BRIXTON CROSSFIRE 500XC

The one that puts cross-country into the Crossfire!

- ABHISHEK PANDEY

BRIXTON CROSSFIRE 500 XC

Engine: 486cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin Power: 47.6PS @ 8,500rpm Torque: 43Nm @ 6,750rpm Weight: 195kg Gearbox: 6-speed Price: ` 5.19 lakh ex-showroom

The Indian motorcycle space has seen an explosion of choices lately, with manufacturers bringing in everything from budget-friendly single-cylinder options to big-capacity, feature-loaded flagships. Austrian manufacturer Brixton Motorcycles has thrown its hat into the ring with two motorcycles and after riding the Crossfire 500X, we tried our hands on the Crossfire 500XC, a scrambler-styled middleweight that sits somewhere between road-biased ADVs and retro twin-cylinder scramblers. On paper, it promises a blend of rugged equipment and everyday usability, but can it actually deliver?

Visually, the Crossfire 500 XC is pretty similar to the X but with slight changes. The tank, with its sharp lines and the bold “X” stamped on its flanks, is distinctive. On the XC, there’s a larger 19-inch front wheel unlike the 17-incher on the X, a beak-style fender, and a taller, more purposeful stance. Elements like the upswept exhaust, the clean tail section make it look more purpose-built. Unlike many other scramblers that end up looking ungainly, the XC has clean, balanced proportions that look good both in pictures and in person.