There’s an undeniable magic to scramblers. They represent the motorcycle distilled to its purest form: two wheels, an engine, and an invitation to adventure. Designed for versatility, they represent freedom—the ability to leave the pavement and discover where the dirt leads, making each ride about exploration and breaking from routine.
Our love of variety shines through in the diverse range of scramblers featured here—each offering a unique answer to the question: What makes the perfect do-it-all motorcycle? Explore our top picks and discover what sets each apart.
Purpose Built Moto’s Sportster Dual Sport
Custom motorcycles don’t always need to be practical, but this Harley-Davidson Sportster was built with a very specific purpose in mind: surviving a two-week adventure ride across Australia for the moto film Wide of the Mark.
Tom Gilroy of Purpose Built Moto needed a machine that could handle everything from long-range touring and mountain twisties to tight single-track and beach riding. Starting with a 2006 Harley Sportster, he shed weight and completely overhauled the chassis for the task.
The transformation began by swapping the stock front end for a 2015 Triumph Tiger setup and installing 14.5” K-Tech Razor shocks out back. The new suspension, paired with a custom aluminum swingarm, drastically improved handling and jacked up the ground clearance. To feed the famously thirsty V-twin, Tom fabricated a clever forward-facing airbox with a custom DNA filter, keeping it high and dry for water crossings.
The result is a tracker-styled machine with real-world adventure capability, proving that even an “American highway pig” can be taught to play in the dirt. [More]
Gasoline’s KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
The KTM 950 Super Enduro R was a legendary, monstrous dirt bike with a cult following. The folks at Australia’s Gasoline Motor Co. decided it was time for a modern spiritual successor, using the technologically advanced—if aesthetically challenged—KTM 1290 Super Adventure R as a base. Their goal was to build the ultimate off-road monster, capable of tackling the vast deserts and mountain ridges of Australia.
Gasoline stripped the 1290 down to its bones, ditching the angular factory bodywork and fuel tank. In its place sits a stunning, custom-molded carbon fiber fuel tank and a new chromoly trellis subframe that complements the main frame.
The front end was cleaned up with an EXC headlight cowling and fender, giving the bike a much leaner, more aggressive look. It’s a masterful redesign that unleashes the beast within the 1290, creating a machine that Jason Leppa of Gasoline says “sounds like a Dakar bike on steroids.” [More]
A Turbocharged Royal Enfield Himalayan
What happens when you let the Royal Enfield skunkworks division loose in their UK workshop with a pile of leftover parts and a caffeine-fueled imagination? You get ‘MJR Roach’—a post-apocalyptic, turbocharged Himalayan.
Drawing inspiration from Mad Max, Grand Theft Auto, and Fortnite, the team created a wily scrambler that’s as absurd as it is brilliant. The rugged 411 cc single wasn’t crying out for a turbo, but as the crew says, “when the zombies are after you, a bit of boost goes a long way.”
The build is a testament to creative recycling. The motor came from a wrecked bike, the front forks are lowered MX units, and the wild, stretched single-sided swingarm was a dusty part that had been lying around the shop.
Held down by a repurposed parachute harness, the stock fuel tank adds to the military aesthetic, while a missile-launch-style kill switch completes the vibe. It’s total overkill, but it’s a perfect example of building something just for the sheer, unadulterated fun of it. [More]
Tamarit’s ‘Bull Ring’ Triumph Bonneville
The Spanish workshop Tamarit Motorcycles has spent a decade perfecting the art of customizing Triumph’s modern classics. This 2006 Bonneville, nicknamed ‘Bull Ring,’ is a stunning example of their craft, commissioned by a client who wanted an aggressive street scrambler. Tamarit’s goal was to create a one-off special with a powerful stance and unapologetically bold finishes.
The centerpiece of the build is the incredible monocoque body. Using the stock fuel tank as a base, the team fabricated an integrated fiberglass tail section and side covers, creating a seamless, flowing line from front to back.
The bike also features Tamarit’s signature mono-shock conversion, a custom stainless steel exhaust that tucks neatly under the tail, and a gorgeous set of Canyon Motorcycles wheels. The whole package is wrapped in a vivid blue, red, gold, and white metal-flake livery, creating a machine that’s as much a piece of art as it is a motorcycle. [More]
VTR Customs’ BMW G310 GS
As the custom arm of a Swiss BMW dealer, VTR Customs is used to working on high-end Bavarian bikes. So why tackle the entry-level G310 GS? According to shop boss Dani Weidman, it was for fun and to make the agile little bike more popular in a country obsessed with high-power machines.
