A controversial review it seems! 2 reasons I made this video: 1. There are plenty of reviews in the press that say this is a do it all bike. I don't agree and I've highlighted what I think are its shortcomings in that regard. 2. I had far more faults than I'd expect from a brand new (and expensive) bike. The problem with the tyre pressure in particular I think is worth sharing. Of course you should make your own mind up on the bike - this is just my take on it. But I hope it's useful for some people to hear a different take to the usual reviews you see on TH-cam 🙂
It's like he bought a bike in mind that it would be a sport touring bike. It would be like buying a dirt bike and complaining that it's trash on the highway.
The 3 reasons seem pretty obvious pre-purchase. I wouldn't suggest a scrambler if priorities were for pillion, comfort touring or burning up highways. Touring bike or one of those mechanical locust looking things they call 'adventure' bikes.
I have done 3 thousand miles on my xe1200 and have ventured off road green laning on several occasions in off road pro mode.superb!! Bike has been faultless on and off road.more than enough power on road for real world and a hoot off road.dial suspension in properly and superb off road. Can't fault it!!!!!
AGREE. Some people just refuse to go on a test ride. I rode a 2300 cc Rocket before I bought my XE and the xe has plenty of power, handles amazing on street, dirt, sand and mud, goes everywhere, great gas mileage, looks gorgeous, sounds awesome and was discounted 25% off msrp. His loss someone else's gain.
Wanting this to be a Monster 1200 with dirt tires is not going to happen. It is a different tool for a different type of riding. However, your comment about not being able to overtake... This bike has so much torque. It has power to overtake at any legal driving speeds. I hope people take this bike for a test drive and see for themselves.
Hi Folks, Jan Gunnar from Norway here, i have had this bike for a year now, with no of this problems, except the issues abouth the wind protection and the heat from the exhaust(but in cold Norway, this is not a problem) . My only issue was a sensor that failed, and Triumph fixed it immediately. I have been riding the Tiger 1200 (2018), Bmw GS 1250(2019), both of them with small minor problems, fixed at warrianty.. But my really nightmare was a totaly hopeless KTM 1290 Super Adventure. I,m 6.5" tall, so i need a big bike, and the KTM was a VERY convincing bike when i bought it. Brand new! 3 totally casualtys in the first two months! Electronic and mecanically problems. Had to transport it back to the dealer with a boxcar. After some discussions with the dealer , i switched to Triumph(the dealer sell Triumph, KTM, Honda and Aprilia). The dealer was same as frustrated that i was, and they offered my a loan bike when the bike was repaired, fair enough. But back to the Scrambler XE: i,m SUPER satisfied with it, and it always give me the good smile when riding it : )) I have no problem with recommanding this bike : )
I bought the xc as its more road oriented. I love it for those day trip blasts. Sales person told me its better than the xe, less wallow, suspension wise. I own a dr 650 for adv riding. My tyre pressures have been fine with stock tyres. I keep it clean and use a decent coating on aluminium, no black marks after a years ownership. Never had it stall! Keyless did play up after a while but changed battery 6mths ago, fixed! Like any bike, it's advisable to take it to a suspension specialist and have it set up to your weight. Perhaps you bought a Monday bike. Good luck with the ktm but I'm sure that if you go on forums you'll find as many "faults." After a years ownership I still love this bike. Horses for courses.
Reviewer buying the wrong bike: Doesn't have adjustable suspension at the flick of a switch Needs more power for carrying 26 stones !! Can't overtake comfortably over 70 mph Poor wind protection Rest: It's a Triumph Scrambler 1200 M8 !!!
Hello! I've got the 2019 1200 xc showcase and find all the issues mentioned negligible. The brushed aluminum is actually a non issue. My fuel cap was blackened when I bought it. Dealer said they'd replace it under warranty. When I got home, I took some polishing wax and vwahla! Nice clean brushed aluminum fuel cap! No clutch cable issues yet, I will keep an eye on it. Adjust your suspension and you'll have no issues! Take a few minutes and with the proper tool, suspension adjusted. If that's too difficult then what do you do when a chain needs adjusting?! Stalling, yeah I've stalled a few times too but who hasn't? I've hit a false neutral once, and that's because I was babying the shifter. Hot pipes?! What did you expect? Still though, it's not too bad. I did ride in shorts once and that was pretty hairy. I was afraid to put my right leg down. Then again, what the hell was I thinking?! I weigh 264lbs and have no problem passing and whipping around at 115mph. Note: not that I do that all the time of course. I just like to WOT every once in a while. Sure, my Victory Gunner hit 138mph before the rev limiter kicked in, but that's a different kind of a ride. The Scrambler clearly is not that bike. I feel the bikes got a little more juice than it gives though; darn ECU limiting! The only thing I noticed on mine, that you mentioned, is the tire issue. I'm not convinced it's an issue yet though. After three months I noticed the front tire looked low one day so I leaned on it and it was soft. Thought I had picked up a nail or something. I topped it off and it's been solid now for two weeks. I'll admit I never had that issue before though. Tires are regular pre trip stuff anyway and if this does become a regular thing well then, apparently the replacement tires will do the trick. Oh yeah, mines a daily driver too. I had the key fob out of range once, when I started the bike and then went back into the house. I saw the alert on the instrument panel but it went away pretty quick when I got back close to the bike. Sure, the keys required to lock the steering but that's a good thing. I have the spare key on my ring and when needed use that. My key fob flicks open nicely. I've never experienced an issue starting. The keyless ignition works well for me. Oh yes, I did need a new battery at 1,200 miles. It ended up having a bad cell. The dealer covered it under warranty. Most likely because the 2019 model sat for a while on the showroom floor or just got a shitty battery. It happens. I bought mine in May of 2020. Cruise control works great. Get up to speed and double press the button. I use the clutch to disengage. If I want a bit more speed, I roll the throttle a little and double press again. Just different than other setups but works equally well, if not better. After all, less buttons involved. All in all, I love the bike. Oh yeah, and who doesn't wind out the throttle and see what a bike can really do when riding a demo model?! Not this guy! I beat the shit out of that demo bike! Pro tip: don't buy the demo bike! Lol! I hope your Duke treats you like royalty!
There’s a bloke here in Australia who’s taken his Scrambler 1200 XE on an adventure through highways and the outback. Yes, this can be used for long trips.
I enjoy no wind protection. Im very tall, and windscreens do nothing but cause turbulence for my helmet. Also, I like showing up to my office job with bug guts in my beard.
I have had mine for 18 months and love it. However I agree with the brushed aluminium poor quality, the sticking key and my only other gripe is the quality of the spokes especially on the rear wheel. Love the way it rides, handles and when in sports mode it has more than enough power for me. Each to their own.
I've had: 2007 Speed Triple for 28k miles 2014 Triumph Scrambler for 33k miles 2014 Pikes Peak Multi for 29k miles 2017 Aprilia Tuono Factory 10k miles. And now I have 2019 1200 XE...and honestly, I thoroughly enjoy the hell out of this bike. Plenty of power for NON race conditions, but even ripping on the highway and shooting up to 95mph in NO TIME is sufficient. My wife LOVES riding on the back and compares it to the Multi from a comfort standpoint (we're both on the lighter side...140lbs and 120lbs respectively). I live in chicago and the suspension is PLUSH...even with the stiff setup from factory. And actually...as a track baby and newfound offroad..er, I like the stiff suspension---actually doing a lil trackday on August 11th.. hahahaha. I'm sure I'll encounter problems, but the first 3/4 of this video provided a weak argument against this bike. Enjoyed the video anyways!!
@@maxgorecki3849 Did you get it at Motoworks Chicago?! Maybe I've see ya!! I've got some projects in the works for it... we should link up and discuss!
@@jbows51 5"5...bahahahaha. Don't get me wrong...she's taller than most bikes i've owned---but the only the time the weight has gotten the better of me was when playing tetris in my 1 car garage shared by 4 other bikes. Hadn't really thought about the height before of since.
@@DValdez2321 That's good to hear! I'm around 5'8 so I wondered if this bike might sit too high to be able to stradle it properly. Glad you say it isn't an issue!
Thanks for the video, interesting about the tyres and some of the build quality. I have no such issues on my 1200XE but i also had more off road tyres fitted. I have done a couple of long rides when it was hot, and wind protection is what i expected. I love this bike, it is perfect for what i wanted and i already knew about the heat issues from the exhaust. At some point i'll de-cat it. Mine is based on the Guy Martin escape colours and has som nice extras. I have had no problems so far. Dissapointing to hear Triumph didnt help, i would have fought harder for result on that. i als have a KTM 1290S SA, this is for touring so i get what you are saying about if the scrambler was your 2nd bike. However, if i had to choose 1 to keep, Triumph would win. Dont be fooled into thinking KTM customer (dont) care dept would show any interest if your KTM fails. the radiator alone cost me over £400, and a challenge to remove and replace. Better than paying over £400 in labour. Mine is now out of warrentee but i would not have expected a radiator to fail after 10k miles. they came out with all shite excuses to offer no asistance and because of this, i'll never buy another KTM. Yes its a great bike, but the triumph is more in the real world. You dont need 160BHP and i found the Scrambler over taking not an issue. regarding suspention settings for pillion, i got the dealer to set mine up on its first dervice. I guess with the girlfrends combined weight, probably 23 stone total, so less than you but rides really well. i dont bother to change it when riding alone. My KTM has all the electronic stuff for that but again i leave it set for 2 people. So the looks of the Scrambler, its the best looking bike and triumph nailed it, sounds great even with the standard exhaust. i agree with switchman321 its lovelt to look at :). You were comparing your ducati with the scrambler for power, i never did that with mine, i just saw many positives with the Triumph. Good luck with your KTM, easy to get speeding points on these, or worse.... just put some money by when out of warentee, and if you feel brave enough, do the work yourself. BTW i was so impressed with the looks and reviews of the scrambler that i ordered mine without a test ride and got a loan to pay for it. Happy riding Bud. :)
We actually don't"overtake at 70mph" on a gravel road... Hence the Scrambler. We buy them for gravel, off-road or crappy potholed roads. For speed, there are miriads of sport, supersport, naked, street fighter and on and on and on...
