Cafe Racer Motorcycles
What Is a Scrambler Motorcycle? Origins, Build Choices and How It Differs From a Cafe Racer
A scrambler is a road bike styled for rough ground: wide bars, knobby tires, high pipes. Early history, a build checklist and how it differs from a cafe racer.
A scrambler is a road-going motorcycle styled after the bikes riders adapted for rough-ground racing: upright, with wide bars, knobby tires, a high-mounted exhaust and a stripped-down look. It started as a road bike modified for dirt, while a cafe racer was modified for tarmac speed. This page covers the early history, a build checklist (tires, bars, exhaust, skid plate) and the differences from a cafe racer.
Part of our cafe racer motorcycles hub.
Key takeaways- The name comes from British "scramble" racing; the first known scramble race was in Camberley, Surrey, in 1924.- The first genuine factory scramblers, per Pirelli, were 1950s Triumph twins; US desert racing shaped them.- Purists argue over the definition, but most agree on high pipes, knobby tires, wide bars and a short padded saddle.- A knobby tire and tracker bars on a heavy road bike do not make a scrambler, according to one builder.
What counts as a scrambler?
There is no standards-body definition, and the word is used loosely. Wikipedia says off-road bikes are also called scramblers, and so are some dual-purpose street-legal machines. In the custom world the label usually means the retro road-going style. A video by Yammie Noob sums up what most people agree on:
| Trait | What most people expect | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Torquey air-cooled single or twin | – |
| Exhaust | High-mounted, for ground clearance | – |
| Tires | Knobby, on spoked wheels | – |
| Bars | Wide | – |
| Seat and tank | Short padded saddle, small tank | – |
| Overall | Stripped down, small gauges and headlight | – |
Where scramblers came from
Pirelli says the exact origin is unclear and mixes history with legend. The likely start is early 20th-century England, where riders raced on a mix of asphalt and dirt and chose their own route from point A to point B. Wikipedia's motocross article dates the first known scramble race to Camberley, Surrey, in 1924.
Before purpose-built models existed, riders adapted road bikes with extended suspension, wider fenders, wider handlebars and knobbed tires.
The 1950s and 1960s
Pirelli says Triumph built the first genuine scrambler in the 1950s from its twin-cylinder models, including the Trophy and the TR6 SC, and that US rider Bud Ekins raced them. Those early bikes dropped lights, dashboard and fenders, ran a smaller tank and a padded single seat, protected the carburetor with a filter, and used cut-short exhausts and knobbed tires.
Wikipedia says the Triumph TR6 Trophy was built mainly for US desert racing, with a competition version known as the "desert sled". The 1959 TR6/B was the "high-piped street-scrambler". The original Ducati Scrambler was also aimed at the US market, built from a street-legal Ducati Diana converted for dirt-track racing in America. Wikipedia gives two end years for its production, 1974 and 1976, so we give neither as settled.
Visordown says BSA was in the thick of the first scrambler boom of the 1950s and 1960s.
The modern revival
Visordown says almost every major manufacturer now offers a modern scrambler, from the Honda CL500 to the Ducati Scrambler and the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE. It adds that some lean heavily into style while others deliver when the tarmac runs out. This page does not rank them.
A custom scrambler build checklist
These are one parts seller's build notes, Purpose Built Moto's, not a standard. Use them as a starting list and compare with a builder you trust.
The same author says he saw a surge of heavy road bikes with knobby tires and tracker bars sold as scramblers, and argues builders should take cues from enduro and vintage motocross bikes. That is his opinion, but it is a useful test: ask what the bike is actually set up to do.
For a wider look at how builds are planned, see custom motorcycle builds: design ideas and examples and how a custom motorcycle build comes together. The motorcycle customization hub has more.
| Area | Build choice | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | A small-to-mid single or twin; weight matters more than power | – |
| Suspension | Rebuild forks and replace rear shocks on old bikes | – |
| Exhaust and skid plate | Route the exhaust down the side, or keep high pipes and add a bash plate; fit heat shields either way | – |
| Tires | Durable dual-sport tires, not trials tires, which wear quickly on the road | – |
| Wheels | Motocross-style sizing, about 21-inch front and 17 to 19-inch rear | – |
| Cockpit | Grippy mid-set pegs, high seating position, comfortable bar height; avoid a very short seat with a long tank | – |
| Controls and lights | Minimal, but add lights and gauges for street use | – |
| Filter and wiring | Keep the pod filter away from debris; heat-shrink wiring; quick-snap plugs so lights can come off | – |
Scrambler vs cafe racer in short
A cafe racer was modified for speed and handling, a scrambler for dirt. The full side-by-side is in cafe racer vs scrambler: key differences, and the cafe racer is explained in what a cafe racer motorcycle is. For another style often grouped with both, see brat style motorcycles.
| Column 1 | Cafe racer | Scrambler |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Speed and handling on the road | Rough ground and mixed surfaces |
| Bars | Low clip-ons or ace bars | Wide |
| Tires | Not a defining feature | Knobby |
| Exhaust | Swept-back pipes | High-mounted |
| Footpegs | Rear-set | Mid-set pegs suggested for builds |
Gear that fits the look
A scrambler suits a plain, short jacket. Leather Collection's men's biker jackets page describes a cafe racer cut as short and simple with a straight zip. The store says these are fashion biker jackets without riding armor and lists armored race jackets as a separate range.
FAQ
Is a scrambler a dirt bike?
Not necessarily. Wikipedia says dirt bikes and trailbikes are also called scramblers, and so are some dual-purpose street-legal bikes. In the custom world it usually means the retro road-going style.
What is the difference between a scrambler and a cafe racer?
A scrambler is set up for rough ground, with wide bars and high pipes; a cafe racer is set up for road speed, with low bars and rear-set pegs.
Why is it called a scrambler?
The name goes back to British "scramble" races, where riders raced across rough ground; the first known one was in Camberley, Surrey, in 1924.
What is a custom scrambler?
A custom scrambler is a road bike modified toward that style, using choices like those in the build checklist above.
RDUKE Editorial Team
RDUKE articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.