Long term tests: What extras make Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 sing? Plus: Indian’s FTR changes perspectives
Simon rates the extras he’s added to his XE
In the last 8000 miles I’ve made the odd change to the Triumph 1200XE Scrambler. As if often the case, things are not particularly cheap these days, so if you are parting with your hard earned cash, you want the investment to be worthwhile. Some of the little trinkets I’ve added, such as the small touring screen, have turned out to be worth their weight in gold. Others, like the head bolt covers, were purely cosmetic, hiding bolt heads that had lost their sparkle. Whereas the side stand base extension plate has undoubtedly saved me money by keeping the bike upright when parked on soft ground during an off road jaunt. Here are five other additions I have made from small to large. But have they been worthwhile? Or a complete waste of spanner time?
1 Pirelli STR tyres
Now due for replacement, the Pirelli Scorpion STRs have served me well, both on and off road, and have proved to be very competent, especially on wet surfaces. Despite their chunky-looking tread they offer an amazing amount of grip, even after over 4500 miles – impressive!
2 Ventura rack system
The Ventura rack system really suits the type of motorcycling I do: easily detachable, it can be quickly transformed from large single bag to large double bag to just a rack or even just a handrail in about a minute depending on what you want to use your bike for.
3 Arrow silencer
I’d great hopes for these Arrow pipes, knowing what a beautiful cacophony a big 1200cc twin is capable of – but they’re barely louder than the standard OE ones. I must admit they look better but I have found signs of air leaks around the rivets.
4 Mudguard extension
Something as simple as this Triumph mudguard extension (£31) can really make a big difference. Not only is it good at keeping some of the road grime from covering the whole bike, I’ve also found that on long, wet rides my waterproofs are able to keep me drier for longer as they have not had to repel quite so much water being sprayed at them from the front wheel.
5 Exhaust header pipe
Easy enough to fit, these replacement Free Spirits (www. freespiritsparts.com) H-pipe headers retain the original heat shields but do away with the catalytic convertor. The engine really thrives as a result as it’s able to breathe and feels torquier.