Dubbed ‘Little Boy’s Toy,’ the concept was a playful urban scrambler with a classic vibe.
VTR stripped off as much of the stock plastic as possible, trimming the fuel tank covers and hand-shaping alloy side panels to tidy things up. A classic round headlight in a custom number board now leads the way, and a new seat and luggage rack clean up the rear.
The team finished it in a sweet baby blue and red livery, with bronze accents on the frame and engine. It’s a remarkable amount of work for an entry-level bike, but the result is a playful, stylish machine that proves even the smallest GS has a big heart. [More]
Mule’s Honda XL250 Restomod
Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles has a long history with the Honda XL250, having worked on them when they were brand new. When this pristine 1972 model arrived in his shop, he knew exactly how to improve the classic trail bike without losing its soul. The goal was to give it a somewhat more modern look and feel, backed by carefully selected performance upgrades. The result is a masterclass in subtle, tasteful modification.
At a glance, the XL looks like a clean restomod, but the details tell the story. Richard stretched the swingarm by an inch and a half, looped the subframe, and swapped the front end for a set of Yamaha FZR600 forks held in custom Mule yokes. This allowed for a critical upgrade: a modern front disc brake, pieced together from Yamaha, Triumph, and custom-made components. With a Corbin seat, reproduction CR250 fenders, and a crisp paint job, this 51-year-old thumper has a new lease on life, ready to hit the trails for another half-century. [More]
K-Speed’s Honda Dax
Every time Honda releases a modern version of one of their pint-sized icons, you can set your watch to K-Speed pouncing on it. The Thai workshop has a fondness for small bikes, and founder Eak has a particular soft spot for the Dax, having owned one as a teenager. So when the new ST125 Dax was announced, he used that nostalgia to create what was likely the first custom version of the latest model, dubbed the ‘Daxster.’
Part personal project and part prototype for K-Speed’s Diablo line of bolt-on parts, this murdered-out mini-scrambler is a masterclass in aggressive stance. The most significant transformation comes from a burly upside-down fork setup that’s 3” lower than stock and sits wider to accommodate chunky tires. That brawny look is complemented by an extended and braced swingarm out back.
It’s a bonkers build that proves you don’t need big displacement to have a big attitude. [More]
Paul Hartman’s Triumph TR6 Desert Sled
The term ‘desert sled’ is one of the most evocative in motorcycling, and for many, the Triumph TR6 is the quintessential example. Art director and builder Paul Hartman is a self-professed Triumph desert sled guy, but he’s always loved the look of the Husqvarna Cross. So, he decided to build his own version of that iconic Husky, but on a 1959 Triumph TR6 platform.
The build is a perfect blend of period-correct parts and well-judged performance mods. The 649 cc twin remains largely stock, but the suspension is a world away from 1950s tech, with 14-inch Ikon shocks in the rear and Spanish-made Betor forks up front.
The front wheel has been swapped for a 21″ Husqvarna rim, shod in vintage Metzeler rubber. It’s a rough-and-ready build that captures the raw spirit of the desert sled and, according to Paul, “really boogies.” [More]
Analog’s Hodaka ‘Blue Wombat’ Restomod Scrambler
Hodaka is a brand beloved for its quirky model names such as Road Toad, Dirt Squirt, and Super Rat. Tony Prust of Analog Motorcycles has always loved the brand, so he acquired a 1973 Wombat 125 with the initial goal of building a simple ice-riding beater. But as he dug in, the project evolved into one of the tidiest two-stroke restomods we’ve ever seen.
Faced with a tampered-with donor, Tony went all-in. He retrofitted a set of Yamaha SR500 forks up front, rebuilt the 123 cc motor, and painstakingly converted the electrics from 6V AC to a custom 12V DC setup to run modern LED lighting. The chrome re-pop tank, bobbed rear fender, and brilliant blue powder-coated wheels create a stunning finish. It’s a testament to Tony’s dedication that a bike meant for thrashing on the ice turned into a show-quality machine. [More]
Your Turn to Build
Every one of these builds started not just with a vision, but with a solid donor bike too. If you think you’re ready to start your own project, we may just have the perfect starting point.
Currently live on Bike EXIF Auctions is a 1972 Honda CL350. As the factory-built scrambler version of the legendary CB350, it’s a sought-after platform for custom builds. Powered by Honda’s famously reliable 326cc parallel-twin, this running example is the perfect blank canvas for a period-correct restoration or a full-blown modern scrambler. It’s a chance to build your own legend.
