High Pipe Scramble

What’s better than waking up to the smell of cool fresh mountain air knowing you’re going to spend the day on two-wheels watching and doing things of questionable judgment? Well nothing, except retelling the tale over frosty mugs of local brew. And that is exactly what a typical day at High Pipe Motorcycle Festival is like.

High Pipe is a three-day, bring-what-you-got good time. Largely billed as a scrambler event but welcomes all-comers. And a little bit of everything showed up, from dual-sports to sport-tourers and everything in between. Including a pair of 1948 Indian Chiefs and a guy powering his girlfriend's 2016 CBR300R up the dirt-road hillclimb event! Entertainment factor was high watching the CBR pilot blast through the Bridgestone Hillclimb event, somehow avoiding harrowing crashes time after time. It's a good bet the (now ex?!) girlfriend makes a more thoughtful choice choosing her next partner.

If what you truly lust after is a good ol' fashion hand-built scrambler, High Pipe did not disappoint. A built on a budget Suzuki DR650 Craigslist find carried owner Stephen Clark to hillclimb glory. A couple on a Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled ran the competition as a team, finishing in the top five, two-up! Then there's the three-day-old BMW RnineT Urban GS getting flogged off-road as if it was stolen. And taking the silliness to the next level were a pair of Honda Trail 110s, complete with plastic milk crates bungeed to the tail rack.

In addition to all the motorcycle shenanigans, displays from EagleRider, Bell Helmets, Alpinestars, Rev'It, Klim, Rever and Bridgestone showcased great aftermarket products, while a variety of demo rides were available at the Husqvarna, BMW, Scrambler Ducati and Honda display booths.

It was a festive 3 days filled with bikes, gear, bands, beer and more bikes. All the essential ingredients for a good ol’ fashioned scramble. So if you’re interested in a badass bike weekend that’s more about what you can do on your bike, than what bike you’re actually riding. Better start planning now for next year.