New Triumph Scrambler 1200XC
Triumph’s new Scrambler 1200 XC arrives in a storm of style and sensational performance
riumph’s eagerly-awaited £11,500 Scrambler 1200 XC arrives in dealers at the end of next month... and it’s a cracker. It ticks every On Any Sunday styling box, is lavished with obsessive attention to detail and is crammed with more technology, bells and whistles than most superbikes. But best of all, our first test this week in Portugal proved the new retro-styled adventure bike delivers on all of Triumph’s promises. Powered by a Thruxton motor, retuned for low-down grunt, the throbbing parallel twin cylinder machine is more than just a generic Triumph retro fitted with knobblies. It has a new frame, swingarm, suspension, extra rider aids, a next-generation TFT colour dash and top-spec cycle parts from the likes of Brembo and Öhlins.
TWith acres of legroom and a comfortable bench seat, the Scrambler 1200 XC will take the coffee shop run comfortably in its stride (although wind protection is non-existent) and the throttle is light, smooth and friendly in all five of its riding modes.
But to just cruise around, admiring your reflection in shop windows, would be doing a massive disservice to the Triumph’s rich, grumbly motor and sharp chassis. It accelerates like a crusty demon, the wide bars let you hustle the XC from side-toside with ease and, although it has a mud-friendly, 21in front wheel, there’s a satisfying connection between your hands and the sticky Metzeler Tourance dual-purpose front tyre as you tip into corners. Ride quality on tarmac is as smooth as McQueen himself and stability is superb, but a combination of long travel (200mm) suspension, big front wheel and friendly power also makes it a genuine off-road tool. It takes everything from flat, dusty trails to gnarly, challenging terrain in its stride and is actually more of a stripped-down adventure bike than a retro.
Triumph offer an even more serious off-road version, which is actually better on the road’, too; the new Scrambler 1200 XE, which is tested on page 28.