By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Scrambler
Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE (DS04-MY2024) vs Scrambler 1200 XE (DS01)
On a rutted dirt track, the 2024 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE carries its heft high, and it's a chore to paddle at walking pace. The 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE doesn't flinch at ruts.
So which one do you buy?
The 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE has the edge if…
Real off-road capability
Small edge: 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE
Once the asphalt stops, the 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE noses ahead. Tires and your own skill can easily cancel that out.
What makes each one tick
2024 Scrambler 1200 XE
The 2024 Scrambler 1200 XE's twin pulls from just above idle, and it doesn't fade when the revs climb. A buried rock on loose gravel barely registers, since the plush suspension swallows the hit and the front keeps reporting what's underneath. The pipe barks as it revs.
2019 Scrambler 1200 XE
On tight, technical ground the 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE's bars thread gaps that look too narrow for a bike its size. The throttle sends a thick shove rearward from low revs, with peak torque arriving at 3,950 rpm for loose surfaces. It'll turn off the freeway onto gravel without a pause.
Nils rode the 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE in Styria in 2019 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE has the larger fuel tank: 4.2 US gal (16 L) vs 4.0 US gal (15 L).
- USB Charging Port: standard on the 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE, not offered on the 2024 Scrambler 1200 XE.
- Heated Grips: standard on the 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE, option on the 2024 Scrambler 1200 XE.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not their thing
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
They come out level on character, commuting, and twisty roads. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2024 Scrambler 1200 XE
What owners say
Strengths
- Torque-rich and characterful parallel twin
- Genuine off‑road capability
Trade-offs
- Heavy weight and tall seat height
2019 Scrambler 1200 XE
Strengths
- Composed at highway speed
- Öhlins shrug off the rough
- Superbike-grade brake hardware
- Real freeway and dirt range
- Premium in every detail
Trade-offs
- Right calf cooks in traffic
- Unwieldy at walking pace
- Not for rusty or new riders
- Full wind blast at speed
- Heavy for genuine technical off-road use
Known problems to check before you buy
2024 Scrambler 1200 XE
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
2019 Scrambler 1200 XE
- Rear shock preload adjuster access difficult The Öhlins piggyback shocks are fully adjustable but preload adjustment requires C-spanner and removal of side panels for proper access, complicating quick load changes.
- Spoke tension on tubeless wheels requires monitoring The tubeless spoked wheels, while excellent for off-road use, can develop loose spokes after sustained rough riding; periodic spoke tension checks are recommended in the owner's manual.
- Clutch slave cylinder seal leak Some owners report hydraulic fluid weeping from the clutch slave cylinder, sometimes causing soft lever or clutch slip; usually addressed under warranty with seal or unit replacement.
- Headlight bracket / mounting vibration on rough surfaces On heavy off-road or washboard surfaces, headlight assembly and surrounding brackets can develop loosened fasteners; routine torque checks recommended.
- TFT display readability in direct sunlight The full-colour TFT instrument can wash out in bright direct sunlight, particularly with the lighter display theme.
What they share
- Seat height
- 34.3 in (870 mm)
- Displacement
- 1200 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 89 hp (66 kW)
- Torque
- 81 lb-ft (110 Nm)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
- Rear tire
- 150/70-17
- Wheelbase
- 61.8 in (1570 mm)
- Front travel
- 9.8 in (250 mm)
- Rear travel
- 9.8 in (250 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| 2024 Scrambler 1200 XE | 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak power at | 7,000 rpm | 7,400 rpm |
| Peak torque at | 4,250 rpm | 3,950 rpm |
| 2024 Scrambler 1200 XE | 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 US gal (15 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2024 Scrambler 1200 XE | 2019 Scrambler 1200 XE | |
|---|---|---|
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
