AN ACTUAL ADVENTURE...
Impressive, soaking up
ditches, ruts and bumps
66 KIWI RIDER
We pitched the idea to Triumph that the
big Scrambler really needed to be put to the
test and that we should enter it in Britton
Adventures’ Far North Adventure Ride – but
that there was every possibility that it might
get a bit broken... they agreed.
So, disclaimer in hand, I planned a gravel
road blast through the upper North’s gravel
rally roads to get my eye in on the way up
there. Just to cover all the bases we slipped
on a set of Michelin Anakee Wild tyres for
more bite and drive as the weather had been
wet up north.
The Scrambler was excellent fun on the
sweeping gravel, feeling planted and
predictable with the Ohlins rear suspension
soaking up the uneven gravel and rain ruts,
the 21-inch front wheel turning in well and
doing a great job of rolling over the pot-holes
which seemed to be everywhere.
The big 1200 oozes predictable power and
was a heap of fun to just shift up and open
the throttle.
We had to main road it to get to the event
and the Scrambler was effortless on the road;
fast and sure handling.
The FNAR was a mixture of terrain and
the Scrambler loved the initial swept gravel
roads and when we were in the native forest
section with muddy rocky climbs it grunted
up the slippery trails assisted by the Anakees.
I could use the big rheostat of an engine to
get on and off the power to keep traction and
managed to even pass a few trail bikes on the
way.
On the slippery trails and downhills I had
to take into account the size and weight of
this bike. It’s big. And in these situations,
which in reality are on the edge of its
comfort zone, I took it very steady, but to
its credit the Scrambler hung in there and
got me through. Once onto the open forrest
trails the Scrambler just loped along and
the suspension was impressive soaking up
ditches, ruts and bumps.