When Triumph recently created a sensation with the launch of the brilliantly priced Speed 400, it also generated a lot of buzz for a bike that it teased, but didn’t launch at the time – the Scrambler 400 X.
Sure, the Speed 400 looks great (and turns out to be a superb machine), but the Scrambler was the one that had everyone talking, due to its more substantial visual presence and potential to be a more versatile bike. Judgement time – is it what it promises to be, namely competition for the Royal Enfield Himalayan and KTM 390 Adventure?
Looks
Visually, there’s a great deal of resemblance between the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, which is no bad thing because both are handsome, premium-looking bikes. The Scrambler gets elements common to the Speed as well – a compact fuel tank, round headlight design, and a restrained approach to the bodywork, in addition to the very high quality of fit and finish.
The main difference between the two bikes is that the Scrambler looks bigger, due to it being taller and having a larger front wheel and wider handlebars with hand-guards. Look closer and you’ll also notice the Scrambler has a longer wheelbase (it has a different chassis) and different foot-pegs, seat, and exhaust. All these give the bike more heft than the Street 400, which may be too compact for some.
To throw some light on the Scrambler’s chassis, the main frame has a longer neck, even though it shares the tubular unit and bolt-on sub-frame with the Street 400. In keeping with its off-road character, it also has longer travel for both front and rear suspension (upside down forks and monoshock, respectively).
The front wheel is a larger 19-inch unit, to go with the same 17-inch rear wheel. The front wheel is shod with a narrower 100-section tyre and a larger 320mm disc brake, and the rear wheel is slimmer too, all aimed at better off-roading ability. What Triumph has also done is give the Scrambler a steeper angle to the front forks, in order to gain better response from them.
Power & Ride
In terms of the engine, it is the same 399cc liquid-cooled unit as on the Speed 400 that makes 40 bhp and 38 Nm of torque. However, the torque curve has been made higher and flatter. The gearbox is also (as you guessed it) the same – a 6-speed unit with the same ratios. The minor difference is that a smaller front sprocket has been used for better off-road performance; it has also resulted in better performance in the lower gears.
The features set is adequate, but not striking. The instrumentation is digi-analogue, with a trip meter, fuel gauge and range, gear indicator, revs, and a clock; it all works, but it isn’t very flashy. If you want to turn off traction control and ABS, you can do so via a menu in the instrument cluster, but it’s not a very intuitive process.
Now for the most important part – how does the Scrambler perform out on the road? To begin with, much like the Speed, this bike is a friendly one – it doesn’t intimidate you, and it’s easy to swing a leg over it. The seat is comfortable, and overall the bike is well-suited for daily commuting, if you so wish. In traffic, you’ll have no trouble nimbly maneuvering your way around, because of its lightness, and since the heat levels from the engine are well controlled, it won’t cook your thighs either. The bike soaks up bumps very well and is very stable, giving you plenty of confidence.
This character continues to be in evidence when you find some corners and throw it around them. Firstly, the larger front wheel is no impediment when it comes to cornering; the Scrambler feels beautifully balanced, and calmly cuts through corners of all angles. There’s no twitchiness, just a solid balance and predictable manners; the steering inputs you give it are instantly responded to, with no fuss, and it changes direction with aplomb, even if there are bumps mid-corner. While cruising on a highway or changing lanes at speed, the sense of confidence it provides is excellent. Sure, you could argue that the front brake would benefit from some more sharpness, and that the tyres could have been grippir, but overall the Scrambler 400 X is a very enjoyable, forgiving machine.
Given the Scrambler in its name, a bit of off-roading was appropriate, and even here the bike came out a winner. It was light and very manoeuvrable, and the suspension had enough travel to deal with the rough stuff with ease, as long as the conditions were not too hardcore. The predictable on-road nature carried over off-road too, which is very important, especially for those who are not experts at riding in these conditions (like me, if I’m being honest). The more you push it, the happier it seems to be, and it’s only the tyres that will prevent you from going full 'Dakar' with it; you can always swap them out for better rubber.
Final thoughts
This bike is certainly what it claims to be, which is a more versatile machine than the Speed. It can handle different riding conditions better than its cousin, due to the way it has been set up – more suspension travel, better seat comfort and riding position, bigger front wheel and so on. It feels equally at home in the city and on dirt trails, which is a great ability to have in a bike.
At Rs 2.63 lakh, ex-showroom, it’s a cheaper bike than the base-level KTM 390 Adventure, with more on-board electronics. While the KTM has more ground clearance and suspension travel, those aren’t deal-clinching features unless you’re a big KTM fan. The new Royal Enfield Himalayan is a totally different animal, too – it’s far more capable off the road than the Scrambler. Still, as a sweet spot between on-road ease of use, off-road ability, and price, the Scrambler is a compelling offering that also has excellent build quality.
It is a bike you should definitely consider putting in your garage.
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