Austrian brand, British look, Chinese manufacture – the Brixton Crossfire 500 XC is a thoroughly global product that should appeal to bikers with a soft spot for the bikes of yesteryear. Especially if you have taken a look at the price after a test drive.
With five years of market presence, the Austrian motorcycle brand Brixton Motorcycles is no longer an unknown manufacturer under the radar of the motorcycle scene. Especially since Brixton, after the beginnings with appetizing light motorcycles, has been in the field of “full-grown” motorcycles for some time and is gradually expanding the range. As the latest addition, the Crossfire 500 XC complements the portfolio with a scrambler-like roadster with refined equipment and a striking appearance, which bridges two gaps at once: optically the one between classic motorcycle construction and modern design, functionally that between pure asphalt operation and occasional off-road use.
The elegant cross-spoke wheels, a continuous seat and the ascending silencer are responsible for the classic design, as the entire silhouette is based on the typical image of a traditional scrambler. X-shaped edges on the fuel tank, the license plate floating above the rear wheel and a meaty upside-down fork provide the current touch. The best example of the blend of classic and modern is probably the round headlight, which provides memorable daytime running lights behind a robust lamp grille with LED lighting elements.
The Crossfire XC welcomes its pilot with a spacious spot on the straight seat and an upright posture when gripping the wide, conical handlebar. Low mounted footrests ensure long-distance knee angles, but mammoth stages are more likely to be the exception on the thin padding. The Crossfire 500 XC makes spontaneous detours into the unpaved terrain to the right and left of asphalt paths possible. It owes this on the one hand to the new spoked wheels with a 19-inch front wheel suitable for off-road use and coarsely profiled tyres, and on the other to increased spring travel of 15 centimeters at the front and 13 centimeters at the rear.
This gives the XC a more athletic figure that harmonises well with other off-road accessories: Black rubber pads on the tank flanks ensure a better grip on the motorcycle when riding while standing, the black crash bars used as standard and the stainless steel engine protection plate mitigate the consequences of minor carelessness off-road. The historic off-road appearance is rounded off by the high front fender with a small windshield above the headlight and a radiator grille with a stamped Crossfire-X, an indicated starting number plate and the raised stainless steel silencer system.
The power source puffs out of this, an in-line two-cylinder with a displacement of 486 cubic centimetres. This is tailor-made for the A2 driver’s license, with its maximum output of 48 hp and maximum torque of 43 Newton meters. A push on the button brings life to the power source, which immediately plays itself into the ear with a sonorous, powerful exhaust note. Once in motion, the acoustics change to a bubbling sound, impressive but subtle.
The smooth-running clutch helps over the not always smooth-acting six-speed gearbox, so that the Brixton effortlessly reaches its top speed of 160 km/h. But the liquid-cooled drive has been further developed and refined, takes on the gas below 2000 rpm without becoming reluctant and pulls cleanly upwards through the wide speed range. The Twin delivers its power according to the propulsion required at the throttle grip, the Crossfire accelerates precisely metered, as one would expect from a 48 hp motorcycle. And it offers a driving pleasure that is definitely on a par with that of significantly larger and more expensive motorcycles.
Irrespective of the longer suspension travel, the 195-kilogram vehicle roars swiftly through corners, can be maneuvered from one leaning position to the next with little effort, and always remains sufficiently stable. The easy-to-absorb KYB spring elements provide comfort and precision in equal measure, while the deep-treaded Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR put on a splendid performance with amazing grip and high neutrality.
If you want to do it more committed, you can also make adjustments to the fully adjustable upside-down fork, the central spring strut can be adjusted in preload and rebound. The beginner-friendly deceleration devices are less suitable – the four-piston radial caliper in the front wheel and the floating caliper in the rear require a lot of manual strength with a hesitant first grab. The ABS only gets something to do in extreme cases.
The Crossfire XC comes without electronic gimmicks, which is not a disadvantage: It offers pure motorcycling in a very attractive package, which is perfectly processed down to the smallest detail. The modern LCD round instrument shows all important driving information and also the gear engaged. Thanks to cost-effective production in China, the Brixton comes to the public for 7000 euros and thus with an exceptional price-performance ratio.
6
