A scrambler motorcycle is a road-based bike adapted for light off-road riding, traditionally characterized by upright ergonomics, higher ground clearance, wide handlebars, minimal bodywork, and often a high-mounted exhaust to clear obstacles. Originating in the 1950s–1960s when riders modified street motorcycles to “scramble” over dirt roads, fire trails, and rough terrain, scramblers prioritize versatility and simplicity over specialization — bridging pavement and unpaved riding without the long-travel suspension or focused geometry of true dirt or enduro machines.
Generally, we regard bikes built prior to 1980 as vintage, though there is some wiggle room there. Here we have a selection of our favorite vintage scrambler, enduro, and dirt bike builds.
Yankee 500Z: 488cc Two-Stroke Twin Enduro - The 488cc Dick Mann-Developed Two-Stroke Twin Desert Racer and Enduro… In the late 1960s, before “adventure bike” was even a phrase, a small company in Schenectady, New York set out to build something radically different: […]
Faber Beezer: 1968 BSA B44 Victor Competition Scrambler - 500cc Pre-68 Scrambles Bike from Chopping Paint & Body… In 1966, BSA released the B44 series, which featured a new 441cc four-stroke engine developed by the company’s Competition Department. They’d taken the 343cc B40, which […]
Desert Racer Reborn: 1956 AJS 18CS Scrambler - Restored 1956 AJS 500cc Scrambler from Toolbox Lifestyle… AJS was founded all the way back in 1909 by the Stevens brothers of Wolverhampton, England, as A.J. Stevens & Co. Ltd (AJS). The company’s first motorcycle […]
Unique Classic: Yamaha TT500 Restomod - For most of the late 60s and early 70s, two-strokes dominated the off-road market. They were lighter, faster, and simpler than their four-stroke counterparts, and thumper evolution had all but stalled since the British singles […]
Desert Sled 55: 1963 Triumph Speed Twin - Built for for £4K: Dan Steward’s Triumph 5TA Desert Sled… Ed Turner — Triumph’s legendary designer and director — launched the original Speed Twin 5T at the 1937 National Motorcycle Show. The 500 parallel-twin […]
SR400 Reborn: Yamaha “SR540MX” Tracker - The People’s Choice: 540cc Dirt Tracker from GM Motorcycles… The Yamaha SR400 remains one of the most beloved machines in motorcycling. It arrived on the scene in 1978 as an easy to ride single-cylinder street […]
’49 Big Bear Scrambler: Triumph TR5 Trophy - A Spring-Frame, Square-Barrel TR5 Trophy from Ton Up Classics… In the 1950s, Triumph dealer Bill Martin designed a spring frame for desert racing in Southern California. Production began in 1952, while Triumph wouldn’t offer […]
TT Special: Honda CL72 Street Tracker - A Record-Setting Ascot TT Special from the 60s… In 1962, Honda released the CL72 Scrambler 250 with an eye toward the American market, where high pipes, semi-knobby tires, and an off-road attitude were fast becoming […]
City Sled: ’71 Triumph TR6R Tiger “Black Bike” - From Freeland Motorcycles: “The clean cut brother of a desert sled”… The Triumph TR6R “Tiger 650” was the single-carb version of the mighty Bonneville twin — a bike that had become synonymous with power […]
Muddy Good Fun: Wildsville Scramble 2024! - Wildsville is a private “moto-fun-camp” in rural Georgia born from the moto-loving mind of our incredibly talented friend Chastin Brand, one of the country’s most highly esteemed hand-painters and pinstripers. Chastin and the Brand family […]
Race Report: Helsington Classic Scramble 2023 - Graham Watson follows his father’s tire tracks at the 2023 Helsington Scramble! Back in 2021, we featured the unique Cheney / Triumph “Cantilever Cub” of Graham Watson. In the 1970s, Graham’s father wanted to build […]
Dubai to London: BMW R80GS Desert Bomber - Project Zero 30: A Transcontinental Airhead from Cafe Rider Customs… The BMW R80GS is the grandfather of the modern adventure bike, and remains one of the most important and influential motorcycles of the modern era. […]
Triple XL: Three Honda XL500 Motocrossers! - GPgarage Moto builds a trio of four-stroke Honda motocrossers… Introduced in 1979, the Honda XL500 would become one of the most successful dual-purpose bikes of the era, combining a 32-hp version of the XR500 engine […]
Vinduro Boxer: BMW R100RS “Sixdays” - Rind Performance’s ISDE-inspired BMW scrambler… The International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) — known until 1981 as the International Six Days Trial (ISDT) — has been held annually since 1913, testing national teams of the world’s […]
Old School Meets New: BMW R100 “Sport Bobber” - JAX Garage builds an aggressive Airhead… BMW Airheads may have covered more miles in more different countries than any other European motorbike. They were once the go-to machine for two-wheeled circumnavigators, and they proved themselves […]
