With a Military-Inspired Refresh, Triumph’s Coolest Modern Classic Motorcycle Has Never Looked Better

Whoever said “looks aren’t everything” never went motorcycle shopping. 

Even more than with four-wheeled vehicles, appearance plays a huge role in the appeal of a bike. People can so easily see you on the thing, it’s gotta look good, right?

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With that in mind, I can’t help but fall helplessly in love with Triumph’s latest treatment of a retro-styled motorcycle with which I have long been smitten.

Standing out amongst a dozen compelling just-announced paint schemes for 10 models, the Scrambler 1200 X in what the brand calls Matte Khaki Green is an absolute bullseye.

Military grade

For the record, Triumph’s largest-displacement Scrambler’s various iterations often turn heads: witness the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride-linked XE Icon Edition I wrote about in April.

However, the brand appears to have really nailed it this time. 

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After all, military vibes have popped on Triumph bikes dating back as far as 1963, if not farther. 

That’s the year Steve McQueen (and his stuntman, Bud Ekins) lit up The Great Escape on an olive drab Triumph TR6 Trophy. 

More than six decades later, the 1200 X’s tank gets Triumph’s “trademark” off-road paint, complemented by a Phantom Black headlight bowl, side panels and mudguards.

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Thankfully, the brand stuck with the standard saddle shade for this bike, dark brown leather.

It sits beautifully above the most distinguishing feature, those gorgeous high-riding twin exhaust pipes.

Ready to rumble

Of course, the Scrambler 1200 X does not exist merely to stand around looking pretty. 

Though all of Triumph’s Modern Classics have unmistakable retro vibes, contemporary touches make them eminently rideable.

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Highlights for the Scrambler 1200 include a fitting 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine, which makes a pulse-quickening 89 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 81.1 ft-lbs of torque at 4,250 rpm.

While you certainly can’t be as adventurous with this bike as you can with the brand’s range of Tiger ADVs, it’s plenty qualified to roll off the beaten path. 

Assisting with that cause are Marzocchi inverted forks with 170mm of travel, plus Marzocchi twin rear suspension units with a piggyback reservoir and 170mm of travel.

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Together with tubeless aluminum rimmed wheels (21 inches front, 17 inches rear) wrapped in knobby Metzeler Karoo Street Tires, Nissin caliper brakes with ABS and 7.2 inches of ground clearance, this 503-pounder can tackle a variety of dry and wet surfaces.

Just don’t go trying to escape a World War II POW camp or anything, OK, Cooler King?

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Triumph Scrambler 1200 X in Matte Khaki Green rolls out to dealerships this summer starting at $13,595.

Triumph Motorcycles

2026 Triumph Scrambler 1200 X

• Starts at $13,595

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