When they first launched the 1200 scrambler I thought wow yeah this could be my next bike. Now they have launched the 1200 Speed twin so now Im thinking damn thats worth a look . OMFG check out the new 2019 Rocket 3 . IMO Triumph are killing It .
Wish they’d just made this an 800. Personally I don’t need 1.2 liters for playing in the dirt. They don’t need g to keep making them bigger and bigger.
Great review. All the essential info and some opinion on the difference between the versions. I am definitely the target market for this - I have a GS which is great but I don't use its touring capabilities as I don't have the time with young children. If I only ride Sundays and the occasional weekend away I will probably have more fun on this. Luggage can be a bag strapped on the back and it might come in 25kg lighter than a GS with panniers on. I will be taking a test ride on an XE...
Did you prefer the Triumph to the Ducati Desert Sled?? PS you have def changed my perseption of maybe getting a Triumph Scramler XE.. thanks enjoyed the vid
This ticks every box I could possibly want... easily capable for anything I’d be doing off-road, big enough to be hellish comfy on motorway stretches, massive luggage options, the coolest looking thing since McQueen raced an original. I really need to sell something, my ST, a kidney, my soul! Everything the Africa Twin has, but in the most beautiful package that looks like a motorbike. Ted Simons 21st century ride! Where do I sign- and how can I hide it from the wife!!!
Daniel Parkinson luggage options? Motorway stretches? I think that’s the only places it’s lacking, in every other respect it’s spot on... maybe not pillion comfort as well. You’d need a screen for long motorway hauls which would make it look a bit silly I think. Also in terms of luggage I haven’t seen anything for this or the smaller one yet? Just some small leather bags that are just a token effort
Scot Wilson - yeah absolutely! All that off-road plushness will be like riding a mattress on the motorways- obviously I wouldn’t expect it to handle like my ST on the tight A roads. I’m a fabrication technician so I don’t see anything being too testing for any luggage system once the correct rack is made and fitted- ally boxes or soft bags depending on your intentions. I did 3 weeks in Europe on a naked 1200 Bandit with soft luggage years ago and found no issue not having a screen, plenty of people do rtw epics on duel sports with nothing more than a number board! No bike is perfect for anything more than it’s intended purpose, this actually IS a scrambler unlike the other badly named offerings out there. It looks massively capable off road, and on it. How many people ride the hottest litre sports bike to work and back every day, and never see a track or a fraction of its potential, just as many GS riders would freak at the thought of a rain shower or gravel bridleway! Triumph have possibly created something very special with these, and it turns out it’s a motorbike! If you want to drag the missus everywhere you’re clearly not headed off-road anyway, if luggage options are stopping you riding further than the shops you’re probably on a bike for reasons other than loving the ride. A lot of people want an adventure but also want 5* accommodation every night. I’m sure this won’t be everyone’s idea of a perfect bike, but it pretty much looks like mine! (None of the above is aimed at you btw! I’m not here for an argument!)
Great review as usual. You call them as you see them and don't play pattyfingers about what's not right but also call out what is actually great. Thanks again
Very in depth review. Fab content. I really cannot wait to get my hands on one of these 1200 scramblers and to be quite honest I couldn’t care less which one either. I loved the boneville street scrambler one of the very best I have ridden (better than Ducati for sure) and this just looks amazing. I’m just looking at my children now contemplating which one to sell lol
Took my xe off road today gnarly lanes 4 hours on the saddle I’ll say this for it - know it’s limits & you’ve got a wonderful sled My next mod’ll be to upgrade the skins to a more 50/50 boots Zen it’ll be more adaptable off-road ~
it’s 2023, you can’t use the word NEW in your title anymore lol i bought the 2022 XC…..wow what a bike. i’m 5’ - 8” and a 1/4” lol the XC just a little tall but it’s awesome!!! the feel, the look, the sound, its a 1200, awesome bike. some people have described this bike as “hey look at me” bike. i agree with them. all the parts have been designed to look good. they all together real nice even though they have different finishes. amazing attention to detail. great job triumph, and ride safe everyone!
