Hi all, I've been looking at some of the new gen water cooled bikes like the Street Twin as a first bike. With modern amenities like ABS, traction control, e.t.c it seems like the ST would do well for a new rider.
Part of me is considering the air cooled Scrambler. The only thing that deters me from going for the scrambler are the lack of these modern features like ABS. It's less safe I guess? Correct me otherwise and maybe provide some thoughts about the lack of modern features on the Scrambler (particularly ABS).
That aside, I really like the Scrambler with arrow pipes, super cool.
I'm not looking to wait for a new 2017/2018 water cooled scrambler or anything like that so it's pretty much a choice between the ST or the Scrambler (maybe T120).
Anyways just fishing for some thoughts (nonbiased please) about choosing the air cooled Scrambler over the Street Twin. Thanks.
Add on: Shoot, I always forget to add, I'am 5'6-7, the Scrambler is a bit tall so I may need to lower it down a bit. I can flatfoot Street Twin.
I know things are done differently in the states and plenty will say they learnt to ride on a gold wing bla bla bla but I can't help but thinking you would find it a lot more enjoyable to start on something lighter.
Get a bit off balance on a 500 lb bike and it's easy to drop it, where on a lighter bike you would have a lot better chance of recovering it.
May not look as cool but something like the 500 Honda twins would be a far better starting point. If it was me starting again I would start on something in the 250-300 range, and unfaired so if you drop it there's less to break.
....Get a bit off balance on a 500 lb bike and it's easy to drop it, where on a lighter bike you would have a lot better chance of recovering it.......
Yeah I think that's the safest school of thought to live by but I'm gonna stick with my gut on getting a Street Twin ( it is their entry-level triumph that should be a pretty predictable bike) or a Scrambler (and again maybe T120). Ha I'm sorry but I'm just not a used bike/car kinda guy and I elaborated this on a watercooled forum post. I would like to stick with one bike and be happy with it and so from the debate between the T120 and ST, here i'm debating between ST and Scrambler.
I love my Scrambler and you should get one too. You'll love it. You'll love it so much you will cry if you drop it. Dropping it is easy. I know.
I had the Vespa for years before I got the Scrambler, and the Triumph was one heavy mofo, the transition was surprising. For example,
If you are turning slowly and grab the front brake too hard, you could go down, you will crap your pants. I didn't go down, but my pants....
If you are pushing it around the garage, and it leans a wee bit too much it will go down. I dropped it on the Vespa, which was a good thing. A vintage Vespa is one stout machine, and the only damage to either bike was a ding on the Vespa fender (cheap). Whew.
The FIRST bike I ever truly fell in love (from afar) was way back in my early teens (mid 60s). It was a Honda Scrambler, mainly because of their really cool looking up swept, one sided, pipes. The originals were A/C'd vertical twins, with 250cc, eventually 305cc engines. To add to their desirability they had a distinctive (and incredibly good sounding) stock exhaust! Triumph's "modern classic" Scrambler has a lot of the same going for it with baffle-less pipes. Also, fwiw, the new 2016 Street Twin and T120 "copied" the Scrambler's 270 degree firing order cranks.
If you decide on a "new" Scrambler as your first bike, don't wait too long, there won't be many, if any around on showrooms by this time next year.
In all honesty, however, I would have to say a Street Twin would be a better choice for a first bike. It's safer and simply easier to ride. In totally stock trim, it also sounds GREAT!
I know you asked for non-biased opinion, but good luck with that, this is the internet after all. You don't mention how tall you are but the Scrambler is a fair bit taller than the Street Twin. If you're on the short side, you might want to sit on both, or even better ride both to see if you can flatfoot them. Not much of an issue for an experienced rider, but for a newbie it's more important. Yes, it's probably better to start with a lighter used bike but at least you're not looking at a 1000cc crotch rocket or an 800 lb. $23K Harley. ABS is a pretty big deal for an inexperienced rider. It allows you to cram on the brakes in an emergency situation without locking up the wheels and loosing control (except when leaning in corners). It really can save you from serious injury and bike damage which can be very costly. The Street Twin will be more refined than the Scrambler but as a first year offering, there may be mechanical issues that pop up and would need to be taken care of under warranty. Good luck on your choice :smile2:
I got a 2013 standard Bonnie as my first bike and I've loved it ever since. I hear that the Scrambler is a bit less nimble, but that should be all right. They are not overly powerful but will get you where you need to be fast enough whilst having buckets of fun. Just make sure you train your basic manoeuvres (parking, slalom, figure-of-8, emergency and precision break, evasion, slow riding, etc.) properly before you really head out, preferably on a bike that can be dropped, like a riding school's. That amount of control should allow you to control a Scrambler no prob.