After having watched your review I am really wondering I you have bought this particular bike in the first place. From the comments and remarks you made in the video it seems that your expectations of motorcycling are significantly different from the actual purpose for which the bike was built. So no wonder that this particular bike does not suits you. I do not agree with the so called problems you describe as I have not experienced them so far at all and I have done approx. 10.000 km already on my Scrambler 1200 XC. So far after 20 months and 10.000 km I have not faced a single issue at all. I am super happy and satisfied with my XC as it meets perfectly my expectations of motorcycling. Well, finally to each his own but I would have appreciate a more objective review instead. The only thing I have to admit is that the stock tires do not suit the bike and limits its potential. Now I am riding on Michelin Anakee Adventure tires and the Bike feels completely different, much lighter and easier to handle, especially when surfing curvy roads, which I love to do. Now the rides with my Scrambler XC on the Michelin tires are even more fun to me.
There are loads of positive reviews so in my opinion it's good to hear the other side of the argument. And there are loads of press reviews that say it's a do it all bike - in my opinion, that's not right so this points that out too for anyone in doubt.
i agree,,,most of his probs are because he bought the wrong bike,,also who trys to engage cruise control when accelerating or decelerating ?,,nobs thats who
Hi, For many years the Metzeler tourance was my goto tyre for adventure bikes. Then about 4 years ago I had real problems with a brand new set, the rear especially kept going down... flat in 24 hours... the reason being the tyre bead was poorly formed. My local garage that fitted it did lots of tests and gave me my cash back. With the feedback: "these tyres are now made in China and since then we have had alot of issues with them, we are not stocking Metzelers any more". So I suspect Triumph have saved a few quid and got a bulk deal on the Tourance, I would never fit them again. The problem was so bad it could have cost me my life!
No need to hate bud, just sharing his experience of that particular bike nout wrong with that, helps people who mite be looking to buy one for themselves.
Have to admit it’s hard to find someone willing to say all the negative with the few positives … people might give crap for it, but discussion is a positive thing. People don’t have to agree, but keep that discussion going. I’ve been looking at a scrambler for a bit and wondering if it’s gonna be my next bike. I’m currently on an r1200gs … which is for all intense and purposes an amazing bike. But it’s big and not nearly as comfortable as I was hoping for the long rides. You’ve given me a lot of good points to think on. Cheers.
I was very surprised at the HP on this as well when I saw it. But as someone used to a 36HP KLR650 I'm not sure I see how bad it could be. I struggle to overtake going 110 kmh on the klr but it's doable. I can't imagine it being an issue with less weight and 2-3 times the power?
The look of this bike is good For its design I think it does The job Although most will be using it for city It is a road/trail bike really Ideal bike for Australian conditions It is hard to design a machine that does everything You want Tour, commute and bush bash However A great escape !
Test road this bike at a demo days. Great looking bike and love the sound and low end torque. What a fun bike! I really wanted it but for 15k dollars and limited storage I needed it to be my only bike and couldn't justify buying for the long distance trips I like to ride because of high speed highways I need to ride to get into rural areas riding. You nailed it with your reasons.
The wind protection isn’t any good!!!! Eh, it’s a naked bike. I turned the vid off once he said that. Not enough power!!!! Just admit it mate, you bought the wrong bike. This vid makes you out to be a bit of a pillock.
The exhaust heat is noticeable especially here in hot Texas but I adapted to it and I rarely notice it now. I infrequently carry a passenger so that's a non issue for me as well. The cruise control could be much better but again I've adapted to it and it is a very minor quibble for me. A fair review though, You just have to be mentally and physically built for this bike. I ride naked bikes exclusively so none of the wind management gripes affect me.
Interesting video about specific issues with this bike, most of which I don't really relate to if not for OCD fueled cruise control. I'm currently considering this bike and still am after watching this, as all the issues you mentioned aren't much of a deal imo. But I still appreciate a lot having some honest unsatisfied rider's review, paints a better picture than the press do.
Really appreciate your insight on this one. I'm looking to trade my Street Twin in because of wind protection and top end power (motorway overtakes) so it's interesting to see it's still an issue with the 1200. Looks like the Tiger 900 may be worth a test ride.
Yeah, that's exactly what this bike isn't good at to be fair. There's a performance cam option from tec bike parts that supposedly makes a big difference (if you have the exhaust too). But I wasn't keen on engine mods.
@@averagebiker I've got various Tec parts (mirrors, luggage rack etc) but their other parts (Cams & Suspension) get dreadful reviews. Look forward to seeing your KTM review 👍🏼
Thanks for the video. Funny all the complaints from comments....just cause it isn’t for you doesn’t mean it isn’t great for someone else. Trying to decide between this and a tiger 900 rally pro. I know the tiger makes more sense but the scrambler just looks so cool! Appreciate the perspective!
I own a 2019 showcase xc. Here is what I don't like: 1. The seat is really thin and uncomfortable for anyone who weighs more than 200 LBS. I installed a Corbin Seat but haven't ridden with it as yet due to really bad weather and snow/ice. 2. The heat emanating from the cat converter is ridiculous. I am probably going to install a low pipe eventually. Will I sell it because of these issues? Possibly if I can't solve them to my satisfaction. I don't find anything wrong with the power or wind protection, the handling is fine and so far no tire pressure issues. However, I do check them daily when riding.
After formerly owning a Street Scrambler, I found the Scrambler 1200 to be a fantastic bike. First complaint - lack of horsepower. It's quick. It's got enough to wheelie all day long. If he were to spend a minimal amount of money ($200) to get the ECU tuned from DNK TuneWorks, there's a massive gain to be had, and it'll rev to the then increased 7800RPM redline with gusto, it would instantly fix the other complaints as well. Indian is having the same complaints right now with their FTR . Your $160 Booster Plug isn't going to do anything for that. Second complaint - lack of wind protection. It's a flippin' ADV Bonneville with an upright handlebar turning your body into a sail. Welcome to reality. Third complaint - pillion comfort. Turn up the preload, problem solved. Easy to do, i've done it before on my other bikes. If you're bike dumb, well... Complaints about needing to adjust the clutch, or fouling bare alloy, take care of your stuff. I have no issues with my CC, even if it's not as fancy as my BMW's CC. Sounds like a step up to a GS or KTM (like he did) would be the perfect choice for a premium ADV bike that does everything well and doesn't make compromises to be an old school Bonneville and a naked ADV bike all in one.
Really good review. This bike here in my country it's really expensive (22k us dollars). And I'm really saving for it. And after watching this, I still will. Because I know how and i love low Rpm twin cylinder bikes. And about the suspensión.. Well if u travel with a pillion u should stiff it up mate. For example take my actual situation, I travel alone like 37% of the time and the 63% with my wife. So I kept the preload at a very stiff set-up and left it like that. But good review.
I've had the XE for a few years. I don't know if I agree with the power thing for most people but I personally agree. I think I just have a need for speed. 0-60mph is nice on this bike and it got pull all the way to 4th gear. Top speed with the limiter is about 114 mph but the true top speed isn't that much faster, no more than 125.
I appreciate everyone’s opinion. That being said: About the wind protection. I get it. I’ve travelled all over. I’ve put a larger windscreen on my KLR650. I put a goofy-looking windscreen on my Honda CTX700N. I enjoyed the adjustable windscreen on my BMW 1150RTP. But for this bike? I literally don’t get knocked around the chest or head. And that’s on highways, regular streets, etc. And that’s also over longer trips, where I’m riding 300-400 miles each day for several days on end. I have not modded my bike at all yet, so not even the mini-windscreen that basically covers the exposed part of the display. My bike is the 2021 XC. 🤷🏽♂️
Good honest opinion, I have this bike and my experience is sort of similar, however it has so much character and receives so much attention, it makes me feel special compared to some bikes. I like the fact my scrambler is not super-fast, like my previous bike, it keeps surefooted. Enjoy your KTM hope it does not get you in to trouble. Did you get a good p/x Price for the Triumph?
It certainly turned heads! People seemed to appreciate the British cool of it, which is spot on. Reasonable part ex in the end (although still negative equity on the PCP). Inevitable after a year unfortunately!
@@averagebiker PCP is a pain in the arse i'm nearly at the end of it on my MT 07 and only have about £1000-£2000 equity for my next bike . I want more power for my next bike and quite like the scrambler style but not sure if this or the 1100 ducati scrambler have much more power than my MT
Thank You , Great video!!!! Im old skool, about to buy one of these and start ridin' again! And UPGRADE her- tires, rear and front fender, exhaust, luggage, guards, etc!! Really liked the Royal Enfield but so small/ but so cool.. Retired my V-Max'z (2- 1st GEN) about 15 years ago. I miss my V-boost ever day! Thee scrambler seems a great offroad/onroad dual propose bike after much online reseach!? .. Or what is the perfect dual bike options?? Shiny side up!
