrambler: Kaisar Ruby 250 by Jowo Kustom - A 250cc V-twin scrambler by Jowo Kustom… The Kaisar Ruby V250 — also sold as the Keeway Dorado 250 in some markets — is a 250cc V-twin built in the style of a classic cruiser, […]Continue reading...
