Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE (2024+) Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule with associated service intervals for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X and Scrambler 1200 XE, released from the 2024 model year. It’s an update to the last iteration, the 2021-2023 Triumph Scrambler XC / XE.
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 is a scrambler-style motorcycle based on the Triumph 1200 parallel twin engine, which fuels several “modern classic” models, in a different state of tune in each motorcycle.
In the 2024 Scrambler 1200, the 1200 motor engine makes peak power of 66.2 kW / 90 PS / 89 bhp at 7000 rpm, and peak torque of 110 Nm / 81.1 lb-ft at 4250 rpm. The final drive is via a six-speed box and chain.
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 comes in two specs levels. The XE has higher-spec, longer-travel suspension, whereas the X has more street-oriented suspension. However, they share the same drivetrain, and all maintenance is the same.
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Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE Service Intervals
Overall, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 (both X and XE) has quite wide 10000 mile / 16000 km or annual service intervals. At every service, change the oil and filter, and do a host of checks.
The valve service interval for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 is every 20000 miles or 32000 km. Triumph no longer requires spark plug checks between valve services.
As the Triumph Scrambler 1200 models both have a chain drive, make sure you maintain it regularly (see below for the section on chain maintenance).
What You Need to Service a Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE
The Scrambler 1200 X / XE is an easy bike to work on, and most maintenance is within the grasp of a competent home mechanic.
You need the below parts to service your Scrambler 1200.
| Triumph | Part spec — Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE |
|---|---|
| Oil | Triumph recommends 10W/40 or 10W/50 semi or fully synthetic motorcycle engine oil that meets specification API SH (or higher) and JASO MA, such as Motul 7100 10W-40. |
| Oil filter | Replace the oil filter every time you change the oil. Use Triumph part number T1218001. You can also use HifloFiltro’s HF204RC. |
| Brake fluid | Use Castrol DOT 4 for the brake fluid. |
| Coolant | Triumph recommends D2053 orange-colored coolant, an OAT coolant. You can also use an alternative OAT like Zerex Dex-Cool. |
| Spark plugs | NGK code LMAR8A-9. Note they’re sold individually. Make sure they’re gapped to 0.9mm with an appropriate spark plug gap tool. |
| Air filter | The part number for the air filter is T2201816. You can also use a high-performance DNA air filter, part number P-TR12N19-01. |
| Cable maintenance | Protect All Cable Life is a good-quality cable maintenance product. You can also use engine oil (but it’s a bit messy) |
| Chain maintenance | A good kit to have on hand is the Motul chain care kit — including lubricant, cleaners, a brush, and so on. |
Maintenance Schedule for Triumph Scrambler 1200
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Triumph Scrambler 1200. It’s derived from the manual but simplified. We’ve broken it up into three parts:
- The daily inspection checklist (leaks, general condition checks)
- The annual inspection checklist
- The maintenance schedule of less frequent things like spark plug changes and valve clearance checks.
In addition, the chain inspection guidelines are separate.
Break-in service
For the 600 mile / 1000 km / 6-month Triumph Scrambler 1200 break-in service, do the following:
- Change the engine oil and filter
- Do the daily inspection checklist
- Perform the annual inspection checklist
Daily inspection checklist
Below is the daily inspection checklist for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC or XE. Do this along with the rest of the maintenance schedule.
| Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE Daily maintenance checklist |
|---|
| Drive chain slack – check/adjust See below for guidelines on checking and adjusting chain slack |
| Engine – check for leaks |
| Coolant level – check/adjust |
| Cooling system – check for leaks |
| Clutch – check operation |
| Clutch cable – check function and adjust as necessary (lubricate as needed with Protect All Cable Life) |
| Tire wear/tire damage – check |
| Tire pressures – check/adjust |
| Wheels – inspect for damage |
| Wheel spokes – check for cracked/damaged spokes, and for tightness – adjust as necessary |
| Steering – check for free operation |
| Front and rear suspension – check for damage/leaks/smooth operation |
| Brakes – check operation |
| Brake pads – check wear levels, replace as necessary |
| Brake fluid levels – check |
| All lights, instruments and electrical systems – check/adjust |
| Bank angle indicators – check visually for wear |
| Side stand/Center stand – check for wear/smooth operation. Lubricate as necessary |
Maintenance schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Triumph Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE.