I actually AM an old man, 66 this July but I do agree with your required power assessment. My bike weighs 400 lbs dry and has 120 BHP at the crank. Not a huge amount but perfectly adequate and doesn't cause me any anxieties when overtaking several cars. I do weigh a pretty light 9 stone 3 lbs undressed though.
Hey, It seems you just bought the wrong one for the wrong use... That's all right, we all make mistakes but please don't complain about the bike for the wrong reasons. I bought it without test ride 14 months ago and it's an amazing bike ( on and off road), I really don't give a shit about wind protection ( I'm big and wide) and the torque is even too much for offroad use... Easy, powerful enough, uses really no gas ( 4.5 L- 100 Km on highway at 120 km/h; just nothing for a torquey 1200CC! and my 110 kg). For the heat of the right side, I agree, no test did mention it properly... and even in winter riding it was ...ing hot! Mostly urban riding and almost not possible. I decatted it and now it's ok... but illegal, no warranty no more etc... but worth the value, the throttle response is way better. Sell it , people want it and get a more adapted ride ( Multistrada! High torque AND power @higher revs, good wind protection and confort... high price... or a Tiger 1200 for more trail use, or Africa Twin which seems to be quite capable for all. Scramblers are supposed to be rude, naked, basic, not really speedy but torquey...
Good review. I can easily see how those issues become annoying esp on such an expensive bike. Why dealerships fob off their premium customers (new £11K bike) and lose them rather than fix a simple issue is a complete mystery to me.
@@averagebiker The major "flaws" you identified (lack of power, lack of wind protection and difficult to adjust suspension) are just nonsense. All of your examples of lack of power mention illegal speeds, you admit that a naked bike is likely to lack wind protection and the suspension being "difficult to adjust" is hardly a deal-breaker. As for the faults you mention, sure there is always room for improvement but really, are these reasons to avoid buying the bike? Let's be honest, you suffered from buyers remorse and made a video to try to justify your position.
They aren’t great long distance / motorway driving. The only good bit for that application is the piss easy to use cruise control and that the version I have, the XC, is pretty planted at motorway speeds. Power wise, you need to mod it to get a bit more high end usable top end. My mrs loves going on the back of it!
You can be picky if you wish. I have a mate who has a Triumph 1200 and he is very happy with it, he has been riding 40 years, it is his only road registed bike, he does race Vintage bikes, 1971 CB500 (bored out to 600cc and running very hotted up), and he has had multiple bikes. I have a Pan Am 2022 Special, it has keyless ignition and a key steering lock, no problem in my mind. Suspension on the Pan Am is just amazing, with it's active adjustments and 4 different settings. Power is amazing, 4 different levels between 80hp rain mode and 139hp (at the wheel or 150hp at the crank) sport mode. Fuel economy is just fantastic, and 20km/lt open road or 16km/lt city riding. I think the Triumph Scrambler is more classic looking than the KTM 1290 super GT, but that is one damn good looking bike, of course not as good as the Pan Am :)
You'll get a lot of hate pointing out negative aspects of this bike hehe Some are saying you should have bought a sport touring bike. I can say I had a Scrambler 900 which I could ride all day long no problem...I've always preferred naked bikes over bikes with fairings, cause you get wind, but 0 turbulence. For some reason (maybe handlebars being larger or higher) I felt very tired after just 200km when I could ride 5-600km on a day on my 900 or mt-01 or speed triple, or street triple, or superduke 990, or FZ09, or..... Add to that a harsh ride, and for the first time in my life a bike gave me back pain. Sold it, now have an Africa Twin and an old Nighthawk 750 and neither give me back pain or fatigue me half as much as the XE. I've owned tons of bikes but this is one of the very few I regretted buying, I didn't even keep 6 months, the many thousands of dollars I lost on it, were a small price to pay to get rid of it. I had the suspensions revalved and resprung and even then it was better, but was still harsher than most bikes out there (aside from sport bikes). Also had a sensor fail in the first 2000km that was replaced under warranty. After owning 2 other triumph scramblers, on paper this was the bike I was waiting for...in reality, I MUCH preferred my 2010 and 2015 scramblers. If I was to buy another scrambler I'd probably go with the Street Scrambler. Much simpler bike (less risk of electronic issues), and much improved comfort. Still sounds great, and enough power to enjoy.
I’ve got a 900 scrambler 2018 with 65 brake horsepower, Yes, there is wind blast and a five speed gearbox but they are long gears love it to bits, also got a Busa 195 brake horsepower no wind blast, but I have more fun on the scrambler.
I just test rode this, Im confused. I felt it had plenty of pull, even at around 120-150km p/h range. 🤔 Rode it on motorway, was flying trough, overtaking easily at 150km etc. Im very surprised you think it's not powerful enough.
OMG. How cool! 4:30. As someone in the USA, I had no idea that the UK used "Miles Per Hour." For some reason after hundreds of videos, I never actually realized that you use the same speed format. That's really exciting, because we are apparently the only two major countries in the world that use MPH. It's always a challenge when watching motorcycle reviews from other countries, generally, just because everything is Metric. AND, you also use "retard" and "PSI." Perfect!!
What a wally no wind protection on an upright bike oh power down don't you read specs on bike before buying who puts bike on stand when still sitting on it especially with passenger
On e more thing that never comes out on test-rides is: You load the bike up for the road (or 2UP) and go into the mountains thats where you really notice the difference in power. I love the fact that my PanAmerica never runs out of juice, especially after exhaust and air-filter upgrade the bike just rips even at 3000 meters fully loaded.....
A little bit yeah - slightly better but not much at all to be honest. It's worth getting but I still found it tiring sitting at 80mph for any length of time.
Just bought the bike and i have a damaged front fender and abviously also problems with key. Do you still have your original fender after selling the bike? Would you be interested in selling it? Best, Adrian
I'm currently deliberating between this and the speed twin. I rode the speed twin and really liked it. But imo the scrambler is a better looking bike (not rode one yet) I'm switching from a bmw s1000r so the lower power output is something that I wonder about. I always assumed the scrambler was just a taller speed twin but what you say about the weight/power ratio is interesting. Does the scrambler feel markedly slower than the speedtwin?
@@averagebiker I think I will have to organise back2back test rides before making a choice. From what you say in the video the speedtwin may well have been an easier change for you. I got the impression that I could keep up with most bikes on the road but it was near its limit to do so, which I fine as I'm looking for a bike I can feel a sense of achievement when I ride it well. Current bike is capable of so much more than me it feels like I'm a bit of a passenger sometimes (fun though!).
It’s a fun road bike that can be used on off road by very trained riders. Very beautiful, not practical for touring. Not practical to tour on it with two people. Hard to be joyful on highway long miles, like every naked bike, it prefers the back roads. This Bonneville bikes have a beautiful design, all of them. And the big scrambler is no exception. In conclusion, this is not a jack of all trades bike. But it is a excellent second bike!
Beaitifull bike. I planned to buy it but from bike like this i want power to go from corner and on 2/ 3 gear do power wheelie. + i wanna space for passenger with luggage on the sides.I like travelling but i also like to drive really fast ob corners
I spent most of this review rolling my eyes. You bought the wrong tool for the job. It’s a Scrambler, not a sport tourer; expectations should be adjusted accordingly. As for the problems you had, frankly, stock tires are nearly always crap. The only bike I’ve bought that came with good stock tires was my KTM 1090 Adventure R. The fact that your leak went away as soon as you changed tires tells you something. It’s not a problem inherent to the bike. I do wish Triumph would choose better stock tires, but this is by no means unique to them. Everything else you’ve mentioned is easily rectified by basic maintenance (the clutch cable especially), or by adding aftermarket parts (larger windscreen, for example). I’ve put over 20,000 miles on my Scrambler 1200 XE and love it precisely because of some of the things you’ve complained about. I love the simplicity, the airflow, the fact that it’s an engaging machine, not a floaty luxurious touring sofa. For me, it is the right tool for the job. Hopefully the KTM will be more satisfactory for you. But don’t expect it to be maintenance-free.
Have you done much touring with it? I'm looking at it for my next bike and think it might fit the role I'm looking for. Commuting, some rough back roads, and some longer trips.
Sound like a great bike based on the reviews. I had one as a courtesy bike last year and found it a little lacking in torque for my liking. But well worth a test ride.
Thank You, I was going to get one of these, but. This video changed my mind. I just saw that these are assembled in Thailand, and their quality control is questionable at best.
