Australian Road Rider — August 2017

Triumph was — and still is — yet to build a

bike that lacks in the braking department. The

Scrambler continued the tradition admirably.

APPOINTMENTS

In a bit of a fi rst for a bike of this ilk, there were

optional heated grips and a very neat-looking

handlebar brace and pad, headlight guard and

loud exhaust. The simple fact is, if you are

buying one of these, look for one with the pipe

fi  ed. It won’t cost any more and it sounds

grouse. Yep, the instant and “in-your-face”

nature of the bike is well served by the less-

than-subtle bark of the Scrambler optional unit.

The bike featured nice spoked wheels (19in

front, 17in rear) and, if they were there to pay

homage to the whole McQueen thing, they

couldn’t be cast. That simply would not do.

The bike lacks a tacho and it is missed. It’s

just nice to know where a bike makes its power

and being able to apply that to suit riding

situations. Fuel range is reasonable at 16 litres

and seat height an accessible 825mm.

There’s no doubt the bike looks like an

adventure tourer with its wide bars and

chunky knobbies and indeed acquits itself all

right in light off -road going. But there is

limited tie-down facility, which is not aided

by that high pipe, precluding the use of throw-

over panniers.

Seat-to-peg relationship is good and the

bars were set a li le forward for me at 178cm,

but bigger blokes suggested they were in just

the right place for them.

It’s a simple ma er of loosening off the

clamp and spinning the bars into the position

that best suits. Good adjustability there.

ON THE ROAD

The Scrambler tracks well enough once coaxed

down into a big lean and is nicely light at 205kg

(dry), but the simple fact is that handling is

let down on the tarmac by the Bridgestone

Trail King 101 tyres that were the fashion of

“Bung on a set of Ikon

shocks or up-spec to

something like a brace

of Öhlins and you’ll be

all set”

o

AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER | 79

USED BIKE BUYING: 2006-2008 TRIUMPH SCRAMBLER

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