Concerning the newer features: I haven't really missed much of them on the Bonnie, aside from my brakes being a bit on the soft side and the stock shocks being backbreaking at times for my pillion (don't know about the Scrambler though). I would seriously consider the street twin still, if only because you just get a bit more bike for your buck and it will be easier to ride. On the other hand, I am really not a huge fan of its styling, not retro enough for my taste. And don't forget: you have to find your bike pretty enough to make it shiny again every time you get it dirty, which is always surprisingly often .
Off-topic: @RedVespa , when would you grab the front break while turning slowly ?
Buy the Scrambler, If you are NOT an idiot you can handle it (or if you are a Midget you might have a problem, than get a Street Twin and Putter around town), it's a fine bike, I will assume you Want a Triumph so I will not start down teh road of Other brands, that said Triumphs are very Cheaply made and their parts are up there in $$$ to replace broken crap on them. A simple drop in the dirt on my scrambler cost $700 and that was just a "Fall" not a Crash. I will assume if you drop a Street Twin it will be even worse with the terrible exhaust on each side.
I love my Scrambler, it's fun, you can get them real cheap now too at most dealershi[s because they want to dump them quick and not be stuck with them like they where with the Old terrible Bonnie's now that the nice Water Headed ones are in.
Here is my Scrambler Next to MY 1ST BIKE, bought it in 2005, saw it on TV and said "I love that bike, I am going to buy one and learn to ride it" Many "Experts" told me not to, its heavy, its Fast for what it is, blah blah blah, belly ache Belly ache Belly Ache....... 135,000 miles later and I thank God I didnt listen to the 'Experts" and all their "Advice" (and that goes for 90% of the crap they will tell you also ( they would tell you to date an Ugly girl too I guess as they are Easier to get and keep) Buy the bike you like, ride it, respect it and it will not kill you...
and last week a friends brother was in town from France so I let him Borrow my bike, another "Rule" most will say not to do, "let people Ride Your Bike" its garbage, buy it and enjoy it. Don't buy crap from British Customs is good advice, they are rip off artists..
So far, thanks to all that reply. Despite being adamant about getting a new bike, I really do read and consider everyone's perspective.
RedVespa- hehe I hear ya. I don't want to fear the idea of dropping but I would like to prevent it from happening at all, easier said then done I reckon. In all seriousness, you have a point, I don't want to be an example of Darwinism at its finest.
DennisD- I'm pretty happy with the 270, I think it helps the new bikes sound a lot better. Yeah, I know the Street Twin is probably the best choice too. I really like it, it just so happens I also like the Scrambler and T120. "Safer" is the key word here, so the Street Twin seems to fit that more than the air cooled. Yes, the Street Twin sounds great for stock, I may not need an aftermarket exhaust.
Roadapple- Yeah, I guess not but hey it helps to hear what people have to say. Like you said, it's not like I'm going for a super extreme liter sport bike, I just want to mosey along on a Triumph classic. I'm about 5'6 or 5'7, the Scrambler would need to be lowered a bit for flatfooting but the Street Twin is fine. Yeah the ABS alone is putting the Street Twin in my favor.
Le_Yak- I know where you're coming from, I think the styling threw me off a bit but the ST looks are growing on me now. The Scrambler is my favorite modern classic lineup but since they didn't release a water-cooled one, the T120 style really caught my eye.
Luxlamf- Yeah my "mantra" is to respect the bike rather than fear it too. I don't want to go through used bikes and reselling them, I just want to make the right decision when choosing. What do you not like about British Customs? It seems like a lot of people buy their aftermarket parts so I was considering them for parts too.
Luxlamf- Yeah my "mantra" is to respect the bike rather than fear it too. I don't want to go through used bikes and reselling them, I just want to make the right decision when choosing. What do you not like about British Customs? It seems like a lot of people buy their aftermarket parts so I was considering them for parts too.
Well they will sell you a $9 Triumph oil filter for $15... That pretty much says it all, they repackage many things and inflate the prices. Search the internet when you want to buy something and you will find many other options. Lots of people around here also don't really ride their bikes all that much, they spend more time and money fiddling and BC is a great resource for Fiddlers as they love Logos and shiney things etc...
