Triumph has refined its 2024 Scrambler 1200 lineup. It has eliminated the XC model and replaced it with a more entry-level X model (both in terms of price and rider accessibility), and then updated and refined the XE model with a host of changes to the chassis and electronics. But which bikes is right for you? We dig into their differences to answer that question: XE or X.
Check out the full story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/triumph-scrambler-1200-x-vs-xe-first-ride/
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Check out the full story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/triumph-scrambler-1200-x-vs-xe-first-ride/
Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/
Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld
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00:00 Triumph has made it easier to choose between the two variants of one of its
00:03 best models, the super cool and capable Scrambler 1200. So which one should you
00:08 get? The long travel XE or the less expensive low seat X?
00:14 This model family has changed for 2024. Prior there was an XE model and an XC
00:23 model but the XC model has now been replaced by the X model which is a lower
00:28 height less expensive version of the XE. But the XE has also been lowered in
00:34 price. So the previous price on the XE was $16,195 but they've dropped that
00:41 price now to $15,295. There's some good changes here that improve the bike but
00:47 they also had some things that they changed to lower the price. But the
00:51 biggest thing that you need to know about these two bikes is primarily the
00:55 chassis differences which we'll get into in a second. What is the same between
00:59 these two bikes is the engine but it did get some upgrades for 2024. The throttle
01:04 body is now 50 millimeters up from 45. The claimed output is 89 horsepower with
01:10 81 pound-feet of torque. The engine is just so much fun street or off-road. The
01:15 torque that it has available all the time you can short shift and just feel
01:19 like you're in the right zone all the time so I really like that about it. But
01:23 let's talk about what makes these bikes so different. Starting with the XE, this
01:27 bike has longer travel. It has 9.8 inches of suspension travel. With that
01:32 suspension it's now Marzocchi. The Marzocchi suspension on the XE model is
01:37 fully adjustable. Preload, compression, and rebound. Whereas on the X you've got
01:42 Marzocchi suspension but it only has preload adjustability at the rear and
01:47 the fork is unadjustable. Seat height is another key between these two bikes. The
01:53 XE is 34.3 inches while the X is 2 inches lower at 32.3 inches. You're
02:01 looking for a bike that's a little bit more manageable. It can be a little bit
02:05 easier to get your feet down but then you do lose that travel. Another big
02:09 change are the brakes. The XE now has a Brembo Styloma radial mount four piston
02:14 calipers on the front. A pair of those. 310 millimeter discs. While the X model
02:20 has Nissans that are not radial mounted. The brake package on the rear is the
02:24 same Nissan brakes and the same diameter discs. The geometry is slightly different.
02:29 The XE has slightly more relaxed geometry. A little bit more stable.
02:35 Another big difference between the two bikes is the electronics. The XE has a
02:40 new control pod on the left handlebar. One of the nice features on this that's
02:44 different from the X is it has a joystick toggle instead of the four up
02:50 and down left to right arrows on that model. The dashes are definitely
02:55 different. The dash on the XE has a little bit more information that's
02:58 visible. You can see some more stuff. It's got some options to customize the look
03:02 of it. But for sure the rider interface out riding the two bikes off-road and on
03:07 the street. It's really nice to just get in with this new control pod and it's
03:11 much easier to get in and change things. The XE comes standard with
03:15 cruise control and the X does not. Maybe not a big deal but it's always nice if
03:20 you've got these new electronics. Both bikes come with the same wheel and tire
03:24 package. We rode on Michelin Nobbies today but these bikes have some other
03:28 options that you can do that are more street oriented. The X model is
03:32 definitely the more street oriented bike. I think with street tires on it, it's
03:38 lower center of gravity. Definitely a different feel than the XE does as far
03:43 as handling goes. But it still feels really nimble and light because of the
03:47 21 inch front tire. The Nobbies were actually very good on the asphalt today.
03:51 We were totally happy with them. But if you're not gonna really do off-road then
03:54 I think the X model if you put the street tires or the street tires that
03:58 come on it, it's a really nice choice. The XE I think with the longer travel
04:04 suspension and the 21 inch front wheel and there's a 17 rear it's a 150/70/17.
04:11 The bike acts like a naked adventure bike honestly. It really impressed me
04:16 off-road. It's a really fun bike to ride. Just that little bit of extra travel,
04:20 it's about three inches of travel that's different, really makes a big difference
04:24 off-road. Like you all of a sudden have confidence when you're going through the
04:27 whoops or you have confidence when you hit a washout and the bike has just such
04:31 good stability. And you know another key change is that the handlebar on the XE is
04:36 a little bit wider so you have a little bit more leverage and the standing
04:39 position is great off-road. When you're riding off-road you feel really in
04:43 command. It's kind of nice compared to a big adventure bike because you don't
04:46 have a windshield in front of you so you feel like you're on a dirt bike and it
04:50 really gives you much more of an off-road character than I anticipated that it
04:54 would. Also spent plenty of time on the X today off-road. Definitely the suspension
05:00 bottoms out quite a bit easier than the XE. You don't have the adjustability so
05:05 you've really only got a couple things that you can do. It really comes down
05:08 with these two bikes. It's what are you really gonna do with it. If you want kind
05:12 of a naked adventure bike that can really act like a scrambler and go out
05:16 into the desert and tackle some kind of technical off-road stuff or go out on
05:21 dirt roads then the XE is definitely the bike. The suspension alone just makes it
05:25 so much easier to ride off-road. If you're not gonna do that then the X is a
05:31 great choice. I think the lower seat height makes it a you know a better
05:34 handling street bike. At this price point which is $13,595 that's a really nice
05:40 price to get what this bike has. So if you're trying to decide between an XE
05:45 and an X you kind of have a couple different options here. You've got the XE
05:50 which is more off-road oriented. Definitely with the long travel
05:54 suspension and the better brakes and some of that stuff it's a better
05:56 off-road machine. But if you're looking for a more entry-level version with the
06:01 lower seat a little bit more basic it's a great price point then the X is the
06:04 way to go. And that's it on the Triumph Scrambler 1200 press launch here in
06:09 Grego Springs, California. And if you like what you see please like, subscribe, and
06:13 comment. Thanks for watching.
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