Triumph Scrambler 400 X Standard

Autocar India

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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

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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

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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.

Autocar India

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Both bikes have individual strengths and weaknesses, so you'll have to choose your bike depending on what you can live with and without. The (now 350cc) Triumph Scrambler 400 X can be an all-rounder if you want, but it excels in city situations. On the highway, once you cross the triple-digit threshold, you can feel the engine starting to cross its comfort zone and start to feel a little strained with vibrations creeping in progressively. The KTM 390 Adventure (398cc version) remains a proven bet to stick with as a do-it-all machine, although inside the city at slower speeds and lower revs, the engine can feel a little gutless below 4,000rpm. However, on the highway it will deliver the same performance we've come to know and expect from KTM 390s and remains a good option for weekend rides and touring.When it comes to seat height and ergonomics, this KTM bike again has the upper hand because it is a little easier to get your feet down than on the Triumph bike. Do keep in mind that physically, the Adventure is a larger machine than the Scrambler and inside the city filtering through tight gaps, you'll feel that size. We haven't yet ridden the 350cc KTM 390 Adventure and we'd advise you to get a test ride of both bikes to get a clearer idea before you make a decision.

Autocar India

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The Honda CB350 H'ness is a great retro-looking option for your commuting needs with its upright posture, plush suspension and smooth, torquey engine. It also has light controls (like the clutch and steering), which make it a breeze to ride inside choc-a-bloc city traffic. On the other hand, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X (and the upcoming 350 X) both will have more commanding ergonomics, more sophisticated suspension damping and a much higher performance ceiling. Another point to consider is the tall 835mm seat height the Scrambler ships with, which could be a pain point if you're shorter and not familiar enough with taller, heavier machines. Coming to your last option, the lightly used 2025 Speed 400 (1,500 km), if the bike is accident‑free with service proof and under warranty, then even this roadster can be a good purchase. It will have similiar performance to the Scrambler but will be a more manageable machine owing to its lower overall height, making it well-suited to city commuting. A test ride of these three will help you see for yourself which one you prefer the most.

Autocar India

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The Triumph Scrambler 400 X that you have shortlisted is a good one bike to do it all. If you have your heart set on it, you should indeed hurry up and get one soon before the 350cc replacement is launched in the coming months. While its slightly smaller successor will be identical in most ways, the smaller engine with likely reduced performance could affect performance at highway speeds. So it's better to go for the 400cc model while you can. The TVS Apache RTX 300 is another great all-rounder, and if you are ready to deal with its size and weight, then you should absolutely consider it. Do bear in mind that for someone of your stature, the RTX could prove to be a little much inside the city at slower speeds. So we would recommend a thorough test ride before you make a decision. Another option worth considering is the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. It has a very approachable 780mm seat height, which will be helpful for you and has good performance and comfort for both city and highway usage. Since all the bikes you're considering are quite different, take a test ride of each before making a decision.

Autocar India

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When Bajaj launches the downsized 350cc Triumph single-cylinder models, there are expected to be minimal or no changes to the chassis. Also, the feature-set and the quality of parts and materials used throughout. It is unlikely that Bajaj will reduce the quality of components used on the 350cc Triumphs, as they are aspirational and premium motorcycles from a fabled British brand. However, if you have your heart set on buying a Triumph Scrambler 400 X, we'd advise you to hurry. Because it has been reported that the 350cc Triumphs aren't a long way away, and this will be your only opportunity to own one.

Autocar India

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The Triumph Scrambler 400 X is a great city bike with its tractable engine, upright ergonomics and plush suspension. Its Achilles’ heel is its short gearing, which means the engine starts feeling busy at 95-100kph, which will hamper highway cruising.Coming to your other option, the TVS Apache RTX 300 is also a good jack-of-all-trades machine, which will be good on both city commutes and highway trips. However, its performance deficit to the Triumph will be quite significant, given that it has a smaller engine and also weighs more. Since it is a purpose-built adventure bike, its wind and weather protection will be more comprehensive at faster highway speeds.An extended test ride of these two will help you determine which one you should go for.

Autocar India

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Since you have been hunting for a bike, we'd recommend you scratch that itch sooner rather than later! Based on your checklist, there are two options we'd recommend you take a strong look at - Triumph Scrambler 400 X and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Both are tall and large machines which will suit a person of your stature and have decent performance too. Given their long travel suspension setups, you'll also be comfortable when navigating broken roads inside the city. The Triumph is geared a little short, which is great at slower speeds inside the city but on the highway, that means vibrations creep in sooner. The Royal Enfield's 196kg kerb weight might not be something you are willing to put up with daily, especially at city speeds. Take a test ride of these bikes and see for yourself which one offers the experience you are after before making a purchase.

Autocar India

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Considering your requirements, we'd recommend these three bikes for you: Triumph Scrambler 400 X, Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 and Bajaj Dominar 400, which you've already shortlisted. Of these three, the Dominar will be the most well-rounded and powerful machine, but it is also the heaviest. The Scrambler 400 is quite peppy inside the city and has the best suspension comfort. Last but not least, the Vitpilen 250 is going to be the sportiest feeling machine in terms of its chassis. But its 250cc engine will feel down on power compared to the other two, but will return more fuel economy on the flip side. A test ride of these three will help you make an informed decision.