Triumph Scrambler 400 X

autocar.india

•4d

Given your requirements, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X/XC is likely to be the best fit. Its upright and commanding riding position, smooth and tractable engine, and capable handling make it a true all-rounder, and it comfortably fits within your budget.If you want the look of an adventure bike or wish for more suspension travel, then options like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and KTM 390 Adventure should be on your shortlist. These bikes are better at highway duties than the Scrambler (not by much, but it is a tangible difference), although they are also heavier than it.It also depends on what your usage pattern is like. If highway touring isn't playing a big role in your riding right now, and you are serious about getting into off-roading, then something lighter and friendlier like the Hero Xpulse 210 and Kawasaki KLX230/KLX230 S is the way to go.First, decide what you're going to be using your bike for and depending on that, take a test ride of the options specified above before you make your decision.

autocar.india

•2w

Since you seem like a leisurely weekend rider who wants to keep the machine for a longer duration and you lean towards off-road riding, we'd recommend you to pick between the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400X and KTM 390 Enduro R. Of the two, the Triumph bike is the more sensible, practical and daily-use friendly machine while the KTM is the more fun and niche option. The Scrambler's 350cc engine has the better low and mid-range spread of torque but the Enduro's 398cc single is fun when you chase the redlines. While both have off-road capabilities (the Enduro way more so than the Scrambler), they are good fun to use on the road to ride to your favourite twisty bit of tarmac. Some points to bear in mind are that the KTM bike has a super tall 895mm perch and comes with tubed tyres. While there's not much you can do about the seat, you can fit 19/17-in alloy wheels from the Adventure to sort out tubeless tyres for yourself. Coming to the Triumph, since you have mentioned you are from SoBo, you don't have a service centre nearby as of answering this query - authorized service centres are located in Goregaon, Nerul and Thane. There's also a massive price delta between these two and if you aren't looking to spend more, the Triumph is the better option. The best way to decide between them would be to take a comprehensive test ride of both and see which one you like the most. While there is a big price delta between both, since you're using the bike as a leisurely tool and are going to keep it for a long time, make the stretch for the Enduro if you like it. The X-47 (even with its larger battery pack) won't give you a realistic riding range of much more than 220km on a single charge (and this will be in the least powerful Glide riding mode, so performance will be quite gentle). Electric bikes are still quite a nascent market, charging stations are also very rare to find in most places and this is why for your needs, going with a petrol-powered bike makes more sense. Also, kudos to you for keeping the RX alive and using it daily!

autocar.india

•2w

Between the 350cc versions of the Triumph Scrambler 400 X and the KTM 390 Adventure, we'd recommend you pick the Scrambler over the Adventure. It is the easier bike to use in tight city traffic and is also a good highway bike. The 350cc 390 Adventure has a noticeable amount of vibration at all touch points and below 7,000rpm feels quite mellow - especially if you've ridden the 398cc version prior to this. You could also choose the 398cc variants of the KTM bike and get more performance at a significantly higher price if that's what you prioritize. Do bear in mind that inside the city at slower speeds, the big windscreen on the 390 Adventure models really blocks a lot of cooling air coming toward you and if you spend a lot of time in this situation, then it will get uncomfortable. Take test rides of both bikes to see which one you find easier to live with before you go ahead with your purchase.

autocar.india

•2w

Between the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 and Honda CB350RS models, the Scrambler is the more accomplished machine and therefore, the more logical purchase. However, we don't always buy motorcycles because they make more sense, and it would be prudent to take test rides of both and then decide which is the better one for you. If you can make your peace with the slower speeds that the Honda is capable of sustaining, there is an enjoyable and reliable machine underneath the good-looking bodywork of the CB350RS. Pillion comfort isn't great on the Honda, but it's not unusable; you'll just have to make some aftermarket provisions or live with it. The Triumph is the faster and more comfortable machine, but it feels a little anonymous to ride - like an appliance on two wheels. If you don't think this will be a problem for you (like the lakhs of other 350/400cc Triumph owners), then the Scrambler is a great option to check out. As we said at the start, take test rides of both machines to see which one tugs at both your sensible side as well as your heartstrings before you go ahead with your purchase.

autocar.india

•4w

There's no doubt that of the two 350cc Triumph bikes, the Scrambler 400 X will be better at tackling bad roads than its road-biased sibling, the Speed 400. However, the Speed is actually a remarkably comfortable roadster which can easily handle bad roads as long as you don't go charging through them like you would on an ADV. Given your shorter stature and the Scrambler's intimidating 835mm perch, if you're not confident on that bike, then the Speed 400 is definitely a worthwhile option for your needs. Take a test ride and pay attention to the effort needed when moving the Scrambler around at slower speeds and if you're okay with the seat height or not. Another pertinent point is that the Speed 400 comes with sintered brake pads which are definitely better than the Scrambler's quick-wearing organic pads when it comes to braking performance. This will be another factor that tilts the scales in the Speed's favour. Nonetheless, take a test ride of both and then choose whichever one you gel with the most fluidly. Rest assured, the Speed's sintered brake pads can be optioned on the Scrambler.

