Yes, it can.
I tried off-roading once. I was travelling with an organised group in southern Spain circa 1984. We were supposed to travel across the Sierra Nevada from Trevélez to Granada. The track was mostly loose shale. As it was, in mid June, the way was blocked by snow. I was riding a Yamaha TR1, fully laden, so my introduction to off road riding was difficult and bearing in mind the sheer drops if I got it wrong, terrifying. When we got back on tarmac, that’s where I stayed and I’ve not ventured off road since.
When I bought the Scram, one of my colleagues who is a regular trail rider, insisted that I should give it a try as the Scram is an ideal machine for a bit of light off-roading. So I gave it a go.
When we left the tarmac, we encountered a surface that was a mixture of rough gravel, big stones, dips and narrow ridges and ditches. I did the very thing that I tell my students not to do. I panicked, grabbed the front brake and stuck my feet out like a stranded duck. However, the other two with me coached me as we went and I moved from ‘what the hell have I let myself in for?’ to ‘okay, this isn’t bad.’ Initially, standing on the footrests felt awkward, but that was poor technique. As the day went on – with frequent stops to rest – I was able to make reasonable progress and just let the bike follow a path with light guidance. It helped that the bike is incredibly planted and far more competent off road that I am. However, while I now ache in places I never even knew had muscles, I’ve faced a demon. I have also put myself through what my students go through, which is both humbling and a reminder of just how hard it can be to learn a new trick.
Yup, I’ll be doing this again…
Good for you.
And thanks. A lot.
Salisbury Plain?
Yes.
Those photos show what a lot of the back country roads are like in New Zealand .I enjoy driving them,except that if dry the car is covered in dust and if wet then it is covered in mud.
Is the scram a version of the Himalayan? Just asking because a very good friend bought one for when he’s over here in France. It appears to be a competent, solidly built machine.
Yes. Smaller front wheel, more road oriented styling, but otherwise a Himalayan. Even says so on the side panels.
I’m planning to do this next year http://www.sandraiders.com on my old 100GS PD.
Never been offroad before 🙂
Lovely looking bikes IMHO and such good value for money.
I will be doing a test ride on a Interceptor 650 shortly, looking forwards to it!
It seems that Enfield have really started producing some fantastic machines that really capture the spirit of what biking is about. Light, relatively cheap and lots of fun without loads of frippery.
My TL1000 is still in loads of bits, slow gentle restoration is still ongoing.
Not commented for ages as I am too lazy, but I still read every post you write:-)