Admirers of the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE, the stunt bike that carried James Bond (Daniel Craig) through a city street chase ending in an epic jump into the piazza in the movie No Time to Die, have almost no time (just 12 hours) to register to bid on the iconic bike. Bidding starts in 24 hours at Christie’s Auction House, and the sale is expected to yield 30,000 to 40,000 GBP.
Christie’s is holding the exclusive auction as a nod to Bond’s 60th Anniversary as a cinematic franchise. The Scrambler 1200 XE was so popular upon release that the company reported “… a total of 9,007 NFTs of the Scrambler 1200 XE sold out within seconds of launching in February 2022.”
Christie’s thinks the bike is pretty charming, too.
The specifications
“With incredible all-road capability and performance, the 1200 XE has class-defining looks and complete dependability,” Christie’s essay says. “The Scrambler offers category-leading torque and a dedicated ‘scrambler tune’ as well as the charismatic 270 firing interval ensuring a smooth, linear power delivery from the slick six-speed gearbox. Evolved specifically for the Scrambler, the 1200 engine provides 89 hp at 7,400 rpm and additionally is tuned to deliver ‘high torque’ off-road and on, low down, and across the mid-range, with peak torque of 81.1 pound-feet at a low 3,950 rpm.”
That’s a spiffy description, but bidders take note: The bike was modified for specific action filming tasks so this noble description is followed by an addendum. “This motorcycle is sold as a ‘non-runner’ collector’s item and is sold as seen.” In short, if you want to own this piece of iconic history, you won’t be able to ride it as it was altered to meet specific uses by trained riders, so it’s not approved for public roads.
Shooting the action
For the movie’s action sequences, Triumph worked with famed stunt coordinator Lee Morrison, who said stunt riders loved working with the bike. “We loved the look of the Scrambler 1200 XE and rode it flat out. I mean as aggressive as you can ride a motorcycle,” he said. “Lighting it up off-road, drifting it through really slippery streets in Matera, hitting steps flat out in third gear, quick direction changes, jumps, everything you could imagine, and that bike performed brilliantly.”
Additionally, the Triumph Design workshop team collaborated with the film’s stunt team to ready the bikes for dynamic and complicated action scenes, they said.
Bond editions
The British motorcycle company produced two limited-edition motorcycles in celebration of its bond with Bond, the Triumph Tiger 900 Bond Edition and the Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition, both of which were featured in No Time to Die. Both editions are limited to 250 worldwide and feature the trademarked 007 graphics. The Tiger offers blacked-out detailing and a unique Matte Sapphire Black paint scheme.
Christie’s says the seller, Triumph Motorcycles Limited, has offered to donate proceeds to Severn Hospice, a registered UK charity. Christie’s has agreed to donate its entire buyer’s premium as well.
Triumph Motorcycles was the official motorcycle partner of No Time to Die, the 25th James Bond film release, joining other iconic British manufacturers Jaguar, Land Rover, and Aston Martin as vehicle partners, Triumph said.
The movie was filmed in locations such as Jamaica, Norway, Italy, and the UK. “The film’s stunt team required high-performance motorcycles for some key action scenes,” Triumph said. “Triumph’s premium motorcycles with exceptional levels of performance, capability, and handling made them a perfect partner for the James Bond Franchise.”
Next up for Triumph: The UK company has announced it will be revealing “something new and exceptional” on October 4th, so stay tuned.