OK video but are wheelies every 5 minutes on public roads the right way to act! Personally I think it's dim and it's what gets inexperienced and easily influenced riders into trouble - just tell us about the bikes in future - please.
Did you not listen to it? The roads were closed. I’ll always try and pull wheelies on everything so I acted in exactly the right way. Watching other people do wheelies on RU-vid isn’t what gets inexperienced riders into trouble, feel free to prove me wrong.
Awesome review! 5'8" never sucked as much as it does now. Maybe with the low seat (dropping seat height to 845mm) the XE becomes an option. I can ride an Africa Twin on low seat setting, hope this bike does not feel taller.
John, you made me call into my local Triumph dealer today, cool review; thanks. One question, do you have to clutch it up? Really tempted to buy an XE after watching your review a couple of times.
Robert Voigt The engine in this is the high power from the thruxton instead of high torque from the bonnie, so engine will be better. The main thing is suspension, the bonnie, thruxton and bobber Black all have short suspension so on bumpy roads they’re pretty uncomfortable. That’s just my opinion because I have a Tiger 1200 and always had adv bikes so they soaks up bumps really well - so for me the bonnie, thruxton and bobber were fine on smooth roads (but we live in the uk) so on bumpy roads I didn’t like them I absolutely loved riding the thruxton (I had it as a loan bike for 3 days) only disadvantages for me were hard suspension, riding position, luggage capability and motorway comfort ^^So my point is this scrambler should at least sort out the suspension/comfort. Next problem is getting a screen that works but doesn’t look ridiculous..
I have to admit that, on screen at least, is looks like a decent off roader. Basically, I dislike fairings on a bike and think they belong on scooters. I've owned more "Trail" bikes than anything else and somehow, Triumph have managed to at least make this appear somehow lightweight. I guess that's part;y down to the lack of plastics, the suspension clearance and the 19 inch front wheel. The only vaguely "adventure" machine I've ridden was a 1000 Varadero about 20 years ago. What a SOS that was!
SHIT! Now I'm doubting my reservation of a Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition! I feel like this is a lot more bike for $1k more. (subscribed by the way, great video!!!)
Great review John. That bike looks amazing, shame about all the electronic bollocks, but I guess that is just a given these days. One thing annoys me about this bike though. The weight and power figures are pretty pathetic compared to an old KTM950, which is now 15 years old. It is significantly heavier than an old KTM950 (KTM 198kg dry vs. 205kg dry) and makes significantly less power (KTM -98hp vs 89hp) It does win the torque battle though, so that is great - Triumph 81 lb/ft vs KTM 70 lb/ft. It also achieves that torque much sooner. I wouldn't mind the lack of outright hp if the Triumph was much lighter. A serious question here - why are modern bikes (particularly ADVs) getting heavier and heavier. Ultimately specs-wise this bike is a little bit disappointing. We seem to be going backwards in this part of the market. Styling - wise this thing rocks though and looks much more comfortable. The XE seat height isn't too bad either. It is slightly lower than the KTM, so pretty manageable for a proper ADV. The XC would be even more manageable, but obviously, you lose a bit of ground clearance. When I win lotto I will definitely be checking one of these out :)
That bike design is a work of art - The only thing that spoils it for me is the exhaust system, it ruins the rest of the looks of the bike. But they do deserve a pat on the back for coming up with that "look", totally unique, it looks absolutely great. Not a big fan of these "revived" named bikes, but this one from Triumph is something else. Anyone on RU-vid bought one of these? I am curious about what sorts of problems you get in the first year compared to the 2nd year - How reliable are they, any niggles or silly things that fail? Then again, any Major items that let the bike down?
ernst jo the power is on another level. The 900 has around 60ftlb and just over 50 bhp, this 1200 has 88 and 89bhp I believe. The 900 was really fun to ride, but it was more of a small-bike novelty feel. Great around back lanes but on the open road it was lacking. I rode the 1200 thruxton and the engine was amazing, I’ve got a Tiger 1200 so I’m used to that sort of power, and the 1200 thruxton didn’t disappoint at all, it actually feels like it’s got more torque - you will only notice the power difference after 80 mph really.