Catching Freedom: Serge’s 1973 Triumph Tiger 750 - A British Tiger, German Friends, and One French Beach… We love motorcycles themselves — the sight, sound, speed, sensation, even the smell — but if we had to pick one thing that makes this two-wheeled […]
Loko Classic: 1970 BMW R75/5 - Loko Dream Factory updates a Slash 5 Beemer… In 1970, BMW introduced the all-new Slash 5 (“/5”) series, completely manufactured in Berlin according to modular design and production principles. In contrast to earlier models, the […]
Viva Vinduro! Yamaha DT400 Restomod - Purpose Built Moto builds a two-stroke ripper… The Yamaha DT400 is one of our favorite two-stroke enduros of the 1970s — a wolf in wolf’s clothing and a howling fury to ride. The factory bike […]
Gelände / Straße: BMW R80GS Restomod - Meccanica Serrao d’Aquino resto-mods a 90s adventure bike… The BMW R80GS is widely known as the grandfather of the modern adventure bike. At the time of its introduction, BMW Motorrad was at risk of going […]
Period-Correct Goodness: 1970 Yamaha XS650 “Bugsy” - James “The Eggman” Eckman recreates the bike he sold 50 years ago… Motocross arrived on American shores quite a bit later than some folks realize. Though the first European FIM championship was held in 1952, […]
Slipstream Creations: 1974 Honda CL200 Scrambler - As most of you are well aware, the CL series was Honda’s line of CB-based “street scramblers,” which often featured larger diameter front wheels, higher fenders, high-mount exhausts, and dual-purpose tires. While the larger displacement […]
Classic Octane: Kawasaki KZ750 Scrambler - “I had a desire for a classic bike that could actually be ridden hard…” Introduced in 1976, the Kawasaki KZ750 twin was a big twin designed to compete with the Triumph Bonneville and Yamaha XS650. […]
Adventure Rig: BMW R100GS Paris Dakar Restomod - A 118,000-mile adventure rig from Eli Carver x Stasis Motorcycles… The BMW R100GS PD (Paris Dakar) was a beast of an adventure bike, combining the 980cc flat-twin boxer engine and paralever suspension of the highly […]
Streamlined XT: 1980 Yamaha XT500 - Black Cycles Australia builds a streamlined XT for Retromotive… If you’ve been following BikeBound for any length of time, you know we’re big fans of the Yamaha XT500. Not only did the 500cc single win […]
Catamount Cub: 1965 Triumph Tiger Cub - Red Clouds Collective builds a Pre ’65-style Trials machine… In 1952, Triumph introduced the Tiger Cub, a 200cc four-stroke OHV single designed by the legendary Edward Turner. Sometimes known as the “Baby Bonnie,” the lightweight […]
Slipstream Creation: Honda CL350 Scrambler - “All of the little, BIG details…” The Honda CL350 was the scrambler version of the beloved CB350 twin, featuring several off-road-inspired elements such as high pipes and larger 19-inch front wheel. While it was more […]
Slipstream Creation: 1974 Honda CL360 Scrambler - Slipstream Creations builds a leaner, more refined CL… From 1974-76, the Honda CL360 was available as the street scrambler version of the CB360. While these lightweight twins shared the same 34-hp / 356cc engine and […]
The Z: Kawasaki Z650 Scrambler - SW-MOTECH Cofounder Jürgen Swora’s Z650! The Kawasaki Z650 was designed by none other than the grandmaster himself, Gyoichi “Ben” Inamura, designer of the legendary Z1. Introduced in 1976, it quickly earned as reputation as the […]
Two-Stroke Gold: Yamaha CT175 Restomod - Drake Speed transforms a farm wreck into CT3 street ripper… The Yamaha CT was the company’s series of 175cc two-stroke enduros, introduced in 1969 and renamed the DT175 in 1974. Here at BikeBound HQ, we’ve […]
Kolor Me Purple: Honda CL350 Scrambler - Kosmoto Customs builds a Kandy Purple CL… Earlier this month was the fifth annual Victory Moto Show in our hometown of Savannah, Georgia. While we showcase bikes from all around the world, we’re always amazed […]
SuperHawk Scrambler: Honda CB77 305 - Iron Macchina Customs builds a SuperHawk “Beach Tracker”… In 1961, Honda introduced the CB77 SuperHawk, a 305cc straight-twin destined to become the company’s first sport bike. Developed out of Honda’s Grand Prix racing experience, the […]
Dakar Dreams: BMW R80G/S Paris-Dakar Tribute - Roadburner Garage builds a Paris-Dakar tribute machine… The first running of the Paris-Dakar Rally took place in 1978, when 182 competitors (including 90 motorcycles) started from Place du Trocadéro, Paris, for the 6000-mile journey to […]
“Jappalachian” Yamaha RT360 Scrambler by Redtail Works - Redtail Works builds a dirt-ready two-stroke enduro… Introduced in 1968, the Yamaha DT-1 would change motorcycling forever, offering the world a lightweight and affordable 250cc two-stroke dirt bike that was street-legal — the “godfather enduro,” […]
Barn Find: 1970 Sachs Boondocker Enduro - In 1894, Ernst Sachs began making bicycle parts in his home country of Germany, mainly hubs and bearings. A decade later, the company made the natural leap into motorcycles, focusing mostly on the production of […]
