Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC 2019 — Specifications

The question isn’t who invented the scrambler, but rather: how far can you push the concept before it tips into another category? With its Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC, the British manufacturer provides an answer that is as expensive as it is convincing. This is far from a DIY garage project; here, we're talking about a premium machine weighing 205 kg dry, packed with technology and sporting a price tag approaching €15,000. For this price, you buy much more than just a retro silhouette.

Beneath its revisited classic appearance, the beast hides a lion's heart. The 1200 cm³ twin cylinder, borrowed from the Bonneville but reworked, delivers 90 horsepower at 7400 rpm and, above all, a massive torque of 110 Nm from 3950 rpm. These figures place the Scrambler 1200 XC well above its little sister, the Street Scrambler, and allow it to hold its own against competitors like the BMW R nineT, even if the latter retains an advantage in pure power. The real magic happens during acceleration: this engine is a luxury tractor, equally comfortable swallowing the highway as it is exiting a forest path. The announced consumption of 4.9 L/100 km is a pleasant surprise for a mechanical unit of this caliber.

But the true argument of this Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC is its chassis and equipment. The 45 mm Showa inverted fork and the Öhlins double shock absorbers offer a 200 mm stroke, a madness for a motorcycle labeled "scrambler." Combined with a 21-inch front wheel and a seat height of 840 mm, it displays serious off-road ambitions. The Brembo M50 brakes, usually reserved for sportbikes, recall that it can also behave like a fast roadster. It is this assumed duality that makes its charm and its price.

The TFT digital dashboard and the plethora of electronic aids (disengageable traction control, adjustable ABS, cruise control, riding modes) bring it closer to a modern adventure motorcycle. The connectivity option for navigation and GoPro control may appeal to the tech-savvy touring rider. However, this level of finish and complexity can intimidate the purist who is looking for a simple and playful machine for light off-road use. The weight, although controlled, is felt in slow maneuvers or very technical terrain.

So, who is the customer of this Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC? It's the demanding globetrotter who wants a unique machine, capable of digesting long distances in relative comfort while having the assurance of being able to leave the pavement without trembling. It is also the aesthete who can afford to buy a motorcycle with impeccable retro looks but packed with technology. Faced with a more radical and lighter Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled, or a more touring and playful BMW R nineT, the Triumph plays the card of premium and high-end versatility. A test ride of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC is necessary to understand if its balance and its price justify the investment. For a more decisive opinion, it will be necessary to push it to its limits, but one thing is certain: it redefines the standards of its category.