autocar.india

•6w

The Royal Enfield Scram 440 is a good choice for your usage, although bear in mind that during tight and technical off-road sections, its near-200 kilo kerb weight will need a lot of caution and skill to work around. As a road bike, it is a comfortable, relaxed and fuss-free companion but if you want the latest features and gadgets, this is not the bike for you. The 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X is a good allrounder and is actually a rather good handler despite its 19-in front wheel and dual-purpose tyres. Its engine isn't the most characterful though and the tall 835mm saddle may not work for you if you're a shorter person. These are two of the best made-in-India scrambler machines under Rs 3 lakh and depending on the sort of experience you are after, both will work well.

autocar.india

•7w

Since you've mentioned that a lot of your usage is inside the city with only occasional highway work, we'd recommend sticking with the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X. The reason being, Scrambler is a lighter machine with better handling and suspension comfort, which will make it easier to ride on a daily basis inside the city. Then there is also the fact that the Dominar - as objectively sorted a bike as it is - cannot match the kerb appeal of the Scrambler, and the Triumph is sure to be a special machine to walk toward in the morning. In case you want to move away from a single-cylinder machine, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 remains a tried and tested option, and will be lovely on the highway. Do bear in mind that while it can surely wade through the drudgery of city traffic, it will be the machine that demands more effort from the rider to do so. After GST 2.0, the Interceptor has also become a fair deal pricier, so it might not fit in your budget. A test ride of both, as well as determining your budget, should be your next move.

autocar.india

•8w

While the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 may wear dual-purpose tyres, its hardly the ideal machine to take off-roading. Sure, it can tackle a gravelly rough road or a hard-packed trail but beyond that, it will feel out of its element. Think of the Guerrilla as a roadster that doesn't shy away from bad roads when you encounter them but you shouldn't actively go out seeking them. On the flip side, it is going to be fun to ride on the highway and inside the city with its torquey engine and sporty chassis - especially the Apex variant with its more committed riding position and grippier Vredestein Centauro ST tyres. On the other hand, the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X will be more of a jack of all trades sort of bike and will be a great deal more capable off-road. Things to keep in mind here: this Triumph bike has a tall 835mm seat height (a significant 55mm more than the Guerrilla) and its downsized 349cc engine will feel much mellower in comparison to the Guerrilla's punchy 452cc single. While the Scrambler is a decent handling road bike, it cannot match the sportier Guerrilla's handling characteristics and if you spend your time predominantly on the road, the Royal Enfield bike is definitely the better choice. You need to decide whether you're actually going to venture off-road on a routine basis as well as considering the performance they have to offer and then, take a call between these two machines. To help make a decision, a test ride of both would be advisable.

autocar.india

•8w

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla comes with a 452cc engine, whereas the Triumph Scrambler 400 X now comes with a 349cc engine so its no surprise that the Triumph didn't feel as sprightly in comparison. However, for your usage, should you be willing to sacrifice some pep, the 350cc Scrambler 400 X is actually a great all-rounder. Especially since you're a novice and want to get into off-roading. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a great bike but we'd advise you to not consider this bike, at least not if you plan to start your off-roading journey with it. At 196kg, the Himalayan is a heavy machine and with its fuel tank full, it also feels rather top heavy, which could get challenging for a beginner to manage at crawling off-road speeds. However, for city commuting and highway journeys, this Royal Enfield bike will be quite nice - its only off-roading where its weight will be a serious deterrent.The 350cc KTM 390 Adventure would be a good middle-ground option between the two aforementioned bikes - in theory, at least. Its lighter than the Himalayan and has more power than the Scrambler. A test ride should shed more light on whether this KTM bike is the one for you. Since you said you're looking to get into off-road riding, we'd be remiss if we didn't recommend the Hero Xpulse 210 to you. Now, the Xpulse is definitely a smaller and slower machine than all the machines listed above but if you genuinely want to hone your craft and get better at off-road riding, there's genuinely no better place to start than here. City commuting is another strength of the Xpulse, although on the highway, its engine feels a little stressed post 100kph. If you don't mind compromising on outright performance on the highway, then the Xpulse will be a good option for you. Some other benefits of choosing the Xpulse would be that it returns excellent fuel economy - much higher than all other options - and it costs much less to buy too.You need to evaluate your priorities and make an informed decision after test riding all three bikes. Best of luck!

autocar.india

•8w

First things first, service and maintenance on both the Triumph Scrambler 400 X and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 should be light on your wallet. Both bikes are made in India and spares as well as replacement cycle parts are readily available.Coming to choosing between the Scrambler and Guerrilla, that's actually where things get complicated. You see, the Scrambler 400 X is actually powered by a 350cc engine making 40hp/32Nm while the Guerrilla's 452cc single makes 40hp/40Nm. While these bikes seem pretty closely matched in terms of peak power on paper at least, the Royal Enfield bike is sure to have an advantage in the real world with its potent mid range and additional torque. Even in terms of handling, both bikes are likely to have different behaviour. The Guerrilla has fatter tyres compared to the Scrambler which means the Triumph will have better agility and flickability at slower speeds but conversely, the Royal Enfield will be more planted on the side of the tyre. Both bikes are priced similarly and look quite sleek, so choosing between the two will boil down to what your preference is after a detailed test ride.