So I'm hoping to get a new bike here in a month or so and after a few years of trying to decide what my next bike is gonna be(really disappointed with my current one and have had to wait for finances to line up) I've come down to these two bikes. The scrambler and solo can both do what I want. I basically want a good on/off road bike that has style and can handle commuter work. I plan on getting the off road mods (skid plate, crash bars, high pipe, knobbies and suspension) for the bike I get. I know someones gonna say niether bike is good off road but it's been proven that with minor mods either bike is quite capable off road. I rode the scrambler with arrow exhaust and it was a lot of fun. I doubt there is any way I can ride a solo with the fmf high pipe mod, so not sure how to compare the two other then on paper. The solo is lighter with a little less travel. The scrambler has the nod in performance. The solo has more maintenance intervals but the maintenance is simpler, so kind of a draw there. Any factors I should consider? Hoping someone says something I haven't thought of.
I've been looking at the Ural Solo myself since you can pick one up for less than a XR650L {new vs new}. I think that if this will be your only bike you might want to get the Scrambler. The Urals have a rep for being more than a bit unreliable where as the Triumphs have a great rep for a non-Jap. bike. I wanted the Ural because I am mechanically able and I don't mind short maintenance intervals if they are easy {Ural has screw adjusters on rockers, takes 30 mins or so} and I just like the simplicity of a air cooled, shaft drive bike whose basic design goes back years and years which is why I picked my XR650L as my dual sport. If you really depend on the bike being 100% reliable, go with the Scrambler. If you can deal with some teething issues and short maintenance intervals,,,,, get the Ural.
Sounds like your only bike. Would this be your only transpo? Either way I would suggest the Triumph. Will you be wrenching on your bike? The Solo may require much more of this. The Solo may not be up to anything highway speed. I'm not sure with the solo, but with the sidecar rig it tops out at around 60mph. Good luck with your choice. I hope you pick the one that meets your needs (sounds like the Scrambler)
I think the Solo has taller gearing and it's a bike, not a hack {hacks plain get twitchy at Hwy speeds} so I'm guessing Hwy speeds on the Solo will be fine unless you are on a certain toll road in Texas {yay Texas}.
It's not my only transportation in that I have a truck, but in theory I want it to be my only transportation in that I want to use it exclusively. From what I hear the solo can do 90, and 100 if pushing it. I'm not opposed to wrenching but do not feel like doing it weekly. It probably makes sense to get the triumph. Last time I went to the dealer they were willing to give me the arrow pipe, skid plate, crash bars, headlight grill, and a diff seat (I think) for free. It may come down to if they'll give me a good deal on the scrambler. I just really like the style of the solo (kick start and all).
The Solo is easy to maintain, valve adjustments are a snap but at every 1.5K miles, a pain in the arse. Same with 1K oil changes. I "think" that after a few thousand miles, that 1.5K valve adj. interval could be lengthed to probably double. Honestly, if you get to know your bike, you can tell when the valves start to get tight from how it idles and starts,,,, especially in the cold. Same with oil changes, I know Ural specifically states to use only mineral oil but it's my opinion they are talkin outta their rump. If any engine could benefit from a good synthetic it's a hot running air cooled engine. Using something like M1 15W50 I bet 3K changes would be a given but I would creep up on that only with oil analysis verification. The good thing, shaft drive that probably would last forever on a Solo. Considering you can buy a Solo for around 8K$ new and I've seen them used for around 4K$, I would be tempted to go with the Solo if,,,,,,,, if it were not my only transportation. If you absolutely need 100% reliable {or as close as you can get},,,, get the Triumph.
I will not speak for the original poster but I would also like to add a Ural Solo to my stable. Sometimes the choice isn't totally objective, by the numbers choice. I like the Ural because it's simple, it's real, it's what a bike used to be. If it was simple objective numbers thing,,,, why even look at the Triumph Scrambler as there are other bikes out there that work better than the Scrambler. You give up a small amount of performance values when you choose the Scrambler for it's looks and character. Same with the Solo,,, you just choose to give up more for what some might say,,,, more character. If it were a money thing, I think he would be better off buying a well used DR650, KLR or what-not. Heck, you can find Stroms in the 2-3K$ range.
In all honesty if you have to ask why the solo I could probably not explain it in a way that makes sense to you. He did a good job though. It might have a little less performance but it's lighter and has some cool things on it (kick start, etc.) but in the end it is the solos style. The scrambler looks like a retro bike while the solo is a retro bike. It's still very capable though. BTW I was under the impression the oil change interval is 5000km (doubled from hack schedule at 2500km) or a little more then 3000 miles. I thought the valves had been pushed out too. I can't get the manual link on the website to work so I'm not sure. In the long run you're probably right and just end up working out your own schedule.
I thought some Urals came clapped out from the factory. Is that part of the 'character' of them? just takin' the piss, guys. I was on a Ural for about 100 miles 6 years or so. uke But whatever makes you happy. There's a bunch of Enfield models, too. Those bikes have character. Buy what you want, make yourself happy, smile like a dolt and ignore the stupid questions.