2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE vs XC: Which Is Best? 

I'm leaning more and more into buying one of these 1200 Scramblers to explore the gravel roads here in N.Z

Thanks for having me dude! Only shame is that the green lane round the corner from where we filmed, was calling out. We'll return another day 2k20 😉👊🏼

Really like this kind of video, talking about the differences side by side is great. 👍🏻

Good video, really like the format of bringing in another RU-vidr and rider

Went for the XE and love it. Being 6ft 5' the leg room is great. Never really going to do any serious off roading but I like the style and the cornering ABS/traction control you get for those moments when you might get it wrong. Both are great bikes and I love the riding experience.

I love how you just went to the side of a field to talk about the bikes.

The gold forks on Triumph modern classics does't go. The Boneville, Bobber, Street Scambler, base model Thruxton and XC all look amazing. An option to have XC colours on a XE would be nice.

Great review... Quite honest, no unnecessary information and great suggestions! 👍🖒👍🖒

Two beautiful machines out right. Love the look of each, in their own way. Thou I did just a month ago buy a Tiger 800 XCa. And quite frankly “she” has completely stolen my heart. Cheers to Triumph 👍🏼 for building such awesome motorcycles. Happy Trails from 🇺🇸 👍🏼 👏👏👏 😎

I've just found your video as I seek out the differences between the Scrambler XC and the XE. Nice little video! Nice and clear. Nicely edited and informative 👍

10k miles in 8 months on my ScramblerXE. Best motorcycle I’ve ever owned. I’m 6’2” and 250lbs. 32” inseam. You kind of have to be a bigger rider to enjoy the XE without worrying about starting and stopping. The XC is just as nice...but the XE just looks waaaaay cooler in my opinion. Ride on!

Small subtle changes to make it your own 👍🏻 must be fun to put them through the dirty stuff 😀

Great video. LOVE my XC. I for one still generally enjoy the gold fork aesthetic, but I prefer black on the Scrambler. At 5'10 the XC feels more confidence inspiring as well, and I've been riding for ~14 years.

great review guys. one question can you powder coat straight onto the parts or would you need to take it back to bare metal...???

I loved this style of presentation. I may ride out to the Triumph dealer today. "Just to look" LoL

Really useful video. The XC looks much more genuine and lower profile to me, pity Triumph put the gold forks on the XE and went to the new badging on the tank rather than the much nicer metal Triumph lettering. If I bought an XE I would refinish the forks in black (maybe wrap them) and respray the tank in a less bling colour scheme, probably dark green. Prices are really plummeting on these on the used/demos now. Particularly the XE model.

Powder coat. That's a good idea. I always just color it with a sharpy.

Great info guys!

I test rode an XE, loved it, defo consider one in future, i could also flat foot it too so it's great for tall riders!

After riding both, I prefer the XC, I like the mods he has done, I think I would have blackted out the throttle body cover's too. Good vid guys.

My XC came with the clear Triumph flyscreen fitted so I just rattle canned the inside of the screen matt black … Job done ! PS great video

Great video. I also would buy the XC because I´m not a big fan of the "blings" :) But the black one :D

Great Video! Can anyone comment on the exhaust temperature? Is it an issue given how high it sits? Thanks ahead!

Great review guys. I bought the XC after fairly extensive testing both on and off road. In reality these bikes are seriously too heavy for technical dirt. That said as adv peds they're definitely in the top echelons. The XE despite out selling the XC hands down is not so stable either on or off road unless your well over 6ft. The XE lean assist still doesn't give as good road performance as the XC which is without the assist. This I feel lures one into a false sense of security and imho helps sell the XE. On the dirt the XC most definitely outperforms the XE. Unless your 6'4'+ Even then there's a great deal of weight to handle at that height. The XC at least gives you more chance to man-handle it at more acute angles. Being shorter also helps yank those front bars up than the higher bars of the XE. The extra 50mm of travel on the XE suspension again I feel it's more of a marketing exercise. It's excessive because practically nobody is getting much air on a 1200. Not being able to touch the deck properly on a proper enduro/mx bike isn't usually an issue cos they're so light, but on these 1200s the dynamic of dirty riding is completely different. Being an ex-MX rider the XC was the obvious choice for me, although in reality it's gonna be on tarmac most of the time.

