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/1542841
P104 RIDE REVIEW I 2026 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE RANGE O ne can't look at a Scrambler 900 and not want to get on one, turn left, and take off to the middle of nowhere. For 2026, the $12,395 900 has been given its most comprehensive technical update to date. At the heart of the Scrambler 900 is the 900cc parallel-twin, one that, given the bike's ability to go off-road at the rider's whim, is more than powerful enough and makes you question why you'd want the motor slung between the big brother 1200's frame rails. Throttle response is smooth and direct, and you get multiple ride modes from the ECU, but there's one big problem in which the design department overruled the, er, riding department—that exhaust. Pretty as it is, the exhaust sits right against the rider's inner right leg, so when you're sitting down, you'll get a nice warming over, as long as you have riding jeans on. If you don't, you'll get a not-so-nice burn. The second issue is that when you're standing up and riding off-road, the exhaust is routed so it forces your right leg out at an angle, leaving you unable to plant your right foot on the footpeg. How this very large riding conundrum got official HQ approval to go into production is beyond me, because it ruins the one area of riding that is literally in the bike's name. Anyway, back to the bike. Triumph has introduced a newly developed tubular steel frame for 2026, paired with a cast-aluminum swingarm that replaces the previous steel unit. The combination reduces weight and sharpens the bike's response to rider inputs. Despite the exhaust problem and thus the riding stance, the Scrambler's steering feels light and accurate, particularly when transitioning through a series of bends or navigating uneven pavement. The suspension is also new from end to end. Conventional forks are gone, replaced by 43mm upside-down Showa units up front. At the rear, preload-adjustable Showa piggy- back shocks take over. While adjustment re- mains simple, the improvement in damping control is obvious on the road, the Scrambler feeling more settled over rough surfaces and While certainly a looker, the exhaust pipe routing wrecks off-road riding. Just look at the angle of Rennie's right foot on the peg.