4 AFFORDABLE Scramblers That Are Secretly Adventure Bike & Dirt Worthy 

I had a Svartpilen, sold it one month ago. That bike is everything but dirt worthy, it’s just marketing. It’s incredibly low, suspension will run out of travel immediately even if you just jump a step, the geometry is sporty, bars are too low, If you are thinking of doing mixed riding the Svartpilen is not it. Just to make it dirt worthy you’ll have to spend a LOT of cash at which point you’ll say to yourself: I should’ve bought a 390 adventure.

I love my Himalayan… slow, cool, cheap, good looking bike. You can find a RE shop everywhere in the world. $5 usd break pads, takes cheap dirty fuel and very resonable price for spare parts. I paid $4.000 usd for my brand RE Himalayan… tons of great memories and priceless momments in my life! Safe travels everyone!!! 🙌🙌🙌

I would love to see Ducati release a "desert sled" version of the sixty2 scrambler (400cc) ... I think that would sell big with learners

Fantic Caballero 500 and 700..

Thanks, nice overview! I bought the Honda CL500 and being very happy and satisfied.

Well, I tested the cl500 2 weeks ago, it's definitely not a Secretly Adventure Bike nor a Dirt Worthy, it's built for conquering the city. They picked the wrong platform to build the scrambler, they should have picked the cb500x, not the rebel...

As an Australian , China is on the last to buy list regardless of any implied improved quality. The billions of dollars sanctions against innocent Australian companies is un forgiveable

I own a 125 svart for 2 years and taking the licence to get the 401. Love that bike

I like the looks of the Svartpilen. I need a rear rack and I want more ground clearance and suspension travel, and a larger fuel tank. I wish Husqvarna would make an ADV version of this although it'd be a direct competitor to the KTM 390 Adventure, but I like the styling of the Svartpilen much better. In general, we need 300-500 cc proper ADV bikes with tubeless spoke wheels, large rear racks, 15+ liters of fuel, aluminum bash plate....

Good honest, Aussies talk. No bull.

Nice review. Just a note on Benellis as an ex owner of the beautiful, outrageously powerful and noisy Amazonas 1130. Benelli's build quality and component choice when built in Italy was woeful. Look on the forums. All of the relays dissolve in the rain. Their bikes were beautiful and very different to everything else out there. Their pricing was very good but they were the opitomy of Italian unreliability. I've owned two very old moto Guzzis and the amazingly wonderful Aprilia Falco. All of which were amazingly reliable. The Benelli was a dog. I've seen owners rueing the relocation of manufacturing to China, predicting a drop in quality. Frankly they would have to be dire to be worse than the Italian built Benellis of the last 20 years. The Leon is an interestin bike as is the 502 TRK but I don't understand how they are as heavy as my 1130 Amazonas with an engine about 40% capacity of that bike. With modern light materials it ought to be week under 200kg fully loaded. Shame you didn't include the Fabric Caballero. That's a task light practical beauty. I loved the look of the Svartpilen and it's sister Vitpilen but the fuel tank capacity is woefully inadequate. Quite ironically the best bike in your pack is the non scrambler Enfield. Great looking bike and proven to be superbly practical and reliable. I'd buy a Guzzi V7 Stornello over all of these. But I'm biased.

Good work!

How nice that smaller, non complicated bikes are back on the market, I mean who needs 5 rider modes and all the rest when doing 40 mph up a dirt road? I think the RE line up is best value for money.

Today I spotted a new Suzuki V- Strom 250SX, also looks like a very nice entry bike, keep up the great reviews Solid and hope family is going great for you and family 👍👍

Scramblers were modified street bikes. Now Adventures are modified Scramblers, but Scramblers might be modified ADV or modified street.

I like affordable, capable motor bikes!😊

Great Vid!! I love my '23 Svart 401. Do you have a source of good aftermarket parts. I want to re-route the exhaust and get it more dirt-friendly. Thanks!!

What’s your opinion on the CFMOTO CLX700 heritage / adventure. The heritage rn in Australia is $8500 ride away. Pretty compelling deal for a bike you can take on a dirt track without issue too. The adventure is 12000 looks amazing but for that price I’d probs get something else.

