Goodbye goose hello Triumph

[dave1068]

Hey gang,

I know we are an we-love-all-MC-group but recently am minimizing to just 1 bike and picked up a 2023 Triumph Scrambler 1200xc with only 380 miles from a  dealer (this always baffles me but so be it) Never had a bike w. Ohlins suspension and its amazing! As much as Ill miss the shaft drive of the goose, this is a hard bike not to like. Ride safe this season!

[faffi]

Congrats

Very pretty bike that will give plenty of performance and pleasure. Having had an Ohlins shock on my F800ST I know first hand how great they are

[s1120]

I rode one last year and ill tell you, it was the first bike ive been on in many years that the second I got on it, it felt perfect! Fit was great, handled great, breaks are AWESOME, and was just "the one" .   Sadly money wasn't ready to flow, but if down the road... we all know the story. Enjoy the new ride!!

[dave1068]

I rode one last year and ill tell you, it was the first bike ive been on in many years that the second I got on it, it felt perfect! Fit was great, handled great, breaks are AWESOME, and was just "the one" .   Sadly money wasn't ready to flow, but if down the road... we all know the story. Enjoy the new ride!!

Funny you mention that, I test rode it and couldnt find anything wrong with it. I actually took a out a new Stelvio and liked it but at about 17k, the suspension could have been mich better (I felt every bump) I then took out a leftover HD Pan American and as much as I wanted to like it, it threw 2 fault codes on the test ride, (they are known to be quirky-but it was a 23 left over) I stumbled onto the Scram and the carnival red is striking in person and after the test ride, I was sold!

[tazio]

Congrats!
Funny, but this is the one bike that had my eye straying from the mighty GRiSO, if only for a moment...

[Dirk_S]

I was in love with those Scrambler 1200s when I first saw them, and the love only continued after I test rode one. If I were able to own 5 bikes, it surely would be one. That said, I’m hoping that these NTX forks and 21” wheels that I plan to build and throw onto my V7III will suffice for that classic ADV / scrambler look and performance I’m seeking. At least it should be about 30 lb lighter than the 1200.

[slopokes]

Lighter is better…

[Dave Swanson]

My riding buddy bought his XE new a few years ago and likes it.  I have had the opportunity to ride it a number of times.  A very cool bike.  Would I trade my V85TT for one? - NO, but I get the appeal.

Last summer I did get a call that he was stranded and needed a mate with a trailer to pick him up.  After checking all the usual suspects it required a trip to the dealer where they found that the ECU was defective.  Unfortunately it was out of warranty and the bill was a pretty penny! 

[lti_57]

Enjoy the new scoot
Triumph has don’t such a good job with their line of bikes and the quality

[kballowe]

Congratulations on your new ride !

Be sure to post up how it's working out for you.

Oh, and more pictures !

[Vagrant]

Is that a newer Kendon trailer or did you fabricate the aluminum floor?

[Moparnut72]

I had a T120 Bonneville. I got to despise the chain drive. The first chain drive bike I had owned in almost 50 years and will be the last. I got so tired of cleaning up the mess. The most effective chain lubes go everywhere. I converted it over to belt drive, expensive but well worth it. For a variety of reasons I traded it for a Mandello.   
kk

[Dave Swanson]

Is that a newer Kendon trailer or did you fabricate the aluminum floor?

That Kendon is about 22 years old.  The aluminum floor is factory.   It's been responsible for me dragging home many bikes over the years.   

[Vagrant]

Thanks, I have a 1997 Kendon at home I haven't used in 10 years. I had bigger bikes then and didn't feel comfortable loading them by myself. When I get back home I will have to look at it. I don't remember it having that much flooring. Possibly an accessory?
If I were smart I'd sell it as I plan to keep my 2017 Tundra forever.

[dave1068]

Thanks guys, just added a topbox courtesy of harbor freight for $42, and pretty durable, prior owner who put 350 miles on it did add the factory heated grips which get very hot, plus handguards and the factory top rack, plus there's ones other cool feature that the dealer must have programmed w/out me asking. (see pic)

[Turin]

Triumph makes a really nice bike. Congrats on the scrambler.

[JJ]

Triumph makes a really nice bike. Congrats on the scrambler.

Agreed...That 1200 is a very capable and versatile bike...CONGRATS!!

[faffi]

I had a T120 Bonneville. I got to despise the chain drive. The first chain drive bike I had owned in almost 50 years and will be the last. I got so tired of cleaning up the mess. The most effective chain lubes go everywhere. I converted it over to belt drive, expensive but well worth it. For a variety of reasons I traded it for a Mandello.   
kk

Belt drive come with their own downsides, as do chain and shaft final drives. No system is perfect, but having owned all three, for me belt is the least attractive.

