Learn Me Motorcycles

I just saw Jurassic World and thought that motorcycle was so cool. I know its a Triumph Scrambler but what can I search to see similar bikes? Is there a term for this style?

put scrambler motorcycle into google and click away.

Look for Dual Sport or Enduro. A bike made for on and off road.

Look at the Enfield also, it has that classic styling.

What GPS said. The term is scrambler and there are a few new models (Ducati just put one out) and a E36 M3 load of custom ones. I watched that movie and thought there was no way that British piggy could haul through the woods like that. Guess a ktm wouldn't have been as cool. It was more believable than captain America ridding a Harley on snow through the woods in age of Ultron

After reading up on these they are making me want a vintage scrambler.

after reading up on them, the Triumph looks interesting but is kind of tubby at almost 500 lbs. The ducati outspecs the triumph on almost every front and is $500 cheaper. Another option is throw some knobbies on a triumph speed triple. Then I saw the member's homebuilt scrambler out of a yamaha radian - followed by the thought that a honda hawk GT with knobbies could be pretty cool.

I think the late model Triumph scrambler is more of a styling package than anything else (you can ride it in the dirt, but don't expect it to perform like a real dual purpose bike.) It does look pretty nice, though.

For classic Triumphs, they don't get much better than the Metisse Scrambler - I believe the particular bike in this photo was Steve McQueen's.

stuart in mn wrote: I think the late model Triumph scrambler is more of a styling package than anything else (you can ride it in the dirt, but don't expect it to perform like a real dual purpose bike.) It does look pretty nice, though. For classic Triumphs, they don't get much better than the Metisse Scrambler - I believe the particular bike in this photo was Steve McQueen's.

I need this in my life

One of these was my first bike

bgkast wrote: One of these was my first bike

My first bike too! It had a repaint - all silver. Muffler fell off on the ride home. Wouldn't mind another

I have had the pleasure of ridding the hell out of one of these in the vast grasslands of SD. The area around Winner SD looks like something out of a roadrunner cartoon and this machine took me all over the place following cattle trails over a 10,000 acre ranch.

There were modern dirtbikes available every day, but I just loved the Honda 350. The one I was ridding did have knobby tires though.

so tempted... $695

Looks like a deal to me!

I'm also doing a lot of research on motorcycles on Youtube since the desire is very large now. I just like a different style bike.

You do need to sit on several bikes to know what you should buy. I sat on quite a few, and I have eliminated 3 bikes that I would have considered before.

I say you need to ride several bikes before buying, especially if you decide you want a new. There is a big difference between sitting on one and riding one.

I never would have ended up with my sportster if I would have ridden it first.

The term for a modern equivalent is adventure bike.

My uncle apparently had a 70 Ducati Scrambler. I was hoping he had it tucked in a garage somewhere still, but it's long gone.

Appleseed wrote: The term for a modern equivalent is adventure bike.

eh, I don't know about that...there are still scramblers out there (ducati, triumph, RE) but you really need to go to an older bike to get into that minimalist style. Enduros are generally street legal dirt bikes, so taller ergos with more suspension travel. Think KTM 450exc, KTM690. Dual sports are similar to enduros but it usually refers to something a little 'softer', like a wr250r, DR650, DRZ400, XT350, CRF230/250L sort of bike. Adventure bikes are the 'big' bikes that are better for highway use as well, but rarely see real off road. KTM950/990/1190/1290 adventure, the BMW R1200GS and F800GS, Yamaha Super Tenere and the like.

My KTM 950 adventure is everything I would look for in a bike. Surprisingly good off road, decent on the highway, tackles twisties with aplomb, and sounds amazing. But I'm biased. 70k miles on mine now.

In reply to gearheadE30:

Nice! How has the 950 been on maintenance and reliability over the 70k?

bgkast wrote: One of these was my first bike

Those old Honda scramblers pop up on Craigslist pretty often. Now you've gotten me wanting to get one. Again.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: In reply to gearheadE30: Nice! How has the 950 been on maintenance and reliability over the 70k?

It has been really good, and I think would be just fine for anyone who has the GRM mindset. Parts are a little bit on the expensive side, but everything is very available, and all of the factory issues with the bike have been addressed by the aftermarket. Really the only reoccurring issue with no permanent fix is the water pump, which goes about 20k-30k miles before it starts leaking water into the oil. The usual powerful motorcycle things like chain, sprockets, wheel bearings, brakes, and tires all get used up fairly quickly, but it is worth it. Oil changes, again with fixes from the aftermarket to make it easier, are quick and every 3k miles. My valves haven't moved in 20k miles, clearance wise.

And any downsides are more than offset by the incredible ability of the bike. As far as I'm concerned, it is the only 'true' adventure bike, with the possible exception of a 690 with a bunch of modifications for more fuel and wind protection.

Made it up this on the first try:

And up this, not on the first try...

/threadjack. I'm very enthusiastic about LC8s haha.

A friend of mine had a BMW F650 for years and loved it. They can be had pretty reasonably. I think he just sold his for $2,200, and it was pristine.

I own a 71 Honda Scrambler CL350 like the one pictured. It's a great around town bike, that can tackle some light off-roading as well. If you are more into jumping and off-road shenanigans, check out the SL350 Scrambler. It's more of a dirt-bike than a street bike, where the CL is just the opposite.

Unfortunately, the downside to many modern "Adventure" or "Dual Sport" bikes is the seat height. I'm not a big guy-- 5'8" and most of the serious ones are just too darn tall for me to ride comfortably. If you are taller, and want a dual-sport / adventure bike, check out BMW's offerings, or the venerable Kawasaki KLR650. I love the Triumph Scrambler's looks--- but it's mostly a street bike.

Rode an adventure bike around Ireland. It was big and tall:

It would be cool if we had a GRM forum for motorcycles.

In reply to MattGent:

Like the sprockets section we are currently in? Or another forum entirely