The Triumph-Bajaj partnership has been long awaited which finally materialised when the Triumph Speed 400 was launched earlier this year. However, it was the Scrambler 400 X that caught more attention, primarily because of the choice of machine.
Whenever an OEM is looking to enter the mass market segment, they usually opt for a tried and tested category instead of trying their hands in something relatively niche. Now, Scramblers might be very popular in the international motorcycle market, but the Indian market is yet to warm up to this segment.
Mass market scramblers in India include the likes of Yezdi Scrambler and Royal Enfield Scram 411, but neither of these bikes have been able to set the sales chart on fire. And yet Triumph decided to take the bull by its horns and introduce an entry-level scrambler. So should the Scrambler 400 X from Triumph find its place in your garage? Let’s find out.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Rugged looks
Starting with its looks, the Scrambler 400 X looks built to a purpose from the first glance. Despite sharing most of its internals with Speed 400, the scrambler is able to create its own identity thanks to a raised up stance and elements like a headlight grille, handguards, engine sump guard, and scroll pad on the handlebar which come as standard fitments.
Further, a dual-barrel exhaust muffler is reminiscent of flagship scramblers from the British brand like the 1200s and 900s. The exposed frame also adds to the rugged appeal of the motorcycle. To add more utilitarian aesthetics, one can opt for various accessories including panniers, top boxes, soft bags, luggage rack and tank bag from the catalogue.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Well built & kitted
One of the best things about the new-age Triumph is its overall build quality since it has been built by Bajaj in India. Having said that, the latter has come a long way as far as quality is concerned and the new generation Pulsars are a proof of that. Every touch point from the handlebar grips and switchgear to the fuel tank has a nice and sturdy feel to it. Even the paint quality on offer is top notch.
Coming to features, it shares everything that’s on offer with the Speed 400 including all-LED illumination, a side-stand engine immobiliser, a USB C-type charging port, traction control, traction control, and a semi-digital instrument console housing a small negative LCD which is fairly legible under direct sunlight. In addition, it gets a switchable rear ABS given its tenacity to venture off-road.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Ride & Handling
Despite more travel at both ends, we found the suspension setup on the stiffer side even though the ride quality was very absorbent in itself. Only the occasional sharp bumps and deep potholes transferred some strain to the back, on an otherwise pliant ride. The stiffer suspension has its upsides though.
Around the winding roads of the Kolad ghats, it was a breeze to ride the Scrambler 400X and it left a wide grin across my face. However, it takes a little more effort to lean the bike courtesy of a larger 19-inch wheel up front. Overall, Triumph has ensured a nice balance in its ride quality which is too. The dual-purpose Metzellers also do a fine job both on and off the road.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Engine Performance
But the heart and soul of this machine lies in its 398cc liquid-cooled motor that puts out the same 40 horses and 37.5 Nm of torque as the Speed 400. This unit is definitely one of the most refined single-cylinder engines in the 300-400cc displacement category. Just a mere pull of the throttle and the rpm needle climbs up as sharply as your heart beats. 0-100 kmph is reached almost in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test the exact figures in our limited time with the bike.
What also complemented was a finely tuned 6-speed gearbox with a slightly different sprocket in comparison to the Speed 400. The high-revving nature of the engine egged me to shift up aggressively although I must admit that I found the down-shifts a bit notchy for my liking. Despite shorter gear ratios, the motor is tractable enough in city commutes but not like the Enfields with whom Triumph aims to square off.
The vibrations found on this motor during the Speed 400 test rides have been minimised to a great extent thanks to extra rubber paddings on the footpegs and a padded scroll on the revised handlebar. However, ring the throttle past the 6000 rpm mark and the buzz creeps in at various places which aren’t significant but definitely noticeable.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Braking
However, everything isn’t perfect. Being a whole 9 kilos heavier than the Speed 400, the Scrambler 400X gets a larger 320mm rotor and does offer a very sharp bite, which ideally is a positive when it comes to on road dynamics. But being a scrambler, a more progressive setup would have been more welcome. Good thing though, it comes with switchable rear ABS, that offers you assurance and lets you have some fun over the soft trails like the gravel roads we encountered.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Ergonomics
Another challenge personally for me is its tall riding height. The chassis has been raised up resulting in a 37mm jump in ground clearance. This has come at a cost of seat height of 835mm, a massive 45mm increase over the Speed 400. For someone of a 5”8 frame, it does take some getting used to the motorcycle and its size. While just able to tip toe on both my feet, the good thing is that despite a hefty 185 kg, the 52:48 weight distribution makes it a light work for the rider to move the bike from standstill.
Also, the wider 901 mm handlebar is pulled a little forward making a subtle difference to the riding ergonomics. Overall, the posture remains comfortable despite its commanding stance thanks to the seat which feels well padded for long rides.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Verdict
To sum it up, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X is a smarty packaged motorcycle which packs plenty to enthral a specific set of riders. And one must appreciate Triumph’s marketing strategy of not promoting the motorcycle as a full-blow adventure tourer but a very capable soft roader instead, which is the essence of scrambling.
With a very tall saddle, surely it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it checks all the major boxes without any glaring compromises. In fact, Triumph offers a very nice balancing act with a motorcycle which is purpose-built yet versatile enough to perform a variety of functions for a certain section of buyers. The big question though is if you’re one of those buyers.
At Rs 2.63 lakh (ex-showroom), it is Rs 30,000 dearer than its road-biased sibling, which may seem slightly stretched but considering the quality levels and the Triumph badge, we can happily recommend the Scrambler 400 X as the next premium motorcycle in your garage.
