These are the best scramblers out there right now

We love a scrambler. With distinguishing features as semi-knobbly tyres, high mudguards and exhausts, ribbed seats and motocross handlebars, scramblers echo the spirit of biking icon Steve McQueen in the 1960s and an irresistible culture of riding free, easy and, pretty much, anywhere too.

It means several manufacturers have attempted to get in on the fun and - better still - ensure there is something for everyone.

From the Honda CL 500, to the Ducati Scrambler and the racier Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE, there is a scrambler to suit all budgets and tastes. 

But which is best? Never fear, Visordown is here to give our take on the Top 10 BEST Scrambler motorcycles. 

10. Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail

Coming in at 234 kg, Benelli's stylish Leoncino 800 Trail may be the sort of thing you want to keep on the road, rather than risk having to heave it out of a ditch. But there's no getting away from its fantastic looks. Those high pipes, tucked beautifully beneath the seat,  are reason alone for the bike to earn a spot on this list.

Meanwhile, the Benelli's 754cc parallel-twin engine delivers 75 bhp at a revvy 8500 rpm, and roughly 50 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm. Owned by the same Chinese moto-giant behind Morbidelli, QJMotor, and several others, Benelli has a solid track record in the UK - both in terms of quality and availability of parts.

Suspension and electronics may feel a little basic compared to premium rivals, but you can't beat the value. And, arguably, the scrambler spirit embraces less tech.

Unsurprisingly, this bike also earns a spot on our list of the 10 best China-made motorcycles.

9. BSA Scrambler 650

Giving full-on 1960s vibes, BSA's take on the modern scrambler is arguably one of the most authentic on the market. After all,  BSA was a major part of the original scrambler craze of the 1950s and ‘60s.

Chunky Pirelli Scorpion STR tires (19-inch front, 17-inch rear), bash plate, fork gaiters and a (redundant) high front mud guard give the Scrambler 650 a look of genuine ruggedness. And with a liquid-cooled 652cc single-cylinder DOHC Rotax engine that that was originally developed for use in the BMW F650 Funduro, you know it's going to be at home on dirt roads. The single delivers a fantastic sound and offers a good amount of pull.

Obvious signs of cost cutting in terms of fit and finish - seemingly necessary to achieve the Scrambler 650's very attractive price tag - may put some riders off pushing the bike too far beyond where the road ends, but there's still a lot of fun to be had here.

Visordown Review | BSA Scrambler 650

8. Husqvarna Svartpilen 801

To ride, there’s very little to dislike about the Svartpilen 801. It’s incredibly easy to get on with straight away, proves accommodating across a broad range of riding speeds and scenarios, and feels pleasingly substantial and well-built. 

It has a more chilled, more considered charisma than the 790 Duke, which in turn makes it feel more versatile, more usable, and less focused on permanently chasing the next adrenaline rush. 

And while we are aware it's not a true scrambler in the most honest sense of the word, it's got about as much off-road or scrambling ability as some of the other bikes on this list, so we're shoe-horning it there!

Visordown Review | Husqvarna Svartpilen 801

7. Fantic Caballero 700

Powered by the same legendary engine as is found in the MT-07, the Fantic offers fans of the scrambler style a more premium option in the sub-1,000cc sector. With Marzocchi suspension, Brembo brakes and more CNC billet aluminium than a Bimota showroom, the new Caballero 700 stands out as a scambler for the discerning riders on the trail.

It's also one of the few bikes on this list that is genuinely as good off-road as it is on it! 'So why isn't it higher up this list?' I hear you cry, well simply put, it comes down to the price. Yes, the Fantic is beautiful to look at and very high spec, but at a shade under £10k, it's not far off the cost of the Scrambler 1200 that sits at the top spot. And that's a bike built by a global powerhouse with vast resources and a huge dealership network.

It's still a bloomin lovely bike though!

Visordown Review | Fantic Caballero 700

6. BMW R12 G/S

This is a controversial one. Is it a scrambler or an adventure bike? OK, yes, BMW is using the R 12 G/S as the weapon of choice for its famously challenging GS Trophy competition, but we're still leaning toward calling it a scrambler. BMW has been at the forefront of the retro ‘scrambler’ class ever since its BMW RnineT of 2014 burst into view. The BMW RnineT Scrambler version, like all RnineTs (now known as R 12s), was appealing for its brilliant blend of modern mechanicals, performance, retro-inspired styling and enviable badge.

The R 12 G/S drives things forward by paying homage to the R80 G/S - arguably, the starting point of the modern adventure bike craze. Feel free to return to the 'scrambler or ADV' debate.