When I have chain drive bikes, I spray the chain after a, but far from every, ride with WD40, then wipe it clean and fairly dry with a clean rag. This is all. And typically the chain and sprockets last 25k miles with this treatment. My son's MT-07 has currently 21K miles on the clock, and very little wear on the driving parts, despite infrequent cleaning and lubing sessions with WD40. There is very little mess with this methode.

[Huzo]

I don’t “hate” chains in any tangible way. A decent quality chain, nicely bedded into matching age sprockets is just fine. That dull nicely lubed look that the rollers have when it’s doing its job happily, is a wonderful thing to see.
When you ride next to someone and can see the chain spinning over the rear sprocket with a smooth run along the bottom span, it’s nice to behold.
I like that gentle sway that you see when the rear suspension soaks up a road undulation and the chain goes about its business.
Nothing shits me more than a dry chain with rollers that look like they’ve been chrome plated with rusty links and you can hear the poor thing squeaking as the rider departs.
A nicely maintained o ring chain in mid life with a light smattering of lube spots on the rear rim is a thing of beauty and symbolises a well fettled ride.
My Triumph 1050 Sprint ST would do 30,000 trouble free kilometres on a chain and sprocket set, never ever had a problem.

[inditx]

Nice bike!
I test rode an XC and liked it but it was too cramped for 2 up.
Fine bike though.
Moparnut72, I like the belt drive conversion!
inditx

[twowheeladdict]

Congratulations!  I test rode the XE and liked everything but the price for a bike with limited use.

[tommy2cyl]

Lighter is better…

That is my current combination, exact same V85 but Khaki green  400 X.  Just getting to know the little Scrambler but enjoying the lightness.
The Triumph Scrambler line up now has several options.  I like them all.  Congrats Dave, nice bike.

[Vagrant]

Huzo, the only person in the world that can make a chain sound like a good thing.

[Moparnut72]

It is the accepted that a chain is the most efficient means of transmitting power to the rear wheel. I disagree after installing the belt I could immediately feel the difference moving the bike out of the shop. It took less effort to move it around. I would do it again but I will never own another bike with a chain. I almost didn't get the Triumph because of the chain. I owned my last chain drive bike prior to the Triumph in 1968 when my dealer talked me into a BMW, an R50/2. I would like to have another of those again but not at the prices they fetch today. 
kk

[PeteS]

I have had chain drive bikes since the ‘60s. Not a big deal and modern O ring chains require little maintenance. My Tiger XC only has 23K miles on it but I think I have only had to adjust once, wheels are black so I don’t get anal about cleaning them but just put it on a stand and hold a rag against a spinning wheel to clean it.
I like the retro Triumph twins. Only ridden a few including a hopped up early model. With simple intake, exhaust and timing mods it felt as quick as my Norton. I suspect a 1200 would be a blast.

Pete

[rocker59]

cool feature that the dealer must have programmed w/out me asking. (see pic)

Will you be naming the bike "Hal" ??

[Huzo]

Huzo, the only person in the world that can make a chain sound like a good thing.

When the pinion in your Norge bevelbox dumps it’s pre load destroying it’s innards and the only thing saving you from a $3,000 outlay is one P Roper, it sort of crosses the mind.
Still $1,300 but a massive saving. Four hundred bucks and 2 hrs. of your time would have been all you’d need to replace a chain and sprocket set.

[faffi]

Sure there are good things with chain final drive. It is very cheap to alter overall gearing to your personal preferences. It is very cheap to replace compared to a failed shaft final drive. You can usually get going fairly easily if the chain should snap in the middle of nowhere, unlike with a damaged shaft drive. Belts can also be a pig to replace. As to efficiency, it doesn't really matter for street use. A worn out, badly lubed chain will rob more power than shaft drive systems, for instance.

[Huzo]

Also belts need to be at or close to optimal tension all the time when in use. This means that the swingarm pivot should be as close as realistically possible to the front drive sprocket and the sprocket centres (front and rear), should pass as close as practicable through the centreline of the swingarm pivot.
I think the Bimota had the swingarm pivots outboard of the front sprocket, so they would be on the same axis as the front sprocket.
This ensures minimum shortening/lengthening, of the sprocket centres distance as the swingarm rotates.
 A chain can accept a fair amount of alteration in the centreline distance when in use, but a belt, not so.
Now a bike that has not been designed with this requirement regarding a belt, will not just take the belt and necessarily work fine from the get go.
A Buell is an example of a drive system that needed (and got), a jockey wheel to maintain tension.
If you just throw two pulleys and a belt on something that does not have the swingarm pivot on the sprocket centreline, you’ll either have it perfect unladen and cruelly tight when loaded, or dramatically loose when lightly loaded and acceptable when fully loaded.
It will be a constant compromise.

[faffi]

Good point, Huzo.