Stellar CB: Honda CB125S by Interstellar Motors - The Honda CB125S was introduced in 1975, featuring an air-cooled SOHC single-cylinder engine that offered 12 horsepower and 100 mpg. With a 9500 rpm redline and dry weight of just 187 pounds, the little CB […]
Mexican 500 Machine: BSA Hornet Desert Sled - Scott G Toepfer’s NORRA 500 Beezer… Introduced in 1964, the BSA Spitfire Hornet was destined to become an icon of California desert racing. While the sooty streets of industrial England may seem a long way […]
Yamaha “SRXT500” Vinduro by 86 Gear - From Street to Scrambler… By 1971, BSA and Matchless had both gone out of business, and with them the British 500 singles whose torque and character had proved perfect for such a wide variety of […]
Come Correct: 1968 Triumph TR6C Desert Sled - Joey Yedowitz builds a period-correct ‘sled down to the nuts, bolts, and washers… The Triumph TR6C was the 1960s version of the company’s single-carb, high-pipe 650 scrambler. Not only did it perform the most iconic […]
1969 BSA Firebird Scrambler by Don Harrell - “Nothing brought a smile to his face like a one-kick start.” From 1968-1971, BSA imported their A65FS Firebird Scrambler, a 650cc parallel-twin street scrambler with gaitered forks, double-leading-shoe front brake, twin 32mm Amal Concentric carbs, […]
All Parts Fun: ’66 Triumph T100C from Tamara Raye - A Disneyland engineer and rockstar bassist builds a desert Tiger… While the 650cc Bonneville may have been the big seller for Triumph in the 1960s, the 500cc Tiger 100 range remained extremely important to the […]
Endless Summer: Vintage Motocross Race - I love the smell of Bel-Ray in the morning… Here at BikeBound, if there’s one type of vintage racing we love most to watch and participate in, it’s probably vintage motocross. It’s hard to beat […]
Vintage Warhorse: 1973 BSA B50MX - “This bike is like a owning a horse…. Whisper softly to her and she might get you home.” The BSA B50MX was the motocross version of the beloved B50, which would be the last of […]
Bud Ekins Desert Sled by Ace Classics - Ace Classics builds a faithful replica of Bud Ekins’s desert sled… James Sherwin “Bud” Ekins was an accomplished motocross, desert, and enduro racer from Southern California who would become one of Hollywood’s most famous stuntmen, […]
Honda CL350 “Moonbeam” by Mazi Moto - “This is a CL, it should look like it wants to rip around in the dirt…” In 1968, Honda introduced the CL350, a Scrambler version of the popular 324cc CB350 twin. The CL featured high […]
Pure Nostalgia: Cheney / Triumph Tiger Cub - Best of British: Cheney / Triumph Tiger Cub built to battle the two-strokes… If you dig very far into the history of motocross and scrambles, you’re sure to come across the name Eric Cheney, an […]
Marin Thrasher: BMW R80 “Norma” by Blunk’s Garage - Judd Blunk builds a Marin County thrasher… Introduced in the early 1980s, the BMW R80RT was the touring version of the middleweight airhead, featuring a 797cc flat-twin boxer engine that produced around 50 horsepower and […]
All The Little, Big Details: Honda CL350 Scrambler - Slipstream Creations builds a more versatile, capable Honda Scrambler… Introduced in 1969, the Honda CL350 was the factory scrambler version of the CB350 twin, one of Honda’s most successful machines. The 324cc, 33-horsepower parallel-twin engine […]
Godfather Enduro: 1968 Yamaha DT-1 Resto - “This is (as far as I know) the only 1968 DT1 which was imported officially to Europe.” In 1968, Yamaha introduced a machine that would change the motorcycle world forever, the DT-1. It was an […]
Triumph TR5 Trophy by Blitzkrieg Machines - From Chopper to Desert Sled… The Triumph TR5 Trophy debuted in 1949 as a 500cc off-road/trials version of the Speed Twin. Interestingly enough, the aluminum barrels and heads came from a generator the company had […]
Kawasaki Z750 Scrambler by Andreas Olesen - The Kawasaki KZ750/Z750, introduced in 1976, was a 55-hp vertical twin designed for riders who preferred the dependability, character, and easy maintenance of a big twin — a machine that recalled the 750 twins of […]
Honda CL350 Brat-Scrambler by Offset Moto - Going Equilateral: Long-Armed CL350 from San Francisco… The Honda CL350 was the scrambler version of the beloved CB350 twin, featuring a high-mount exhaust and 19-inch front wheel. While the 346 curb weight and 33 horsepower […]
Ducati 350 Scrambler by Wreckless Motorcycles - “The Scrambled Duke”: An alternative to the “new” Ducati Scrambler… Long before they revived the name for the modern L-twin Scrambler in 2015, Ducati produced their original “Scrambler” series of air-cooled singles in 125, 250, […]
“Franky” BMW R100GS Restomod by Blunk’s Garage - A Frankenstein airhead built for modern-day mayhem… The BMW R100GS, introduced in 1987, was the world’s largest displacement enduro / adventure bike at the time — the next evolution in the legendary R80GS. The GS […]
