Add to this the trials-based suspension and here's where the bike either becomes magical or mystical. With around 7 or 8 inches of travel front and rear, with both ends sprung pretty softly at that, this bike wasn't meant to pound through bumps. Especially the rear, as it's easy to bottom then it's fast on the rebound, giving the bike a very springy ride that will bounce, especially when combined with the trials tires and their flimsy flex-all-over-the-place sidewalls. But if you use just a little more finesse or ride the bike slowly so it doesn't get compromised, it comes into its own. At low speeds the suspension is plush and comfy. The full compression of the shock or fork and then the fast rebound can be utilized by the rider to spring and bounce the bike where he or she wants it. Now the T-Ride becomes like a bouncing scalpel able to pop, spring and cut wherever you point it. Factor in the great control through the bar and footpegs and the bike is a weapon in anything technical as long as the speeds aren't too high. It prefers to be "manualed" across bumps, a technique that nonsuspended BMX bike riders use where they force the rear wheel down into the bumps, keeping it planted while the front rarely touches the ground.
On the list of usual stuff, the bike has almost two gallons of fuel and it will go about 50-60 miles depending on how you ride. It's amazing how long that can take on a bike that likes the slow stuff. The brakes aren't the strongest we've tried, but they have good feel. They are a little on the weaker side, mostly because of their size and the bike's weight. You can't flick the bike around with light brake touches as if you're on a trials bike; bigger binders might be a good improvement, but these rotors stay out of the way of damage by being smaller. We had a bit of dust make its way past the fabric air filter. It rides on the top of the airbox, and it looked as if the sealing on the lid on our bike was a bit misshapen, so when the filter started plugging, dirt began going past the loose seal. Plus, it comes stock with a burly skid plate-good job!
This is a very unique bike and it may change the world. Well, Scorpa is too small to do that, but when and if KTM makes one of these, watch things change. This is truthfully a few small changes away from being the ultimate trail riding bike. It also packs some of that politically correct low-impact punch with a largely spin-free ride, and it's quiet to boot, albeit without a spark arrestor. For mass consumption it would have to lose just a bit of its trials traits to become more of a "sit-down putt-putter" that a lot of backcountry junkies will love. It competes with bikes like Honda CRF230Fs and Yamaha TT-R230s, but it has a boatload of performance on them. Its shining feature is low seat height, but the performance packed in the chassis and agility make it much more capable than most will ever discover. Just watch the Scorpa video at www.scorpausa.com to feel really small.
Specifications
MSRP: $9499
Weight (ready to ride, no fuel): 232 lb
Claimed dry weight: 210 lb
Seat height: 33.8 in.
Footpeg height: 14.8 in.
Seat-to-footpeg distance: 19.0 in.
Ground clearance: 12.8 in.
Fuel capacity: 1.9 gal.
What's Hot!
Treading new ground in the off-road world.
Torquemaster motor, super easy to ride.
Trials flickability and tight trail maneuverability with a low seat height.
What's Not!
What's a Scorpa?
Not a jumper and not much suspension travel.
Pretty pricey, but get used to it; everything imported will be expensive.
Vee Rubber Tires not as sticky as typical trials tires.