For instance, if you’re riding casually and the tires slip, the TC will be aggressive. The off-road modes allow for more slip, depending on the throttle input. I only saw the TC flash on the dash, but that just means it’s working the way it’s designed to. That bike uses a Bosch system that accounts for the same factors. Developed in collaboration with Continental, I first learned about the tech on the Kawasaki Ninja H2R back in 2015. The Scrambler’s inertial measurement unit (IMU) takes into account roll, pitch, yaw, lean angle, and acceleration rates to vary how much the TC intrudes into your riding. It was only after several miles that I noticed the traction control (TC) lights on the dash. It’s a touring bike in Scrambler clothing. Clicking into high gear on the highway makes for smooth-feeling 4,000 rpm at 80 mph. This produces a quick and light clutch when shifting. The transmission has a positive, mechanical feel that’s easy to change thanks to Triumph’s torque-assist clutch, which utilizes the momentum of the gears to reduce clutch springs. Couple it with a buttery-smooth six-speed and I’m never searching for the right gear, because I’m always in it. The engine is only bested by the transmission. Just double its output and you have something like the Scrambler’s 1200 High Power twin. It resembles the Kawasaki 650cc, another great, easy-to-handle, smooth, and fun platform. The parallel twin platform is inertially torquey and smooth, and often unappreciated. The Scrambler XE comes in Cobalt Blue only. The metal tank and hold-down strap are definitely reminiscent of the old-school Triumph Scramblers. It's hard to deny how good the Scrambler looks. It has H-D-like torque, but happily revs past The Motor Company’s typical low redline. But peak numbers are a disservice to the engine’s torque curve. ![]() It reaches peak torque of 81 lb-ft at only 3,950 rpm. Triumph’s oversquare-bore 1200cc twin (97.6mm/80mm, bore/stroke) produces around 90 hp at 7,400 rpm right before its 7,500 rpm redline. Simply put, it’s one of the best motorcycle engines I’ve experienced. The 1,200cc parallel twin platform essentially hasn’t changed since 2006, but it got better with 12.5% more peak power in the Scrambler, mostly due to a new tune and, we’d assume, exhaust. Now, the Scrambler XE/XC has its own chassis, suspension, and electronics package, introduced in 2019. The former Triumph Scrambler was based on the Bonneville. It makes me wonder, though-are they returning to reclaim their place at the top of their respective categories, or are they resting on their laurels hoping their loyal fanbase will help carry them to the future? The Scrambler is heavy off-road, but the stiff suspension and gobs of torque make it more fun and maneuverable than we first assumed. Now, they’re both back with vengeance, H-D with the Pan America (see our Aug ‘21 issue), and Triumph with this new Scrambler 1200 XE/XC. They provided great motorcycles in the ’60s, suffered stiff Japanese competition in the ‘70s and financial pitfalls in the ’80s, followed by mostly forgettable ‘90s. A Scrambler or a stripped-down adventure bike? We had multiple encounters with people asking what kind of bike the XE is or simply complimenting it's good looks.īut victory defeated these brands before, as both Triumph and H-D took similar evolutionary paths. We adore the motorcycle for its soul, rather than its spec sheet. I’m a member of ridiculous fan bases that love brands like Harley-Davidson and Triumph. This concoction of sex appeal, style, and general badassery created the Scrambler motorcycle type-although Triumph didn’t officially use the term until 2006. They won at Baja, set speed records, and jumped wire fences in Germany. Sex symbols like Steve McQueen, with their blue jeans and dirt-covered grins, took bikes like the Bonneville T120 TT and TR6, added knobby tires and an upswept exhaust, and blasted them across Californian beaches and Mexican deserts. The Scrambler was born in the 1960s as a vehicle for cool guys. ![]() I give the engine a final blip of power just to hear the Zard exhaust echo through the trees, before grabbing a handful of Brembo brakes. My cheeks are surged back as I rip through my half-acre backyard toward the end of the property line. 11 min read 2020 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE | Motorcycle Review Leaning over, throttling down, I sling the bike under me, light up the rear wheel, and carry a drift through the grass.
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