Twin Yamaha XT500 Customs by Red Clouds Collective - The Yamaha XT500 is one of the most beloved enduros of all time. Introduced in 1976, it was the first big four-stroke “thumper” from Japan — a 27-horsepower big single brute that was stone-ax reliable, […]
Harley “MX1000” Ironhead by Bull Original - The MX1000 — a 1000cc Harley-Davidson dirt bike! In the 70s, Harley-Davidson wanted to enter the fast-growing motocross market. They worked with their Italian branch, Aermacchi, to build the MX250 — a 233-lb Harley-Davidson motocrosser […]
Best in Show: Honda CL350 Scrambler by CEM - Recently, we had the pleasure of attending the 2018 Victory Moto Show in Savannah, Georgia — one of our favorite places on earth. The rise of Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) has given […]
BMW R80GS Enduro / Scrambler by Meister Engineering - The BMW R80G/S is the godfather of adventure bikes. Introduced in 1980, the G/S was the world’s first large-displacement production multi-sport motorcycle. The designation G/S stands for Gelände/Straße, or offroad/road in German. Says Silodrome: “This […]
Rickman Metisse Desert Sled by Chelsea Borchert - A street-legal Rickman Metisse desert sled influenced by Steve McQueen… In the early 1960s, the deserts of Southern California were alive with the sound of Triumph twins, BSA singles, and other British-built machines streaking toward […]
Cool It: BMW R80RT Desert Sled by Dust Motorcycles - “Cool It” — a Desert Sled inspired by the King of Cool… In the final chase scene of The Great Escape (1963), Steve McQueen’s character jumps a stolen German motorcycle over a fence into Switzerland. […]
“SUMO” BMW R80 Scrambler by MUTO Motorbikes - The BMW R80 has become a popular platform for a street-oriented scrambler build. It’s no surprise, really — the air-cooled boxer is tough as nails, built for field repairs, and looks mean when stripped […]
BMW R80 Desert Sled by Dust Motorcycles - “Bounty” — a BMW boxer built for the deserts of Dubai… The desert sled may have its roots in the cross-country races of 1960s America, where heroes such as Steve McQueen, Bud Ekins, and Malcolm […]
Kawasaki KZ750 Brat Scrambler by Caldas - A civilized scrambler for the Caribbean lifestyle… Sixteen years ago, automotive mechanic Andres Salcedo came to Canada from his homeland of Colombia, where his father owned a shop — Caldas — for more than 40 […]
Yamaha XS650 Tracker / Scrambler by Simple Sycles - “A tracker scrambler cruiser that’s only missing a surfboard rack for the ultimate summer’s day.” It’s tough not to love the Yamaha XS650. The air-cooled parallel twin motor is simple and beautiful, with solid punch, […]
Yamaha SR250 Brat Scrambler by David Isachsen - “I think in the first hour of riding my face hurt from smiling so much…” Those are the words of Canada’s David Isachsen, describing his first ride on a brand-new Honda 50 Mini Trail in […]
Honda Z50R “Mini Brawler” by Droog Moto - MOTO 12.5: A Miniature Urban Brawler Max and Erica Droog, the husband/wife team behind Droog Moto, are known for building a signature line of post-apocalyptic streetfighters, scramblers, and desert sleds. Earlier this year, we featured […]
“Womp Rat” Kawasaki KZ400 Desert Sled - A scrambler built for the deserts of Tatooine! “Rescue, Rebuild, Recycle.” This is the motto of Tempe, Arizona’s AspiRe Cycle. Founder Chris Elliot certainly put those words into action with this 1978 Kawasaki KZ400, which […]
Yamaha DT100 Scrambler by Revolt Cycles - Revolt Cycles of the Philippines continues to turn out customs full of moxie and nostalgia. Today, we’re proud to feature the shop’s 35th build, RVLT35, a 1980 Yamaha DT100X Enduro dubbed “Noli” — built for […]
Honda 125 Scrambler by Slipstream Creations - Anyone who works on bikes for any length of time quickly accumulates a surplus of parts in their garage, shed, or shop. James Fawcett of Slipstream Creations is no exception. When his 13 year-old son, […]
Honda CB500 Scrambler by Kimmo Larsson - The Honda CB500 Four, which debuted in the early 70s, was a middleweight four-cylinder machine capable of rivaling the 650cc twins of the day. The air-cooled, 498cc engine offered around 50 horsepower, capable of pushing […]
Honda CX500 Scrambler by Darling Motorcycle Works - “The Bear” from Darling, South Africa. Shawn U’ren of South Africa’s Darling Motorcycle Works spent a 15-year stint in competitive enduro, slogging through the mud, sand, and rocks of such punishing races as The […]
Honda CB360T Scrambler by Slipstream Creations - The Honda CB360, built from 1974-1976, succeeded the well-known CB350 twin, offering a 34-hp parallel twin, 6-speed transmission, and one of the handsomest tanks Honda ever produced. James Fawcett of Slipstream Creations is no stranger […]