Great job on the video!

I think Triumph Scrambler 400x should make an entry here now

Or you could pick up an old (74 - 78 ) Honda XL350 with a 21 front wheel at 350 lbs. Classic style, 348cc single, 25hp/20+ft/lbs at the wheel, 86mph top end. 😁 Actually, I think the KLX 300 or the CRF 300 are better choices for an 'all arounder'.

Solid, I own the street version Leoncino 500 and it’s a keeper …. great bike. For commuting, weekend twisties and for its unbeatable styling I don’t know of another offering in its segment that comes close. But for adventures my trusty DR650 makes wonderful memories. Owned a Himalayan too previously and that was nice, hoping the 450 will live up to expectations and if so I reckon it could be fourth bike in my garage

The corporate magnate has rarely been able but this groupe has certainly smeared on some jelly . Bravo T/C/E

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've never found scramblers aesthetically pleasing, though I get I'm in the minority. They remind me of the old Yamaha Ag bike I learned to ride on as a kid in the late 70s. Even at 9 I knew it was a POS, and it was the greatest day of my life when I was given a CR 125 two stroke in the early 80s. I guess that kind of thing imprints on you at such a young age, which is why I don't rate scrambler looks at all. But, each to their own. These ones are certainly priced OK.

Those high mounted exhausts dash any hopes of saddle bags

For off road, tires are the issue. 17’ rims limit what is available in the correct sizes. One can find tires that will work, but they will not be what the bike calls for.

The Benelli is an a-ma-zing bike, even Harley-Davidson's new 500X is a reskin of the Leoncino 500

My XT600 hundred from the 90s does it all wonderfully

I guess Fantic caballero 500 went under your radar. It's a cracking looking bike! 👌

Not to many TRUE off road “ main streamScramblers” The original model true 1th real off road Scrambler “ the Ducati Desert sled , followed by Triumph 1200 EX 1200 and now the Royal Enfield 410 scram ( the only true off road scramblers )

I'm not sure about the Honda Scrambler's looks either ,solid. Maybe it will look better in person.

3/4 of these bikes are actually worth looking at...you may be able to figure out promptly which one isn't as a viewer. :)

Adventure bikes are ultimately heavy and have a higher center of gravity to a scrambler. I have a Ducati Scrambler and even though it is 425ibs, I never have an issue with weight because its lower center of gravity, however it is not what you would call dirt capable. It can do the basics but stock front suspension has its limits as do most bike configurations. I have an adventure bike and I would never take it on true off road only dirt trails as the high center of gravity is not worth the fall. It's just a reality. Low weight, low center of gravity means a safe and confident ride - always.

Hmm, My understanding of a scrambler is a standard street bike (with street bike ground clerance) that has had the exhaust pipes moved from under the frame so the inevitable hit you get with the odd rock will not damage anything important, a skid plate should be an option. So a low seat height

Thanks for the informative video. My height is 5'6" and I'm looking for the best light weight adv bike and so far from your video the 411 fits the bill but how is the reliability? Thanks in advance.

the exposed pipes in the underbelly should be covered by a sump guard in honda

I cannot believe you did not include the Kawasaki Versys X 300. It is a brilliant all round bike.

cf moto clx 700 is my pick

Good review. A point you didn't mention is that you can buy the Benelli but then you'll have no mates. There will be no Benelli owner club and you'll have a Chinese bike.

Hmmmm…more dirt capable than a cb 500 x,in my view that is a bold statement!usual agree with most you say but not on this one. Nice to see you get enough sleep to get more video,s out again!……or do you now sleep with noice cancelling earbuds😂

What about SWM 440 Outlaw Gran Milano ?

I am getting a Voge 300 rally, it under £4000 new with a 2 year warranty, delivered to my door, same specs as the CRF rally but £2000 cheaper, should have at the end of the month.

I don't like using my exhaust as a bash plate, so that would knock the Honda out...

The announcement of the Triumph Scrambler 400 just put all of these in a distant 2nd.

but the 401 doesn't seem very suitable for someone that's 6'2 though, is it?