Don't understand this vid, why buy expensive machine to off road unless your a journo, or won 70 million. Bike looks ok but for mud its going to be 400cc max, and not 1200cc
A complete novice can have fun off road on a light off road bike.The average rider will have a whole world of pain ,expense and will probably not have a good day out if they take this out on anything more adventurous than a pot holed farm track with a scattering of gravel.. Where was the enduro loop that was referenced several times?All I saw was hard packed dirt. This thing weighs more than 2 Beta X trainers,think about that the first time you try to haul it out of a bog...your pissed off mates will certainly give it a few minutes thought Still ....nice looking bike
I think the bike is sacrificing too much to look like a 'real scrambler' with the upswept long pipes. I think the XE should ditch them for something a lot more compact and performance orientated (proper enduro spec). This way the XE is a proper off road adventure bike and the standard bike has the look.
2 exceptionally handsome bikes, Triumph have really got the style sorted.. outstanding. But the all-up weight is a killer.. truth is it needs to lose 50 lbs to really be a scrambler anything, otherwise.. it is a show pony, NOT a go pony. Just saying. WF
In the real world, a rider wouldn’t slip on different tyres for different conditions. If you loved the grandad supermoto aspect of the bike and kept the road tyres on, would it still be an off road beast? Or would you be limited to dirt roads? I don’t ask to belittle it, I’ve seen Riding wit Tom’s road video and that’s enough to make a sale in my mind, but I just wonder if all the suspension and electronics is going to be enough to get this to scramble on dirt in road tyres better than say the considerably cheaper Street Scrambler?
It's a lovely looking bike and there's nothing I would change but I really don't need 1200cc, the price and weight that goes with it. Do these companies do market research as there's a lot of comments along the same lines. 600cc single under 400lbs same styling would be perfect!
Nice review. This compares more with the GS Urban or R9T Scrambler than the GS/GSA. Shame about the chain eh. And not much off road in SE England where the biggest adventure is a ride to the local cafe.
Kieron Botting Hi Kieran. How are you? A few things to consider & clarify: I love Triumph a lot but I’m not brand loyal and you shouldn’t be either. The Thruxston R is my all time favorite bike. I’m 5’6 & athletic and that matters. The scrambler series by Triumph is exquisite and unequal in quality. However if I were looking at an off-road/on road bike-that is good at both of pick the Desert Sled for two reasons: (1) the Triumph is a nicer bike but not $4k nicer. (2) the DS is lighter. Ducati should have put a fuel indicator, auto turn signals, and running light on the first generation but they finally corrected that. For most people who don’t live near Moab or the Sahara desert, the DS will do everything almost as well as the triumph and if you bang it up no big deal The XE is for y’all riders who are into Xtreme riding and if that’s not you, it’s really not the right bike. If you aren’t doing crazy shit on that bike sell it and get something you can still have a blast on but isn’t more bike than you need. No one wants to spend more $$ on a bike than you need to. If you are doing long distance off reading the XC is excellent: otherwise I think Ducati DS does just what the XC does for a lot less coin I promise you’ll still have fun and smile every mile. But if I said you could buy a Triumph Scrambler XE/XC or a Desert Sled & a trip around the world, fully paid for, what would you choose? Be that as it may, if you got it enjoy the heck out of it. It’s quality is unsurpassed and it’s very capable either model. Same goes for the BMW R9 & Thruxston R. Less money more style and so much performance. Now if you live on the edge and push the XC to its limit OK. But few will do so. Whereas the Desert Sled is easier to push to the limit and yet you won’t be disappointed when you hit the limit but happy you are still safe and within your own limits perhaps. But again if you are an Extreme rider and out overlanding long distances with huge jumps: You’ll want the XE If you are brand loyal and just like to have some fun as a weekend warrior and it has to be a triumph: XC Be safe daddio
Great reply, mate. Thank you for your thoughts. I’ll be getting it to travel and won’t be too crazy off road, obviously. Hmmm... I’m not too price sensitive and given that I intend hold onto the one that takes me round the globe, I’m not really considering what it’s resale might be either. I think I’ll give the Sled and the XC a spin and see how both go. After all... what’s the point in asking advice if you’re not gonna listen! Once again, thank you. Will you be posting any videos of your rides? If so I’ll give you a cheeky follow and keep my eye out. 👊
@Bunnyshooter 223 my 650 versys seem to be just fine on the highway. The new 600s have plenty of power these days. The real benefit (for me) of a 600/650 scrumbler is that I would actually consider buying one at a lower cost of a 600 cc engine while keeping the look. Lets be real, the only place these bikes will be riden is on the street due to their weight and awesome appearance. Someone who loves the dirt will buy a real dirt bike not this.