Honda CB360 Scrambler by Brick House Builds - Bj English of Missouri’s Brick House Builds has become one of our favorite young builders — not just in the States, but int he world. A one-man operation, Bj has a knack for building customs […]
BMW R65 Scrambler “La Bimba” by Toro Moto - Riccardo Micheli, founder of Tuscany’s Toro Moto, has quickly become one of our very favorite builders worldwide. He’s worked as a tuner for various Italian and European race teams and an official BMW Motorrad technician. […]
Honda CB200T “Surf-n-Turf” by Utopeia Moto - Custom builders come from all walks of life, but most are anchored to one specific location — their brick-and-mortar garage or workshop. Not Chris Tope of Utopeia Moto Company. Believe it or not, Chris is […]
Yamaha SR250 Scrambler by Trident Cycles - The Yamaha SR250, while only available in the States from 1980-1982, has garnered as a global following in the custom world. The air-cooled, 21-hp thumper may not seem like a likely candidate for customization, given […]
Handbuilt Show 2018: Scramblers & ADV Bikes - The 2018 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show, which took place during Austin’s MotoGP weekend last month, proved to be the biggest and best yet. Hosted by Revival Cycles and BMW Motorrad USA, the Handbuilt Show aims at […]
Kawasaki Bighorn 350 Street Tracker by Fifty-Two Cycles - The Kawasaki F5 Bighorn was a 350cc, two-stroke, 33-horsepower enduro built from 1970-75. Klemm Vintage, a shop customizing in 2-stroke race engines, says of these bikes: “The 350 Bighorn is easily one of the most […]
BMW R100 Scrambler by Kern + Hyde - The BMW R100 “Slash 7” airhead was built in the latter half of the 1970s, a 60-hp flat twin that helped give birth to the modern sport touring motorcycle. Enter Evan Johnson of design and […]
Kawasaki Z1000 “Flatliner” by JM Customs - A Z1000 street tracker straight out of Scotland… The Kawasaki Z1000 — aka the KZ1000 in the North American market — was a direct successor of the legendary Z1, the most powerful four-stroke motorcycle ever […]
Hodaka Ace 100 Scrambler by Utopeia Moto Company - “America’s Favorite Trailbike” is Reborn… Ever heard of a Hodaka? Neither had we — not until we came across Utopeia Moto Company‘s staggering 1967 Hodaka Ace 100 on the floor of The Congregation Show in […]
Kawasaki F11 Scrambler by Paul Fuelling / Mabel Studios - The Kawasaki F11 250 was a 2-stroke, oil-injected dual-sport that offered ~24 horsepower with a wet weight of 280 pounds. Top speed was reported to be 77.7 mph. Says Bike-urious: “The F11 turned out to […]
Suzuki EF400BB from Italian Dream Motorcycle - Belgian-built vintage motocrosser rediscovered by an Italian race mechanic… Sergio Giordano, founder of Italian Dream Motorcycle (IDM), believes that study and research are crucial to his work as a motorcycle builder and race mechanic. He […]
Yamaha SR500 Scrambler by Daniel Peter - For so many of us, the love of two wheels begins with the childhood bicycle. That first taste of freedom — the wind on your cheeks, the road humming beneath your tires. At some point, […]
Honda CL175 Scrambler by Colt Wrangler - At the Handbuilt Show last year, we had the opportunity to meet Texas young gun Colt Wrangler, whose Yamaha XS650 tracker we recently featured. At the show, Colt had the 1971 Honda CL175 scrambler he’d […]
Honda CB100 Scrambler: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” - “It’s a gas, gas, gas” — a son turns a father’s old bike into a brutal little giant-killer… Fikri Ahmad had a vision for his father’s old motorcycle, a 1981 Honda CB100K5: a brutal scrambler […]
BMW R65 Scrambler by Voodoo Garage - “The Rapture,” a radical BMW scrambler… We have seen a lot of BMW airhead builds, but rarely have we seen one with such swagger and attitude. Aptly named “The Rapture,” this 1978 BMW R65 scrambler […]
Kawasaki H1 Street Tracker by Vallantine Motor Works - Who doesn’t need a 500cc, two-stroke, triple-cylinder tracker? The Kawasaki H1 Mach III — a 500cc, two-stroke, 60-hp wheelie machine that became a legend in its own time. The smoking banshee of a machine did […]
Yamaha TT500 Street Tracker by VZMC Customs - A nostalgic trip back to the 70s with an iconic, competition-only TT500… It’s always a thrill to feature the first bike from an upstart builder, particularly when it’s as staggering and well-executed as this Yamaha […]
Best Scramblers & Trackers of 2017 - We are huge fans of scramblers and trackers here at BikeBound. Apparently so are you, our readers, as fuly half of the machines on our Best Custom Motorcycles of 2017 are running knobby tires and […]
10 Best Custom Motorcycles of 2017 - Today we’re thrilled to present our 10 Best Custom Motorcycles of 2017, as judged by you, our readers. Your visits, likes, comments, and shares serve as votes, and we ranked these bikes according to their […]
