Brixton to launch 1,222 cc adventure bike By Ben Purvis
Austrian brand Brixton already sells a range of modern and retro models from 125 cc to 1,222 cc manufactured on its behalf by China's Gaokin. However, it is yet to enter the red-hot adventure bike market - something that's set to change very soon with both 486 cc and 1,222 cc twins.
The first of those, the 486 cc Storr 500, has already been shown as a concept model and is progressing towards mass production, having been type-approved for production in China, and now the larger 1,222 cc version - likely to be called Storr 1200 - has appeared in design registration filed by Gaokin.
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Despite sharing a similar style to the Storr 500, the 1,222 cc model is completely different underneath, borrowing its engine and chassis from the retro-style Brixton Cromwell 1200. The Cromwell 1200 is a low-cost rival to Triumph's Bonneville, complete with a single overhead cam parallel twin engine that does a convincing impression of traditional British twins from the 1960s. Like the current Bonneville engine, its finned design disguises the fact it's actually a modern, water-cooled motor, with its radiator tucked between the frame downtubes, and it puts out a modest 83 PS and 108 Nm of torque - figures that aren't likely to change substantially for the new adventure model.
The engine's upright cylinders might be ideal for the retro Cromwell 1200's look, but along with the cooling fins, they give the adventure bike a slightly unusual appearance with mechanical components that seem at odds with its modern-looking front fairing and angular seat unit.
The chassis adds to that mixture of old and new. Like the engine, it's derived from the Cromwell 1200 and as such it's a twin-shock design. Brixton has added oversized pannier brackets that double as exhaust hangers to help hide those dual shocks, and it's worth bearing in mind that the final production version is almost certain to be fitted with side cases that will make them even harder to see.
