If any movie from the ‘Mad Max’ series were to be shot and direct­ed in Nepal, we can definitely see the Motorhead Scrambler in at least one of its scenes. That’s purely going by the aesthetic appeal of the Scrambler, which is its strongest suit. The post-apocalyptic, retro, steam-punk look of the Motorhead Scrambler is a definite crowd-puller, but living up to the aesthetics is a long order. Where does it stand in that spectrum? Read on.

 

Initial impressions

The Motorhead Scrambler is an exhibitionist, styled à la mode. With retro styling making a comeback, this Scrambler is something to look forward to (the purists won’t dis­agree). The visually irresistible styl­ing of the Motorhead Scrambler harks back to the heydays of motor­cycling. You get blacked out inverted front forks, a round LED headlamp cluster and a stainless steel fender. Other Scrambler ingredients are bar end mirrors, tires on spoked rims, a chiselled tank, a short padded seat, a steel muffler and a spheroid tail light. Contemporary additions include a digital speedometer and a USB charger.

 

 The Motorhead Scrambler is an exhibitionist, styled à la mode

 

Is it a performer?

Many motorcycles boast star qual­ity looks, but they just can’t perform when it comes to real riding. The Motorhead Scrambler is that kind of star that fails to stand out on a stage. Although it is powered by a Lon­cin-sourced 223cc oil cooled engine, the motorcycle only delivers 16.7 BHP of power at 8,000 RPM and 17 Nm of torque at 6,500 RPM. That’s quite low for 200cc-plus motorcy­cles in the market. All this power is transferred to the rear wheel by means of six-speed constant mesh transmission.

 

Take an open road, whack the throttle open and the motorcy­cle roars forward with a grunty note. However, that movement is short-lived because you have to constantly shift to access the top power, and this gets demanding after sometime. Mild vibrations creep around the frame and the bar-end mirrors before the motor starts to lose its steam. Our speedo-indicated 100 kmph with some effort before the motor felt dyspneic. So, there’s not much sur­prises on highway cruising. One area where the Motorhead Scram­bler didn’t disappoint was the brisk acceleration that would be fine for short runs.

 

How does it handle?

The ride quality is surprisingly enjoyable on the Motorhead Scram­bler because the motorcycle is not that heavy. The flat and wide handlebar compliments the rider’s triangle, though the steering has a large turning radius. Seating posi­tion is relaxed and upright, which also makes for a comfortable ride feel. The seat cushioning feels just about right too. The seat height, however, is not accessible to riders of all sizes. And the pillion may com­plain about the seat length, the tight seating position and the absence of a grab-rail.

 

Because of its lean dimensions, the scrambler is easy to chuck around. Well, in some ways, it is a fun motorcycle to ride. Thanks to its light weight, the Scrambler is ideal for city riding and exhibits decent road manners. The suspension is set up slightly on the stiffer side. The inverted front forks and rear mono shock with air damper absorb the sharp bumps and potholes pretty decently. The motorcycle gets dual-sports 110/90-R17 front and 130/80- 17 rear tyres which offer good grip and instil confidence in the rider. Stopping power is impressive, with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes. ABS is absent though.

 

The big question then

Even though retro motorcycles are the talk of the town right now, the Motorhead Scrambler slips away on too many fronts. It misses out on refinement, quality and the over­all value for money proposition. There’s no denying the sheer appeal of its design. But what you wear doesn’t matter if you can’t perform. At the pricing of Rs 435,000, there’s still no way the Motorhead Scram­bler is able to justify such a high asking price. Although the Scram­bler brings to the table plenty of persona, it fizzles out because of the unrealistic aspirations.