I really enjoy my Scrambler XE, I only agree with 3 complaints about the bike 1 cruise control functionality is a bit odd . I find myself try to set it the first time and am really only enabling it instead. Not a deal break just odd. Wish it had the Tiger Rally pro cruise set up. 2 If you’re goin to go adjust the suspension for a passenger and no passenger, the bike is not set for that. 3 Exhaust is hot on the inner leg at slow dirt working speeds. I have not been unduly uncomfortable except at slow more technical off road speeds like when I got it stuck in the mud 🙄 - 1st gear work and at long stop lights on hot days otherwise for the nearly 5000 (probably +5’ tomorrow) it has been fine. On colder days here in Minnesota it’s almost welcome,lol. My high beam headlight was faulty from new and replaced under warranty. I would like to add that night time driving in deer country I was not entirely satisfied with the amount of road illumination with the stock headlamp I bought the Triumph led “fog” lights and they have dramatically improved that situation. Not as good as my Kawasaki C14 but still very livable so far. I was not aware that 80 MPH and up was a common speed limit in the UK. I have to go to South Dakota to find that on the interstate. That would be windy like you’re riding a naked bike, oh wait... 😆 it’s exactly like that! Someone I know, says if your accelerating up to speed in sport mode it pulls nice and hard up to 90-100. Just watch 1st gear because it’s short and you’ll bang the rev limiter quickly and get a drastic shut down. It needs that lower gear because of the reduced flywheel mass from a standard 1200 Bonnie and you’ll still use the clutch a lot when the terrain get gnarled for a 460 pound bike. Oh and if you time it just wrong on a warm engine (because you’re used to all that torque) and don’t give it a little throttle as you take off from a stop, you’ll stall the motor. Thank goodness for electric start! It has happened to me a couple times but I think I just botched the coordination of clutch and throttle by a couple milleseconds. Like I let out the clutch just before the first firing of the two hits and snuffed it. I am getting better though! I have almost worn out my factory rear tire and am waiting to see how she will behave on gravel with new shoes!!! I have ridden dirt bike and this is a bit more portly than a true dirt bike but eats freeways a lot better. I am looking for some gentler trails to start learning how to deal with this beast off road more without beating the pretty thing up. So far I have found a (singular ) minimum maintenance road and it was great except for the mud and stock tires. What a workout! Thought I was going to need a tank retriever the first time I tried to lift the rear tire out of 8” of river mud. Anyone else got big feet and wish the foot pegs were just out a bit wider for stand up riding? Some might fault the bike but as I am larger than the average transportation design model for adult males I am used to cars, trucks, bikes, bus seats, airplane seats, restaurant booths, stadium seats, and such not fitting right. #bigguyproblems Did he forget to mention how excellent the hand warmers on the XE are!? Those things have kept my hands from becoming icicles a few times. I have ridden in 50 degree weather with med weight leather gloves at 65 MPH for 35 miles and not had to put the heaters on high, usually low or sometimes med has worked fine when riding in weather most guys are wearing their chaps for warmth in. I don’t have chaps and typically don’t ride this bike in temperature under 55 unless the weather app lied about the temperature. Otherwise my legs and torso get too cold but my hands are fine. Maybe I will need to get some cold weather gear to extend my riding season? Did I mention I really enjoy riding this bike? It reminds me of all the things I enjoy about riding. It has gut fulls of torque for general throttle twisting., upright riding position for scoping out the landscapes , good suspension for staying in control on highway or gravel, it’ll do 70 for tankfuls of fuel, it sounds good, looks good, rides good, makes me smile when I spit gravel with the rear tire.. Granted it’s not a sport bike so if that’s your favorite flavor you’ll be happier on a different mount but if for me this bike checks so many of the right boxes I can’t think of what is in second place behind this bike for me, maybe a Tiger Rally Pro 900 is probably what I would say. I might have bought it instead if they were available when I bought Scrambler I did are it for a test ride and while it’s character is different it seems quite capable and the passenger preload is remote adjustable. Otherwise in no particular order it’d probably be a KTM 790 ( haven’t ridden these last 3 so just specification picks) Yamaha Super Tenere’ 700 or the new Africa twin with cruise control.
funny thing that its almost like with boats you hardly ever want to go down in power or size :) I had a modified S1000XR that showed 170HP (wheel) after that everything else seems just slow...
I have a monster 1200. No complaints aside from a ride by wire malfunction that almost got me rear ended on an off ramp. I've been thinking about the 1200 xe so I can do a little dirt riding. Love the look and feel. But I settled on the 900 rally pro for the wind protection and larger gas tank. Settled.... heated seats and grips. I'm getting old. Still have the monster though. I get attached to things way to easy. Enjoyed your rant. 😊 hope your enjoying your 1290.
I have the XC and I also have a “daft” huge screen on it which I take off when not going 65+ I also tour with it and have no problem over taking I sometime drop down to 5th and it takes off. Great video just thought I’d share my experience
Very interesting. I could deal with most of those issues pretty easily but the loss of air pressure in the tires and the cruise control would drive me crazy. Thanks for the info. But there is no way I'm buying a KTM and dealing with all their headaches.
Yeah, the tyre pressure thing really pissed me off. I sold the ktm after a year - CONSTANT electrical problems! Who'd have thought?! I now have an MT-10 - fantastic bike, 2 years in.
I had a 1200 scrambler for a year, several thousand miles on it and had no issues, I loved it, I didn’t like the key fob either. I hate that you had so many issues, mine was a 2022 model, maybe they heard you and fixed some of this ?!
Hey mate, How’s the heat on your right leg? Coz I live in tropical country. Not sure if the heat on the exhaust system would be bothersome or tolerable on my right leg especially on my backride. Ty
@@TaraTolMoto it really wasn’t an issue, especially while riding. In traffic sitting idle on a hot day you can feel a little warmth but never hot as some of these people say. It’s such a great bike, you’ll love the excellent suspension, handles great. Lots of power. I’ve owned a lot of bikes over the years, im 59 years old now, and that 1200 scrambler is tops on my list of bikes I really loved having 👍 ! Good luck my friend !
I think this bike could use a better camshaft profile for higher RPM. It would put it over 100hp for sure and raise top speed. Just needs like 1000rpm more
@@averagebiker I was looking into that! Is there a convenient way to get rid of the 6th gear speed restriction? Probably just have the dyno guy tune that out with the new cam if not
I have an XE. 2000 miles in and it's stellar. Yes the exhaust is hot but you can filter through traffic. Yes the aluminium spoils but that's life. Yes the keyless system is a bit tempermental, it's actually due to the battery not seating in the fob tightly, wedge something in behind it and it's perfect. I've taken the 1200XE off roading and it blew me away. It swallowed bumps and jumps like they were nothing. If you got one of these to purely ride on the road then you fucked up, it's a motocross bike on steroids.
A bike that goes perfectly on the road and perfectly in the dirt doesn't exist, there must be compromise with a dual bike within the parameters of a Scrambler XE. Weight, dimensions, suspension, power etc..... Hard to compare the Triumph to a Ducati sport bike, or a Paris/Dakkar🤔 Tires that loose pressure sounds like an issue with the tire manufacturer. Or put tubes in. Metal can be protected with a product like Mother's alloy Polish. Heat from the exhaust is something that all the road testers mention in reviews. Clutch cable will settle in the running in phase and issue with screen is a dealer issue. Sounds like you have a dealer who isn't giving you the service you expect, with fueling and electronics.
Nice review - interesting your bad experience with the tires, I never had any issues and with how you explained it I would almost think it could be an issue with the wheel, or a fault in the tyre manufacture. Shame you didn’t enjoy the bike but I suppose it’s all dependent on what you expect it to do!
I had loads of little issues with mine but nothing to with the engine or electrics (apart from keyless not working properly). I put about 6k miles on it in 12 months.
So essentially you just purchased the completely wrong motorcycle. None of this has put me off quite liking it as I’m already aware of the personal grievances.
A controversial review it seems! 2 reasons I made this video:
1. There are plenty of reviews in the press that say this is a do it all bike. I don't agree and I've highlighted what I think are its shortcomings in that regard.
2. I had far more faults than I'd expect from a brand new (and expensive) bike. The problem with the tyre pressure in particular I think is worth sharing.
Of course you should make your own mind up on the bike - this is just my take on it. But I hope it's useful for some people to hear a different take to the usual reviews you see on TH-cam 🙂
Triumph has its quirks, just like my Moto2 765. I'm disappointed too for the premium we've paid.
I felt the same way as you when I bought my Honda Civic to go offroading, couldnt even remove the roof like a Jeep.
🙄
It's like he bought a bike in mind that it would be a sport touring bike. It would be like buying a dirt bike and complaining that it's trash on the highway.
Watched this and still went and bought one. Fully loaded xe. Fabulous. Sounds like it just wasn’t for you.
Well said!
The 3 reasons seem pretty obvious pre-purchase. I wouldn't suggest a scrambler if priorities were for pillion, comfort touring or burning up highways. Touring bike or one of those mechanical locust looking things they call 'adventure' bikes.
Same there, purchased two years ago and love it, never sell it for sure, best bike i owned !!!
I have done 3 thousand miles on my xe1200 and have ventured off road green laning on several occasions in off road pro mode.superb!!
Bike has been faultless on and off road.more than enough power on road for real world and a hoot off road.dial suspension in properly and superb off road.
Can't fault it!!!!!
AGREE. Some people just refuse to go on a test ride. I rode a 2300 cc Rocket before I bought my XE and the xe has plenty of power, handles amazing on street, dirt, sand and mud, goes everywhere, great gas mileage, looks gorgeous, sounds awesome and was discounted 25% off msrp. His loss someone else's gain.
Wanting this to be a Monster 1200 with dirt tires is not going to happen. It is a different tool for a different type of riding. However, your comment about not being able to overtake... This bike has so much torque. It has power to overtake at any legal driving speeds. I hope people take this bike for a test drive and see for themselves.
Hi Folks, Jan Gunnar from Norway here, i have had this bike for a year now, with no of this problems, except the issues abouth the wind protection and the heat from the exhaust(but in cold Norway, this is not a problem) . My only issue was a sensor that failed, and Triumph fixed it immediately. I have been riding the Tiger 1200 (2018), Bmw GS 1250(2019), both of them with small minor problems, fixed at warrianty.. But my really nightmare was a totaly hopeless KTM 1290 Super Adventure. I,m 6.5" tall, so i need a big bike, and the KTM was a VERY convincing bike when i bought it. Brand new! 3 totally casualtys in the first two months! Electronic and mecanically problems. Had to transport it back to the dealer with a boxcar. After some discussions with the dealer , i switched to Triumph(the dealer sell Triumph, KTM, Honda and Aprilia). The dealer was same as frustrated that i was, and they offered my a loan bike when the bike was repaired, fair enough. But back to the Scrambler XE: i,m SUPER satisfied with it, and it always give me the good smile when riding it : )) I have no problem with recommanding this bike : )
Thanks, Jan.
