There are a few rare exceptions out there (Ducati’s Desert Sled and Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 XE come to mind). But for the most part, they’ve all come up painfully short in the dirt.

MCN took a Triumph Scrambler on a group test up against the BMW R nineT and Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled. The verdict was that all three bikes had their advantages with the Triumph coming out on ...