alex

107 months ago

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Style in the Malibu Hills: Triumph Scrambler 2015

Winding Way, Malibu, California, United States of America

At its heart, the Triumph Scrambler is the “off-road” version of the Bonneville, which means a parallel twin 865cc engine and gobs of retro styling. The most obvious being the high and very shiny pipes which make the Scrambler look like a million dollars. The styling cues come from such venerable company as the Triumph Tiger 100, TR6C and TR5T Trophy Trail.

Triumph Scrambler 2015 in Malibu

Triumph Scrambler 2015 in Malibu

Despite the look, the Scrambler is by no means a dirt bike, at least by modern standards. It’s nowhere near as tall and at 230kg (506lbs) it’s substantially heavier. The bike, however, sports wider bars than the stock Bonneville, a more upright riding position and more ground clearance. Oh, and knobby tires.

Riding in the Malibu Hills

The hills of Malibu

The hills of Malibu

I was very fortunate to be able to take the Triumph Scrambler for a jaunt in the Malibu Hills. What a destination! If you’ve not ridden Malibu, you need to get up and go. It’s no wonder the place is home to the stars. The scenic beauty reaches miles of white sandy coastline with the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Santa Monica mountains to the north, Topanga Canyon and Topanga State Park to the East, and Ventura County to the west where you’ll discover 53% of the county’s total area is made up of national forest. Couple that with temperatures averaging 60 °F at low elevation and it’s clear, this is motorcycle heaven.

Malibu stretches about 30 miles of coast and less than one mile inland leads the motorcycle enthusiast up narrow canyons and more than 120 miles of twisty roads you’ve certainly heard of. Latigo Canyon is like a high-precision technical course and one of the best roads in California, Mulholland Highway made famous in the 1960’s when Steve McQueen started blasting through it on his Triumph. There’s Edwards Corner, the 180-degree hairpin and unofficial finish line of The Snake directly above the Rock Store. Stunt Road leads to what bikers call the “top of the world” and then there’s Tuna Canyon, a one way downhill twist-a-thon ending at the Pacific Highway.

Alex riding on the coast in Malibu

Alex riding on the coast in Malibu

Alex taking a corner in Malibu on the 2015 Triumph Scrambler

Alex taking a corner in Malibu on the 2015 Triumph Scrambler

Stopping in at the Rock for lunch, I spoke with a local character named John who’d been roaming the area for forty years, currently on a Ducati 999 SP. Despite his expansive experience riding in the Hills, he couldn’t remember the names of the roads left or right. Why? Who needs to stop and take notes when literally every inch of tarmac is so rewarding?

By the time I reached the Malibu Hills, I was in a dialled-back frame of mind. I was on California time and soaking in more sunshine than I’d seen in months. As such, I wasn’t trying to hustle the Scrambler through the twisties. I was more content to ride my own ride and just enjoy it. The Scrambler rarely complained and handled all the curves with ease, albeit at a more leisurely pace than other motorcycles. But that’s the point of the Scrambler, you see? It really isn’t going to win you any races, at least not against sport bike riders. What it will do is make you look (and feel) damn good while trying.

It’s less Supercross than Steve McQueen on a beach in On Any Sunday

Steve McQueen on an original Triumph Scrambler

Steve McQueen on an original Triumph Scrambler

The Scrambler is a simple motorcycle that is very nicely put together with vintage style and modern reliability. The build quality is top-notch and there’s attention to detail everywhere. On the dash, the old school analog clocks don’t contain a clock, they’re just big and clearly visible, showing speed, tacho and little else. The fuel injectors are neatly tucked away to look like carbs and there’s even a choke knob, not that you’ll need it. In an era of fully adjustable everything, it’s refreshing to just jump on and ride.

2015 Triumph Scrambler Speedo

2015 Triumph Scrambler Speedo

Firing up, you’ll notice the bike wouldn’t satisfy the loud pipes brigade. In fact, at idle, you may not even know it’s running. Rev it and it sounds heartier, but it’s still not likely to make your neighbours hate you, and in my opinion, that’s a good thing. While loud pipes may give the impression of power, that’s all the give - the impression. Instead the Triumph sounds refined.

In the corners, on the few occasions when I made myself take a more aggressive line, I found the Scrambler a little soft on the brakes, and the suspension took longer to settle. The corner entry was a little vague for my tastes. The Scrambler is not intended for those of us trying to emulate GP riders, but when you take it easy, you’ll find the Scrambler to be a very rewarding motorcycle that builds confidence.

