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 P88 with 4.7 inches of trail in deliver- ing an already off-road-friendly 7.87 inches of wheel travel. But the dirt-focused XE is even more Extreme, with a 61.8 inch wheelbase and fatter 47mm USD Showa fork set at a 26.9° rake with a hefty 5.08 inch trail in pursuit of greater stability off road. Both versions feature twin- shock rear suspension courtesy of Ohlins, with the XE delivering 9.8 inches of rear wheel travel thanks to the specially-devel- oped ultra-long 20.4 in. laydown rear shocks from the Swedish suspension sultans Ohlins, each with dual coil-over variable-rate springs whose overall format is a further look in that rear view mirror of yesteryear. The XE's slightly longer wheelbase comes mainly courtesy of a longer twin-sided anodized aluminum swingarm that's 22.7 inches in length, compared to the XC's 21.5-inch item. This throws more weight onto the front wheel in pursuit of extra grip, and the fact that this is a 21-inch item on both bikes (matched to a 17-inch rear) denotes the seriousness of their focus on off-road use. The XC comes fitted with Metzeler Tour- ance tires, while knobby Pirelli Scorpion Rally off-road friendly rubber adorns the XE. Both bikes feature wire wheels carry- ing side-laced Akront alloy rims, which permit tubeless tires to be fitted. Perhaps surprisingly, given the off-road focus of both models, their brake package is totally sport bike-derived, with twin 320mm front discs gripped via a radial master cylinder by Brembo's benchmark M50 monoblock radially mounted calipers. There's a single 255mm float- ing rear disc with twin-piston caliper, and you do need to take care riding either bike in the dirt in Off-Road Pro mode not to use those hefty front brakes even re- motely hard, else you will, ahem, hit the dirt after you've locked the front wheel with the ABS switched off—or in my case go for a deep immersion mud bath! AN ALL-DAY RIDE? Standing on the footpegs you're aware of the heat coming off the exhausts on the right, and this could be more of a com- plaint in warmer conditions than a winter's day in Portugal. The wide reversible and adjustable handlebar that's 65mm wider on the XE gives good leverage, but thankfully it can be rotated if you're going to stand up on the footpegs, otherwise the clutch/ brake lever are uncomfortable to operate. The updated TFT dash has an option of two different displays, and features a more advanced version of the same five-way joystick-operated system on the Tiger 800, Tiger 1200, Speed and Street Triples. Three-stage heated grips are standard on the XE as is keyless ignition, a USB charger, single-button cruise control, and an IMU/Inertial Measurement Unit permitting Cornering ABS (on the XE only) and five-stage Traction Control. And in what Triumph claims to be a world first, both Scrambler 1200's feature an integrated GoPro control system, facilitat- ing GoPro camera operation via connectivity from an optional Bluetooth module. The connec- tion and control are displayed on the TFT dash, enabling intuitive video and photo operation via the switchgear once the optional Bluetooth connectivity module Stuart Wood is on a roll at the moment, helping Triumph produce some very fine motorcycles indeed.