I bought the xc as its more road oriented. I love it for those day trip blasts. Sales person told me its better than the xe, less wallow, suspension wise. I own a dr 650 for adv riding. My tyre pressures have been fine with stock tyres. I keep it clean and use a decent coating on aluminium, no black marks after a years ownership. Never had it stall! Keyless did play up after a while but changed battery 6mths ago, fixed! Like any bike, it's advisable to take it to a suspension specialist and have it set up to your weight.
Perhaps you bought a Monday bike. Good luck with the ktm but I'm sure that if you go on forums you'll find as many "faults."
After a years ownership I still love this bike. Horses for courses.
Reviewer buying the wrong bike:
Doesn't have adjustable suspension at the flick of a switch
Needs more power for carrying 26 stones !!
Can't overtake comfortably over 70 mph
Poor wind protection
Rest:
It's a Triumph Scrambler 1200 M8 !!!
Why would anyone want to carry stones on their bike?
@@kirkmacpherson7945 😂🤣😂
@@kirkmacpherson7945 26 of them !!!
89hp isn’t enough? Lol.
I laughed at that too
89hp And a Mile Wide Torque curve!
Motorbike reviewers on TH-cam complain too much over nothing.
I wouldnt want a premium motorcycle with beginner bike power. Funny i own a monster 1200s that he owned before the scrambler :)
He's right, it's not enough.
Hello! I've got the 2019 1200 xc showcase and find all the issues mentioned negligible. The brushed aluminum is actually a non issue. My fuel cap was blackened when I bought it. Dealer said they'd replace it under warranty. When I got home, I took some polishing wax and vwahla! Nice clean brushed aluminum fuel cap! No clutch cable issues yet, I will keep an eye on it. Adjust your suspension and you'll have no issues! Take a few minutes and with the proper tool, suspension adjusted. If that's too difficult then what do you do when a chain needs adjusting?! Stalling, yeah I've stalled a few times too but who hasn't? I've hit a false neutral once, and that's because I was babying the shifter. Hot pipes?! What did you expect? Still though, it's not too bad. I did ride in shorts once and that was pretty hairy. I was afraid to put my right leg down. Then again, what the hell was I thinking?! I weigh 264lbs and have no problem passing and whipping around at 115mph. Note: not that I do that all the time of course. I just like to WOT every once in a while. Sure, my Victory Gunner hit 138mph before the rev limiter kicked in, but that's a different kind of a ride. The Scrambler clearly is not that bike. I feel the bikes got a little more juice than it gives though; darn ECU limiting! The only thing I noticed on mine, that you mentioned, is the tire issue. I'm not convinced it's an issue yet though. After three months I noticed the front tire looked low one day so I leaned on it and it was soft. Thought I had picked up a nail or something. I topped it off and it's been solid now for two weeks. I'll admit I never had that issue before though. Tires are regular pre trip stuff anyway and if this does become a regular thing well then, apparently the replacement tires will do the trick. Oh yeah, mines a daily driver too. I had the key fob out of range once, when I started the bike and then went back into the house. I saw the alert on the instrument panel but it went away pretty quick when I got back close to the bike. Sure, the keys required to lock the steering but that's a good thing. I have the spare key on my ring and when needed use that. My key fob flicks open nicely. I've never experienced an issue starting. The keyless ignition works well for me. Oh yes, I did need a new battery at 1,200 miles. It ended up having a bad cell. The dealer covered it under warranty. Most likely because the 2019 model sat for a while on the showroom floor or just got a shitty battery. It happens. I bought mine in May of 2020. Cruise control works great. Get up to speed and double press the button. I use the clutch to disengage. If I want a bit more speed, I roll the throttle a little and double press again. Just different than other setups but works equally well, if not better. After all, less buttons involved. All in all, I love the bike. Oh yeah, and who doesn't wind out the throttle and see what a bike can really do when riding a demo model?! Not this guy! I beat the shit out of that demo bike! Pro tip: don't buy the demo bike! Lol! I hope your Duke treats you like royalty!
You bought a Scrambler when you didn't even need nor want a Scrambler.
There’s a bloke here in Australia who’s taken his Scrambler 1200 XE on an adventure through highways and the outback. Yes, this can be used for long trips.
I enjoy no wind protection. Im very tall, and windscreens do nothing but cause turbulence for my helmet. Also, I like showing up to my office job with bug guts in my beard.
How does the scrambler fit you? I am 6'5 myself.
@@CCitis I’m 6’3 and it’s perfect mate .
I have had mine for 18 months and love it. However I agree with the brushed aluminium poor quality, the sticking key and my only other gripe is the quality of the spokes especially on the rear wheel. Love the way it rides, handles and when in sports mode it has more than enough power for me. Each to their own.
I just bought this bike. 2019 showcase model pretty loaded. I’ve had faster, more comfortable, better wind protected but I love it so far.
I've had:
2007 Speed Triple for 28k miles
2014 Triumph Scrambler for 33k miles
2014 Pikes Peak Multi for 29k miles
2017 Aprilia Tuono Factory 10k miles.
And now I have 2019 1200 XE...and honestly, I thoroughly enjoy the hell out of this bike. Plenty of power for NON race conditions, but even ripping on the highway and shooting up to 95mph in NO TIME is sufficient. My wife LOVES riding on the back and compares it to the Multi from a comfort standpoint (we're both on the lighter side...140lbs and 120lbs respectively).
I live in chicago and the suspension is PLUSH...even with the stiff setup from factory. And actually...as a track baby and newfound offroad..er, I like the stiff suspension---actually doing a lil trackday on August 11th..
hahahaha.
I'm sure I'll encounter problems, but the first 3/4 of this video provided a weak argument against this bike.
Enjoyed the video anyways!!
Hey, I’m in your area - Orland Park to be exact - and I too have the 2019 1200 showcase. I bought it a year ago and I have about 7000 miles on it.
@@maxgorecki3849 Did you get it at Motoworks Chicago?! Maybe I've see ya!!
I've got some projects in the works for it... we should link up and discuss!
How tall are you? I’m looking at this bike, but I’m worried about being too short.
@@jbows51 5"5...bahahahaha.
Don't get me wrong...she's taller than most bikes i've owned---but the only the time the weight has gotten the better of me was when playing tetris in my 1 car garage shared by 4 other bikes.
Hadn't really thought about the height before of since.
@@DValdez2321 That's good to hear! I'm around 5'8 so I wondered if this bike might sit too high to be able to stradle it properly. Glad you say it isn't an issue!
Thanks for the video, interesting about the tyres and some of the build quality. I have no such issues on my 1200XE but i also had more off road tyres fitted. I have done a couple of long rides when it was hot, and wind protection is what i expected. I love this bike, it is perfect for what i wanted and i already knew about the heat issues from the exhaust. At some point i'll de-cat it. Mine is based on the Guy Martin escape colours and has som nice extras. I have had no problems so far. Dissapointing to hear Triumph didnt help, i would have fought harder for result on that.
i als have a KTM 1290S SA, this is for touring so i get what you are saying about if the scrambler was your 2nd bike. However, if i had to choose 1 to keep, Triumph would win. Dont be fooled into thinking KTM customer (dont) care dept would show any interest if your KTM fails. the radiator alone cost me over £400, and a challenge to remove and replace. Better than paying over £400 in labour. Mine is now out of warrentee but i would not have expected a radiator to fail after 10k miles. they came out with all shite excuses to offer no asistance and because of this, i'll never buy another KTM. Yes its a great bike, but the triumph is more in the real world. You dont need 160BHP and i found the Scrambler over taking not an issue. regarding suspention settings for pillion, i got the dealer to set mine up on its first dervice. I guess with the girlfrends combined weight, probably 23 stone total, so less than you but rides really well. i dont bother to change it when riding alone. My KTM has all the electronic stuff for that but again i leave it set for 2 people.
So the looks of the Scrambler, its the best looking bike and triumph nailed it, sounds great even with the standard exhaust. i agree with switchman321 its lovelt to look at :). You were comparing your ducati with the scrambler for power, i never did that with mine, i just saw many positives with the Triumph.
Good luck with your KTM, easy to get speeding points on these, or worse.... just put some money by when out of warentee, and if you feel brave enough, do the work yourself.
BTW i was so impressed with the looks and reviews of the scrambler that i ordered mine without a test ride and got a loan to pay for it. Happy riding Bud. :)
We actually don't"overtake at 70mph" on a gravel road... Hence the Scrambler. We buy them for gravel, off-road or crappy potholed roads. For speed, there are miriads of sport, supersport, naked, street fighter and on and on and on...
I think that you have simply bought the wrong machine for yourself. I've owned 4 Hinckley Bonnies over the years and loved them all.