If you’re coming from a Harley, the Triumph Scrambler is going to feel tight, well composed and it will corner like it's on rails.

If you’re coming from a sports bike, in my case I’m coming from an adventure bike, the Triumph Tiger Explorer, it's going to feel a bit loose. That’s why it cost $9,000 and not $14,000. It’s an easy bike to ride and enjoy. Don’t buy this if you want to drag your knee in the corner, you probably could but you’ll need to fight the bike. Buy the Scrambler if you want a distinguishingly stylish, solid and well built machine for experiencing life on two wheels.

Off-Road Scrambling

Triumph Scrambler 2015 cutting through the dirt, courtesy Adam Campbell

Triumph Scrambler 2015 cutting through the dirt, courtesy Adam Campbell

With the Scrambler’s pavement resumé established, it was time to test the “off-road” Bonneville characteristics of the bike. Confronted with some dirt and gravel, what was I to do but find out? It wasn’t a particularly challenging road, and the Triumph did well on the gravel road and a few puddles. The stock knobbies tended to spin rather than dig in, the suspension was too soft and, while there’s more ground clearance on the Scrambler than the stock Bonnie, I wanted more. Standing on the pegs for a while would be uncomfortable for me at 6’2. While the rubber kneepads are awesome, ergonomically speaking, I was hunched over.

If you’re serious about taking the Scrambler off-road, you’ll want to have it set up by someone like Fuel Motorcycles, the people that organize Scram Africa. These guys will sup up your Scrambler to cross Africa.

Watch pro stunt rider Ernie Vigil push the scrambler to its off-road and track limits in this four-minute video.

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Overall, the Scrambler felt comfortable, no matter what I threw at it

The riding position is very relaxed, neutral and offers plenty of room no matter the size of rider. I rode all day, from Hills to highway and through crowded downtown LA, from long stretches of open throttle to stop-go. The bike rarely felt hot, and the long saddle felt cradles the buttocks. Unlike some older parallel twins, there was literally no hint of vibration in the bars or foot pegs. In short, I could have ridden it all day - and I did.

It’s an incredibly accommodating ride for any recently licensed rider, or for anyone with mild allergies to speeding. The simplicity and the classic design of the Scrambler almost requires a more refined rider — perhaps one with a tweed jacket and a waxed moustache. Although, those gorgeous twin pipes could be enough to make the bike attractive to almost anyone.

Twin pipes on the 2015 Triumph Scrambler

Twin pipes on the 2015 Triumph Scrambler

The Scrambler has room for two, but it’s made for one

Although I started this review in the Malibu Hills, I had to traverse two-up on a Los Angeles highway at rush hour, not that there’s any other sort of hour in LA traffic. While the Scrambler had enough power to keep up, it builds fairly slowly if you’re not used to it, which made for some interesting moments as I threaded between the almost stationary vehicles, and especially so when I needed to make gaps count. You’re not going to recreate Trinity’s highway scene from the Matrix on the Scrambler.

It copes just fine once you realize this. The wide bars make it very maneuverable and you just need to leave a little more time for passing and slowing again. Though, the scrambler is still capable of covering 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 125 mph. It did allow me to beat a Desmosedici off the line, even if we were two up — though he may have let me beat him. It's also the most fuel efficient engine in the Triumph range, giving as much as 72 miles per gallon.

Wide handlebars on the Triumph Scrambler 2015 help with stability

Wide handlebars on the Triumph Scrambler 2015 help with stability

Although the wife assured me she was comfortable on the back, she was struggling to find a place to hold on to. There’s no grab rails here, just a rodeo strap, and the way I was on and off the throttle, she could easily have gone off the back with less experience. After a long highway ride to the Hills, I was happy to see the wife jump on a Moto Guzzi V7 for the afternoon. Now, baby, please don’t take this the wrong way, but as soon as you got off, the Scrambler felt oh-so-much more fun!

It was less her weight than the way she was wriggling around back there but as we split past yet another slow moving Mercedes SUV, I realized the Scrambler really isn’t set up for two. The suspension was doing too much work and it was under damped. Having accepted this and passed on the word to my normally snap-happy throttle hand, we calmed down. We didn’t slow too much, I just planned my gaps a little better and didn’t try to grab the throttle as much. Once I did, the Scrambler was instantly more stable and significantly more fun to ride.