Suspension looks really competent. Bike stays composed recovering from jumps etc, check the headlamp for reference, it hardly moves off line. Impressive. Cant wait to see it up against a 1090R which weighs the exact same 207 kg and up to this point has the best suspension in this weight bracket. The Trumpet will match it I reckon, possibly with 30mm more suspension travel, it may even beat it.
Aside from the absence of graphics/data superimposed on the screen, an excellent review! It appears that the question is to Tiger or Scrambler: a comparison test soon?
What's especially promising is that this review described a great bike and the fun it gives. Rather than be a review about a "classic retro" that looks great and as just a bonus performs surprisingly well when you actually use it.
I think that all of these types of Bike look far better with “ Traditional “ type front forks - I understand that “ Upside down “ forks are stiffer but RWU Forks add to the Retro look that these types of Bike are trying to achieve .
Looks great fun. 1st mod for me is to get rid of that exhaust. Get rid of the high weight it must bring. Also on a personal level it looks like it's trying to be too retro, not cool. A shortie tucked out of the way with little weight I reckon.
1200 cc engine that only makes 80HP? What did they leave out? I like standard motorcycles, I'd probably like this one, but more power would be welcome.
Isn't a 1200cc engine just a wee bit big for off road?? Drop one of these on a decline and you have work to right it...and if you're off roading you WILL drop it eventually. Maybe I just need more time in the gym but why bother - 600cc is plenty. Im sure it's a beautiful machine - I love my 2012 Triumph Scrambler but wouldn't dream of off roading it.
I wonder how horrendous and expensive the damage is going to be when some idiot thinks this is a real dirt-bike and dumps it in the gravel and rocks. They can call it 'adventure' or 'scrambler' if they want, but bikes that weigh over 450 lbs are just clumsy and awkward off-road. Even gravel roads can be very tricky. For real dual-purpose capability buy a light, fast, and proper Enduro that won't break the bank when the inevitable off-road dump happens. But the Triumph is indeed cool for a poser on the street.
Who buys this type of motorbikes, is not worried about the price of a repair after having dropped it! Even, because, they are going to fall more often inside a city! On the contrary they will carry this bike with a list of possible options! The more expensive the better!
@@Andre-os7kj I've been riding motorcycles for over 50 years both off and on the road. You are much more likely to have a spill in the gravel and off-road than on dry pavement. Defensive riding is a must on public roads. If you drop an Enduro bike in the dirt there is not much damage, but find out what the price is of a new gas tank, exhaust pipes, handlebars etc of that cool Triumph, your jaw will be hanging. Not to mention various scratches and the repair shop hourly charges. But it is a cool bike for the road IMO.
TheWindigomonster it is, there’s slightly less travel in the suspension and a few other differences, but we rode both and the XC would cope off road. I’m 5 11 and suited the XE more.