BMW R100R Scrambler by Cafe Racer SSpirit - Cafe Racer SSpirit of Spain has become one of our favorite builders in recent years. Their build process is highly collaborative with their customers. They like to say they take a journey with their clients, […]
Honda XL600 Dakar by Andrew Greenland - We have been watching the builds of Andrew Greenland ever since his red Honda Dominator custom was featured on Bike EXIF years ago. Since then, Andrew has turned out a stable’s worth of froth-worthy Honda […]
Kawasaki KZ440 Scrambler by Psycho Chopps - The Kawasaki KZ440 is the larger bore brother of the Z/KZ400, offering a 443cc air-cooled parallel twin instead of the smaller sibling’s 398cc engine. Unlike the mighty Z1 and other KZ Series brethren, the KZ440 […]
BMW R75 Scrambler by Eli Carver - The Carver twins of Texas are quickly becoming two of our favorite builders. Brothers Eli and Tyson began riding motorcycles together about 6.5 years ago after the loss of their parents. As it has been […]
Honda CL360 Scrambler by Offset Motorcycles - A $1000 Dirtbag Chopper gets turned into a Big Sur banger… Jason Lisica of San Francisco’s Offset Motorcycles has been involved with the city’s Dirtbag Challenge. The challenge, which has been the subject of two […]
Honda CR500 Supermoto by Dab Design - At just 26 years old, Simon Dabadie of Dab Design has already made quite a splash in the custom motorcycle world. With a background in the emerging industries of 3D Printing and 3D software publishing, […]
Honda XR600R Scrambler by Droog Moto - The husband and wife team of Droog Moto has been steadily turning out a stable’s worth of signature builds. While the donor platforms vary, the Droog Moto style has become unmistakable — raw, burly builds […]
Honda CM250 Scrambler by Max Inhulsen - The Honda CM250 was a 234cc air-cooled parallel twin produced from 1981-1983. The bike — a predecessor to the Rebel 250 — had decidedly “cruiser-ish” styling, though European-spec models offered a healthy 27 horsepower for […]
Yamaha XS650 Tracker by Tyson Carver - For twin brothers Tyson and Eli Carver, riding and building motorcycles began as a form of therapy, community, and passion in the wake of loss. We were fortunate to enough to see their custom builds […]
Honda XL350 Scrambler by Divine Proportions - Rarely do we have a bike with such a powerful story of community, family, and charity behind it. This 1984 Honda XL350 scrambler / beach tracker was built by Divine Proportions — a community of […]
Honda Dominator Scrambler by ZZMoto - Who would have thought that the Honda NX650 — a durable but rather boring urban runabout — would become the darling of the custom moto scene? We have always been fans of the Honda’s thumpers, […]
Yamaha DT3 250 Scrambler by David King - Today, we are thrilled to present the first bike project from David King, a senior Mechanical Engineering student from Midland, Virginia, who says he was inspired by the bikes he saw on our site. The […]
Yamaha XT500 Surf Scrambler by Project Moto - The Yamaha XT500 is one of the great all-around motorcycles ever built. Introduced in 1975, it was the proto-thumper, spawning generations of bulletproof four-stroke big-bore singles that could thread the urban jungle, rip the backroads, […]
Honda CB550 “City Scrambler” by J.Webster Designs - Justin Webster of J.Webster Designs is one of our favorite people in the moto world. He’s a self-taught builder who started his business working nights after his day job, and his design philosophy strikes a […]
Honda GL500 Scrambler by Other Life Cycles - We were lucky enough to meet Sean Zeigler of Other Life Cycles at this year’s Handbuilt Show and get a sneak peek of this build in-process. Sean whipped out his mobile and showed us a […]
Honda SL350 Scrambler by Kyle Fitzgerald - Mountain bikers seem to build some of the best custom scramblers. They understand the value of “adding lightness,” and the way that suspension and geometry mean more than outright power. All of this can be […]
Kawasaki KZ650 Scrambler by De9s - The Kawasaki KZ650, known abroad as the Z650, is one of our favorite machines. The “Son of the Z1” is a rev-happy, middleweight weapon with surprising punch and plenty of style. The bike makes a […]
Yamaha XT250 Scrambler - The first generation Yamaha XT250, built throughout the 1980s, was the bike that Rambo rode in the movie in the series, First Blood, which came out in 1982. The bike has long remained a stalwart […]
BMW R45 Scrambler by Bolt Motor Co - It seems like so many of our favorite builders are former racers or race car builders. There is a certain racer’s mentality, when every last component — every nut and bolt — must be as […]
Honda CX500 Scrambler by Brick House Builds - We’re thrilled to present another build from Bj English of Brick House Builds. Bj’s previous build, a CX500 tracker inspired by the two-stroke Honda 3-wheelers of the 1980s, was a huge hit on the blog […]
