By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic vs Scrambler
Triumph Bonneville T120 (MY2016) vs Scrambler 1200 XE (DS04-MY2021)
Triumph Bonneville T120 vs Scrambler 1200 XE: which one to buy once you're past the looks.
Squeeze the Triumph Bonneville T120's front lever and it doesn't bite until you lean on it hard. The Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE's Brembo brakes grab from the first squeeze and haul the bike down with real force. Its Showa fork stays controlled while it's stopping.
So which one do you buy?
The Scrambler 1200 XE has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: Scrambler 1200 XE
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the Scrambler 1200 XE pulls a nose in front. Your own commute could easily flip it.
What makes each one tick
Bonneville T120
The Bonneville T120's twin pulls from just above idle, which is why it's happy in stop-and-go traffic and on twisty back roads. Each turn of the throttle gets a thick shove low down, and there's no point chasing the top end, where the twin loses interest. Once it's rolling, the low center of gravity hides the bike's heft. The peashooters thump out each pulse.
Scrambler 1200 XE
Perched on long-travel suspension, the Scrambler 1200 XE carries its twin's thrum high above the trail. There's grunt from barely off idle. At corner entry, the spindly wheel steers in over long-travel suspension, and the Öhlins shocks won't let the chassis wallow. That skinny wheel picks a line through rocks and sand.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Bonneville T120 has the lower seat: 31.1 in (790 mm) vs 34.3 in (870 mm).
- The Scrambler 1200 XE has the lower wet weight: 507 lb (230 kg) vs 520 lb (236 kg).
- The Scrambler 1200 XE makes more peak power: 89 hp (66 kW) vs 78 hp (58 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Wrong job for both
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Nothing splits them on twisty roads and running costs. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Bonneville T120
What owners say
Strengths
- Strong torque-led 1200 HT engine character
- Easy, accessible handling despite mass
- Authentic retro styling and finish
- Modern essentials present and unobtrusive
Trade-offs
- Front brake lacks initial bite
- Mass for some riders
- Soft, basic suspension
- Pre-LED-era halogen replacement aside, basic headlight beam pattern
- Snatchy / abrupt throttle in Road mode at low rpm
Scrambler 1200 XE
What owners say
Strengths
- Genuine off-road capability
- Premium suspension and brakes
- Torque-rich, flexible engine
- Comprehensive electronics package
Trade-offs
- Intimidating seat height
- Excessive exhaust heat
- Limited luggage options
- Snatchy throttle at low speed in Sport mode
Known problems to check before you buy
Bonneville T120
- Fuel pump sub-harness moulding defect can allow fuel to seep along wire insulation, risk of electrical short and fire Recall 19V133000 A moulding defect in the fuel pump sub-harness allows fuel to migrate along the wire insulation and reach the main harness connector, where it can cause an electrical short and ignite.
- Clutch cable can chafe through main harness cover and damage internal wiring Recall 19V133000 The clutch cable contacts the main harness cover at the headstock and abrades wires inside, leading to symptoms including loss of headlights, indicators not flashing, or unexpected stall. The fault is the root cause of many community indicator-failure reports.
- Gear-change selector mechanism failure The gear-change selector mechanism can fail through a broken internal return spring or through a bent claw on the detent wheel (often after a left-side drop), causing the bike to lock in a gear or refusing to downshift. Triumph released an updated shifter-mechanism kit (P/N T1191968) in October 2019, retrofittable to the start of production.
- Abrupt throttle response in Road mode at low rpm in 1st and 2nd gear The ride-by-wire ECU map in Road mode is described by owners as having coarse throttle resolution — small wrist inputs produce comparatively large throttle-body movements at low engine speed, resulting in an on/off character in tight low-speed riding. Rain mode smooths the response but reduces overall throttle authority. Common community workarounds: Booster Plug device, ECU re-flash with adjusted throttle map.
- Fuel gauge under- or over-reads; reserve light triggers inconsistently Owners report that the dash fuel gauge does not track tank level accurately and the reserve warning may activate with substantial fuel still in the tank. Triumph has reportedly issued a dealer memo and replaced the fuel-level sender under warranty in confirmed cases.
- Surface corrosion on grab-rail bolts, spoke nipples, brake disc carriers and TPS cover Within months of use, owners commonly report rust forming on exposed steel hardware: grab-rail bolts, spoke nipples, brake-disc carriers, throttle-position-sensor cover. Reported even in non-coastal, non-winter climates. Cosmetic, not structural; progressive if unaddressed.
Scrambler 1200 XE
- Unreliable keyless ignition system Multiple owners report intermittent failure of the keyless ignition, where the bike fails to recognize the fob.
What they share
- Displacement
- 1200 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Rear tire
- 150/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Bonneville T120 | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 34.3 in (870 mm) |
| Wet weight | 520 lb (236 kg) | 507 lb (230 kg) |
| Bonneville T120 | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 78 hp (58 kW) | 89 hp (66 kW) |
| Peak power at | 6,550 rpm | 7,400 rpm |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 81 lb-ft (110 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 3,100 rpm | 3,950 rpm |
| Bonneville T120 | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| Bonneville T120 | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-18 | 90/90-21 |
| Wheelbase | 57.1 in (1450 mm) | 61.8 in (1570 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Bonneville T120 | Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
