Featured Scrambler Im Keeping What I Got

You’ve written every word I would have said about the Triumph range and especially the Street Scrambler...I used to change my Triumphs about the same frequency as you, but since getting Street Scramblers, (had an 18 plate then swapped for the uprated version in 19), I can’t wait to be out on it as soon as permitted with no wish to change it for anything else...great stuff

 

I am also smitten with my SS I bought last june. I have other bikes which have remained virtually unused since I bought it! Ignoring the TC, riding modes and ABS etc, I regard the Scrambler as a "back to basics machine" and that along with the easy riding experience and classic looks is a large part of it's appeal to me. My dirt bike is light years ahead off road and my other road bike is a real adrenalin blast which invariably means xxx mph speeds.
Non of them are perfect bikes as such a machine doesn't exist but when you compare modern machines to those of yesteryear with their flexible frames, agricultural suspension, anti stop brakes, dodgy electrics etc, it's nice to be able to merely nit pick a machine rather than berate basic defects. JMO

 

I made the switch from a 2016 Street Triple (my dream bike for many years) to a 2020 Street Scrambler. Mostly due to living in a rural area with a lot of tougher roads. It was a great decision- I ride so much more often and the SS checks the boxes I was hoping it would. The only things I’ve changed are mostly for aesthetics. I think they really made an excellent bike here, and while I am bias, I see no need for the 1200 Scrambler!

 

My additions to the bike so far have been purely functional. A bigger rack (homemade) for the rear, the OEM carrier is way too small. LED headlight bulb and additional LED spotlights tranform visiblity after dark. I removed the high level front mudguard that came fitted, replaced the standard guard and added a lower guard extender which keeps the bottom half of the bike much cleaner.
When the colder, wetter weather arrived I fell out with the OEM Metzelers after a few trouser filling "moments" and fitted Pirelli Rally STR's and I'm well pleased with them even though they look more off road biased than the Metzelers. I also fitted the Triumph engine bars at the same time. I fattened up the bar grips more to my liking and did the throttle mod to take up excess play in the "cable" (yes, I know there isn't one). I've just fitted some progressive front springs in the forks but have yet to try them out in anger.
Roll on lockdown end, longer days and warmer weather!

 

I feel the the same about my wee street twin, its the simplicity that appeals. A bigger tank and taller (more padding) seat would be nice but for what it is, its a great bike. Had a 1200 scrambler and quickly developed a dislike towards it. Only kept it a few months before I switched to the wee street twin. Rode the street scrambler a few years ago and loved it too.

 

Nice to see all the love for the Street Scrambler.

I'm buying another bike but it's to sit alongside the little Street Scram rather than replace it.

Sometimes I do wish I'd not tweaked mine so much, but it's a great bike and it keeps putting a smile on my face

 

Just out of curiosity, what kind of tweaks?

 

Err. I think the full list is something like...

Full mix and match 3 piece Givi luggage set (2x33 & 1x46 Trekkers)
Rugged pannier (for when not using Givis)
Rack (for when using neither rugged pannier or Givis)
V&H slip on (ditto)
Fox shocks
SW-Motech sat-nav mount, attached by a custom intermediate plate to a
Touratech lockable sat-nav holder, containing a
BMW 4-button sat-nav cradle, with a
BMW Navigator VI
Heated grips
Centre stand
Headlight mesh
PIAA spotlights
Enduristan fender bag
Scottoiler
Side number plate
Screen
Clock on custom bracket
ACG badge
Clutch badge
Black engine bolts
FOBO 2 Tyre Pressure Monitoring Sensors
High level mudguard
Metal chain guard
Off road rider footrests
12V socket
Black intake covers
Ctek battery status indicator/charging point
Alloy bash plate
Dresser bars
Adjustable black levers
Alloy brake reservoir
LED indicators front and rear
Throttle slack eliminator

I think that's about it. Apart from that, it's stock.

I did have a Meerkat decat but I sold that as I found it a little too noisy, the twin seat because I found that less comfortable and the machined pillion pegs and gear change as they didn't match the off road rider footrests.

 

Surely we need pics!

 

Awesome! I have a few of the same items on mine, but my list is still a bit shorter than yours. I have the Free Spirit H pipe paired with shotgun slip-one and can vouch for the noise... And yes, as some others said, it would be great to see pictures of your machine!

 

Just remembered the black brake reservoir, levers, bar ends and LED indicators front and rear...

I'm sure there are loads of the bike littered around the site, but here are a few in various states of development




















I want to relocate the PIAA lamps to the frame in front of the exhaust headers and then I think I've finished

 

I find that I'm riding a lot around the local Cotswold lanes and enjoying the peace and not wanting to scare the horses with the noise

 

What is 44 on plate for? if may ask

 

Looks really nice, thanks for sharing!

 

I really don't like the Street Scrambler logo and stripe on the side panel, so I bought the Triumph number board to cover it up.

I then discovered that I didn't like the bare number board either, so I got a local vehicle wrapping and graphics company to do the board in a matching white with number and logo.

That kind of worked, but the discovery then was that whilst the colour of the vinyl stayed pretty uniform in different lights, the tank colour does vary massively from a bright white to a mellow, yellowy cream depending on sunlight and shade. Whilst the bike has about 17 shades and textures of black and that seems fine, having 2 shades of white didn't work.

So I got them to do another panel, this time with just the number and logo.

The number itself has no special meaning and is simply there to break up the plainness of the panel. I tried hard to think of a number that wasn't used elsewhere in bike racing, without realising that it was the number used by Lewis Hamilton on his F1 car. Ooops.

The little circled K logo is there because if the Scrambler 1200 can have a James Bond 007 edition for an extra 7 grand or so, then there's no reason why the Street Scrambler can't have a Kingsman edition for nothing

The same company did the vinyl on the white screen leaving the factory white background so as not to have the same problems as with the side panel. The only catch with that now is that the Union Flag seems to have become quite divisive, and rather than simply being a colourful nod to the Triumph's British heritage, marks me out as a Brexit enthusiast and hence either someone's bestest friend ever or their mortal enemy. So I tend to use the clear or go screen-less.

 

Andy, curious as to why you developed a dislike for the 1200. I test rode the XE last year and really liked it, although I would go for the lower XC, which would suit me better height wise.

 

I had the XC, it was great fun at blasting up small bumpy roads but it tied itself in knots under hard braking and didnt like to tip into a corner under deceleration. It was too hot on my right leg even after a de-cat. Without a screen the wind pressure was too much because your sitting so straight up and I tried 3 different screens both with and without a deflector on top, all of them were horribly noisy. Also gave me a sore back and thighs on long runs. Felt seriously heavy as I found out one day when I was stopped on a steep downhill corner, was a real struggle to get it pointed back up the hill! Too much torque (or the way it was delivered) to be a relaxed ride and not enough power to be a hooligan. Front was a bit harsh over small bumps too. Not the bike for me I'm afraid

 

Oh, and a throttle play remover thingy.

I'm updating the original list as I go so I've got a handy point of reference when it comes to insurance renewal