I agree 100% with the nonsense of buying someone else Old Bike to "Learn On" etc.. If riding a Scrambler is considered Brain Surgery now in the MC world we are all in trouble. Its a simple bike to ride simple bike to work on, you Might consider that instead of the 1st year "High Tech" models they are selling right now. You want to jump on a super bike that costs your $30k? That might not be the best idea but if you are determined to do so and have could sense go for it.
Lots of good advice here. If you are going to start with a heavier bike though..., just make sure that motorcycle controls are intuitive before you pick up your nice, shiny new one. If you can play with a "school bike" for a bit and find all your instincts have become automatic, that'd be a huge plus. Even better if you can play in the dirt a bit first.
At your size, the ST sounds a safer bet as there will be less bike to "fight". The ABS isn't essential but can't hurt.
When you hit the road, you'll have all sorts of new challenges, mainly from minivans trying to squash you. Ride with some experienced old farts who move along but will wait for you. Observe everything they do in various road situations and take it all on board. If you don't know WHY they did something..., ask!
I was putting around a gas station parking lot, while making a slow turn I gave the front brake a little too much squeeze. Vespa drum brakes and 10" wheels don't behave the same way. Keep in mind the Vespa weighs 240 lbs. too.
I never had a problem when I got the Scrambler moving, it was the slow stuff that made for the learning curve.
I have a 2014 scrambler, and it's a bit tall for me ( i'm 5 ft 11). Maybe the dealer can put bonneville shocks and lower the forks for you to start with, and then you can put it back in a few thousand miles.
Abs would be nice, but I don't think I'd give up the scrambler for it. Btw, I've not gotten to see any of the new bikes yet, I might change my tune. But the arrow is nice!
Based on your height alone, it sounds like the ST is more appropriate. If you live/ride where rain is likely, then that's an additional plus. In defense of the Scrambler, it is a very easy bike to ride. Not so much power to overwhelm you, but enough to keep you engaged. The controls are easy, and the riding position is beginner-friendly. But it's a tall, fairly heavy bike. From this end of the internet, the ST is probably the better choice in the medium-term.
If you want a bike you will keep forever and never long for another go ahead and get the Scrambler. You will not stop smiling. (The preceding statement was not an unbiased opinion)
I have never had a problem with British Customs, New Bonneville or Bellacorse. Just shop around. I buy from all three depending on what I want.
If you've got zero experience on a bike, try to pick up a cheap $500 scooter off craigslist and ride it around for a bit, see if riding is for you. Not too long, just a couple months. There are a lot of things people don't tell you about riding a motorcycle. Probably better to know what you're getting into with minimal risk. Oh, and definitely take a MSF course before buying anything for a proper introduction to the world of motorcycling.
If you're hellbent on deciding between the Street Twin or the Scrambler for your first bike, then good luck. That's a tough call. The Street Twin is more rideable to someone of your stature and experience level, and it is more than capable of doing what you need it to. But if it were me, I could see myself getting bored with the Street Twin well before it was paid off. Obviously, this is just my own personal preference.
I can tell you that I haven't owned a car/truck for years, and I ride my bike(s) everywhere, every day of the year. My T-100 is my main squeeze and daily "do everything" bike, and I didn't choose it so much for practicality as I did because I love it. I'm sure there are "better" bikes to ride 365 days a year, but none would put a smile on my face like the one I love.
Go with what speaks to you and make the pieces fall into place to make it work.
Hi OP. Another novice rider here and I bought a new 2014 Scrambler as my first bike. It's pretty heavy for a novice and I dropped it once in a Starbucks parking lot. I was making a 100 degree turn at walking speed and it got away from me. Not much damage but it underscored the weight of the bike. 500 pounds is hard to handle sometimes. I'd definitely chime in with with those who suggest something light for your first bike, but, we want what we want.
My bike now. Arrow. Custom seat 3 inches higher. Bar end mirrors. Engine guards. Etc.
Thing is, after 6200 miles and two years I'm getting the urge for something bigger/more powerful. I've been perusing ads for the Tiger XCX.
Iambroving - Yeah I signed up for the Harley Class where we get to practice on the Street 500. The 500cc is still a bit small but the 400+ lb. bike should help me get oriented with heavier bikes. Honestly, the Street Twin is the best move but it's hard not to appreciate other bikes like the Scrambler. Hah yeah I got a couple of old neighbors with a rocket and a dyna switchback across the street, would be fun to ride with them. Never really got to know them though but we'll see.
