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Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Scrambling For A Win
In June, British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph revealed the fruits of its collaboration with Bajaj by releasing two new motorcycles, the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X.
While the Speed 400 was launched back in July, Triumph didn't reveal the pricing for the Scrambler 400X until a few days ago when the British firm finally launched the bike in India.
So when Triumph invited us back to Pune to sample the delights of the Scrambler 400 X, we were more than ready to head and test out just what the most affordable scrambler motorcycle from the British firm was made of.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Design & Features - A Higher Riding Speed?
The Triumph Speed 400 X shares quite a few of its design characteristics with the Speed 400 except for the fact it rides a bit higher and has a few different components to help support its 'off-road' focus.
So the new Scrambler 400 X shares the LED lighting setup, semi-digital instrument cluster, switchgear, black powder-coated engine casings, gold anodised front forks, sculpted fuel tank with knee indents and upswept exhaust design.
However, that is where the design similarities end. The Scrambler 400 X sports a headlight grille, sump and radiator protectors, a handlebar brace pad and handguards. The seat is a split seat unit, the footpegs come with removable rubber inserts and the exhaust is a double barrel unit compared to the regular single can on the Speed 400.
Like the Speed 400, the new Scrambler 400 X offers switchable traction control, torque-assist clutch, and Bosch dual-channel ABS, along with a steering lock and an anti-theft immobiliser as standard. For the Scrambler 400 X, the ABS at the rear can be switched off for your off-piste adventures.
The Triumph Scrambler 400 X is offered in three colour options with a secondary coloured stripe running across the fuel tank. The colour options are Matt Khakhi Green with Fusion White, Phantom Black with Silver Ice and Carnival Red with Phantom Black.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Specs & Dimensions - The High Rider
The Triumph Scrambler 400 X is the second motorcycle from the British marque's lineup to use the new TR engine after the Speed 400. The 398cc, liquid-cooled and fuel-injected engine pays homage to Triumph's 'Trophy' offroading heritage.
The output of the single-cylinder powerplant is the same on the Scrambler 400 X as it was on the Speed 400. The DOHC engine pushes out 39.5bhp at 8,000rpm and 37.5Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a 6-speed gearbox and a chain drive setup that sits on the right side of the bike.
Like the Speed 400, the Scrambler 400 X sports the same chassis setup with a hybrid spine/perimeter frame made from tubular steel and a bolt-on rear subframe. Both the 400 siblings share the same suspension setup as well but the Scrambler 400 X offers more wheel travel.
The Triumph Scrambler 400 X sports 43mm USD front forks and an adjustable (preload) monoshock at the rear with a twin-sided cast aluminium swingarm. The Scrambler 400 X offers 150mm of wheel travel at both the front and the rear, which is 10mm more at the front and 20mm more at the rear compared to the Speed 400.
The Scrambler 400 X also offers a staggered, 10-spoke aluminium alloy wheel setup. The Scrambler sports a 19-inch wheel at the front and a 17-inch unit at the rear. The wheels are shod in MRF tyres - 100/90-19 (front) and 140/80-17 (rear).
The Scrambler 400 X also sports a slightly different braking setup compared to the Speed 400. The new Scrambler 400X features a 320mm disc at the front clamped down by four-piston callipers and a 230mm disc at the rear with a single-piston calliper.
Other things to note on the Scrambler 400 X include the 835mm seat height, a 13-litre fuel tank, 185kg wet weight and a service interval of 16,000 kilometres or 12 months (whichever comes quicker).
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Riding Impressions - Speedy Off-Roading Devil
The engine on the Triumph Scrambler 400 X is the same as the one on its Speed 400 sibling and the British firm has changed the little single-cylinder one bit for its new scrambling duties.
The engine is free-revving with a redline of 10,000rpm but is very tractable as well. The 398cc single was more than capable of pulling us up (riding with a pillion) up a steep incline at 25km/h in third gear without once complaining. And when given enough freedom to roam the streets, combined with the smooth shifting gearbox, blasting through into triple-digit speeds is a breeze.
The suspension setup of the Scrambler 400 X was more than capable of dealing with the rough stuff with the MRF dual-purpose tyres providing good grip even on loose surfaces. On the road, the bumps and ruts were dealt with with ease and taking a corner wasn't much of a problem either.
The riding position on the high-slung seat of the Scrambler 400 X is relatively upright which is useful in off-roading situations while not hindering you on the streets as you go around a bend. The seat is comfortable to be in and keeps your hind end comfortable even when riding over the rough stuff.
Where we feel the Scrambler 400 X needs a bit more fine tuning are the brakes. Overall, the brakes provide decent bite but can feel a bit spongy, especially under hard braking. The fact that the front wheel locks up when braking hard doesn't help much either.
Triumph Scrambler 400 X Review: Final Thoughts & Verdict - Scrambling For A Win
The Scrambler 400 X allows fans of the British firm looking to experience a few off-piste adventures on a more than capable bike which isn't a slouch on the tarmac either. And at just Rs 30,000 more than the Speed 400 (the Triumph Scrambler 400 X is priced at Rs 2.63 lakh, ex-showroom), going 'offroading' with the Triumph badge on the tank, now is a lot more affordable.
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