I have an RPS Magician because I'm poor as shit. I really like that Honda though.

And the Fantic Caballero?

Manufacturers fail to understand that for most needs 600 /75cc bike is more than enough but now i have to ride a liter bike and bigger just because i am 193cm. 6foot4

Yamaha XSR 700?

Is himalayan good ?

$5,000? Wow 😳😃🤪

9.5 liter tank is lawn moaner level.

6:27 Exactly how far do you take your grandma's dirt driveway? Was a double-take moment for me!

Compare The Spavilent vs KTM390 like compare a car with a plane lol, if u want a bike can do dirt just buy 390, if u want style buy a spat

Only interested in practical bikes. If you can't get a rack on them, then use.

you should switch the Himalayan with the Fantic Caballero 500 the fantic is MUCH lighter (40 kg, 88 pounds), better build quality, lower price and more horsepower

Great common sense reviews!

I’d only contemplate taking the Himalayan off road,the other three Nah not for me thanks,much better to buy an older dual sport bike if you’re budget is limited,it will hold its value and be far more capable than any of these.

CB500x is a nightmare offroad... All these other bikes should stay on pavement... except for the Himalayan.

Triumph tiger sport 660 Honda Ct 125 BMW GS850

Scram 411??

In this segment none of these bikes come anywhere near the Fantic caballero 500 scrambler or rally version. Though not the perfect unicorn bike the Fantic caballero 500 rally is far & away the closest any manufacturer has gotten. Oddly the biggest miss is the sexy Arrows exhaust that makes it a bit fat around the middle. Still a far cry better than that fugly exhaust on the CL500😮. Speaking of the Honda, what on earth were they thinking?. It looks like it was designed by the accounts department?. It's a modern retro but looks neither modern or retro. The rebel cruiser frame was the worst possible choice for a scrambler . It's far heavier than any striped down naked scrambler should be in it's size class and that exhaust is surely going into the Guinness world records as the ugliest one ever bolted to a bike. I know style is subjective, but honestly?.

BMWs are mostly made in China and the 300@s models in India.

the 401/390 platform is such a great bike...in theory. Cheap & great technology. The sad part is that no sane person should take that thing anywhere more than walking distance away from civilization, because chances are that thing is gonna break down the second you venture out of mobile service. Also i'm a short ass but when i sat on the svartpilan at a dealership it felt like a kids toy, the thing is so god damn small.

Versys X300 laugh at them all

Scramblers have never did it for me. To universal, to half-ass. Goes into the moped category for me, fun to ride but don't want your buddies to see you doing it.

Open Question - can you still buy a Scram - if you never drink coffee?

I don't know why anyone would poo poo aesthetics. I don't go out of my way to buy ugly stuff, no matter what it is. I want to enjoy looking at it, as well as use it.

Swedish rectal exam 🤣🤣🤣

I feel there's really not allot of truth or real world research into these lists

I'll take DRZ 400 or DR 650 over any of these

Anyone heard of Hero Xpulse 200?😎 This bike is one hell of an off road bike... There's a pro variant that has the best ground clearance and is also loaded with adjustable suspension (compression & rebound). It's one of the lightest and the most agile off road/adventure bike that's commercially available💯😎🏍️

You are totally wrong, mixing the HIMALAYAN with the himalayan scrambler, is a shame.

It's monetary currency not money...venom, yenom...

If I can help it, I avoid buying Chinese.

im a great fan of honda and had many but wtf have the made out of that 500 engine , nothing its in suits it , scrambler cruiser its awful to look at its as awful as the last xr125 the made , all the old xl were way better in looks and ability

I'll take the 500X over the scrambler

I'll takes the 450 royal Enfield over the scram

A horrible commercial... Scramblers only know 2 things... Dirt and grit! Dirt is like dust it just happens. Grit is when eat dirt and ask for more!

I liked this review, but as speaking for myself - it will be a long time before I can reconcile Chinese politics with anything I want to buy.

The royal Enfield is just to slow. Needs to have a top speed of at least 90 so you can run 80mph for a distance

CL looks horrible

Not sure why I liked the video within the first 60 seconds 🤣🥲