Triumph Street Scrambler
Dual-purpose motorcycling done right
Triumph has launched yet another variant based on the Bonneville platform. But this one has a very different attitude
Retro motorcycles are nothing short of being a global phenomenon. People love the feel of having a bike which looks classic but comes with all modern amenities and a guarantee that it won’t break down on a ride. Cashing in big time on this theme is Triumph. In India the brand offers these bikes under the ‘Modern classic’ theme and the newest member of the clan is the Street Scrambler. So what is it all about?
The Street Scrambler is based on the Street Twin and hence shares much of the components with this bike. It looks extremely cool complete with chunky 19in wheels shod with Metzeler Tourance block pattern tyres. The front end suspension duties are taken care off by 41mm KYB forks which offer 120mm of travel. The small headlamp comes without the day-time running light system and the short fender remains true to the Scrambler design philosophy. The instrument panel is also borrowed from the Street Twin and is a single pod affair which incorporates an analogue speedo and a digital readout for engine speed, fuel gauge and other important data. The 12-litre fuel tank has been redesigned and comes with knee pads. The seats are unique too and also offer the versatility of removing the pillion seat to accommodate a stowage rack.
Likes
Rideability, equipment, ergonomics
Dislikes
Exhaust position
Otherwise the seat is pretty comfortable and at 790mm from the ground, it is easy to get onto as well. The other unique feature on the Street Scrambler happens to be the two-into-two side mounted stainless steel exhaust pipes. This is a feature which was commonly seen on Scramblers of the past. The pipes come with heat shields but we have to admit that the rider does have to be a tad careful especially in the blistering summer months. The rear too looks extremely purposeful with that tiny LED tail lamp and short fender. What completes the package is the bash guard mounted below the engine.
The engine deployed here comes from the Street Twin as well. So it is the 900cc, liquid cooled parallel twin motor. It offers 54bhp and 79Nm of torque which sure are extremely healthy numbers. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a 5-speed gearbox. The Street Scrambler also comes with a variety of electronic goodies which includes switchable traction control and ABS and ride-by-wire tech.
Swinging a leg over is easy thanks to the low saddle height. The riding position is an ergonomic delight too. Thumb the starter and the big engine wakes up with a proper growl. The side mounted exhausts also let out a proper rumble. The gearbox feels crisp and the clutch is light. But what brings that smile is the power delivery which comes in smooth and steady. There is no
snatchy feel here and within no time the bike accelerates to three digit speeds and cruising ability is incredible as well. Simply put the Street Scrambler is sure a proper city slicker inspite of the mods added to it to work off the road.
Now for the more interesting bit - going off the road. The first advantage of the bike is its dimensions. It is not a big burly machine and one which does not cause fear. So an average Joe can happily indulge in fun. Once on gravel, standing up on the pegs is rather easy and inspite of weighing 200 plus kg, it feels rather well balanced. But in all honesty we must admit that the rider has to be a bit careful of those fancy exhaust pipes. They dwell rather close to the legs and a little excitement can result in the leg touching it resulting
SIMPLY PUT, THE STREET SCRAMBLER IS FOR SURE A PROPER CITY SLICKER, INSPITE OF THE VARIOUS MODS ADDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER OFF THE ROAD
in the obvious. Switching off the added electronics allows the rider to have more fun. Twist the throttle and the rear tyre starts spinning adding to the fun factor. The ABS system too stays off in true offroad bike manner. Thanks to calibration of the ride-by-wire tech, the throttle does not feel snatchy off the road too. The block pattern tyres also do a splendid job and offers good grip on gravel. We rode on gravel tracks with quite a few undulations and we are happy to report that the bash guard remained unscathed inspite of us having a lot of fun. Last but not the least, the Street Scrambler did impress us with its ride quality. The suspension packs in the right amount of damping to absorb bumps with ease but at the same time is not very soft which would result in its bottoming out. Moving on to the braking bit. The Street Scrambler comes with a 310mm single disc up front and a 255mm single disc at the back. On the street the system works well and offers good enough bite to safely haul the bike down from fast speeds. The front end does have the tendency to dip but nothing alarming.
SWITCHING OFF THE ELECTRONICS ALLOWS THE RIDER TO HAVE MORE FUN