Featured About My New Street Scrambler

Thought I'd make a thread about the bike I just bought - what I think of it and how or if the aftermarket parts I bought for it work.

I was fortunate enough to benefit from the current £500 free add-on parts that Triumph are offering. This was introduced just after I put my deposit down, so my list went from just the fly screen to that, a mainstand, engine bars and bash plate. That all came to £560 so I got it all for just £60. The salesman had already included the screen for free before the new offer came up.

The engine bars and bash plate are out of stock with Triumph UK and they have no idea when they will have more in, so I took the bike without them and hope they will arrive in time for the first servicing, in 3 weeks.

I've only done 60 miles so far - the 35 miles home from the dealer and a quick 25 jolly the next day. It's far too warm for putting on armoured jackets just now - but I hope to get out in the evenings and this weekend I've been given the green light to disappear on it whilst Mrs looks after the mutt

So firstly, the fly screen. I was a little worried it might spoil the look of the bike from the front - but fortunately, I don't think it has. I opted for the smoked version rather than clear or colour coded (which looked just awful on the PC image). I don't think it has made much difference to the wind force I feel - which isn't that bad in any case - but definitely does a good job of keeping most of the bugs off my visor. I'm 6ft tall btw.




The mainstand is really great. I had been planning to buy the one from TEC, which costs £95 in comparison to Triumph's £199 - so that offer saved me again.

It's a fairly low thing, as far as how much it lifts the bike off the ground, but that's just fine - as long as it's enough for the regular maintenance I'm happy. Thanks to this and the very large footplate, it's very easy to lift onto the stand as well,, even for old duffers like me - and it tucks well out of the way.
Downside is that it gets spattered by the chain lube as can be seen in the photo after just those 60 miles from new. Still, I suppose that will give it some crud protection.




One nice thing, that's standard, is the ability to remove the rear pegs if you don't plan to carry a pillion - just two bolts to remove:



Talking of pillions - my wife doesn't ride on bikes any more unless she really has to, after we got knocked over by a numpty a couple of years ago, but I got her to have a quick go on the drive. She found it very easy to get on and off - and even though I had removed the fanny pad and put the Triumph bag rack on, she was able to comfortably fit behind my podgey bulk on the plush, main seat and found it quite comfy and secure. She liked the pillion peg position, too (which is a first!). If the handle had not been there (which I had put on with the luggage rack) it would have been another story.

Here's the bike with the fanny pad removed, Triumph bag rack and TEC large luggage rack (£75) fitted:





That's about it for now - the bike has been handling well, though perhaps not surprisingly given the mileage, it isn't as frugal as the test bike I rode, and the rear brakes are making an awful noise, even when pushed by hand - not a squeal, more like a jarring wooden door sound. It did keep cutting out every time I stopped and put it in neutral on the ride home, but this seems to have righted itself now. The best displayed range was 124 miles (12 litre tank).

I have yet to fit a fuel booster unit, full fork upgrades and rear shocks/dampers from TEC. I won't be fitting those until after the first service, so I'll definitely notice any difference to the ride and performance. On the way home I took it down a 10 mile stretch which has the most horrendous bumps I've ever come across - continually, which bash the hell out of your backside and yank you all over the place. I did manage to average 50-60mph, which is about 25mph faster than any of the 4-wheeled vehicles were able to manage. Once the new suspension has bedded-in, I'll take it back down there for comparison.

I'll also do some green-laning on local roads by the Welland. Unfortunately I can't afford a decent bike camera.

So far I'm very happy, though I must admit, going from a missile like the Fazer 1000 to this does feel a bit like I've gone back to a learner bike, however it's really hard not to keep smiling when I'm riding this, and with an open face lid, people must be thinking I've just escaped from somewhere.

Stay tuned...

 

Yup - I only bought it entirely as a fun bike. I'm limited to 70-100 miles per trip before I start struggling, and there's plenty of good roads within that range around here.
The 3 hours I spent on the test bike were all on twisty back roads, so I was bound to fall for it

 

Took it for a 70+ mile ride today, to Stamford to visit my Mother for the first time since the Covid-19 restrictions.

I used to go once a month on my Fazer, so this was a good first comparison. Firstly, to my amazement, I got there quicker on the Scrambler than I've ever done on the Fazer! I think it's because it's easier to slip through the traffic on.

The other thing I noticed was how harsh the suspension was, over the worst bumps. It was fine over normal stuff, but the really big bumps and dips that come out of the blue were pretty awful. Almost painful (remember I have spinal injuries, so I notice it more than a normal rider would). So I'm keen to see how well it does with the TEC suspension fitted.

The average mpg displayed was 80, which makes sense comparing the distance to empty shown and the distance ridden. The low fuel light came on at an indicated 50 miles to empty (on the test bike it came on at 80 miles!).

