Triumph has paid an undisclosed sum to feature in the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die, but a Ducati Scrambler has stolen some limelight.
The price for product placement in a movie is up to about $A500,000, but for a Bond film it can be a whole lot more.
In fact, Heineken is believed to have paid $A65 Million to get Bond character Daniel Craig to sip their beer instead of a martini in the 2015 film, Spectre.
So we have no idea how much Triumph has paid, although boss John Bloor did confirm the partnership with the producers for No Time To Die, being released in April 2020.
The result is 007 riding a modified Scrambler 1200 in one chase scene.
Craig’s stunt double on the Triumph Scrambler 1200
So why is a baddy riding an 803cc Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled in the same chase scene?
Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
Bond film espionage?
Has Ducati snuck in some free screen time in an apt case of Bond film espionage or did they pay, too?
Or is this a deliberate effort by Triumph to make their scrambler competitor look bad by being associated with buddies while their Scrambler is associated with the hero?
Bond movies are usually associated with exotic cars, but motorcycles have also featured over the years.
Most have been BMW vehicles, although there was a run of Ford-owned cars for a while, including Aston Martin.
Good to see Bond back in an Aston Martin DB5 for No Time To Die (with a Ducati in pursuit)
We know it was not done by McQueen – not because he couldn’t do it, but because the filmmaker’s insurance company wouldn’t let him.
Many believe it was done by his friend and bike fettler Bud Ekins who died earlier this year and has been honoured with special edition T100 and T120 models.
However, there remains some doubt.
Several endurance riders who were competing nearby at the European motocross championship were invited by McQueen to visit the filming.
Tim Gibbes
They included Australian Tim Gibbes and another unnamed Aussie rider who had a go while the cameras were rolling, so it is not clear which take was used.
Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 is less of a neo-classic scrambler than it is a viable low-weight alternative to the over-litre, top-heavy adventure bikes.
The British company has loaded the bike with all the latest hi-tech mod cons and given it true all-road credentials, while still remaining a stunning neo-classic in design.
And unlike most hideously ugly utilitarian adventure bikes, this is classy with exemplary quality finish and some beautiful touches. So nice you will be reticent to take it off road and get it dirty!
More power and torque
It is also the brawniest of the 1200 water-cooled Bonneville models with the high-torque engine from the Bobber, but using a single throttle body that gives it 14Nm more torque and almost as much power as the high-power engine from the Thruxton R.
The Scrambler 1200 XE and XC are far more than just a 900cc Street Scrambler with more cubic capacity.
This is now a multi-purpose bike: an adventurer, a stylish retro, a sports tourer, a capable commuter and a naked streetfighter.
It will tour tarmac and dirt roads in comfort and ease all day long with long gaps between refills thanks to the super-efficient engine and bigger 16-litre tank.
It’s also a lot more expensive at $21,700 (plus on-road costs) for the off-road-oriented XE and $20,300 for the more road-tame XC version at $20,300.
Scrambler 1200 XC and XE
XC
XE
The XC has five riding modes and the XE adds Off-Road Pro that turns off traction control and ABS to use a special off-road engine mapping.
XE also has cornering traction control and cornering ABS, plus 50mm longer suspension (250mm).
Despite all the tech on board, I love the fact that you can customise the digital instruments so that only the centre screen shows minimal info in digital or analogue format until you press a control button on the left switchblock that reveals all the other comprehensive data on side screens.
Now you see it …
Now you don’t!
It makes you focus your attention on the important things such as revs and speed!
However, you can upgrade with a USB connection under the seat that plugs in your smartphone in a padded cell and allows access on the instrument screen to various apps and Google Maps.
The connector is coming in the next few months for an extra $400.
Under-seat Smartphone compartment
Manners
What I love about the Scrambler 1200 is the good manners this brawny 1200cc engine displays even around slow-moving traffic.
Fuelling is smooth, reliable and more refined than the other 1200s I have ridden.
This makes it great in traffic, together with the slick-cut gears and wide spread of ratios.
Braking is also much improved with dual Brembo M50 radial Monoblock calipers on 320mm front discs with a 255mm rear disc and twin-piston caliper.
Riding position is upright and neutral with a commanding view of the traffic for safe filtering.
I stand 183cm tall and my toes only just touch the ground on the XE.
Out on the highway it gallops along with plenty in reserve in sixth gear and an unstressed feel to engine and riding position.
The seat is comfortable enough for rolling down highways all day.
Dirty business
Once you get your tyres dirty and stand up on dirt roads, this has a much more natural feel than the Street Scrambler which makes you ride bandy-legged.