If it were mine

Alex riding the 2015 Triumph Scrambler in Malibu

Alex riding the 2015 Triumph Scrambler in Malibu

The Scrambler is a perfectly suitable day ride bike. I mentioned that the Scrambler feels soft. While I was content to ride the Malibu Hills more slowly than normal, when jonesing for more speed, the front end makes it difficult. If it were mine, I’d set it up firmer at the front in terms of brakes and suspension.

The Scrambler is simple comfort on a machine that excels at relaxed riding and most especially making you look magnificent whilst you’re at it. The motor is powerful and as long as you’re not expecting to explode out of every corner, the machine’s got plenty to give.

2015 Triumph Scrambler - MSRP: $9,399 USD, weighs 507 lbs (230kg) wet, seat height is 32.5 inches (825 mm), fuel capacity is 4.2 gal (16 l), 5-speed gearbox, and an 865cc, air-cooled, parallel-twin engine.

Read more about the Ducati Scrambler below.

Alex cornering with the 2015 Triumph Scrambler in Malibu

Alex cornering with the 2015 Triumph Scrambler in Malibu

Alex at a Malibu beach with the 2015 Triumph Scrambler

Alex at a Malibu beach with the 2015 Triumph Scrambler

Alex stops for a break in Malibu on his 2015 Triumph Scrambler

Alex stops for a break in Malibu on his 2015 Triumph Scrambler

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Teramuto

107 months ago

Nice write up Alex.  I have been coveting one of these for quite some time.  For those who have ridden both I am interested in comparisons between the Truimph Scrambler and the Ducati Scrambler.  Also - when will we see some info on Marina's day with the V7??

VRSCDX

107 months ago

Test

marina

107 months ago

Alex's review of the Scrambler in the Malibu Hills @Nick @Jordan @Slyck255 @VRSCDX

marina

107 months ago

Yes, there were a few times, I almost fell off the back! But when you were chill riding, I felt totally comfortable. I loved that I didn't feel any heat from the pipes on the back. Impressive. Anyway, you know you've come a long way in motorcycling when you're happier off the back and on your own two wheels... w00t!

alex

107 months ago

@Larry, @Bruce - Glad you agreed with what I wrote. The Scrambler is, undoubtedly, a thing of beauty.

I do have two friends who bought it and complained. They were mostly ex-sportsbike riders who hadn't quite got past that need for tucking in. The first sold it inside six months at a big loss. The second worked on making it his and now loves it.

I did find the Scrambler mildly disorientating at first as it's quite removed from what I normally ride. However, it wasn't a long adjustment and while I don't miss it on the highways, it's superb as a no-fuss motorcycle you can just enjoy riding.

alex

107 months ago

@Bruce, here's my review of the Scrambler. What about yours?

Larry

107 months ago

@alex Great review Alex! Everything you said was spot on.

Regarding the passenger - you can add grab rails or a rear hoop. As you know (especially since you're an owner of several Triumphs), Triumphs have a tremendous catalogue of accessories and bolt-ons. So if there's something you feel that's lacking, there's likely an easy (albeit sometimes expensive) solution. Just check out http://www.british-customs.com/

I bought my matte green scrambler on a whim - I went into the showroom to buy some 230cc Honda supermoto to scoot around town, but when I saw those shiny high pipes, knobbies on wire wheels, and that flat-green paint, I was instantly hooked. I had never dropped so much coin so quickly before. Fortunately, no regrets. 

As you said - it's not the best bike performance-wise, particularly with the suspension, but any misgivings are forgiven because it's just drop-dead gorgeous bike. Actually, the engine, I find, is quite nice, with lots of low end grunt. I particularly like the 270 degree crank (as opposed to the 360 that's in the Bonnie's) as it gives it a distinct exhaust note - Triumph and others actually claim that this is functional, in that the irregular firing order makes the bike more tractable under power on loose surfaces. I've never taken my bike offroad so I wouldn't know. 

The only thing I would change on my Scram if I had more money than brains is the suspension. Swap out the rear for piggy-backs, probably Ohlins, and put in an emulator or cartridge in the front fork. 

-Larry

alex

107 months ago

@Larry My review of the Scrambler... now I need yours.