Notes:
- Keep repeating this maintenance schedule beyond the end of the indicated time/distance.
- At the end of the maintenance schedule, keep following it in the pattern shown.
- The break-in service is omitted for simplicity. It is an oil + filter change and a check for leaks, cracks, and damage.
| mi x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 64 | Every |
| Daily inspection checklist (see above) — perform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Annual inspection checklist (see below) — perform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil – replace (Motul 7100 10W-40) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil filter – replace (HF204RC) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Air filter – replace (P-TR12N19-01) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | More often if riding in dusty conditions |
| Cooling system – check coolant hoses for chafing/cracks/damage. Replace if necessary. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Spark plugs – replace (LMAR8A-9) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Valve clearances – check | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Camshaft timing – check/adjust | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Fuel filter – replace | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Brake fluid – replace (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | ||||
| Coolant – replace (Zerex G30) | 3 years | ||||
| Fork oil – replace | ✓ |
Annual inspection checklist
Below is the annual inspection checklist for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE. Do this according to the schedule above (i.e. every year).
[D] Some items are for Triumph dealers only as they require special tools.
| Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE Annual Inspection Checklist |
|---|
| Fuel system – check for leaks |
| Clutch lever pivot – lubricate (at first service only) |
| Wheel bearings – check for wear/smooth operation |
| Headstock bearings – check/adjust |
| Brake master cylinders – check for fluid leaks |
| Drive chain rubbing strips – check for wear, cracks, or damage |
| Rear brake pedal adjuster pivot pin – clean / lubricate |
| [D] Autoscan — Carry out a full Autoscan using the Triumph Diagnostic Tool |
| [D] Instruments and engine ECM – check for the latest calibration using the Triumph diagnostic tool |
| [D] Carry out all outstanding Service Bulletin and warranty work |
| Carry out a road test |
| [D] Complete the service record book and reset the service indicator |
Chain maintenance
Below are the chain maintenance guidelines for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC or XE.
Triumph recommends you lubricate your chain and check the wear periodically according to the following schedule.
| Item | Every |
|---|---|
| Drive chain – lubricate (Motul Chain Paste) | 200 miles (300 km) |
| Drive chain – check wear | 500 miles (800 km) |
You also need to regularly check the slack of the chain per the schedule.
How to check chain slack on a Triumph Scrambler 1200 (either X or XE)
Every brand of motorcycle defines chain slack differently. For Triumph, slack is defined as the free vertical movement of the centre part of the bottom chain segment. See the below illustration.
Here’s how to check the chain slack.
- You need a ruler (or tape measure) and nitrile gloves or a rag (to avoid getting grease on your hands).
- Put the motorcycle in neutral, on a level service, and elevate the rear wheel with a stand or centre stand if you have one fitted. It should have no load on it.
- Rotate the wheel and find the tightest part of the chain, in the middle.
- Use a finger to lightly push the chain up and down. Measure the deflection, which is the chain slack.
Target chain slack: 20-30 mm (0.8 – 1.2 in)
If the slack is out of speck, you need to adjust it.
How to adjust chain slack on the Scrambler 1200
The procedure is similar to on many motorcycles, but of course, specifics vary between brands and model lines.
You need wrenches and torque wrenches to re-tighten the rear wheel. You will need a large torque wrench for the rear axle as well as a breaker bar.
- Loosen the rear axle nut with a breaker bar.
- Loosen the lock nuts on the left-hand and right-hand sides.
- Turn the adjuster bolts, usually counter-clockwise, extending the bolt “outward” to lengthen the chain and make it tighter. (Sometimes you’ll want to make it looser — in those cases, turn it clockwise / inward)
- Make sure to adjust the bolts the same amount on each side — check the adjuster markings.
- Tighten both adjuster nuts to 15 lb-ft / 20 Nm, and the rear axle nut to 81 lb-ft / 110 Nm (“very tight with a big wrench”).
While tightening the chain, check it for damage — for stiff links, damaged rollers, and loose pins.
Wheel and Tire Specs for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE
Both the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X and XE have a 21/17-inch tire combo.
