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Turning a 2015 Scrambler into a Desert Sled

11K views 36 replies 14 participants last post by  Mr.Mushman 
#1 ·
Hello y'all

Picked up a 2015 Scrambler a few months ago at a bargain price and been toying with the idea of turning her into a good old Desert Sled. It has been a labor of love and still loving it as she is slowly getting there.

Streamlined her a bit, got rid of a bunch "unnecessary parts", tach, mirrors, bulky headlight and turn signals, front fender, got new turn signals, new sprocket cover, installed a set of drag pipes which I love !(it took a little bit of work but nothing too complicated), put on some nice knobbies, found an old Bonneville side cover, replaced the handlebars for a set of T120C TR6C competition model, replaced the rear fender with the remnant of an old one I had laying around and mounted a tail light I had.

Waiting on a few misc. parts, small headlight, rectifier relocation mount, ignition relocation bracket.

Next will be cutting the rear loop and rear foot peg brackets. After that she will need a nice "Bates" style solo seat. If anybody has any advice on a place in the Los Angeles area where I can get a "custom seat" made, or of a place that carries such seats let me know. (just afraid that when using the word "custom" the price goes way up ...)

In the future I will be looking at replacing the rear shocks for something a little more descent ...

She is slowly getting closer to the "end result" but then again is there ever an "end result" ...

Any advice, thoughts or comments will greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Mr.Mushman
 

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#4 · (Edited)
Same here I recently found a 2015 900 Scrambler the same as yours but mines 'ALL' Black.

Got it pretty cheap with not even 2,000 kilometres on the clock.

Did an engine service straight away when it arrived then have been riding it around totally stock with my Bonneville number plate fitted LOL until i can get it registered.

I wont be going as far as you have with making mine lighter but I will be modding and maybe even repainting a nice colour depending on $$$ flow after i sell my Bonneville.

TEC parts U.K are going to have quite a BIG order from me soon.

Cant wait to get rid of the HEAVY stock exhaust system!!! :grin2::wink2:
 
#5 ·
Thank you for the info regarding a custom seat RippNSh!t I will look into it !

Hey SpeedTrip07 getting rid of the exhaust was one of the best things I have done, the stock pipes are so heavy and these new pipes sound AWESOME ! ! !

Keep us updated on your mods it's always nice to see what others are doing.

The ol' Dezert Sled is slowly getting there and she's turning out pretty nicely, I like the way she stands now and so much fun to whip around. Installed a new set of "dirt footpegs" which are nice and light.

I still have some wiring to play with, which I am NOT looking forward to, since I am far from being an electrical wizard but I gotta dive into it, been putting it off for WAY too long ...

Next I will be shortening the rear loop and getting a custom seat somewhere since it seems that there's nothing available off the shelf, getting rid of the passenger's footpegs support bracket and installing a nice polished aluminum rear fender.

Thinking about repainting the tank and side covers with a two tone yellow/white combo to give it the old desert sled vibe ... Also if anybody knows if the tank badge (black and yellow) fits the 4 gallon tanks and where to get a set, I would appreciate it, I have a set of the other "open gate badges" but they don't fit the newer Triumph ...

Looking forward to be done and ride this thing ! ...
 

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#7 · (Edited)
I like what you did with your "enduro" version looks awesome and I love the seat on your Ducati ! Speaking of ISDT this was my other project, my attempt at a "replica" of the bike Steve McQueen rode at the 1964 ISDT. Started as a stock bike and ended up like this. Took it to The Steve McQueen car show this year, this guy walked up to me saying "I've never seen anybody make a replica of my dad's 64' bike ..." it was Chad McQueen, such a gentleman, down to earth and all around nice guy, he ended up signing it.
 

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#9 ·
Thank you sfscrambler ! I had to fabricate a few brackets and mod a few things and I am pretty happy with the final result. I got the pipes pretty soon after I got the bike so I called the dealer with a few questions and mentioned ECU turning, he said that since the bike was brand new and if it ran fine without any issues to not worry about it and I havent had any problems of any kinds, a little backfiring once in a while but nothing serious at all. If anybody has any information or advice please feel free to share, I read a bunch of things on this forum and was wondering, but no issue so far.
 
#11 ·
Hey Paul39 Headers are British Customs Drag pipes, to be honest I haven't even looked at all into the Street Twin pipes, I assumed they wouldn't fit on my Scrambler anyway ... Regarding the front mudguard I am lucky enough to live where we mostly have great weather and havent had any problems riding without it at all, still in the process of building it though so I havent put on too many miles since the build started ...
 
#12 · (Edited)
Mushman, your drag pipes look good. Much like down pipes of old desert racers.
On certain older bikes a tool bag went behind the seat. I was going to go that route but I wanted to keep the rack for a light tailbag. It would hide the seat base once the rack/tail is removed. Malcolm Smith used to make a cool leather tool bag. Long gone sadly but sometimes they show up on ebay. I had one years ago and its long gone now.
Moose has a nice smallish one now. There is another I will try to dig up.
Edit: nuther bag here. https://www.dcvmx.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20208&cat=634&page=1
You also can find (hard to find now) a solo saddle with black piping - thats something I did.
Just a thought! Your bike looks good.