I originally went for the XC again purely for the looks as I was trading in my Green Street Scrambler for it. However after looking at and riding both I wound up getting the XE, white and green. The reason being I am 6ft 3", the XE just seemed to fit perfectly. I don't do much off road, just a bit of green lane that's all. The XC was the logical choice but thye XE was the better fit.

Glad vids like this are here because I would be buying a used bike in this age range .

In the XE model, we can use the low seat and slightly adjust the front suspension, so we get the same height as the XC. But I don´t know if it makes sense. What do you think?

Great video. Thanks a lot, great job. I own a XE since 4 weeks. Matt changed some parts to black using powder coating. The same parts than I want to change to black during the winter season. Looks perfect. I removed the big hand protectors. The mirrors are also perfect. The dark flyscreen is also on my list. And I like your new plate holder very much. I hate the big plastic ulcer. Where do Matt had bought this perfect new plate holder. Hopefully I can also mount it in Germany. The famous german TUEV is a little bit special :-(. Could you please provide me the contact data of the plate holde manufacturer. I would appreciate it very much. Cheers. Wulf

I got the XE and had the matt green tank and brown seat from XC put on ! Gold stripe on the tank meets the gold forks.. love it. I`m 6"6"

I'm really starting to think that one of these is the bike that I should have got! Great to see them side by side. Maybe it's time for that 'dangerous' test ride! :D Cheers MB.

Guys help me out please , where is the best place to find the high front mudguard kit

Very nice looking bikes. I'm new to looking into Triumph scramblers. Any issues regarding maintenance or reliability? Thanks for the review!

Go for the green, lower spec model with some decent off road tyres - very important.

i went and sat on these for the first time this weekend, i was all for the XE but the XC is a bit more approachable for me at 5’8”. also i agree with unparalleled twin that the gold front fork is a bit off on the scrambler aesthetic, and i don’t need the extra performance they offer.

Brilliant video - thanks! Quick question: how does the XC compare with the 900 scrambler, for size. I am 6'2" and the 900 is a little small for me. But I really like the style of the XC and would only rarely, if ever, be off-road. Advice appreciated.

Mechanic said they can drop the front by 10 mm, and the rear, by 5mm, on the XE, which will mean I could flat foot the XE. Test rode the XE today, vs a V85tt, and although similar in torque, the Triumph catches me out on how much torque is readily available at lower RPM, and is lovely :)

Hi - Great info - could I just ask when you installed the motogadget led indicators, did you have to adjust anything to get the indicators flashing at the correct speed or were they OK out of the box? Many thanks

Another good video 👍

Great, informative video as usual. I agree with everything said, lots of sense. I'd definitely go for the shorter, less blingy option. Does the engine feel the same as the other 1200s or does it feel differently geared/tuned in the scrambler guise?

Must admit I do like your XC over the XE Matt, completely agree on the bling comments. Just doesn't suit a scrambler. That said I do really like your bobber! Great vid chaps 👍🏻

Hey triumph vid great stuff..... just a quick question couldn’t quite make out where your friend got his indicators...... regards Fred

nice info man

Great video guys.

Great video!! I think you missed an important issue concerning suspension differences, I believe the valving and spring rates are different not just travel distance, the XE being stiffer like a Cross bike is stiffer vs an enduro bike, so the stiffer XE will be able to jump and travel more aggresively in whoopies and offroad vs the XC which will bottom out under same circumstances, however the XC will give a plusher softer more comfortable ride...

As someone from the Northwest USA who has never even seen a Triumph going down the road, I have to say that of all the brands right now, the best looking motorcycles are being built by Triumph. Royal Enfield also. Triumph and Royal Enfield are building motorcycles that are absolutely correct, every detail, every part, is correct. There's a way to build a modern retro bike, and none of the other companies have come anywhere close to figuring it out, but Triumph and Royal Enfield have. Triumph has more models of good looking motorcycles than any motorcycle company. Harley Davidson and Indian have some incredibly beautiful cruisers that are perfect in their own right, but they are a different category of motorcycle.

