Triumph Scrambler going the distance

[McCoy]

Hello;

Just to let you know that I completed a 9000 km trip around the Black Sea on my 2010 Triumph Scrambler. Not the ultimate touring or adventure bike but the quality is definitely there. The light bulb in the rev counter went dark and one of the mirrors came a bit loose. That was it.

[Fantastic Mister Fox]

I've always loved the looks of the scrambler, glad you had a good trip.

[Algarve Nick]

I am very interested in what you've done. I am about to select a bike to fly to KL in Malaysia and ride round that country, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. I was almost certain my choice would be a Yamaha XT660R (probably the sensible choice and the most likely) but part of me fancies the Scrambler. I could stick my Metal Mule top box on plus a tankbag and Ortlieb roll and er, roll. Reliability is my biggest concern. I'm not bothered about top speed but fuel consumption is an interest. Have you anything you could tell me. Congratulations on your trip. How many miles/kms did your bike have on it before you set off? Lots of bikes are reliable for 20K miles. It's after that that the problems emerge. Woud appreciate hearing from you. Nick.

[blacktiger]

Good bike the Scram. Mine got me to places an ordinary road bike couldn't and even got to place companions on KTMs and BMWs couldn't.
This was the easy bit...


This not so..


The thing that killed it for me was the short suspension. It beat me to death every ride so I changed to an 800XC. Glad you're making good use of yours.

[McCoy]

Kind of funny; it was 7 years ago I was in here last time. A little greyer, a little (ehrm) heavier but - I still have my Scrambler. 41 000 km on the clock now and with several countries under its belt. I did Belorussia, Ukraine and Romania in 2015 and the whole Atlantic coast to Normandie in 2017. That was followed by a Scandinavian tour in 2018.
And the bike is great. Built like a tank, it just shrugs off everything the world trows at it. Sure, I have looked at the new 1200 and it looks like a pretty sweet machine. But I kind of like the old time, solid engineering, heavy metal feel my old Scrambler gives me.
Next journey Marocco. And any suspicion that the bike isn’t up to the job was lost on a hot gravel road in Ukraine years ago.
[https://youtu.be/aRRzD8umamw]

[trumpycam]

Hi,
Bought mine in 2006, a Bonnie converted to a Scrambler (had to have 360' crank) has 90000km on it and in 3 weeks will be in a container for a 12 mth tour of Europe and hopefully riding back to Aus via Nepal where we have many friends. Reliability has never been an issue, and as black tiger(rode on his suspension recommendations for years and were much better than stock still referred to on most Scrambler forums) says the suspension is it's main short coming, mine now has Ohlins on the back and gold valves on the front after a number of changes, and these are by far the best. Speed is the other one on sealed roads no problem but on dirt if you don't mind taking your time and staying within it's limitations it's also fine, it is a heavy bike after all. Did I mention they are a great bike to just look at, not that should matter!!
Joe

[trumpycam]

Short update, got back from Euro trip just before Corona hit, did England Scotland and much of Southern Europe to end up in Malta, unfortunately a family issue meant we were there only 7mths.Did 11000km when we weighed luggage found we were nearly 30kg over limit. Bike took it in it's stride, apart from tyres and oil change, lowered gearing 1tooth on c/s to help manoeuvring over passes, has over 100K now and still as sweet as ever.

[McCoy]

Time flies but my Scrambler stays. Did Marocco in 2019; through Europe to Barcelona, ferry to Tangér, from there to Casablanca, Marrakech, Tiznit, Akka, Tata, Ouarzazate, Fès, Tanger. Then ferry back to Sete and France, Germany and Sweden.
In 2020 I managed a four day stint to Arnhem and a bridge too far...
But nothing seems too far for the Scrambler, come desert heat or Swedish winter.
Now I desperately wish for this friggin´pandemic to go away so I can get away. Stay safe, friends.