It looks like it’s British, was designed in Austria and built in China: The Brixton Cromwell 1200 is a modern, global motorcycle, but still very classic.
- Good price-performance ratio
- Easy to handle
- High-quality equipment
It was only nine years ago that the Austrian multi-brand company KSR launched its own brand Brixton. The name was deliberately chosen after a London district, because the brand’s bikes embody the typical British motorcycle style of its heyday in the middle of the last century. After entering the world of “real” motorcycles with 500cc models, the Austrians are preparing to move up into the upper class of motorcycles with a fully-fledged displacement: The Cromwell 1200 is a naked bike with a consistent retro look.
Design from Austria
The orientation towards the legendary classics from Great Britain is obvious at first glance: The styling of the Brixton Cromwell 1200 includes shapely spoked wheels, the teardrop tank and the almost straight, continuous seat. There is also a round headlight, bellows on the fork and stereo spring struts at the rear. The retro charm is completed by the drive, a finely ribbed inline two-cylinder engine of classic design despite being liquid-cooled and with a well-hidden radiator. The newly developed 1222 cc twin engine produces 108 Newton metres of maximum torque at a low 3500 rpm, with a peak output of 60 kW/82 hp at 6500 rpm.
Comfortable sitting position
The seating position is traditionally good. With an upright, relaxed upper body, you sit on the straight seat like in the old days , your hands find their way to the ends of the gently curved tubular handlebars as if by themselves. The centrally positioned footrests ensure moderate knee angles. There is a spacious ambience here that promises taller people plenty of room, while shorter people are happy to be able to stand securely with both feet.
In the test: 82-hp engine
When the starter button is pressed, the twin engine makes itself immediately noticeable with a rich, dull exhaust note. Two driving modes, Eco and Sport, are available and can be set using a separate button. Even in the mild version, the powerful engine responds to the accelerator gently and in a controllable manner, accelerates well almost from idle and quickly reaches three-digit speeds. The short-term torque peak allows early upshifts in the smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox. The Brixton never gets hectic, the large flywheel quickly slows down overzealous drivers with corresponding load change reactions. Regardless of this, the chassis is anything but purely retro and can easily cope with faster driving: the suspension struts and telescopic fork are from KYB and can take a lot. Narrow tires in 110/80-18 at the front and 160/60-17 at the rear as well as the compact wheelbase of just 1.45 meters help with handling.
Nissin brakes, ABS, LED headlights
The Brixton, which is not exactly light at 235 kilos, flies refreshingly over winding roads. The two Nissin brake discs with double-piston floating calipers in the front wheel work well and effectively, and a Bosch ABS protects against unwanted wheel locks. The ultra-modern color TFT circular instrument with a wealth of information and two different display modes sets a deliberate counterpoint to the classic design of the Cromwell. The same applies to the LED headlight, whose LED daytime running light ring stylizes the four cardinal points and illuminates the central name Brixton. Small LED indicators and the small LED tail and brake light perched boldly on the rear mudguard round off the modern touch of this retro bike.
Technical Chart
To keep things accurate, we use only the official Brixton’s website for technical details.
| Category | Details |
| Engine Type | Liquid-cooled, inline two-cylinder, four-stroke |
| Displacement | 1222 cc |
| Max Power | 82 hp (60 kW) @ 6500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 108 Nm @ 3500 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Fuel System | Electronic fuel injection |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled with hidden radiator |
| Front Suspension | 41 mm KYB telescopic fork (non-adjustable) |
| Rear Suspension | Twin KYB shock absorbers (adjustable preload) |
| Front Brake | Dual disc brakes with Nissin two-piston floating calipers |
| Rear Brake | Single disc brake |
| ABS | Bosch ABS (standard) |
| Front Tire | 110/80-18 |
| Rear Tire | 160/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 1450 mm |
| Seat Height | Approx. 800 mm (estimated based on design) |
| Weight | 235 kg (ready to ride) |
| Top Speed | Approx. 190 km/h (estimated based on power) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | Approx. 16 liters (estimated for class; official spec not given) |
| Instrumentation | Full-color TFT circular display with two modes |
| Lighting | Full LED (headlight, indicators, taillight) |
| Ride Modes | Eco and Sport |
| Colors | Multiple colors available (official palette varies) |
| Price | 9999 euros (plus shipping) |
| Manufacturing Origin | Designed in Austria, manufactured in China |
Conclusion: Well made, attractive price
The retro model’s greatest asset could be the clever KSR strategy: The Austrians have their models produced in China according to exact specifications, which explains the good workmanship and the high level of equipment with modern features on the one hand, and the attractive price positioning on the other. The Brixton Cromwell 1200 is the brand’s top model and is available for 9999 euros (plus shipping) and is likely to cause quite a stir in the retro scene.