Desert sleds still have a place in modern motorcycling iconography. Originally an American phenomenon, today it’s the Triumph Scrambler from across the ditch that embodies the spirit most closely. And it doesn’t take much to give a modern Scrambler a touch of the desert sled vibe, as this 2012 Triumph from British Customs shows.
Desert sleds been around since the late 40s, and were originally based on street bikes from Indian and Harley. Fitted with trials tires, the bikes were still as heavy as sin—even after a thorough diet. The British 650cc twins came a little later, and pretty much ruled the desert until the 1970s.
In the early days, the mods were all trial and error—and mostly a reflection of the rider’s style. Not a lot of aftermarket parts were available for bolt on modification; most stuff was invented and built from scratch in garages.