Here it also feels less top heavy than other adventure bikes and gives you more control as you flick it around.
Those Ohlins rear shocks provide plenty of traction, control as well as a comfortable ride over the roughest of terrain.
Up front is a Showa unit that also feels good on rough corrugations as well as pushing into tight tarmac corners.
If you can only afford one bike, but don’t want an ugly utilitarian adventure model, the stylish neo-classic Scrambler 1200 is just what you’ve been looking for.
Single 255mm disc, Brembo 2-piston floating caliper, ABS
Instrument Display and Functions
TFT multifunctional instrument pack with digital speedometer, trip computer, digital tachometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, service indicator, ambient temperature, clock and rider modes (Rain/Road/Sport/Offroad/Off-road Pro/Rider-Customisable)
Single 255mm disc, Brembo 2-piston floating caliper, ABS
Instrument Display and Functions
TFT multifunctional instrument pack with digital speedometer, trip computer, digital tachometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, service indicator, ambient temperature, clock and rider modes (Rain/Road/Sport/Off-road/Rider-Customisable)
Triumph have taken the Scrambler big-bore for 2019 with an 89 hp version of the 270-degree 1200cc Bonneville engine housed in a stripped back retro Scrambler format that seeks to marry modern technology with classic styling.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
The engine seems to be tuned with big-bore thump in mind. A 7,500 rev limit cuts in only 100rpm after the claimed 89 horsepower peak, while the maximum twist of 110 Nm hits its fattest at not much more than half those revs, 3950 rpm to be exact.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
Triumph mention ‘low inertia’ in the press blurb so we presume that the 97.6 mm pistons swing off a somewhat lighter 80 mm crank throw in comparison to the Bonneville. Those aforementioned power figures are 12.5 per cent more than the T120 Bonneville, and 38 per cent more than the smaller engined 900 cc Street Scrambler.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
Out of the two models it is the XE that has the more serious off-road chops with a very generous 250 mm of suspension travel compared to the also quite long 200 mm travel of the XC model.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE with Extreme Kit
Showa provide the fully-adjustable forks on both models with the XE boasting 2 mm larger stanchions in gold compared to the 45 mm black items found on the XC.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
Ohlins fully-adjustable piggyback shocks grace both bikes and it seems the team at Ohlins are impressed by the new Scramblers.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
Emil Åberg – Ohlins
’The twin spring Öhlins RSU on the new Triumph Scrambler 1200 combines new technology with inspiration from 70’s motocross to deliver high performance and long suspension travel capability. Our testing team were amazed with the performance of the new 1200 Scramblers, and considered them to be actually more capable off-road than many of the adventure bikes they had tested.’’
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
You will need a longer inseam for the XE as at 870 mm its seat height is 30 mm taller than the XC.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
Both bikes ride on a 90/90-21 front and 150/70-17 rear tyres that are wrapped around 32-spoke tubeless ready rims with optional tyre pressure monitoring.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC with Escape Kit
High-spec monobloc hardware from Brembo looks after the stopping duties.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
The tubular steel frame is all new for the Scrambler 1200 platform and combines with aluminium cradles. While the XC has a 547 mm long swingarm, the XE gets a much longer item at 579 mm. The longer swingarm should help the bike be more manageable in the slippery stuff, and also make it easier to slide!
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
The XE also scores a higher spec ABS and traction control system with lean-angle functionality thanks to an internal measurement unit (IMU).
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
The XE also gains an extra Off-Road Pro mode to add to the Road, Rain, Sport, Off-Road and rider customisable modes present on both bikes.
Folding and adjustable foot controls are also exclusive to the XE model as are the braced alloy hand-guards and heated grips.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC
Both bikes feature Triumph’s latest generation full-colour TFT screen with optional bluetooth functionality. The bluetooth system not only allows for turn-by-turn navigation to be displayed when partnered with your phone, but also music and voice controls for your intercom system.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
The navigation prompts are a first for Triumph that debuts on these new Scramblers. We have seen this great new technology on a few new motorcycles now but Triumph have gone further and implemented an integrated GoPro camera control system!
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
LED lighting is used throughout both motorcycles along with keyless ignition, cruise control and a USB charging socket.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
As we recently have noted when testing some of the latest Triumph models, the brand is definitely positioning itself further up in to the premium category of motorcycles.
2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
Thus I would expect these new Scramblers, especially the very highly appointed XE model, to be priced north of 20k, but hey maybe Triumph will surprise us..?Both new models are expected to arrive in Australia late in the first-quarter of 2019.
