Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE (2021-2023) Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule with associated service intervals for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC and XE made from 2021-2023.
The 2021 update to the Scrambler 1200 was relatively minor (a Euro 5 emissions update), but it did bring with it a simpler maintenance schedule, with many items from the 2019-2020 Triumph Scrambler 1200 not required.
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 is a scrambler-style motorcycle based on the Triumph 1200 parallel twin engine seen for example in the 2021 Triumph Bonneville T120. In the 2021 Scrambler 1200 in Euro 5 tune, the engine makes 66.2 kW / 89 bhp at 7250 rpm, and peak torque of 110 Nm / 81.1 lb-ft at 4500 rpm. The final drive is via a six-speed box and chain.
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 comes in two specs. The XE has longer-travel suspension, an IMU with cornering ABS/TC, and another off-road ride mode. But otherwise, they share the same engine and drivetrain, and thus share a maintenance schedule.
From 2024, Triumph updated the Scrambler 1200 range, bringing in the more street-oriented Scrambler 1200 X to replace the XC, while making some changes to the Scrambler 1200 XE. You can find their maintenance schedule here.
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Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE Service Intervals
Overall, the Triumph Scrambler 1200 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.
Unlike early Scramblers (from the Scrambler 865 EFI generation), the Scrambler 1200’s engine is liquid-cooled, so replace the coolant periodically.
As the Triumph Scrambler 1200 has 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
The Scrambler 1200 XE / XC 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 (fully synthetic) engine oil. You can also use another of similar spec too, like 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 uses Hybrid Organic Acid Technology coolant with a 50% ethylene glycol mix. Many Triumph owners use Valvoline Zerex G05. |
| Brake pads | Use brake pad parts FA447HH for the front rotors and FA209/2HH for the rear. |
| 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.
- Items marked [D] are for those with dealer tools
- 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 G05) | 3 years | ||||
| Fork oil – replace | ✓ |
Annual inspection checklist
Below is the annual inspection checklist for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE. Do this according to the schedule above (i.e. every year).
| Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE Annual Inspection Checklist |
|---|
| Fuel system – check for leaks |
| Clutch lever pivot – lubricate |
| Wheel bearings – check for wear/smooth operation |
| Headstock bearings – check/adjust (optional at first service) |
| 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
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.
- 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)
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.
- Keep the motorcycle’s rear wheel elevated.
- Loosen the rear axle nut.
- 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 markings.
- Tighten both adjuster lock nuts to 15 lb-ft / 20 Nm, and the rear axle nut to 81 lb-ft / 110 Nm (“very tight with a big wrench”).
Wheel and Tire Specs for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 ships with mixed-use tires, either Metzeler Tourance mixed-use tires or Pirelli Scorpion Rally for more off-road focused work. Below are the tire sizes and recommended tire pressures.
Even though the Triumph Scrambler 1200 ships with spoked rims, it has tubeless tires. So you don’t need to carry a spare tube for your riding adventures.
Both the XC and XE have a 21-inch front tire and the same tire sizes front and rear.
| Wheel | Tire size | Tire pressure (cold) Pirelli Scorpion Rally | Tire pressure (cold) All other tires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front | 90/90-21 54H | 2.5 bar / 36 psi | 2.5 bar / 36 psi |
| Rear | 150/70R17 69V | 2.6 bar / 38 psi | 2.9 bar / 42 psi |
About the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE (2021-2023)
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.
At the heart of the Scrambler 1200 is the same liquid-cooled 1200cc parallel-twin engine that powers the rest of the Triumph 1200 line.
In the Scrambler 1200, it’s tuned more for low-end torque and power, so the Scrambler 1200 isn’t as obviously fast as, say, the Speed Twin.
Still, the engine makes a healthy 65 kW (89 bhp) at 7250 rpm, with peak torque of an impressive 110 Nm (81 lb-ft) at 4500 rpm. Thanks to its low gearing, too, the Scrambler 1200 is really manageable in a range of conditions. In fact, you have to shift to third or 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 you can blast about on back roads on a Scrambler with aplomb and have a lot of fun.
The Triumph Scrambler XE is the crown jewel of the Scrambler 1200 line-up. It comes with
- Longer travel suspension: The XE has 250 mm travel in the suspension at the front and rear, compared with 200 mm in the XC
- An IMU: The Scrambler XE has cornering ABS / traction control
- An extra ride mode (Off-Road Pro)
- Standard heated grips
In fact, the Scrambler XE is the only motorcycle in the Triumph 1200-class line of modern classics with an IMU (cornering ABS).
Compared to the other “Scrambler” class motorcycles from BMW and Ducati (Triumph’s primary competitors), the Triumph Scrambler XC and XE have a lot more off-road capability. This is especially true of the XE.
However, if you want to use your Scrambler just for on-road riding, you might make the choice based on different criteria, including aesthetics, how the ride feels, and on-road performance. You might easily end up with any of the bikes, depending on your preferences.
One thing that makes the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE stand out against other adventure motorcycles though — including from Triumph’s own 1200 line-up — is just how good-looking they are.
The Triumph modern classic line is, after all, a style-first line of motorcycles. They all look great, from a distance and close-up. The paint is great, the chrome is shiny, and they feel wonderful to ride at any speed.
Perhaps the only fly in the ointment of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 is their weight. While they’re not incredibly heavy — 229 kg wet is not too much for an adventure class bike — 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.
Manual for the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC / XE (2021)
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Triumph Scrambler 1200, which is available on the Triumph website.
The 2021 model of the Scrambler 1200 brought with it a number of changes in the maintenance schedule, which you can see by comparing it with the earlier model.
