Triumph’s Scrambler is a really nice looking bike but exciting isn’t the first thing you would say if someone asked about performance. It seems Bill Himmelsbach from EuroSports in Philadelphia thought the same thing and figured he would see if a bit of the old character from the Steve McQueen era was hiding inside. Not too surprisingly, it is.
While flipping through the digital pages of the January 09 issue of Motorcyclist, I came across the story about what he did to the Scrambler. There are quite a few parts and some skillful mechanical work involved, like a big bore kit to bring the engine up to 904cc, high compression pistons, twin high pipes from Thunderbike of New Zealand, new cams, new jets, new clutch, new brakes, new shocks, new wheels, new tires and lots more. There’s even a little cross cultural exchange with handlebars from a Ducati Monster.
The result is an increase in horsepower from 44 to 65 and torque from 41 foot pounds to 57 foot pounds. Those numbers won’t impress any jaded sportbike rider but they deliver, according to Alan Cathcart, what he called (ahem!) accessible performance, something that turns the Scrambler into an all around fun bike.
Let’s see, a nice retro looking standard, accessible performance, a wide flat seat with room for two, … hmm, looks and sounds like a recipe for success. If you don’t want to wait for Triumph to catch on and offer one from the factory, EuroSports will put one together for you, just $5,000 plus a stock Scrambler to begin with. I like it. How about you?
Link: EuroSports
JSH says
I like it. However, I don’t like the statement that is common to these types of bikes. “This is the bike the factory should have built.” The factory couldn’t legally build this bike.
The exhaust breaks noise and emission regulations
The airbox mods break emission regulations
Currently the aftermarket parts industry is based on illegally modifying motorcycles. This is allowed because the chance of the owner being caught are next to nothing and the aftermarket manufacturer labels the product for “off-road use only”.
mark says
Mods like this are pretty commonplace. The Bonneville and its offspring are a fantastic platform for building a really nice retro bike. Some of the folks on the online Bonneville forums have built up their bikes to make 80+ rear-wheel horsepower through a combination of big-bore kits, flat-slide carbs, etc. The Scrambler is apparently not quite as receptive to performance mods because of its 270-degree crank, but can obviously still be built up into a very nice bike.
The factory version should be viewed as something of a blank canvas. Nearly every Bonneville/Thruxton/Scrambler owner I know has modded their bike in one way or another.
It’s nice that EuroSports is providing options for people who are unable/unwilling to do the work themselves, but what they’re offering is certainly nothing new.
kneeslider says
mark, you’re correct in saying it’s nothing new for mechanically adept owners but, as you mention, someone who likes the bike but wants the extra performance without having to get into the guts of the machine, now has a nice option.
The owner who knows his way around a toolbox and parts catalog can always go the DIY route and do something like this. Owners without the time or know how just have to pay a bit more. Both methods work.
todd says
I’m in the camp that the Scrambler is already fine as it is. At 56hp stock (at the crank) it already is a tad more than the original 25hp TR5 and 45hp TR6. Considering its 75% greater capacity the torque should be much more substantial too.
Being close to 50 pounds (22kg) heavier it could use some weight reduction more than anything. Still, it’s a beautiful bike but in light of the considerable investment required for the bike and the added kit it will be a hard sell.
-todd
sanglant says
I like the modified version. One reason I wouldn’t buy one of those bikes new is simply that they don’t perform. If the bike doesn’t have the performance I’m looking for, I couldn’t care less what it looks like. I ride to *ride*, not pose in a parking lot. I have prints hanging on the walls at home and at the office for when I want to look at them.
As it’s delivered, the stock bike is a disappointment to me. Compared to a bike like the SV650 it gets soundly beaten in every meaningful performance measure, and you’ll pay a premium for the pleasure. The modified bike is something that I would buy, and enjoy. I would be willing to pay extra for the better accouterments on the Triumph if it had the same level of ability as the SV.
coho says
If this bike were a 650, as all Bonnevilles are supposed to be, I would buy one immediately.
It strikes me that if Kawasaki, fer fork’s sake, can make a reliable modern 650 parallel twin (650R/Versys/ER6n) there’s no reason why Triumph couldn’t build a non-oil-squirting, electrically competent version of an engine every bit as iconic as anything from Milwaukee or Berlin.
wd515 says
My friends think it is the ugliest thing in the whole world, mainly due to the seat, which I insist is an orthopedic element of the bike. It is an enduro, which is short for not really good on the street, not really good on the dirt. Just okay at both. The powerband from the factory does not seem to match the price tag. But I still love it and it is great to see someone like eurosport capitalizing on a bike with potential. Cup of tea anyone?