Kawasaki KZ400 Street Tracker by One15 Design - There must be some Big Green in the Milwaukee water supply. Today we’re proud to feature this Kawasaki KZ400 street tracker by Buck Knitt of Milwaukee’s One15 Design…the second KZ400 we have featured from the […]
Honda XL185 Tracker by LongShotMoto - The Honda XL185 was a dual-sport introduced in 1979 as an updated version of the venerable XL175. The 180cc, air-cooled single produced 16 horsepower, and served as the base for Colin Seely’s TL200 trials bike. […]
Honda XL100 Scrambler by Revolt Cycles - We are so excited to showcase the newest build from one of our favorite builders, Revolt Cycles of the Philippines. The Honda XL100, first produced in 1974, was a near-unkillable little enduro, capable of thumping […]
Honda CB360 Tracker by Slipstream Creations - The Honda CB360, built from 1974-1976, was the successor of the venerated CB350. The parallel twin machine offered 34 horsepower at a dry weight of just over 350 pounds, and served as an alternative to […]
Yamaha XT550 Scrambler by Gibson Motorcycle Co. - The Yamaha XT550 is a rare machine these days. This dual sport — the predecessor of the XT600 — was only produced for two years: 1983-1984. The 558cc, air-cooled, four-valve single offered 38 horsepower, and […]
Honda SL70 Tracker by OtC Custom Motorcycles - There is something inherently fun about small-displacement builds, especially when they are done with the detail, performance, and historical livery of this Honda SL70 street tracker by OtC Custom Motorcycles. The Honda SL70 was a […]
Honda CX500 Scrambler by Droog Moto - The husband/wife team behind Droog Moto has quickly established a signature style, building post-apocalyptic trackers, scramblers, and desert sleds that Mad Max would love. Recently, Max and Erica Droog moved from scorching Arizona to Washington […]
Kawasaki KZ750 Scrambler - Argentina has become a hotbed of custom bike-building, particularly tracker and scrambler builds. When Argentine-born Sebastian Achaval moved to NYC to found his eyewear brand, oneYedeer, his passion for motorbikes followed him. A former motocross […]
BMW K100 Scrambler by De Angelis Elaborazioni - Giorgio De Angelis, the man behind De Angelis Elaborazioni of Rome, has been turning out a staggering collection of Bavarian specials. His BMW K1100 cafe racer was one of our most popular bikes of 2016, while […]
Honda XL600R Scrambler by Penroyd Garage - There’s little we love more than a dual-purpose, unkillable thumper of 80s vintage. Here where we live, there’s a small group of riders who spend their Sunday afternoons finding trails, fire roads, and urban jumps […]
Honda CX500 Tracker by Brick House Builds - The Honda ATC250R was the hottest 3-wheeler of the 1980s, with a 2-stroke screamer of a motor, manual clutch, and air-assisted suspension. The machine was designed for ATV racing, and has come to represent all […]
Honda CL350 Brat Cafe by Sean Sallings - Motorcycles and family go hand-in-hand, and nothing demonstrates that more than this Honda CL350 cafe racer by Sean Sallings…whose parents were married in a Harley shop! Sean’s father is none other than Jan Sallings of […]
Suzuki GN250 Scrambler by Purpose Built Moto - It’s easy to lose sight of one of the crucial elements of building and riding custom bikes: fun. This little Suzuki GN scrambler promises a huge dose of pure, full-throttle entertainment. “A purpose-built fun machine.” […]
Triumph TR6 Tiger Desert Sled - The Triumph TR6 is one of the most iconic motorcycles of all time. Built from 1956 to 1973, the “desert sled” carved its name into history competing in — and winning — major off-road races […]
BMW R80GS Scrambler by De Angelis Elaborazioni - Giorgio De Angelis of De Angelis Elaborazioni is the man who built this incredible BMW K1100 cafe racer, which easily made our list of last year’s best cafe racers. Now Giorgio is back with another burly […]
Honda CB550 Tracker by Herencia Custom Garage - Argentina has been turning a staggering array of customs in recent years, mainly trackers and scramblers. At the cutting edge is Herencia Custom Garage, run by our buds Federico Cubik and German Karp. These guys […]
BMW R65 Scrambler by Delux Motorcycles - The BMW R65 was introduced in 1978, offering a 648cc airhead motor with 44 horsepower. Owner maintenance is standard practice with these BMW touring bikes, and the bike came with a full tool kit and […]
Kawasaki KZ400 Scrambler by Moto-fied - There is nothing we love more than a killer garage-build. This KZ400 scrambler is exactly that, built by Nick Petterson of Milwaukee’s Moto-fied Cycles. This is Nick’s first build, and it’s an auspicious start. Instead […]
Honda CB360 Scrambler by RPG - Tim Roberts of Roberts Performance Group has a long history in building race cars, where weight, clutter, and weakness is the enemy. This '74 Honda CB360 scrambler -- "Blue" -- is a budget-conscious little brawler built to tear up city streets and dirt roads.
