Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 XC and XE models try to plant a foot in two separate moto worlds, and they mostly succeed. By looks alone, you’d peg these as classically styled casual scrambler rigs, but dig deeper—and take a gander at the price tag—and you’ll wonder if maybe they’re meant more for the hardcore adventure crowd. Both the 1200 XC and XE carry the same identically tuned 1,200cc parallel-twin engine and are made to handle street scenarios as well as off-road adventure, and both pack top-shelf components, including triple-disc Brembo brakes, Showa forks, and Öhlins shocks, tubeless wire-spoked 21- and 17-inch wheels, LED lighting, electronic rider aids, and a TFT display that is Bluetooth and GoPro camera enabled. Of the two, the XC model is a more pavement-minded all-rounder while the up-spec XE brings better off-road capability with longer-travel suspension, cornering traction control, and an Off-Road Pro riding mode.
The Scramblers live up to their billing for the most part too; on our First Ride, we felt the “suspension action of both models is phenomenal for a scrambler-type motorcycle and excellent if you put them in the adventure segment.” The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and XE fit into the same pool as the BMW R nineT Scrambler, Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled, and Indian FTR 1200, among others, but with their varying levels of on- and off-road performance, the XC and XE might just be the most versatile of the bunch.
For 2020, Triumph rolled out a specially outfitted, limited run Bond Edition Scrambler (MSRP: $18,500), but that’s already sold out, and there haven’t been any major updates to either the regular XC or XE model this year.
