It feels like Brixton Motorcycles has been on the brink of releasing models with its first foray into the large capacity sector for quite some time - or perhaps that’s just me. With a British name, Austrian KSR Group backing, and built in a Chinese Gaojin factory - the future of this classically styled motorcycle brand seems fairly bright.
There’s a vast number of bikes on the Brixton website to view, ranging from stylish 125cc learner-ready machines all the way up to the Cromwell 1222cc twin-cylinder (that was clearly heavily inspired by the Triumph Speed Twin and Bonneville range).
Due to land in dealers from the first half of 2022, with a pencilled-in date of February, the Brixton range is typically more well-known in mainland Europe with its small capacity offerings - the Cromwell 1200 could be one of the first to change that.
A quick scan over the spec sheet of the Cromwell reveals that it’s a 1222cc water-cooled twin-cylinder powering the bike (as seen in renders), with around 80 bhp @ 8500 rpm and 108 Nm / 80 lb-ft of torque @ 3500 rpm. Stopping power is provided by twin 310mm Nissin disc brakes up front, mounted to 18” front & 17” rear wheels, with a rear 260mm disc & ABS. Plus KYB shock absorbers, and a TFT screen.
It’ll have an 800mm seat, 16-litre tank and weighs in at around 235 kg (in running order). Top speed is noted at 198 km/h (123 mph) with a ride-by-wire throttle, 6-speed‘ box and two rider modes (eco & sport).
Price is yet to be confirmed, but will no doubt be right around the corner and in time for an EICMA reveal. It’ll also be joined by the Crossfire 125 & 500 models, which aim at the CBT/learner and A2 markets respectively.
The Crossfire 125, seen above, will no doubt appeal to the 125cc market with it's retro appeal and to-the-limit CBT friendly stats.
Are you tempted by the Brixton Motorcycles 2022 range?
Brixton’s hopes of success will all be pinned by the retail price, realistically, and it’s a delicate line to tread. If they price it well, the modern-retro market could well be tempted into a purchase that undercuts the Triumph - but that price will come hand-in-hand with the usual Chinese motorcycles rhetoric.
We’ll have a snoop about at EICMA and find out what we can, but at face value these machines certainly look respectable. We just hope the reliability and ride-ability match the views!