Honda CB550F Restomod by OtC Custom - The Honda CL77 or Scrambler 305, introduced in the mid-60s, is still one of the most beautiful two-wheeled machines ever made. Powered by a 305cc air-cooled parallel twin, this 27-hp “Gentleman’s Scrambler” differed from the […]
BMW R100 Tracker by Garage Sheriff - We are thrilled to bring you guys this handsome-as-heck BMW R100RT tracker, which was largely a father/son project between Charles-Élie Dumontier of Montreal’s Garage Sheriff and his dad. As you may know, the R100RT was […]
Honda CX500 Scrambler by Jeroen Kraijema - Some people build their bikes in sheds, some in garages. Some have fancy shops. Some only yards. Some, like Jeroen Kraijema, must resort to the living room in the dead of winter. After all, it gets […]
What is the Motorcycle in Grease 2? - Before we discuss the motorcycle in Grease 2, let’s have a look at the basic plot as a way of understanding how the bike comes into play. We are taken back to 1961–two years after […]
Yamaha XS650 Scrambler by Therapy Garage - The Yamaha XS650 is one of our favorite platforms for custom builds. That parallel twin is a beauty, reminiscent of the British twins of yore, and the bike makes a killer tracker or scrambler. So […]
Honda CB900F Bol d’Or Scrambler by Vonsmotz - The Honda CB900F, a successor to the venerable CB750, was introduced to European markets in 1979. Later named the Honda Bol d’Or after the French endurance race–a nod to the machine’s racing heritage–the bike was […]
Suzuki DR600 Scrambler by Vintage Addiction - The Suzuki DR600 was introduced in 1984, a 44-horsepower dual-purpose thumper that the sales brochure called a “Bi-Formance Enduro.” The DR had decent dirt etiquette despite the high saddle height and tall gearing, and the […]
Yamaha RD350 Scrambler by Moto Exotica - This might be the wickedest scrambler we’ve ever seen. Nicknamed “Eight,” she’s a 2-stroke, 210-pound RD350 scrambler built by Arjun Raina of India’s Moto Exotica. As you may know, the now-legendary Yamaha RD350 was produced […]
Honda XR500 Scrambler by Droog Moto Concepts - Max Droog of Droog Moto Concepts, based in Phoenix, has been turning out some incredible builds. Recently we featured his CM400 scrambler build, and now he’s back with this burly scrambler based on an ’81 […]
Honda CL77 Tracker by Dillon Sheppard - The Honda CL77, also known as the Scrambler 305, was the scrambler version of the CB77 Super Hawk. The bike had a larger-diameter frame than the CB, and the starter was eliminated to reduce weight […]
Honda NX650 Scrambler by Janne Hietakangas - Recently, Janne Heitakangas of Turku, Finland, sent us this incredible NX650 scrambler. We shared the bike on Instagram with the caption “Good as Gold.” Geoff Baldwin, editor of Tank Moto magazine and the man behind […]
BMW R80 Scrambler by The Bike Maker - Recently, we featured an incredible bratstyle BMW R100 by The Bike Maker, Alexandre Ciaramella, who designs and engineers dials for Swiss luxury watches when he isn’t tuning vintage BMW iron. Now Alex is back with […]
Kawasaki (K)Z650 Tracker by Retro Bikes Croatia - Retro Bikes Croatia (RBC), based in Zagreb, has a design philosophy we love. They build bikes… “Distinctive and irreplaceable, with original retro style but always usable on the road.” So far, their work has […]
BMW Scramblers by Fabrizio of the Vigili del Fuoco - Fabrizio Grillo is a diver with the Vigili del Fuoco in his native Italy. The Vigili del Fuoco, which literally means the “Watchers of Fire,” is Italy’s national fire and rescue service. Fabrizio has combined […]
BSA Lightning Scrambler - Today, we have a scrambler version of one of our favorite bikes of all time: the BSA Lightning. The Lightning was produced from 1965 to 1972 by BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Company), intended mainly for […]
Honda CB450 Scrambler by Steel Bent Customs - Today, we’re thrilled to present “Dirty Jersey,” a CB450 scrambler by one of the best in the business: Michael Mundy of Steel Bent Customs in Oldsmar, Florida. We were lucky enough to visit with Mike […]
Honda XR600R Scrambler by Devolve Moto - Last year, Greig Hochreiter was nearly killed by a drunk driver while riding his motorcycle home from hanging with some of his best friends. Some riders, lying bloody and broken in the hospital, might have […]
BMW R100 Tracker by Herencia Custom Garage - There have been some incredible customs coming out of Argentina of late. Recently, we got in touch with the boys of Herencia Custom Garage—Federico Lozada and German Karp. “HCG” is an extension of Herencia Argentina, […]
XS650 Scrambler by Dime City Cycles: “XS744” - Rick Brown, BikeBound’s senior traveling correspondent, recently had the opportunity to spend an enjoyable and educational afternoon with Herm Narciso and the crew at Dime City Cycles in Largo, Florida, including a tour of the […]
The Motorcycle from The Great Escape - The Great Escape is a movie that many of us remember watching on television during our teenage years…if you are in your 40s or 50s anyway. Based on the true story of prisoners escaping a […]
BMW R65 Scrambler by Moto Adonis - For some reason, we’re suckers for builds based on old police bikes, such as VTR Custom’s R80. So we were very excited when Daan Borsje of Moto Adonis shared this incredibe scrambler built from a […]