Even though the Triumph Scrambler 1200 models ship with spoked rims, they has tubeless tires. So you don’t need to carry a spare tube for your riding adventures.
| Wheel | Wheel size | Tire size | Tire pressure (cold) All other tires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front | 21 x 2.15 in | 90/90-21 54H | 2.5 bar / 36 psi |
| Rear | 17 x 4.25 | 150/70R17 69V | 2.9 bar / 42 psi |
About the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 was first launched for the 2019 model year. On the face of it, you’d assume that the Scrambler 1200 were an extension of the Triumph Scrambler 900, which is based on the liquid-cooled 900 engine, but with a bigger engine and higher-spec components.
But the Scrambler 1200 is so much more. It goes further than the Scrambler from competing lines — most notably the BMW R nineT Scrambler and Ducati Scrambler 1100 — and really tries to deliver on off-road performance. Especially in the XE model.
Triumph has continued this differentiation with the 2024 models X and XE, though the X is now a halfway point that provides off-road ability but more on-road comfort.
At the heart of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 is the same liquid-cooled 1200 cc parallel-twin engine that powers the rest of the Triumph 1200 line.
In the Scrambler 1200, the engine is tuned more for low-end torque, so the Scrambler 1200 isn’t as obviously fast as, say, the Speed Twin, or the Thruxton RS.
Still, the engine makes a healthy 66 kW (89 bhp) at 7000 rpm, with peak torque coming on impressively low at 4250 rpm. Thanks to its low gearing, the Scrambler 1200 is quite manageable in a range of conditions. In fact, you have to shift to third or fourth gear just to get to freeway speeds, which makes it seem like a high-torque middleweight in some ways.
The Triumph Scrambler, while having adventure bike pretensions, is definitely more on the “Scrambler” side. It comes without a fairing, and the high side-mounted exhaust means putting much luggage on it is impractical. Still, it can be done, and many have gone camping on their Scramblers with a rear luggage rack and maybe a tank bag.
For 2024, Triumph has differentiated between the X and XE further than the previous generation. The X has shorter-travel suspension and lower overall seat height, making it more accessible to a wider range of riders.
The X also loses out on cruise control, which the XC had from 2019 to 2023, but gains cornering ABS, which used to be exclusive to the XE. So now both Scrambler 1200 models have an IMU, something that used to be exclusive to high-end sport motorcycles.
Compared to the other “Scrambler” class motorcycles from BMW and Ducati (Triumph’s primary competitors), the Triumph Scrambler X and XE have more off-road capability. This is especially true of the XE, with its long-travel suspension.
One fly in the ointment of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 models in terms of off-road riding ability is their weight. While they’re not incredibly heavy — 229 kg wet is not too much for an adventure class bike in the case of the XE — they do wear the weight up high. And this makes for not an ideal bike to rip through sandy terrain with aplomb, for example, unless you have a lot of dirt bike experience already.
But if you use your motorcycle for more sedate adventures down back roads, then the Scrambler 1200 is definitely up to the task.
Another complication is that the Triumph Scrambler 1200 models use a chain final drive. This isn’t a problem per se — after all, dirt bikes and motocross bikes do the same — but it does mean that you’ll be cleaning and lubricating the chain regularly. The latter at least can be avoided with a Scottoiler.
Maintenance Torque Values
Below are maintenance torque values for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X and XE from the manual.
| Component | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Terminals | 40 lbf in | 4.5 Nm |
| Chain Adjuster Lock Nuts | 15 lbf ft | 20 Nm |
| Chain Guard – Front Fastener | 35 lbf in | 4 Nm |
| Chain Guard – Rear Fastener | 71 lbf in | 8 Nm |
| Oil Filter | 89 lbf in | 10 Nm |
| Spark Plug | 9 lbf ft | 12 Nm |
| Storage Box Front Fasteners | 44 lbf in | 5 Nm |
| Storage Box Rear Fastener | 27 lbf in | 3 Nm |
| Sump Plug | 18 lbf ft | 25 Nm |
| Rear Wheel Spindle Nut | 81 lbf ft | 110 Nm |
Manual for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 X / XE (2024)
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Triumph Scrambler 1200, which is available on the Triumph website.
