You might think that choosing a bike for an auto journalist might be an easy task, right? Well, it took me a total of six months of testing multiple bikes on and off the roads to find a perfect bike. And after all this hustle, I took the delivery of the Triumph Scrambler 400X – which was not on the list initially! So, why did I end up buying the Scrambler over any other bike? Here’s how my bike buying experience went –
Buying The Perfect Bike
First of all, there’s no perfect bike; if there were one, then all you would see on the road would be only that particular bike. So, if you are planning to buy one, stop asking so often and start testing. For the past 6 months, I took test rides of several different bikes –
Royal Enfield Guerrilla
Royal Enfield Himalayan
KTM Adventure 390X
KTM Duke 390
Suzuki V-Strom 250
TVS Apache RTX 300
Royal Enfield Scram 440
Kawasaki Versys 300
KTM Adventure 250
And there wasn’t the inclusion of Triumph Scrambler or any other Triumph bike on the list. Till the time when I went to their service station with my colleague for the service of his Triumph Speed 400. That was the first time I rode the Scrambler, and what made me have a ride of her was its design: a rugged bike with long-travel suspension, block-pattern tyres, retro design, and a 398cc mill that’s more than capable.
I still know how smooth the throttle response was, and even how nimble the bike was, which put a grin on my face. Pulled the throttle a bit, and the bike went roaring through the streets. Moreover, the suspension setup that soaks every bump, the torquiness, everything felt perfect. But there was a problem – the price. Paying a little extra could have helped me bring home an RE Himalayan or even the KTM ADV 390 X. Basically, I was stuck in the loop of which one to buy. So, I just cancelled it later because of that.
Then I went to test other bikes, finalising that I need something with good power, better suspension, and that will be comfortable for touring. Some time after, TVS launched the RTX 300 – a good adventure tourer, with a best-in-segment suspension setup, loaded with features, and at an astonishing price. Locked the deal and ended up waiting in the exhausting waiting timeline. While booking, the delivery was said to happen within 30 days; later, it was pushed to 45 days, then 60 days, and later, a response came: “We are yet to receive the update from the brand.” Too exhausting, right?
Later came another news: Triumph’s 350cc bike launch timeline, and even the Scrambler was included in the lineup. Thought to wait till its price announcements, manifesting it to be much more affordable than the 400cc ones.
Triumph did the thing that I was worried about: the 350s were priced nearly a thousand lower than the 400cc, and for me that didn’t make any sense. Why go for a 350cc when you can pay a few thousand more for a 400cc?
Re-calculated the budget, moved things here and there – and it was done. Now, the next hustle was to find the 400cc Triumph stock. Earlier, I had a colour in mind – Matt Khaki Green – but in this hunt, I was even ready to compromise on that colour model just to get a 400cc. Made multiple calls to the dealerships
– Do you have any remaining stock of 400cc Triumph Scrambler?
The answer was a ‘NO’ from the majority. But there’s a saying: If something is meant for you, no one can take it away from you. Finally, I found a dealership that still had some stock left of the 400cc Scrambler – and guess what, only two colours were available – Phantom Black and ‘Matt Khaki Green’. Took no time at all to book the model. The next thing was to check the bike, as it was one of the remaining stocks; I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a test-ride bike or any other replaced bike. So, I went to the showroom, did the PDI, rode the bike, and checked for any faults, rust, or scratches. Everything went fine, confirmed the bike, paid the balance, and brought her home in the next 7 days.
A perfect roller coaster ride for choosing a bike!
Why I Chose The Scrambler?
Many of you would think that my preference was adventure tourer – then why did I get a Scrambler? I rode the Himalayan and the KTM Adventure. The Himalayan’s engine is smooth, and there’s good torque; even the equipment list is good. But it isn’t that nimble; you feel the weight – the front is heavy, so moving it takes a bit of effort. Moved to test the KTM 390 ADV X. It gets better features, delivers better performance, and you don’t feel the weight. A nimble bike that checks everything off my wishlist.
But then comes a shock – KTM announces a price hike for its adventure models. The bike, which was available at Rs 3.73 lakh, rose to Rs 3.91 lakh; there were even rumours that KTM could increase it further. So, investing in it could actually be a gamble later. Tried the 250cc Adventure model – and suddenly it lost the actual KTM thing. KTMs are performance-centric bikes, but the 250 ADV was a quiet tourer; hold the throttle at 80-90 and cruise – missed that thrill that the 399cc has offered.
The Suzuki V-Strom 250 is also a genuinely good bike – but it looks dated. Suzuki, if you are reading this, please at least give your capable tourer a TFT, and also try to change the suspension; it’s not meant for off-road use. Then came the TVS RTX, an amazing deal that was too good to be true – and even it turned out to be the same. It felt like something TVS wants to preserve in museums rather than watch on the roads.
So, a bike that fits perfectly in the category was the Triumph Scrambler 400X.
– Engine performance – Good
– Suspension – Good
– Equipment – fairly loaded
– Rugged build
– Upright sitting stance
However, Triumph could have changed the instrument cluster design – literally, an analogue speedo combined with a digital RPM counter; that too isn’t clear, feels off. Another area Triumph needs to work on is improving lighting. When I take out my Scrambler at night, the only thing I do is predict what’s coming – a bump, a breaker, or a man. It’s really that dim a light.
Triumph Scrambler 400X Review
Was my gut feeling right? Obviously, it was. It has been two good months with the bike, and I rode it around nearly 3,000 kilometres. During the run-in period, which lasts until the first service, the bike was restricted to pulling above 6,000 RPM. Many say that Triumph locks the RPM at 6,000 to avoid disturbing the bike’s run-in, then unlocks it during the first service. I still don’t think that it’s true – yes, the bike feels restricted, but it can move past the 6,000-7,000 RPM mark, and you could see a blink on the RPM meter that suggests controlling the bike. The blink effect will go away once you complete 1000 kilometres.
Another frequently asked question is its braking setup – the Speed 400 comes with sintered brakes from the factory, whereas the Scrambler uses regular brakes. Yes, the sintered brakes are more efficient in stopping the bike than the regular brake pads, but I still don’t have any complaints.
Talking about another concern, the high seat height. Yes, the Scrambler has an 835 mm seat height, which might not be suitable for short riders. I’m 5’7” and can easily handle the bike. While the seat height is high, the weight distribution is perfect, making the bike easy to handle. The 185kg might look heavy on paper, but in real life, one can easily manoeuvre the bike.
The power delivery and instant torque were the main drivers behind my decision to book this bike. Pull the throttle, and you could see the silhouette of cars moving back. It won’t disturb you on long rides; you can even cruise easily at 120 km/h without feeling tired. But due to the missing visor, you can feel the wind blast at considerable speed.
Should You Go For The Scrambler?
Now, you might not find a 400cc Triumph Scrambler on the market at present. But you can have a look at the 350cc Triumph models. There’s a power and torque drop on paper; you wouldn’t even notice this drop if you were riding it for the first time. So, it shouldn’t be that much of an issue. But, do take a test ride of the bike to see if you can control it or not, the engine heating, the seating posture, and to see if it can be managed well in traffic by you.