After having watched your review I am really wondering I you have bought this particular bike in the first place. From the comments and remarks you made in the video it seems that your expectations of motorcycling are significantly different from the actual purpose for which the bike was built. So no wonder that this particular bike does not suits you. I do not agree with the so called problems you describe as I have not experienced them so far at all and I have done approx. 10.000 km already on my Scrambler 1200 XC. So far after 20 months and 10.000 km I have not faced a single issue at all. I am super happy and satisfied with my XC as it meets perfectly my expectations of motorcycling. Well, finally to each his own but I would have appreciate a more objective review instead. The only thing I have to admit is that the stock tires do not suit the bike and limits its potential. Now I am riding on Michelin Anakee Adventure tires and the Bike feels completely different, much lighter and easier to handle, especially when surfing curvy roads, which I love to do. Now the rides with my Scrambler XC on the Michelin tires are even more fun to me.
There are loads of positive reviews so in my opinion it's good to hear the other side of the argument. And there are loads of press reviews that say it's a do it all bike - in my opinion, that's not right so this points that out too for anyone in doubt.
i agree,,,most of his probs are because he bought the wrong bike,,also who trys to engage cruise control when accelerating or decelerating ?,,nobs thats who
I ride a 37hp single cylinder XR650....I laughed my ass off when he said its only 89hp and 80ft lbs....
Hilarious review! Now I want one of these machines.
Hi, For many years the Metzeler tourance was my goto tyre for adventure bikes. Then about 4 years ago I had real problems with a brand new set, the rear especially kept going down... flat in 24 hours... the reason being the tyre bead was poorly formed.
My local garage that fitted it did lots of tests and gave me my cash back. With the feedback: "these tyres are now made in China and since then we have had alot of issues with them, we are not stocking Metzelers any more". So I suspect Triumph have saved a few quid and got a bulk deal on the Tourance, I would never fit them again. The problem was so bad it could have cost me my life!
I brought the wrong bike,winge winge moan moan.
No need to hate bud, just sharing his experience of that particular bike nout wrong with that, helps people who mite be looking to buy one for themselves.
Have to admit it’s hard to find someone willing to say all the negative with the few positives … people might give crap for it, but discussion is a positive thing. People don’t have to agree, but keep that discussion going. I’ve been looking at a scrambler for a bit and wondering if it’s gonna be my next bike. I’m currently on an r1200gs … which is for all intense and purposes an amazing bike. But it’s big and not nearly as comfortable as I was hoping for the long rides. You’ve given me a lot of good points to think on. Cheers.
I was very surprised at the HP on this as well when I saw it. But as someone used to a 36HP KLR650 I'm not sure I see how bad it could be. I struggle to overtake going 110 kmh on the klr but it's doable. I can't imagine it being an issue with less weight and 2-3 times the power?
I’ve been Normandy in France and Amsterdam it’s a fantastic all round bike it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned
The look of this bike is good
For its design I think it does
The job
Although most will be using it for city
It is a road/trail bike really
Ideal bike for Australian conditions
It is hard to design a machine that does everything
You want
Tour, commute and
bush bash
However
A great escape !
Bought one last week ,its fantastic best bike ive had in 30 years biking
Test road this bike at a demo days. Great looking bike and love the sound and low end torque. What a fun bike! I really wanted it but for 15k dollars and limited storage I needed it to be my only bike and couldn't justify buying for the long distance trips I like to ride because of high speed highways I need to ride to get into rural areas riding. You nailed it with your reasons.
The wind protection isn’t any good!!!! Eh, it’s a naked bike. I turned the vid off once he said that. Not enough power!!!! Just admit it mate, you bought the wrong bike. This vid makes you out to be a bit of a pillock.
The exhaust heat is noticeable especially here in hot Texas but I adapted to it and I rarely notice it now. I infrequently carry a passenger so that's a non issue for me as well. The cruise control could be much better but again I've adapted to it and it is a very minor quibble for me. A fair review though, You just have to be mentally and physically built for this bike. I ride naked bikes exclusively so none of the wind management gripes affect me.
are you running a decat?
Interesting video about specific issues with this bike, most of which I don't really relate to if not for OCD fueled cruise control. I'm currently considering this bike and still am after watching this, as all the issues you mentioned aren't much of a deal imo. But I still appreciate a lot having some honest unsatisfied rider's review, paints a better picture than the press do.
Dude, what were you thinking? Get a Gold Wing.
Really appreciate your insight on this one. I'm looking to trade my Street Twin in because of wind protection and top end power (motorway overtakes) so it's interesting to see it's still an issue with the 1200. Looks like the Tiger 900 may be worth a test ride.
Yeah, that's exactly what this bike isn't good at to be fair. There's a performance cam option from tec bike parts that supposedly makes a big difference (if you have the exhaust too). But I wasn't keen on engine mods.
@@averagebiker I've got various Tec parts (mirrors, luggage rack etc) but their other parts (Cams & Suspension) get dreadful reviews. Look forward to seeing your KTM review 👍🏼
Thanks for the video. Funny all the complaints from comments....just cause it isn’t for you doesn’t mean it isn’t great for someone else. Trying to decide between this and a tiger 900 rally pro. I know the tiger makes more sense but the scrambler just looks so cool!
Appreciate the perspective!
Yeah, it's a cool bike for sure - turned more heads than any other bike I've had! Tiger looks like a really good bike too 👍
I own a 2019 showcase xc. Here is what I don't like: 1. The seat is really thin and uncomfortable for anyone who weighs more than 200 LBS. I installed a Corbin Seat but haven't ridden with it as yet due to really bad weather and snow/ice. 2. The heat emanating from the cat converter is ridiculous. I am probably going to install a low pipe eventually. Will I sell it because of these issues? Possibly if I can't solve them to my satisfaction. I don't find anything wrong with the power or wind protection, the handling is fine and so far no tire pressure issues. However, I do check them daily when riding.
You deserve far more subs mate. The comedy value alone was worth it. Great vid
😅
After formerly owning a Street Scrambler, I found the Scrambler 1200 to be a fantastic bike.
First complaint - lack of horsepower. It's quick. It's got enough to wheelie all day long. If he were to spend a minimal amount of money ($200) to get the ECU tuned from DNK TuneWorks, there's a massive gain to be had, and it'll rev to the then increased 7800RPM redline with gusto, it would instantly fix the other complaints as well. Indian is having the same complaints right now with their FTR . Your $160 Booster Plug isn't going to do anything for that.
Second complaint - lack of wind protection. It's a flippin' ADV Bonneville with an upright handlebar turning your body into a sail. Welcome to reality.
Third complaint - pillion comfort. Turn up the preload, problem solved. Easy to do, i've done it before on my other bikes. If you're bike dumb, well...
Complaints about needing to adjust the clutch, or fouling bare alloy, take care of your stuff.
I have no issues with my CC, even if it's not as fancy as my BMW's CC.
Sounds like a step up to a GS or KTM (like he did) would be the perfect choice for a premium ADV bike that does everything well and doesn't make compromises to be an old school Bonneville and a naked ADV bike all in one.
I love that people who like this bike take my review so personally 😂
Hello. What do you like better for ripping around on for fun that has more juice and wind protection? Thanks.
Really good review.
This bike here in my country it's really expensive (22k us dollars).
And I'm really saving for it.
And after watching this, I still will.
Because I know how and i love low Rpm twin cylinder bikes.
And about the suspensión..
Well if u travel with a pillion u should stiff it up mate.
For example take my actual situation,
I travel alone like 37% of the time and the 63% with my wife.
So I kept the preload at a very stiff set-up and left it like that.
But good review.
I've had the XE for a few years. I don't know if I agree with the power thing for most people but I personally agree. I think I just have a need for speed. 0-60mph is nice on this bike and it got pull all the way to 4th gear. Top speed with the limiter is about 114 mph but the true top speed isn't that much faster, no more than 125.
I appreciate everyone’s opinion. That being said: About the wind protection. I get it. I’ve travelled all over. I’ve put a larger windscreen on my KLR650. I put a goofy-looking windscreen on my Honda CTX700N. I enjoyed the adjustable windscreen on my BMW 1150RTP. But for this bike? I literally don’t get knocked around the chest or head. And that’s on highways, regular streets, etc. And that’s also over longer trips, where I’m riding 300-400 miles each day for several days on end. I have not modded my bike at all yet, so not even the mini-windscreen that basically covers the exposed part of the display. My bike is the 2021 XC. 🤷🏽♂️
Good honest opinion, I have this bike and my experience is sort of similar, however it has so much character and receives so much attention, it makes me feel special compared to some bikes. I like the fact my scrambler is not super-fast, like my previous bike, it keeps surefooted. Enjoy your KTM hope it does not get you in to trouble. Did you get a good p/x Price for the Triumph?
It certainly turned heads! People seemed to appreciate the British cool of it, which is spot on. Reasonable part ex in the end (although still negative equity on the PCP). Inevitable after a year unfortunately!
@@averagebiker PCP is a pain in the arse i'm nearly at the end of it on my MT 07 and only have about £1000-£2000 equity for my next bike . I want more power for my next bike and quite like the scrambler style but not sure if this or the 1100 ducati scrambler have much more power than my MT
Thank You , Great video!!!! Im old skool, about to buy one of these and start ridin' again! And UPGRADE her- tires, rear and front fender, exhaust, luggage, guards, etc!! Really liked the Royal Enfield but so small/ but so cool.. Retired my V-Max'z (2- 1st GEN) about 15 years ago. I miss my V-boost ever day! Thee scrambler seems a great offroad/onroad dual propose bike after much online reseach!? .. Or what is the perfect dual bike options?? Shiny side up!
Can you adjust any spring preload with a remote adjuster on any bike? The remote adjusters are for damping adjustments.