 
#13 ·
Thank you very much Maxacceleration, really appreciate your comments. Love the tool bag !

It has been a labor of love and she is "far" from being completed but slowly getting her there. Can not wait to be done so I can ride her. I found a couple of options with solo seats but when I finally have time to cut the rear loop it will have to be a custom seat, specially made for the bike, unless anybody has a better idea on where I can find a solo seat with a pan that will fit my 2015 Dez Sled, then I will cut the rear to fit the seat ... So far all I have seen is the solo seat with the rack which looks great but doesn't "fit" the look of what I want to achieve ...

These are the bikes that have inspired me. Tank will end up two tone white/yellow ...
 

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#16 ·
My Scrambler is now Roadworthied with a brand new rear Bridgestone Trailwing Tyre (New pattern design too)

Just gotta get it Registered before the end of the month....Another $700 i'm trying to get together asap.

Ordered a new Union Jack Fuel cap and choke button on Ebay from Germany at Xmas eve so they should arrive soon.

Fitted a UNI Washable Air Filter yesterday.

Next after that i'll be getting the same 'Desert' TEC Exhaust system you have I think they look and sound great for their price.

And 'maybe' some new TEC rear gas shocks and front progressive springs too???

Also ordered a new Ventura rear rack and new Gearsack Bag too....Arriving in February!!!

I'll put some pics up when she's finished. :grin2::wink2:
 
#17 · (Edited)
After a couple of months NOT working on my Dez Sled Project, I finally got to wrench a little on it this weekend with a great friend and it turned out great ! Cut the rear loop and she's coming along really well ! ! !

Planning on calling Kevin tomorrow at the Motoshopchop (only heard great things about the guys and the shop) to get started on a custom seat and get a few things done.

Can't wait to ride ye old Dez Sled soon ...
 

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#19 ·
Finally got a day off and I was able to drop off the Dez Sled at the Motochopshop last week ! ! ! Kevin is a great guy very knowledgeable on all Triumph motorcycles related questions and then some. Had a great conversation with him and discovered a few things regarding my aftermarket pipes that will set me back a few $$$$ but it has to be done so it is for the better. The shop always has at any given time about 8 to 10 bikes in there but I could tell that he is passionate and dedicated to each and every customer that sets foot in his shop and I can't wait to get The Dez Sled back on the road. it'll be a few weeks but I know it'll be well worth it. Should have an update next week.
 

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#20 ·
Got my baby back ! !

Went to pick her up Friday evening and wrenched on her over the weekend. I wasn't going to have a front fender but when I saw these I changed my mind and I am really happy with the final result. Had to modify a few things but it all came out great !

Kevin at The Motochopshop did a great job and the Dez Sled Project is ready for tuning ! Custom seat came out great, went through a couple of changes, wanted the rear hoop to show so the seat got trimmed back a little and the final result is exactly what I was looking for, can not recommend this shop enough. This week she's getting "the works" down south, power commander, Dino testing and some tuning to go with the after market exhausts. Can't wait to ride her next weekend ! ! !
 

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#24 ·
Thank you very much Maxacceleration it has taken me a little bit of time to get to the final result but I am almost there, hopefully dropping it off sometimes this week to get it tuned up and she'll be "done" ... but then again is a project EVER done ??? Gotta clean up the frame where I cut the footage brackets, next will be shocks and new fork springs and I think I'll be done with it, but it'll have to wait a little ...
 
#29 ·
Got my baby back and rode her for a few hours today and she sure purrrrrrs ...

She got outfitted with a new power commander, did her time on the dino and got mapped out, what a difference it makes when an expert gets a hold of her and does his magic ...

Can't wait for my next ride ! ! !

Before and after pictures ... The day I picked her up ... and as she stands today ... What a difference it makes with a little imagination, creativity and a lot of elbow grease. GOTTA LOVE IT I SURE DO ! ! ! !
 

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#35 ·
Thank you Doctor_Bunz I appreciate it, as I mentioned in previous posts it took longer than I would have liked but it was all worth it in the end.

The custom seat did not add much height at all, I kept it as narrow as possible in the front so my legs are straighter than with the stock seat and she feels a lot more nimble now. I also got rid of the stock exhaust which weighs "a ton" and a lot of other unnecessary parts off the bike, she actually feels A LOT LIGHTER and a lot more fun to ride. Had a blast this past weekend riding her and can't wait again for this weekend !
 
#37 ·
Finally got to install a set of 4" handlebar risers on the Ol' Dez Sled and loving it ! It always felt like I was leaning a little too much forward and what a difference this makes, the ride is so much more confortable now, feels like a new bike ! ! !

Next step, a set of Hagon shocks and progressive springs out front and she'll be done !
 

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