[AzCal Retred]

Astounding prices, thanks for the info. Even 2 lakh would be less than the lovely CSC SG250, with an MSRP of $2500 + another $400 for...because they can? A CB350RS for even $3,500 would be an absolute steal.

https://cscmotorcycles.com/2022-sg250-cafe-racer-motorcycle-brick/

[andif62]

the Honda CB350 RS is the scrambler variant of the H'Ness.  (…)
RE's scrambler, the Hunter is slated to be released in early August, and expectations are that it might be priced as low as 1.3 lakh.

Neither CB350RS nor RE Hunters are scramblers

[AzCal Retred]

The term "scrambler" is pretty vague. If you stuck a set of trials universals and a "high pipe" on any of these you'd qualify in spades. Having ridden (tried anyway...) many older scramblers, I can attest to the poor and/or semi-lethal off-road handling characteristics of "street bikes with knobbies". "They wuz the best there wuz when they were all there wuz."   

The high pipe was a debatable choice, as mostly these machines didn't have skid plates, leaving their vulnerable innards exposed to jagged boulders and fist sized rocks flipped up from the front wheel at speed on a trail. A low pipe at least had some lower case coverage and a "crush factor" that could come in handy. The bike will still manage to run and get you home with the exhaust crushed almost flat. The CL350 Honda, BSA B44 Victor and Kawasaki A7SS "Avenger" sold a lot of bandages and plaster.

The Pre-Unit Bullet falls into this "Scrambler" category. I do enjoy mine, within its very modest limits. A set of 4.00 x 19's Duro HT307's at each end help tremendously, as does substantially lower gearing. If you get into a situation where you actually need a "high pipe", you actually need a Himalayan...  

https://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/shopping-guides/what-is-a-scrambler-motorcycle#:~:text=Commonly%20known%20as%20dirt%20bikes,suspensions%20and%20substantial%20ground%20clearance.
In terms of the bikes themselves, the scrambler design was once very similar to that of a cafe racer, where racers in the dawn of the 20th century modified and customized standard bikes enhance racing performance. Scramblers had to switch effortlessly from on-road to all degrees of terrain and back to the road.
As such, riders created a stripped-down version of traditional motorcycles to achieve the scrambler aesthetic, with knobby tires, spoked wheels, and high exhaust pipes. The styles of these bikes changed considerably as the decades passed.
Once motorcycle companies started to design dirt bikes for off-roading, altering road bikes to scramblers started to die out. The heyday of motorcycle scrambling hit its peak in the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, many of the scrambler models from that area such as BSA and Greeves aren’t in production anymore.
Nowadays, the term scrambler motorcycle refers to a distinct look, with a vintage stripped-down style that combines the functionality of older models with the versatility of modern manufacturing. Once, bikers could only ride the old dirt books off-road, but you can ride modern scrambler motorcycles both on the road and off. As such, these models are an excellent choice in terms of value for your money and flexibility.

[axman88]

The term "scrambler" is pretty vague. If you stuck a set of trials universals and a "high pipe" on any of these you'd qualify in spades.

It's amazing how protective folks will get of some old school meaning of a particular word.  I see this all the time with "bobber".  Maybe these people aren't aware of what "bad", "dope" and "sick" mean nowadays, not to mention all the other everyday words that have meanings that get slid and shifted.

If the manufacturer puts the word on the sales sheet, that's good enough for me.

Ducati started using the "S" word 60 years ago:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_Scrambler

Now their "Scrambler" might have 1100 ccs and an exhaust that is both low and high   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_Scrambler     I know somebody is going to say this isn't a "scrambler", but Ducati says it is.   https://scramblerducati.com/us/bike/escrambler/

Triumphs are even bigger, but at least they kept the traditional leg burning exhaust:  https://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/motorcycles/classic/bonneville-scrambler-1200

BMW doesn't care what anybody thinks, they call this beast a scrambler:  https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/models/heritage/rninetscrambler.html

This excercise can go on and on.

The folks who hold the trademark on the Scrambler name, will tell you that no motorcycle is a Scrambler, since 1955, and after multiple renewals of the trademark, it is and has long been this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=293amihqfZo

[AzCal Retred]

Informative as always! However, i started getting queasy about 30 seconds into that video...

[AzCal Retred]

" but at least they kept the traditional leg burning exhaust "
Back in 1972 my brother in law took me for a trail ride on his new A7SS Samurai "scrambler". On a local jeep trail we ran into a large, long pothole filled with talcum silt. The street geometry front end predictably buried and down it went. I essentially "floated up and away" off the rear pegs and ended up shin deep in the fluid dust. My poor in-law happened to end up underneath with the "hi-pipe" pressing against the back of his calf. About three months later it finally had healed over with a flakey layer of pinkish-grey skin...

[AzCal Retred]

Here's another "scrambler"...the Benelli Leoncino Trail. The CB500x by that measure is apparently also a "scrambler"...?

http://benelli.ssrmotorsports.com/bikes/leoncino_trail.php

https://powersports.honda.com/street/adventure/cb500x

[axman88]

" but at least they kept the traditional leg burning exhaust "
Back in 1972 my brother in law took me for a trail ride on his new A7SS Samurai "scrambler". On a local jeep trail we ran into a large, long pothole filled with talcum silt. The street geometry front end predictably buried and down it went. I essentially "floated up and away" off the rear pegs and ended up shin deep in the fluid dust. My poor in-law happened to end up underneath with the "hi-pipe" pressing against the back of his calf. About three months later it finally had healed over with a flakey layer of pinkish-grey skin...

Definitely not a feature created for rider comfort.  Most of the internet knowledge about the high exhaust feature focuses on the LOOK of it.  A few mention that a high exhaust is intended to protect the exhaust from physical damage, or to protect the engine from choking on water when fording streams.

None of them seem to remember that dirt bikes were once ridden in dirt that had green plants ( or ex-green, now brown) planted in it.  40 years ago I learned that the high exhausts on off-road bikes are there to prevent underbrush fires.

[MMRanch]

If I didn't already have a Meteor then I'd have a "HUNTER" , I like it better .    Having both would be just too-much of the same thing. 

[whippers]

Not feeling this Hunter. Looks Chinese to my eye like a Hanway or similar.

[scott_650]

Hunter 350 walk around from the intro in India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tftJosTID-w

[gilburton]

Now that is nice with a chunky look.
I don't like the tank colour/graphics but I note the footpegs are further back under the nose of the seat( where they should be) and it has a gear linkage.
Certainly a looker in a sort of Triumph way.

[hotrob]

Hunter 350 walk around from the intro in India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tftJosTID-w

It looks nice, looks comfortable, sounds nice and has a top speed of over 85mph.  Sure, I fancy one!

[AzCal Retred]

Hitchcock's have a Meteor 350 Big Bore kit in the works right now. Likely a "drop in" barrel & piston kit, probably takes it to 450cc or there about & would add 6-10 HP badly needed HP. Get a $3K 2nd hand Meteor and wait a bit.

[scott_650]

More pix, specs and colors from the RE USA FB page