Yes, loads - I have a remote preload adjuster on my current bike
I actually AM an old man, 66 this July but I do agree with your required power assessment. My bike weighs 400 lbs dry and has 120 BHP at the crank. Not a huge amount but perfectly adequate and doesn't cause me any anxieties when overtaking several cars. I do weigh a pretty light 9 stone 3 lbs undressed though.
Hey,
It seems you just bought the wrong one for the wrong use... That's all right, we all make mistakes but please don't complain about the bike for the wrong reasons. I bought it without test ride 14 months ago and it's an amazing bike ( on and off road), I really don't give a shit about wind protection ( I'm big and wide) and the torque is even too much for offroad use... Easy, powerful enough, uses really no gas ( 4.5 L- 100 Km on highway at 120 km/h; just nothing for a torquey 1200CC! and my 110 kg).
For the heat of the right side, I agree, no test did mention it properly... and even in winter riding it was ...ing hot! Mostly urban riding and almost not possible. I decatted it and now it's ok... but illegal, no warranty no more etc... but worth the value, the throttle response is way better.
Sell it , people want it and get a more adapted ride ( Multistrada! High torque AND power @higher revs, good wind protection and confort... high price... or a Tiger 1200 for more trail use, or Africa Twin which seems to be quite capable for all.
Scramblers are supposed to be rude, naked, basic, not really speedy but torquey...
My moms scrambler 900 has the same PSI issue. Told her about your fix. Thanks for the honesty!
Good review. I can easily see how those issues become annoying esp on such an expensive bike. Why dealerships fob off their premium customers (new £11K bike) and lose them rather than fix a simple issue is a complete mystery to me.
Stopped watching when the comment of "a 120hp as a minimum".........
You made a buying mistake. Don't blame the bike. What an unhelpful video.
It became unsuitable for me as my needs changed, but that doesn't mean the bike doesn't have flaws 🙂
@@averagebiker The major "flaws" you identified (lack of power, lack of wind protection and difficult to adjust suspension) are just nonsense. All of your examples of lack of power mention illegal speeds, you admit that a naked bike is likely to lack wind protection and the suspension being "difficult to adjust" is hardly a deal-breaker. As for the faults you mention, sure there is always room for improvement but really, are these reasons to avoid buying the bike?
Let's be honest, you suffered from buyers remorse and made a video to try to justify your position.
Fair enough, just sharing my opinions 👍
Bike Dork just whinging I’d say. 👍🏻
They aren’t great long distance / motorway driving. The only good bit for that application is the piss easy to use cruise control and that the version I have, the XC, is pretty planted at motorway speeds. Power wise, you need to mod it to get a bit more high end usable top end. My mrs loves going on the back of it!
You can be picky if you wish. I have a mate who has a Triumph 1200 and he is very happy with it, he has been riding 40 years, it is his only road registed bike, he does race Vintage bikes, 1971 CB500 (bored out to 600cc and running very hotted up), and he has had multiple bikes.
I have a Pan Am 2022 Special, it has keyless ignition and a key steering lock, no problem in my mind.
Suspension on the Pan Am is just amazing, with it's active adjustments and 4 different settings.
Power is amazing, 4 different levels between 80hp rain mode and 139hp (at the wheel or 150hp at the crank) sport mode.
Fuel economy is just fantastic, and 20km/lt open road or 16km/lt city riding.
I think the Triumph Scrambler is more classic looking than the KTM 1290 super GT, but that is one damn good looking bike, of course not as good as the Pan Am :)
You'll get a lot of hate pointing out negative aspects of this bike hehe Some are saying you should have bought a sport touring bike. I can say I had a Scrambler 900 which I could ride all day long no problem...I've always preferred naked bikes over bikes with fairings, cause you get wind, but 0 turbulence. For some reason (maybe handlebars being larger or higher) I felt very tired after just 200km when I could ride 5-600km on a day on my 900 or mt-01 or speed triple, or street triple, or superduke 990, or FZ09, or..... Add to that a harsh ride, and for the first time in my life a bike gave me back pain. Sold it, now have an Africa Twin and an old Nighthawk 750 and neither give me back pain or fatigue me half as much as the XE. I've owned tons of bikes but this is one of the very few I regretted buying, I didn't even keep 6 months, the many thousands of dollars I lost on it, were a small price to pay to get rid of it. I had the suspensions revalved and resprung and even then it was better, but was still harsher than most bikes out there (aside from sport bikes). Also had a sensor fail in the first 2000km that was replaced under warranty. After owning 2 other triumph scramblers, on paper this was the bike I was waiting for...in reality, I MUCH preferred my 2010 and 2015 scramblers. If I was to buy another scrambler I'd probably go with the Street Scrambler. Much simpler bike (less risk of electronic issues), and much improved comfort. Still sounds great, and enough power to enjoy.
THANK YOU.
HONEST comments.
GREATLY APPRECIATED. VERY Much.
I’ve got a 900 scrambler 2018 with 65 brake horsepower, Yes, there is wind blast and a five speed gearbox but they are long gears love it to bits, also got a Busa 195 brake horsepower no wind blast, but I have more fun on the scrambler.
I just test rode this, Im confused. I felt it had plenty of pull, even at around 120-150km p/h range. 🤔 Rode it on motorway, was flying trough, overtaking easily at 150km etc.
Im very surprised you think it's not powerful enough.
OMG. How cool! 4:30. As someone in the USA, I had no idea that the UK used "Miles Per Hour." For some reason after hundreds of videos, I never actually realized that you use the same speed format. That's really exciting, because we are apparently the only two major countries in the world that use MPH. It's always a challenge when watching motorcycle reviews from other countries, generally, just because everything is Metric. AND, you also use "retard" and "PSI." Perfect!!
Yeah, we have a weird mix of imperial and metric here!
What a wally no wind protection on an upright bike oh power down don't you read specs on bike before buying who puts bike on stand when still sitting on it especially with passenger
On e more thing that never comes out on test-rides is: You load the bike up for the road (or 2UP) and go into the mountains thats where you really notice the difference in power. I love the fact that my PanAmerica never runs out of juice, especially after exhaust and air-filter upgrade the bike just rips even at 3000 meters fully loaded.....
Based on your tires you want a adventure bike. Since it looks like u don't go much offroad which is what this bike is kinda for.
Does the front wind screen make sense? There is a difference?
A little bit yeah - slightly better but not much at all to be honest. It's worth getting but I still found it tiring sitting at 80mph for any length of time.
i'm on a trident 660 4700km in and the tires also lose pressure... michs road 5's
Just bought the bike and i have a damaged front fender and abviously also problems with key. Do you still have your original fender after selling the bike? Would you be interested in selling it? Best, Adrian
No, I thew it away I'm afraid
I'm currently deliberating between this and the speed twin. I rode the speed twin and really liked it. But imo the scrambler is a better looking bike (not rode one yet) I'm switching from a bmw s1000r so the lower power output is something that I wonder about. I always assumed the scrambler was just a taller speed twin but what you say about the weight/power ratio is interesting. Does the scrambler feel markedly slower than the speedtwin?
I didn't ride the Speed (although I think it would have suited me better) but the power difference isn't huge, at least on paper.
@@averagebiker I think I will have to organise back2back test rides before making a choice. From what you say in the video the speedtwin may well have been an easier change for you. I got the impression that I could keep up with most bikes on the road but it was near its limit to do so, which I fine as I'm looking for a bike I can feel a sense of achievement when I ride it well. Current bike is capable of so much more than me it feels like I'm a bit of a passenger sometimes (fun though!).
It’s a fun road bike that can be used on off road by very trained riders. Very beautiful, not practical for touring. Not practical to tour on it with two people. Hard to be joyful on highway long miles, like every naked bike, it prefers the back roads. This Bonneville bikes have a beautiful design, all of them. And the big scrambler is no exception. In conclusion, this is not a jack of all trades bike. But it is a excellent second bike!
Thanks for the vid - though a Triumph fan I'm not completely blind to Triumph's issues owning a TEX and T120. Stay safe
Beaitifull bike. I planned to buy it but from bike like this i want power to go from corner and on 2/ 3 gear do power wheelie. + i wanna space for passenger with luggage on the sides.I like travelling but i also like to drive really fast ob corners
I spent most of this review rolling my eyes. You bought the wrong tool for the job. It’s a Scrambler, not a sport tourer; expectations should be adjusted accordingly.
As for the problems you had, frankly, stock tires are nearly always crap. The only bike I’ve bought that came with good stock tires was my KTM 1090 Adventure R. The fact that your leak went away as soon as you changed tires tells you something. It’s not a problem inherent to the bike. I do wish Triumph would choose better stock tires, but this is by no means unique to them.
Everything else you’ve mentioned is easily rectified by basic maintenance (the clutch cable especially), or by adding aftermarket parts (larger windscreen, for example).
I’ve put over 20,000 miles on my Scrambler 1200 XE and love it precisely because of some of the things you’ve complained about. I love the simplicity, the airflow, the fact that it’s an engaging machine, not a floaty luxurious touring sofa. For me, it is the right tool for the job.
Hopefully the KTM will be more satisfactory for you. But don’t expect it to be maintenance-free.
Great post. Have you have any problems with your XE, Mark?
Have you done much touring with it? I'm looking at it for my next bike and think it might fit the role I'm looking for. Commuting, some rough back roads, and some longer trips.
@@ChrisJones-yt8zp It could do everything.
Thank you so much 👍
For all the reasons you’re mentioning I’m considering the Tiger 850
Any thoughts?
Sound like a great bike based on the reviews. I had one as a courtesy bike last year and found it a little lacking in torque for my liking. But well worth a test ride.