Great video as always. I do think the XC looks better, especially with the green tank! ;-) I need to test ride both, but as I do like doing stupid things off-road, the XE has my interest more. Do wish there was a center stand for it. From Triumph, there's only one for the XC.

I have had an XC (in green) for about 3 weeks now. The heat from the exhaust is a bit intrusive but manageable with a bit of thought. However, I emailed Triumph UK who replied back denying all knowledge of an accessory to help with the heat or even that one was in development! My local dealer also knows nothing about this so can I ask you where you got the information from? I would think your information is likely to be more accurate than someone in the backroom emailing from Triumph! Thanks for your help.

Hi. Where did you get the take tidy please and the indicators?

If I recall correctly, the forks are made by Ölins, their color is gold.

So the seat heights are?..

Wish I could demo an XC. I bought an XE and sold it after 3 months because of how harsh the ride was on rough pavement. Even had the rear shocks resprung and revalved, it improve but damn does my africa twin soak up bumps compared to the XE...

999 th like 👍😍😎.....I like that Triumph scrambler 1200 Xe 😍😍😍....

How tall are these guys?

Great video guys. A couple observations: the forks are by Showa not ohlins. Also the XE model has a height adjust rear brake pedal for off-road standing use. I have the XE and love it though I do wish the forks were black. I prefer the painted logo on the XE vs the adhesive type on the XC.

On the XC - who makes the rear turn signals?

Sad we don't have any cold weather to deal with the two pipes on the right.

Great info! Good looking bikes but what's with the skinny seats. I need a lot more padding. LOL

I liked the changes to the XC very tasteful. How tall is the rider? I have taken the XE for a ride and loved it....accept way too tall for me (5'8")

I don’t go with that gold front forks of the XE. I think that the XC is a more versatile bike but it’s a pity that Triumph don’t equip it with cornering abs and TC

TRIUMPH 🇬🇧❤️❤️

I like the looks of XC better than the XE. My only concern for daily ride through the city is that the exhaust is located higher up that your leg might be uncomfortable with the heat?

for reference: How tall are you fellows?

Chiming in from India! Two criticisms for the XC (Triumph hasn't made the XE available here) that have been shared by Indian journos are that the suspension is too stiff for on-tarmac usage, and that the heat dissipated by the engine is uncomfortable for the rider. Had a couple of related questions, would appreciate if someone could share their opinion: 1. Is an XC stiff with the stock suspension setting, but adjusting the rebound damping solves the issue? Or is it stiff even after dialing out the rebound to max comfort, which would be a real problem? 2. Does de-catting reduce the heat issue by any margin?

In either case, Triumph should be congratulated for hiding the tank’s pinch-weld. I hope the other “classic” models soon follow suit.

how would these be for someone 5ft6?

🙌👏

Thanks for your 2 vids on the Scrambler - very informative - Now I just need $25K to buy one - roll on LOTTO win ;)

Great review for people who buy bikes as fashion accessories- so they can ride down to their local cafe for a soy-light latte with a vanilla shot and admire themselves in the shop windows.

Green XC looks better, subtle and more badass.

Showa front fork not Öhlins

I think the XE looks better, but it's maybe a bit tall. The XC is a bit lighter, isn't it?

Triumph are Strictly for people over six feet tall.

Oh...Jesus Christ 😍😃I like that xc 👌.....

xc👍

Funny if you don’t want wind protection. Funny how you prioritize form over function..

* * * * * C O O L * * * * *

Over 1,80m XE best. Under 1,80m XC best.

XC Win

they should be air cooled

Why would you two keep saying "I think" when you definitely know for sure? I think that's strange.

Are scramblers still the 'cool' genre? They've been around a while now.

2:50 these indicators are too slow to be indicating anything...

He went XC because he is vertically challenged!! The price difference isn’t much

No french subtitles ??? Seriously ?!?

Did you both actually ride each bike or just stand around in a field wearing funny hats? I'm not sure how you managed to waste so much time discussing the very obvious difference in seat height to conclude that XC is better for short people. I would much rather have heard more about how differently the bikes ride in respect to handling, steering, and especially suspension performance. Does 250mm of travel work better or worse than 200mm on the street?

80% talking about looks and shit. Useless