Triumphrat

M700R

One thing I like about the Scrambler is that it handles dirt roads so well. So far I've only taken it on relatively decent roads... Until yesterday afternoon... Headed up a nearby canyon road, lots of twisty turns, steep and pretty good pavement. Fun!

Then... The end of the pavement... It's a Forest Service Road leading farther up the mountain. Deeply rutted and very rocky. I've hiked it and ridden a mountain bike on it and have done it several times in a four-wheel drive rig - but never on a motorcycle. I'm not exactly a highly experienced dirt rider anyway...

Found myself in low gear, standing on the pegs, picking my way through the rocks and ruts looking for the smoothest path. That worked fine, although I steered better while sitting on the seat. Big bumps and ruts, and my 210 pounds, caused the stock shocks to bottom out several times though, and standing worked real well on those portions. The torquey twin just putt-putted smoothly up the hill. The stock Trailwings actually grabbed real well, almost no wheelspin on the way up. Too soon I came to the snow line. Snow, ice and mud on the rocks looked like more than I wanted to deal with.

Turned the Scram around and headed down... Engine braking wasn't enough, I found myself using the brakes lightly to stay in control. I imagine a smaller front sprocket would help with this? Did a little slip-sliding with the back tire when I'd grab the brake too aggressively on the loose stuff going down. No problems though.

Got back to the pavement, and ripped through the turns pretty good again. Nice ride. It's good to see that the Scrambler transitions so easily from city bike to handling the twisties, to running up a very nasty dirt/rock road...

Sorry - no photos - recently killed my digital camera..

Pokeyjoe

That's exactly why I picked the Scrambler over the Bonneville.

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John

Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Old Scratcher

Ditto!

& if you fit progressive suspension & Metzler Tourance tyres, it'll do it all even better.

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"They told me I was goin to have to work for my living, & all I wanna do is ride." Jackson Browne (the Road & The Sky)

Iceseven

Ditto with me as well!

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2006 Scrambler, Previously had 2004 Bonnie Black, 1995 T-Bird, 1974 Trident, various street and dirt bikes.

Ready to Ride

I took a civilian MC course given by the Alameda County Sheriff's training department. They train all the local CHP and other LEO agencies in the area. The civilian course is a subset of the agency course (2 days instead of 2 weeks and no firearms from MC training).

You use their training bikes which are retired Kawazaki 1 liter police bikes. They still have the bags, but only the instructors got the ones with fairings, lights and sirens.

On the second day the instructor took off on a "follow the leader" ride around the training compound (they also offer training to fire fighters, TAC squads, bomb disposal units and police car units so it is a big facility). He took us up and down some amazing single track with tight manuvers and increasingly large hills. I was astounded what those bikes could do! Eventually he had us go up a big, long hill which got progressively steeper and the student ahead of me didn't keep up enough momentum or revs so he stalled and the bike came rolling down the slope (good reason to use their bikes). I was supposed to be behind him but got uncomfortable so waited at the bottom for him to clear the summit; glad I wasn't behind him on the slope!

Anyway, it is astounding what a variety of conditions a bike can handle if driven well.

PS: I recommend the course. My bro-in-law is coming down from Washington State to take it in May.

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07 Silver Bonnie, TORs, Tach kit, knee pads, center stand, A/I gone, solo seat with rack, Progressive fork springs, Progressive 440 shocks, NM windshield, 125 db horn, analog clock, Signal Minder

BlueThrux

I saw a special on Speed Vision about these guys. As big as those bikes are they were throwing them around like a sport bike. Very talented bunch of riders.

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Elwood Blues: We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, its dark and we are wearing sunglasses.
Jake Blues: Hit it.

CommandoRdster

I'll give another ditto as to why I bought my Scram.

I remember seeing,several years ago,a movie about a squad of motorcycle cops.The movie was made in the '50s. I wish I could remember the title,because even though the plot was forgettable(as was the title, apparently) the scenes of their training regimen would make buying the DVD worthwhile. These guys were running these bikes around what can only be described as a single track MX course.Jumps,drop offs,whoop-de-doos,the works.These bikes were hardtail Harley Panheads with big sprung saddles, windshields,floorboards,panniers,and a big radio bolted to the rear mudguard. These guys weren't going slow either.It was wild to watch them get these beasts airborn,then lay them down at speed,and hunker down behind them for cover in a firefight.

I guess in a shootout I'd rather have a nice solid Harley engine for cover than a flimsy car door,like the poor cage coppers!


Cheers!
Bruce

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ANIMAL RESCUE SITE-Please go there and click on the purple button!

M700R

Hmmmm. A whole new meaning to "bullet proof engine" perhaps?

bikebits

I had the privilege many years ago working at a government office where one of the security guards was a former WWII motorcycle dispatch rider instructor in the Canadian army. Canada was a bit unique in that as a member of the Commonwealth, we used some Brit bikes and as a neighbour of the US we used some American bikes. George brought in some pictures of Canadian riders flogging big Harleys (WLCs, Canadian version of the WLA) around a quarry training course.

He said they set up a race against some neighbouring British DRs on smaller bikes (Enfields if I recall). As he told it the Canadians with the hand-shift Harleys thumped the Brits. Regardless, I can't imagine muscling that kind of machinery around off-road.

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Dave