Thank You, I was going to get one of these, but. This video changed my mind. I just saw that these are assembled in Thailand, and their quality control is questionable at best.
Thanks for the review. Good things to think about.
I really enjoy my Scrambler XE, I only agree with 3 complaints about the bike 1 cruise control functionality is a bit odd . I find myself try to set it the first time and am really only enabling it instead. Not a deal break just odd. Wish it had the Tiger Rally pro cruise set up. 2 If you’re goin to go adjust the suspension for a passenger and no passenger, the bike is not set for that. 3 Exhaust is hot on the inner leg at slow dirt working speeds. I have not been unduly uncomfortable except at slow more technical off road speeds like when I got it stuck in the mud 🙄 - 1st gear work and at long stop lights on hot days otherwise for the nearly 5000 (probably +5’ tomorrow) it has been fine. On colder days here in Minnesota it’s almost welcome,lol. My high beam headlight was faulty from new and replaced under warranty. I would like to add that night time driving in deer country I was not entirely satisfied with the amount of road illumination with the stock headlamp I bought the Triumph led “fog” lights and they have dramatically improved that situation. Not as good as my Kawasaki C14 but still very livable so far.
I was not aware that 80 MPH and up was a common speed limit in the UK. I have to go to South Dakota to find that on the interstate. That would be windy like you’re riding a naked bike, oh wait... 😆 it’s exactly like that! Someone I know, says if your accelerating up to speed in sport mode it pulls nice and hard up to 90-100. Just watch 1st gear because it’s short and you’ll bang the rev limiter quickly and get a drastic shut down. It needs that lower gear because of the reduced flywheel mass from a standard 1200 Bonnie and you’ll still use the clutch a lot when the terrain get gnarled for a 460 pound bike.
Oh and if you time it just wrong on a warm engine (because you’re used to all that torque) and don’t give it a little throttle as you take off from a stop, you’ll stall the motor. Thank goodness for electric start! It has happened to me a couple times but I think I just botched the coordination of clutch and throttle by a couple milleseconds. Like I let out the clutch just before the first firing of the two hits and snuffed it. I am getting better though!
I have almost worn out my factory rear tire and am waiting to see how she will behave on gravel with new shoes!!! I have ridden dirt bike and this is a bit more portly than a true dirt bike but eats freeways a lot better. I am looking for some gentler trails to start learning how to deal with this beast off road more without beating the pretty thing up. So far I have found a (singular ) minimum maintenance road and it was great except for the mud and stock tires. What a workout! Thought I was going to need a tank retriever the first time I tried to lift the rear tire out of 8” of river mud.
Anyone else got big feet and wish the foot pegs were just out a bit wider for stand up riding? Some might fault the bike but as I am larger than the average transportation design model for adult males I am used to cars, trucks, bikes, bus seats, airplane seats, restaurant booths, stadium seats, and such not fitting right. #bigguyproblems
Did he forget to mention how excellent the hand warmers on the XE are!? Those things have kept my hands from becoming icicles a few times. I have ridden in 50 degree weather with med weight leather gloves at 65 MPH for 35 miles and not had to put the heaters on high, usually low or sometimes med has worked fine when riding in weather most guys are wearing their chaps for warmth in. I don’t have chaps and typically don’t ride this bike in temperature under 55 unless the weather app lied about the temperature. Otherwise my legs and torso get too cold but my hands are fine. Maybe I will need to get some cold weather gear to extend my riding season? Did I mention I really enjoy riding this bike? It reminds me of all the things I enjoy about riding. It has gut fulls of torque for general throttle twisting., upright riding position for scoping out the landscapes , good suspension for staying in control on highway or gravel, it’ll do 70 for tankfuls of fuel, it sounds good, looks good, rides good, makes me smile when I spit gravel with the rear tire.. Granted it’s not a sport bike so if that’s your favorite flavor you’ll be happier on a different mount but if for me this bike checks so many of the right boxes I can’t think of what is in second place behind this bike for me, maybe a Tiger Rally Pro 900 is probably what I would say. I might have bought it instead if they were available when I bought Scrambler I did are it for a test ride and while it’s character is different it seems quite capable and the passenger preload is remote adjustable. Otherwise in no particular order it’d probably be a KTM 790 ( haven’t ridden these last 3 so just specification picks) Yamaha Super Tenere’ 700 or the new Africa twin with cruise control.
hello can I ask what brand is the stand that you use in the video? thanks
Oxford
@@averagebiker thanks
Just watched this again. The best review of this bike on here.
This is a great ad for Triumph!
funny thing that its almost like with boats you hardly ever want to go down in power or size :) I had a modified S1000XR that showed 170HP (wheel) after that everything else seems just slow...
I owned a duc desert sled but sold it. Next season I go for the 1200XE
I have a monster 1200. No complaints aside from a ride by wire malfunction that almost got me rear ended on an off ramp. I've been thinking about the 1200 xe so I can do a little dirt riding. Love the look and feel. But I settled on the 900 rally pro for the wind protection and larger gas tank. Settled.... heated seats and grips. I'm getting old. Still have the monster though. I get attached to things way to easy. Enjoyed your rant. 😊 hope your enjoying your 1290.
Loved my Monster 1200 👌
I have the XC and I also have a “daft” huge screen on it which I take off when not going 65+ I also tour with it and have no problem over taking I sometime drop down to 5th and it takes off. Great video just thought I’d share my experience
Its strange that the engine would be tuned to have that power curve, almost like its maybe meant to ride offroad or something 🤔
Very interesting. I could deal with most of those issues pretty easily but the loss of air pressure in the tires and the cruise control would drive me crazy. Thanks for the info.
But there is no way I'm buying a KTM and dealing with all their headaches.
Yeah, the tyre pressure thing really pissed me off. I sold the ktm after a year - CONSTANT electrical problems! Who'd have thought?! I now have an MT-10 - fantastic bike, 2 years in.
@@averagebiker thank you for the update. Good to know.
Thanks was ready to buy one !
I had a 1200 scrambler for a year, several thousand miles on it and had no issues, I loved it, I didn’t like the key fob either. I hate that you had so many issues, mine was a 2022 model, maybe they heard you and fixed some of this ?!
Hey mate, How’s the heat on your right leg? Coz I live in tropical country. Not sure if the heat on the exhaust system would be bothersome or tolerable on my right leg especially on my backride. Ty
@@TaraTolMoto it really wasn’t an issue, especially while riding. In traffic sitting idle on a hot day you can feel a little warmth but never hot as some of these people say. It’s such a great bike, you’ll love the excellent suspension, handles great. Lots of power. I’ve owned a lot of bikes over the years, im 59 years old now, and that 1200 scrambler is tops on my list of bikes I really loved having 👍 ! Good luck my friend !
Thanks stuff like the tyre pressure and the cruise control would do my nut it big time totally get it !!!! And I would feel gutted also
Scramblers are supposed to be light, or aren't they?
I think this bike could use a better camshaft profile for higher RPM. It would put it over 100hp for sure and raise top speed. Just needs like 1000rpm more
You can get a high lift cam from TEC bike parts...
@@averagebiker I was looking into that! Is there a convenient way to get rid of the 6th gear speed restriction? Probably just have the dyno guy tune that out with the new cam if not
@@sciencemilitia1853 dunno, never looked into it...
I have an XE. 2000 miles in and it's stellar. Yes the exhaust is hot but you can filter through traffic. Yes the aluminium spoils but that's life. Yes the keyless system is a bit tempermental, it's actually due to the battery not seating in the fob tightly, wedge something in behind it and it's perfect.
I've taken the 1200XE off roading and it blew me away. It swallowed bumps and jumps like they were nothing.
If you got one of these to purely ride on the road then you fucked up, it's a motocross bike on steroids.
Review the Royal Enfield Classic 500! :)
A bike that goes perfectly on the road and perfectly in the dirt doesn't exist, there must be compromise with a dual bike within the parameters of a Scrambler XE. Weight, dimensions, suspension, power etc.....
Hard to compare the Triumph to a Ducati sport bike, or a Paris/Dakkar🤔
Tires that loose pressure sounds like an issue with the tire manufacturer. Or put tubes in.
Metal can be protected with a product like Mother's alloy Polish.
Heat from the exhaust is something that all the road testers mention in reviews.
Clutch cable will settle in the running in phase and issue with screen is a dealer issue.
Sounds like you have a dealer who isn't giving you the service you expect, with fueling and electronics.
Nice review - interesting your bad experience with the tires, I never had any issues and with how you explained it I would almost think it could be an issue with the wheel, or a fault in the tyre manufacture. Shame you didn’t enjoy the bike but I suppose it’s all dependent on what you expect it to do!
Thanks Mate for this vid, You just warn me not to change my 1290SAS for the scrambler. But, damn, 1200 scrambler looks reaaaaally good...
Thanks, this helped me make a decision about my next purchase!
Dude...the bike is great. Get it.
Me too. I will Not but one.
For some reason, this video reminded me of NFS most wanted map!! Does any one know if this is the route/city which inspired that game map?
Don't know the game, but that was Guildford in Surrey...
People who whine about wind protection need to get more core strength and shut up.
Or a bigger windscreen 🤓
Is this bike reliable I will be putting 18k a year
I had loads of little issues with mine but nothing to with the engine or electrics (apart from keyless not working properly). I put about 6k miles on it in 12 months.
So essentially you just purchased the completely wrong motorcycle. None of this has put me off quite liking it as I’m already aware of the personal grievances.
Best bike I’ve ever owned after a decat and a change of silencer.