I had been a bit baffled as to where to put my disc lock, and this was also a common theme on review videos for the bike that I'd watched on YouTube, but the solution was very simple - I locked it onto the rear baggage plate in a way that it wouldn't jump about.

The handling round the bends is very good - it inspires confidence like no other bike I've ridden. Another thing often complained about in the videos is the single front disc, but I have to say that mine is working very well and gives me just as much confidence as my Fazer double EBCs did. I'm pretty sure the dealer said the front brakes were upgraded this year - and if so, I'd have to say they've got it right.

Unfortunately, although I use the rear brake a lot normally, I struggled to find it comfortably on this bike - so I'll have to look and see if there is any adjustability on that. The one time I did manage to use it, it seemed very effective, used together with the front.

I'll also need to adjust the gear lever, as it is just a little low for me to use comfortably with my chunky despatch rider boots. This was a common theme on all the bikes I've test ridden in recent years. I'm currently using the edge of the sole to change.

Oh - it's also still cutting out on the odd occasion when I stop for lights or level crossings. I'll get them to adjust the idle speed on the first servicing.
I'm concerned about corrosion, so I'm going to give the relevant bits a coat of ACF50 - luckily, Sportsbikeshop is less than 2 miles from my house.

The main thing is that this trip I usually find quite dull and tedious - but today I was smiling both directions and at each end it was a case of "oh, am I here already?"
...and that's the most important thing

 

I forgot to mention - I decided to get the rpm display up, just to see how I was doing with my riding and gear changes and I was shocked to see that I had been riding in most gears well under 2,500rpm.

I can quite comfortably use 4th gear for everything down to around 30mph and up to 70-80mph. It seems like5th is a kind of overdrive to save fuel - it doesn't seem to give much in the way of speed - maybe an extra 5mph - just makes the engine relax a little. I don't want to push the bike, with it being new, but it seemed to run out of puff at 80mph.

Going back to the YouTube reviews and there were complaints about there only being 5 gears, but a sixth at these ratios would just be a waste of time. On my Fazer at 60mph in 6th I would have 4,000rpm. On the Street Scrambler at 60mph in 5th I'm at 3,100rpm. Nuff said. The only way a 6th gear would make sense would be with completely different gear ratios and that would remove all the low-down grunt that gives the bike it's character.

 

I'm just about half-way to the 500 miles I need to have ridden by the 26th and I've been enjoying it a lot - taking it round local back roads around 50 miles a day.

However, some downers have come to light. Firstly, that suspension - I can't wait until I get the first service done and fit the TEC kits. Big dips and bumps can be very harsh - as can landings over hump-back bridges.
Then there's the fact that there is no room to store anything more than a rag. I just bought a chunky new Thatcham approved disc lock for the bike, and there is nowhere to put it whilst I'm out and about. I tried locking it to the little 'back seat' rack - but it knocked a small chunk of paint off the tail. So I have to take a rucksack with me all the time. I might be able to fit it into my bum-bag, but I usually have a cold flask of drink in that, so it would be very bulky and will hurt a lot if I come off.

There is plenty of space under the two side panels which simply pull off without tools required, but it would jump about alot - maybe I can wrap it in a cloth. Have to try that.
The third thing that annoys me is the fact that there isn't a flash function for the headlight. the main/dipped switch is in the position that the flash button is on most other bikes. It's very easy to accidentally flip it onto main beam, too.
I did have a bike - can't remember which one - that also had the main/dipped switch there, but you could just half push it to flash the headlight. Shame Triumph didn't at least do that.

Still having a complete blast, though. I've never enjoyed the local roads so much, it's like this bike was made just for them!

 

I don't know how feasible it is to quickly double press the main light switch - I'll have to give it a try, but even that is far from ideal.

The TEC kit does have longer, progressive fork springs and they have a good video which shows exactly how to make things even better for offroad riding with making longer spacers and how to improve rebound beyond what their kit provides.

I've not been offroad with it yet as I didn't want to get it too dirty for now. Washing bikes is a strenuous activity for me, so I'm trying to time it so I can get away with just doing it once before the first service. There is a good green lane route close by, though not very long, plus a very long dirt track that runs for several miles alongside the river Welland. I had a ton of fun along that on my BMW F650ST - although that's a bit more off-road capable (but not by much) but I reckon the Triumph should handle it okay. I'll have to be extra careful if I do it with the standard suspension.

 

Thanks - nice pics! Wow - that is a screen and a half!

I did consider the 'satchel' pannier, but I would be concerned about security. I bought a hard topcase but will only fit it if absolutely necessary (i.e. for shopping or going to the hospital on the bike so I don't have to pay outrageous parking charges).

I like the helmet - this is my main one:

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/254102

I wanted to buy the Shoei J-O with the monochrome Union Jack - it looks fantastic, but it was very uncomfortable so after trying on many different lids I went with the AGV K5 which wasn't so good on my Fazer, but is perfect for the upright Scrambler.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/255211