The best custom motorcycles aren’t built from a catalogue. They start with a problem and an idea.
For Poulson Creative, an Essex workshop founded by Stuart Poulson in 2018, that meant taking Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 XC and asking what it could become. Their answer: The Jackal, a bespoke machine that blends off-road capability with long-distance comfort, all without losing the scrambler’s character.
Poulson took a low-mileage Scrambler 1200 XC and began redesigning almost everything that bolts to it. The original frame and engine stayed—a clever decision that lets the bike be serviced anywhere in the world while keeping the modifications comprehensive.
The masterstroke is an electrically actuated windscreen that transforms at the press of a button. Lowered, it hugs a bespoke duckbill guard and shields the headlight from off-road damage while keeping the slim scrambler profile intact. Raise it, and the geometry swings the screen upright to direct airflow over the rider for highway distance. The hidden reverse-polarity actuator and neatly triangulated brackets make it look factory-integrated, which is no small feat given the complicated geometry involved.
Chassis work is equally thoughtful. Full-travel Öhlins rear shocks, Mitas Enduro Trail+ tyres, and Galfer Wave Floatech front discs handle mixed terrain without sacrificing road manners. A DID 525VX3 gold chain, PIKE Brembo levers, and race-drilled hardware add durability with motorsport detailing that doesn’t feel forced.
Poulson’s in-house manufacturing reveals itself in the details. The fork guards, radiator guard, and laser-etched ignition covers are their own work. Laser-cut pannier support brackets follow the subframe angle so precisely they almost vanish until luggage is needed. It’s the approach of a skunkworks project, not a bolt-on custom.
The finishing is restrained but purposeful. A Zard 2-into-2 exhaust keeps the rear compact. Satin black engine protection and blacked-out components frame a Dakar-inspired paint scheme with sand-coloured graphics. Bronze detailing on the Öhlins reservoirs, Zard badges, and gold drive chain complements rather than dominates.
The name comes from the British Army’s reconnaissance vehicle, but this isn’t styling theatre. It’s a carefully engineered attempt to push a versatile platform further down its evolutionary path. For a workshop making its Pipeburn debut, Poulson Creative has arrived by being bloody good to look at and genuinely capable. The Jackal is for sale.
For a look at another standout custom Triumph, check out the Custom Triumph Bonneville Bobber by Tamarit. Source: Pipeburn