Red Vespa- Yeah it seems like most of the modern classics are a bit of porkers but once you get them moving, then they start to feel "lighter" or so I've heard. Slow speed is where I know I'm most likely to drop if it does happen. I'll do my best though.
Tenex- Yeah the dealer I visit says they can accommodate the bike height for me, really nice folks. You should check the new bikes out, I think they look amazing. It just happens there isn't a proper scrambler model.
Luxlamf- Yeah I'll take a look around but mostly just looking at Triumph brand parts for now. Haha, gave me a chuckle but yeah pretty much sums up how I feel. I also don't really trust used no matter how good an owner took care of his/her bike. Whatever bike I get, Street Twin or Scrambler, it will be new.
Lovel- Yeah I know, my only qualms are are the lack of ABS and such and if I might be missing out on a 2017/2018 water cooled Scrambler. That said, I'm not sure if they can make an aftermarket exhaust that equals the current Scrambler arrow combo.
Ryanxalves- Oh yea, the MSF is my personal prerequisite to even buying a bike. Taking it at Harley so I can practice on a bit bigger bikes to ease my way into the Triumph classic line. Haha yeah before the water cooled models were released (which are a lot more practical now in my opinion), the aircooled Triumph classics were really bikes that I think are reasonably reliable but you kind of bought them with your heart.
My Scram was the first bike I ever rode after my MSF test. It's treated me well and I will never sell it.
However, if you aren't 100% committed to the Scram, I say get a new Triumph with ABS. Not some old 300cc bike with crappy brakes that needs to be wrenched on constantly.
Nick Goodwin - I have considered that. I think it looks great but I'm not so sure, it wouldn't be a proper Scrambler. Not like that should a concern for a newbie I reckon. If anyone else has thoughts on the Street Twin Scrambler style, i wouldn't mind some opinions. Might make another post about this topic on the water cooled side.
Wisteria- Wow, thanks for the pic. Great to hear from a first-bike-scrambler owner (cluttered wording, sorry!). Yeah, I'm definitely taking it slow and easy for the first couple of weeks. Gotta be one with the bike. I know it's not practical but like you said, it's what we want. Haha, I think that seat would put me in a lot of trouble.
tenex- Yeah it's really the aesthetics that got me hooked to Triumph (and Harley Davidson) and the way they ride too. I just want to ride in a mosey kind of speed, a lazy ride even (maybe a cruiser would be nice). Sportbikes are not for me, even the ones that are a bit of an "easy" ride.
b0rderman- Thanks for the input, glad to hear the Scrambler has done well for previous newbies. Yeah agreed, I don't see myself being happy riding a used bike for practice. Ideally I want to buy a bike that I can stick with for a long run. The street Twin, Scrambler and T120 all fit that mold. The only bike that might make me change my mind is a new water cooled Scrambler, which if Triumph continues to do what they're doing with these new bikes, the new Scrambler might be a real beauty and hopefully a lot of fun.
More Scrambler love, Arrow pipe, drag bars, Napolean mirrors, Renntec rack, Annakee III tires (the stock knobbies blow). I've put a larger headlight on since this pic too.
RedVespa- Awesome, I love this color scheme, the tank looks so much like the vintage bonnevilles. Yeah I have read that the stock tires suck, too early for me to look into that though. That arrow is a must for me.
Lovel- Thanks for the pic, you can't go wrong with black. It looks a lot better with bar end mirrors. For some reason, I really the bonnie with the stock mirrors though despite impracticality. Anyways, cool looking scrambler, I love it. Custom scramblers rock!
my first bike ever.. 2013 triumph scrambler.. it's a great bike.. customizable.. fun. goes anywhere.. it's great on pavement.. twisties and dirt roads.. I have just about 41,000 miles on mine.. never been on a bike before this one.. took the msf and I took my time learning how to ride.. get the bike you want.. no regrets...
Right on! I'm glad to hear it worked out well for you. I'm in no hurry to ride crazy or anything like that. I'm with you on that, baby steps with the bike I will purchase but it has to be the bike that I really want.
Great pic, shame they stopped selling the Scrambler in the matte graphite for 2016 but the pacific blue is growing on me.
I have a 2014 Scrambler. Arrow Exhaust with no baffle turns it into the coolest bike of all time. They couldn't pay me to trade mine for a water cooled model.
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