It was recently confirmed that the first Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle will arrive in 2023, and that Bajaj has taken over Triumph’s sales and service operations in India. Now, the upcoming Bajaj-Triumph scrambler model has been spotted testing in India once again, revealing new details, and also giving many indications that an official launch isn’t far off.
- Bajaj-Triumph scrambler will feature semi-digital instrumentation
- Luggage options to be offered
- Official launch expected by festive season 2023
While this scrambler iteration of the Bajaj-Triumph has been spotted a few times before, this time around, the shots are much clearer, closer up and in focus for a significant duration, almost as if the rider knew he was being shot and didn’t mind.
Bajaj-Triumph scrambler engine
At its heart sits a liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that’s likely to displace between 300-400cc. We have personally observed another test mule of this model achieving 150kph while testing, so you can expect performance figures that are more akin to the KTM 390 Adventure than something like the Royal Enfield Himalayan. The shape of the cylinder head suggests DOHC architecture, which would in turn imply 4 valves per cylinder.
The engine’s side covers bear a very strong resemblance to those of Triumph’s twin-cylinder Bonneville line-up, even down to the clutch being on the left and the chain/sprocket being on the right, contrary to convention. The double-barrel exhaust system is still in place, so it should make its way onto the production bike, which is great news, because it looks smashing.
Bajaj-Triumph scrambler chassis
This close-up footage shows the headstock and the downtubes to feature a single-piece design, unlike something like the Royal Enfield 650s which feature a bolted joint at this location. The rear subframe on the Bajaj-Triumph will be a bolt-on type, and the monoshock will be offset. Up front, there’s an upside-down fork, and the video footage shows the bike gliding quite smoothly over some hefty rumble strips. Suspension travel seems to be on the higher side – probably not as much as an ADV, but likely more than the typical street bike. The 19-inch front wheel will also play a role in improving ride quality and general stability.
Bajaj-Triumph scrambler features and design
With no camouflage or cladding, the overall form of the motorcycle is out in the open, and it should cut a rather handsome figure once it’s officially shown to the world. There are many signature Triumph touches – the headlight looks similar to something you’d find on the Bobber, the high beak-type fender is not unlike what you see on the twin-cylinder Scrambler models, and the fuel tank with its offset fuel filler is very Bonneville. The tail-lamp doesn’t share much inspiration with any existing Triumph, but it does look very neat, as do the side panels.
The riding position seems very relaxed and comfortable – pegs are mid-set and the bar sweeps back nicely to the rider. A handlebar brace is also visible. The pillion seat, though, appears to be on the smaller side, while pillion footpegs seem to be set quite relaxed.
One of the big revelations in these spy shots is the instrumentation, which will feature a semi-digital design. There appears to be a large analogue tachometer, accompanied by a digital display that’s likely an LCD unit. The fact that this isn’t a semiconductor-intensive TFT screen indicates that Bajaj and Triumph are aiming to make this bike cost effective, both to purchase as well as to manufacture.
All the lights seem to be LEDs, though the LED indicators could be accessories – the bike has been spotted with simpler halogen indicators in the past. As for other features, expect dual-channel ABS and perhaps aids like traction control or a quickshifter (Bajaj’s experience with KTM could allow it to implement this affordably).
Bajaj-Triumph scrambler luggage and accessories
Perhaps the most eye-catching feature on this bike is the large top box at the rear. However, the overall rough appearance suggests that this isn’t a production-bound accessory, and is probably just being used to house some data-logging equipment (like the tank bag ahead). That said, the bike does appear to get a large rear rack and sizeable grab rails, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Triumph offer a more polished top box as an add-on, especially considering the genre of this motorcycle. There’s also a pannier stay along with a soft bag on the left side. This probably isn’t possible on the right side, due to the location of the exhaust exit. Other bits on the bike that are likely to be add-on accessories are the windscreen and the crash protection.
Bajaj-Triumph scrambler expected price and launch
There are a number of clues here to suggest that an official unveiling and launch of this motorcycle might not be too far off. For one, it’s been six years since Bajaj and Triumph announced their partnership and just over a year since this scrambler was first spotted testing on public roads. These timelines are in-line with what you’d expect for an all-new platform and product like this.
Then there’s also the appearance of the test mule. Everything seems quite well finished, most visible bolt heads feature torque markings (indications of a trial production run) and there are almost no rough edges around – the only anomaly is a missing rear left indicator.
And finally, there’s the unusual nature of this video. We often encounter test mules being road tested on certain routes, and more often than not, the rider is rather unhappy to be spotted and recognised, and positively angry to be photographed or videotaped, especially when a vehicle is in its early stages. In this case, though, the cameraperson is able to very comfortably keep pace with the test mule, and the rider makes absolutely no attempt to evade being spotted or snapped.
Pricing will ultimately depend on exactly how much the engine in this bike displaces. We expect it to be in the ballpark of the KTM 390 Adventure in terms of performance as well as price, so you can expect it to sit at around Rs 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom) once launched.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
