News & Events

14
November
2016
TRIUMPH ANNOUNCES AN UPDATED SCRAMBLER, BUT WHAT HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED?

TRIUMPH ANNOUNCES AN UPDATED SCRAMBLER, BUT WHAT HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED?

Article Courtesy  Revzilla

Triumph has  released an updated version of their Scrambler based on the successful Street Twin platform. Unfortunately, details surrounding the bike’s specifics are extremely vague, leaving much to the imagination.

For example, Triumph claims that this Scrambler will be “more capable,” yet they haven't provided a spec sheet or other evidence to back up the assertion. They say that the bike will have a “dedicated new Scrambler chassis… longer rear shocks, wider handlebars, 19-inch front wheel, dual-purpose Metzeler Tourance tyres and uprated brakes.” But they don’t say whether these are changes to the existing Scrambler or changes to the Street Twin platform.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the line, this is an important differentiation because the existing Scrambler is built on the old 865 cc air-cooled platform. The rear shocks on that bike offer 4.17 inches of travel, whereas the new Street Twin’s shocks feature 4.72 inches of travel. So when Triumph says the new Scrambler gets “longer rear shocks,” I am left wondering if that simply means it’s getting the Street Twin’s setup.

The same goes for the “uprated brakes.” If I had to make a guess, I would say that this simply means that the new Scrambler is going to get the updated ABS setup currently found on the Street Twin. They did say that the ABS on the Scrambler will be switchable, so unlike the Street Twin, you’ll be able to disable it when riding off-road.

A lot of the rest of the info looks very similar to those features found on the Street Twin. The Scrambler will be outfitted with switchable traction control and a torque assist clutch. It will be powered by the same 270-degree, 900 cc High Torque parallel twin. While the previous Scrambler’s engine was tuned differently than others in the Modern Classic lineup, there is no word as to whether it will be tuned differently than the current mill, putting out a claimed 55 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and 59 foot-pounds of torque at 3,230 rpm.

The one thing that’s glaringly obvious is that this bike is completely different from what Triumph teased us with last week on their Instagram page. Studying the photos, that bike appeared to have much more travel built into its suspension, as well as increased ground clearance and mag wheels.

For the time being, we are left guessing. Will this be a more dirt-worthy version of the existing 865 cc Scrambler or an exercise in style laid out on the Street Twin platform? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.