Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1073388
FIRST IMPRESSION P86 ter of course for all except from first to second, where you must use the clutch to help negotiate neutral. TORQUE FOR DAYS What all that earlier number crunching means is that the engine powering this new pair of Scrambler 1200 models is more than adequately potent, while also meaty in its delivery thanks to that wide spread of torque from very low revs. It pulls cleanly away in top gear from as low as 1800 rpm without a trace of transmission snatch, with that early peak torque being maintained all the way to the soft 7500 rpm rev limiter. It's an invigorating and involving motorcycle to ride. Mainly thanks to the lighter crankshaft and other internals it's eager to build revs without being snatchy off the mark, yet remains a relaxing easy rider if you choose to hold a gear, and surf the torque curve. The first touch of throttle is smooth and controllable in all riding modes. The Sport-riding mode has a crisp but controllable throttle response, and its fuel mapping is that word again: impec- cable. Both Scramblers are responsive without being fierce or snatchy, even from a closed throttle, and in spite of the lightened crank, I ended up us- ing third gear much the time, even in traffic—everywhere except on longer straight stretches. There, 4000 rpm in top gear equals 80 mph, which makes a nice cruis- ing speed for this high-barred motor- cycle—go much faster than that, and you'll have to hold on so increasingly tightly that it becomes tiring, though for those who insist on doing so, this is very much a ton-up trailie. But third gear will take you from 25 mph at 2000 revs all the way to 75 mph at 7000 rpm where it's best to change up as you feel the engine start to get a little breath- less—strange, since peak power still hasn't been attained—so holding this for miles on end, even through towns and villages, makes this a semi-automatic motorcycle whose broad spread of torque is especially useful off-road. MATTERS OF SPRING The spin-off spec from the Thruxton is confined to the engine, because the modular format chassis used by the Scrambler 1200 duo are brand-new, with a tubular steel duplex cradle frame mated to aluminum engine plates. But each version has a subtly different ge- ometry, with a shorter 60.2 in. wheel- base for the tarmac-focused XC, which also sees its fully adjustable 45mm Showa USD fork set at a 25.8° rake Extra-long travel suspension for the XE means it'll go places even proper adventure bikes won't.