[TheJRM]

The short of it: I've been drooling over the Ducati Scrambler since it was announced. My wife and I have owned TW200s over the years (she still has hers), and I immediately viewed the Scrambler as a TDub on HGH & Steroids once it was unveiled. I love the low center of gravity and agility of the TDub and we've taken trips as long as 1,000 miles, loaded up to the hilt with camping gear, on those little mules. The bikes do every thing well (except go fast, of course) and are a blast to ride.

After selling off my 09 TW and DR650, I bought a CB500X in '13 and, most recently, a CRF250L for dual sport/hooligan riding. The CB500X is a GREAT bike - Honda reliability, very efficient, SMOOTH as butter, good ergos, comfortable seat, stable and comfortable on the highway, etc. etc. I've outfitted her with heated grips, a center stand, some hand guards and a couple of other small farkles. I use the CB for daily commuting duties, and she excels (although my commute is just 8 miles each way!).

Truth be told, as practical and bulletproof as my CBX is, my highly modded CRFL started to change the way I felt about her, especially once I slapped a set of 17/19 warp 9 wheels and shinko 705 tires on. At 23 HP, the CRFL is no power house, but GAWD **** is she fun to ride! Ripping around town, riding off curbs, bush whacking through the occasional trail, jumping stuff, leaning her way over in the twisties... you get the picture. The bike is just plain old fun, despite being low powered, and brings back fond memories of my even less powerful TW200.

I'm a teacher, and ever since finishing the mods on my CRFL, I haven't wanted to touch my CBX. I rode her up to a concert a couple of weeks ago, and she excelled at the task (50 - 60 mph cruising, on mix of hwy and back roads), but outside of that, she sits idle in the basement. As practical as the bike is, it's simply not a motorcycle that I am motivated to jump on and ride. Despite that fact, as I stand there in the basement and contemplate trading her in, I feel both guilty and stupid for thinking of parting ways with such a great machine.

As someone with a full time job, part time business and 2 little kids, long trips are nowhere in my future again for at least 7 or 8 years If said trips were part of my life right now, I wouldn't be making this post, because the X excels in this department and is a bike that I would load up and ride across the country without hesitation.

Time constraints aside, I still try to sneak out for those stress relieving 1 hour rides as often as I can, and squeeze as much fun as possible into that short time frame. For the past few months, those rides have all been on my semi-supermotarded CRF250l

I'm still drooling over the Scrambler, and see it as a bike that I could commute on (given my short commute) and have a lot more fun on (vs. my CB500x).

However... I'm torn over the decision to trade the CB500X in given the points made above.

Anyone out there make a similar change to their stable and trade in a more practical, bulletproof commuter type bike for the Scrambler? If so, are you still happy with your decision? I have 4 weeks left in my summer vacation and might test ride a scrambler (have sat on them/seen them in person and was impressed) within the next 24 hours. If I were rich and had all the time in the world to ride, I'd just buy the scrambler outright and enjoy the best of both worlds but still haven't figured out a way to get rich, or find all of the time in the world to ride yet

 

[cycletime71]

It's all about the ride and how a bike makes you feel. Your Honda, as reliable as it is will never compare to the Scrambler in the feel good department. I say trade it in and let someone else give it a good home where it will be ridden more while you upgrade your garage. You will not be disappointed.

 

[TheJRM]

It's all about the ride and how a bike makes you feel. Your Honda, as reliable as it is will never compare to the Scrambler in the feel good department. I say trade it in and let someone else give it a good home where it will be ridden more while you upgrade your garage. You will not be disappointed.

Heading out for a test ride right now

Thanks for your input!

 

[ladyeclectic]

Both the Scrambler and CB500X were on my list as next-bikes back when I was still looking. To be honest, I still sometimes wonder if I made the right decision getting the Scrambler Icon. It really depends on what you want to do with it though, and how tall you are. For a person 5'8" or shorter, the Ducati is perfect; taller, and the ergonomics of the Honda really stand out.

For me though, it ultimately came down to vanity. I just enjoyed the heck out of LOOKING at the Ducati (I've always been a sucker for the 70s/80s UJM look), and it handled like a freaking dream on the twists and turns. Still, I've had to upgrade the seat and am currently upgrading the suspension, both of which together will probably run me over $2k after all's said and done. The Scrambler is also (for the base model at least) over $2k more expensive than the Honda, which would pay for any of the Rally Raid kits available to upgrade the CB500X. I'm still getting used to coming over to a street bike from a dual sport background, but I still have my DRZ-SM for anytime I want to be up on my tiptoes again (and should I ever wish for dirt), and what little hardpack dirt roads I've been on with the Ducati haven't made me feel at all uncomfortable.

Bottom line, you just have to test them both out and choose which one works for you. And, let's be honest, you can always go back to one or the other if this one doesn't fit you. There is no such thing as a forever-bike, at least not for most of us; I found that out the hard way after purchasing (and eventually trading in for the Scrambler) a brand new 1200GS. Get what you love now, mod/upgrade it as you see fit, and ride the snot out of it. Whatever you choose should make you smile and enjoy the ride, so get whichever one fits you best and try not to overthink it too much.

 

[Brantman1]

I'm with LadyEclectic above. It was between those two bikes for me too. I was so excited about the 500x until I first saw the Scrambler and then I was obsessed. Nothing beats the Scrambler in the looks department, but I also sometimes wonder if I made the right decision. I also commute 8 miles each way in the city and as cool as the Scrambler looks, it's just not built for riding in traffic. It gets crappy mileage, the stock suspension is just for looks and does nothing to smooth out the crap roads and potholes, the engine cooks your leg, and I can never find the right gear for doing 30 miles an hour in traffic. And it's not build for touring either, barely get over 120 miles a tank, the seat is a cinderblock wrapped in vinyl, and it's hard to strap anything to the back of the seat for storage. This thing is, however, PERFECT for running up and down the canyons and twisty backroads.

Do I regret getting the Scrambler? Nah. But I'm pretty sure if I had bought the 500x I would have regretted going with the practical choice over the sexy choice...