BikeTest/Triumph 900 Scrambler: Who does not remember - Lord knows it gets repeated on television often enough - seeing Steve McQueen in The Great Escape attempting to elude the German border guards on a motorcycle and ending up in a barbed wire entanglement?
The more perceptive would have noticed that the bike in question was a Triumph. The fact that the bike was a 1961 TR6 Trophy model and the film, ostensibly, represents an incident in 1944, is not one of those details over which Hollywood could be embarrassed.
Triumph, which also successfully combines echoes of the past and the great days of British motorcycling whilst producing some of the very best modern, high-tech, high-performance machines, have added this piece of nostalgia to their range.
Called the Scrambler, it would be a mistake to think of this as a serious off-road machine. It is decidedly not in the same league as BMW's R1200GS, or even its F650GS, nor could it stand comparison with the likes of KTM's Adventure when it comes to off-road talent.
Having said that, we should remember that Ted Simon's epic three-year round-the-world trip was done on an even more conventional road-going Triumph Bonneville. His book, Jupiter's Travels, should be on the bedside table of every rider who dreams of what lies beyond the horizon.
This is a machine aimed at those who do not want to go particularly fast - though with determination it can be coaxed up to 100mph. It is for those who are more likely to enjoy exploring the byways than the highways and appreciate a machine of character.
Motorcycling has changed much over the years. Half a century ago, motorcycles provided utility transport. Although most of us also rode for pleasure, the main justification was affordability. Today, motorcycles are used for commuting, increasingly so thanks to escalating congestion, and are "tools of trade" for the likes of couriers, but one has only to look at the various types of machines being sold to understand that, in the main, motorcycling has become a challenging recreational pursuit rather than an alternative transport solution. It is to satisfy such customer demands that manufacturers are keen to produce machines that appeal to a particular segment of the market.
Triumph has been around a very long time, and has a huge resource of tradition to draw upon. In recent times this has led to the production of some retro models, the first of which was the Café Racer look-a-like the Thruxton, and now this Steve McQueen-inspired Scrambler. It certainly does look traditional, very much a throwback to the 1960s. It looks more business-like and macho than it really is. The chromed twin exhaust pipes, alloy casings and red and white, (or blue and white) tank all make for an attractive looking machine.
The seat is on the hard side. With the high-set twin exhausts on the offside, the rider's right foot gets blown off the footpeg at speed.
The suspension is adjustable. On the midpoint setting it is firmer than most would appreciate, and the suspension travel could do with being longer. But that is all in keeping with the era it is supposed to represent.
The machine handles nicely, the brakes are reasonably good. Everything is nicely and well put together. We cannot see this machine being seriously used as a genuine off-roader, and feel that it would handle even better if it had less dual purpose tyres.
The engine is, basically, the same unit as in the Triumph Thruxton. The major difference being, instead of a 1800 firing interval, the Scrambler has a 2700 interval which, amongst other things, gives more torque as well as more of a traditional, pulsating exhaust note.
This engine, all 865cc of it, producing just 55bhp, must be, by today's standards, just about the most unstressed one around. A power output equivalent of 64 bhp per litre is truly modest. Given normal maintenance, it could well outlast the rider!
In recent years Triumph has started offering a wide range of its own accessories for its machines. In the case of the Scrambler, there are dozens of add-ons.
To mention a few: number boards (giving an impression you are seriously into competitive riding), chrome headlamp grille, skid plate, handlebar brace, tachometer, engine bars, a single seat and rack, fly-screen (windshield), tank bag, centre stand, various chrome bits and pieces, immobiliser and dust cover.
If one were to be brutally frank, this is a boy's toy.
A very good boy's toy, and an enjoyable one.
ENGINE:
Air-cooled, DOHC, parallel twin, 270º firing interval.
865cc, 9.2:1 compression. 55PS @ 7,000rpm, 69Nm @ 5,000rpm.
Twin carbs. Digital ignition. 5-speed gearbox, chain drive.
CHASSIS:
Frame: tubular steel cradle. Front suspension 41mm forks. Rear, chromed spring twin shocks with adjustable preload. Brakes, front single 310mm disc, rear single 255mm disc. Wheels, front 36 spoke 19" x 2.5, rear 40 spoke 17" x 3.5 DI