Top 10: Scramblers 2023

Scramblers are one of the fastest-growing and most desirable styles of motorcycles going. With a whiff of cool about them, their looks are a big part of the appeal. They also bring plenty of practicality with them thanks to a relaxed riding position and suspension easily able to cope with rut-strewn roads. These are our pick of the scrambler crop covering all prices and with something to suit all licence holders.

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1

Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 - £6750

The words ‘Ducati’ and ‘bargain’ are not often mentioned in the same sentence, but in the case of the Scrambler Sixty2 they are very happy bedfellows. At this price, you’d struggle to find a rival in this style from any other premium manufacturer, or most others for that matter. So, the option of a Ducati with a feisty 399cc V-twin engine popping out 40PS is very hard to resist.

To further wear away any resistance, you only have to look at the Sixty2. It’s gorgeous and has a lithe compactness to it that lets you know it’s going to be a hoot to ride. Sure, it might be aimed at newer riders, but there’s more than enough performance and handling ability to satisfy everyone.

2

Benelli Leoncino - £5199

There are few things in motorcycling more tempting than an Italian machine with knuckle-biting good looks. That’s exactly what we have here with Benelli’s Leoncino. Okay, it may be built in China, but all the evidence proves this bike it made to a standard rather than down to its very competitive price. At this level, there are very few that can hold a candle to the Benelli.

The same is true when you swing a leg over the Leoncino and take it for a ride. The 500cc parallel twin motor is smooth and punches out 48PS to make it ideal for A2 licence holders. Plush suspension copes with bumps well, demonstrating the company’s track record in racing and superbike, while upside down front forks are a welcome nod to modernity. It all makes the Benelli huge value for money and great to ride.

3

Mutt Hilts 125 - £3495

If you ride along with an image of Steve McQueen jumping barbed wire fences in your mind, then the Mutt Hilts 125 is the bike for you. Taking its name from McQueen’s character in ‘The Great Escape’, this is one very cool customer and comes in a choice of grey or green for the same price. You also get a snazzy vintage-look seat, cut-down mudguards and de rigeur chunky tyres.

The engine in the Hilts is a 125cc single-cylinder unit with 12PS on tap, so it has decent oomph around town and just enough to keep pace with traffic on faster A-roads. The lack of any front fairing means you won’t be bothered about straying beyond 60mph and the handling is adequate on the open-treaded tyres rather than sporting.

4

SWM Six Days 440 - £4999

The Six Days name carries a huge amount of weighty expectation when applied to a scrambler, so just as well the SWM looks nigh on perfect. It has all the style you could ever want in this breed of bike, from the raised exhaust silencer and number board to the cut-off saddle and long-travel suspension. Along with the dinky rear light, meaty tyres and finned cylinder head, this bike could easily come from the golden age of scrambling in the 1960s.

There’s plenty of power from the 445cc single-cylinder engine that thumps away happily in the steel frame. Its 30PS is enough for zippy town riding and getting down the motorway, though the SWM is happier on back roads and is even up to some green laning. The finish could be stronger in places, but the price still makes this a very tempting motorcycle.

5

BMW R NineT Scrambler - £10,765

BMW has become extremely adept at finessing its core bikes into more focused machines and the R NineT Scrambler is a perfect example of this. Based on the R NineT, the Scrambler has the vital raised exhaust pipes for the necessary look, while a different saddle and deeply treaded tyres add to the appeal.

Just as appealing is the Scrambler is cheaper to buy than the R NineT, though that does mean you get standard forks rather the pricier bike’s upside down items. No matter, the Scrambler is excellent in the corners and more than up for longer distance rides, though the firm saddle will dictate when you take a break before any other element of the bike.