The bike's 229kg wet weight may raise some eyebrow, but remember that BMW has history of making heavy bikes manageable on dirt. As long as you don't have to pick them up. Avoid tree stumps.

5. Ducati Scrambler Icon

An oldy but a goody. Not too long ago, Ducati launched the second generation take on the Italian firm's fun and funky 'alter ego' retro roadster.

With a generation's tenure under its belt, the Mk.II doesn't alter the recipe too much, the aim instead to freshen up its playful image while at the same time upgrading its spec and quality.

Three editions were available from launch - the flat tracker style Scrambler Full Throttle, the classier, more demure Nightshift and this, the cheekier Ducati Scrambler Icon.

Pitched right up against the Triumph Scrambler 900 - and almost matching it on price at £9,995 - the Scrambler retains its predecessor's unmistakable blend of traditional lines drizzled in Italian personality, especially if you select one of the more lurid shades, while fit and finish are typically high standard.

On the road, the 803cc 72bhp engine isn't the last word in performance but it feels frisky on its feet (well, tyres...), while the light clutch makes it a boon around urban environments. 

If only it felt just a little bit more special...

4. Triumph Scrambler 900

The UK-based firm is deservedly the market leader in retro bikes - it defined the modern scrambler class when it came out with its first Bonneville-based Scrambler in 2008 and it kept ahead of the pack when it brought out its affordable, entry-level Street Scrambler - recently rebranded as the Triumph Scrambler 900 - based on its then all-new 900cc Street Twin Bonneville in 2016.

Despite the change in name, the Scrambler 900 is otherwise identical to the Street Scrambler, which means it retains the same signature style, quality, retro authenticity and easy 64bhp with new switchable riding modes, and instruments in 2019. There’s even an A2 licence-compliant version available.

If you want an easy going scrambler with bags of classy authentic style and arguably the definitive badge on the tank – this is the one.

Visordown Review | Triumph Scrambler 900

3. Honda CL500

Yes, Honda's right-down-the-middle '500' family gains a new member in the Honda CL 500, a compact, trendy scrambler-style roadster that'll be tempting and teasing you to purchase it rather than its rather more vanilla CB500F brother.

Handsome and understated in that very particular Honda way, the CL 500 appears as though the Rebel hit puberty, growing a few inches taller, stepping out on larger knobbly tyres and bulging in all the right places, while fit and finish is of a higher standard than its modest price would suggest.

Indeed, with 46bhp on tap from the well proven 471cc engine, it makes light work of the CL 500's very useable 191kg weight, handling with vigour and feeling nimble in the city.

On the flip side, the CL 500 is not designed to 'scramble' per se, with that rugged impression mostly cosmetic, but so long as the trails aren't too demanding, at £5,999, it's a great value, great quality, great fun choice.

2. Royal Enfield Bear 650

The end of 2024 was when we FINALLY got our paws on the Royal Enfield Bear 650, a bike we'd all been clawing for since the 650 parallel twin-cylinder platform arrived. The styling is unmistakably Royal Enfield, but visually there is enough difference between it and its 650 siblings to set the Bear apart.

Sitting more on the street scrambler side of the fence, the Bear is a kind of 'soft-roader' that can hit a dusty fire trail, but in doing so you'll quickly find the limit of the suspension and chassis. Some knobbly tyres would likely help this, although for us the Bear is a bike best kept out of the woods.

But none of that detracts from how good the new Bear is, with its on-road handling, easy-going delivery, and exceptional (for the price-point) build quality all fabulously glossing over its un-scrambly scramblerness.

Visordown Review | Royal Enfield bear 650 (2025)

1. Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE

Most of us thought Triumph had the Scrambler genre pretty well covered by its 900cc Street Scrambler, but then the Hinckley marque went bigger with the more powerful, punchy and genuinely off-road capable Triumph Scrambler 1200 in 2019.

For 2025, Triumph has an updated version of the Scrambler 1200. As before, it's in two specs, but this time they were X and XE. As we found when we rode the bikes extensively on the international launch, more money doesn’t necessarily equal a better package in this case, and the X is actually the one we prefer.

With the X, you still get Marzocchi suspension at both ends, but it’s just unadjustable and has less wheel travel compared to the XE. As we discovered, that last point is actually a positive, because it means that, on the road, you get more support from the suspension, and the bike doesn’t wallow about so much. You feel more in control as a result, and we definitely like that.

The X also features cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control thanks to the inclusion of a six-axis IMU for the first time on this model. Compared to the previous 1200 Scrambler, the 2024 also features a broader engine, with the peak torque picked up 250rpm lower than on the last version. 

It’s true that, if you want to go off-roading, your choice between the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X and XE should err on the side of the latter, but, otherwise, the X is where you want to be.

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