The time period “scrambler” doesn’t imply a lot today. In contrast to the scramblers of previous, which have been road bikes transformed for off-road use, at this time’s scramblers are sometimes simply restyled variations of present fashions with little to no significant enhancements made for off-road using.
Just about each main producer has performed this in a single kind or one other, from BMW’s RnineT Scrambler to Honda’s newest SCL500. There are a number of uncommon exceptions on the market (Ducati’s Desert Sled and Triumph’s Scrambler 1200 XE come to thoughts). However for probably the most half, they’ve all come up painfully quick within the filth.
Bearing that in thoughts, I couldn’t assist however roll my eyes when Triumph introduced its new $5,595 “Scrambler” 400 X alongside its India-built stablemate, the Pace 400. The worth was proper, and the Scrambler was undeniably good-looking, however how a lot totally different might it actually be?
I stated as a lot to the oldsters at Triumph, and its response stunned me. They advised me I ought to give the Scrambler 400 X an opportunity on my subsequent off-road journey. This occurred to be all 350 miles of the brand new Chattahoochee BDR-X.
Honest sufficient.
I parked my Yamaha WR250 within the storage, loaded up the Scrambler 400 X, and set off for the mountains of North Georgia to see how this budget-friendly two-wheeler handles slightly filth.
Briefly: The 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X proved to be a classy road machine that might maintain its personal on delicate filth. The impressively inexpensive machine had the chops to deal with freeway cruising and a 350-mile backcountry route — all this whereas sporting the simple cool issue of a British model steeped in historical past and tradition.
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Massive type, small value -
Surprisingly succesful off-road -
Comfy even for taller riders -
Lovable single-cylinder engine
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Suspension comes up quick within the tough stuff -
Rear brake wants work -
Pretty gradual steering
2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X Essential Specs
The Scrambler 400 X shares loads of elements with its Pace 400 stablemate. However Triumph made a number of notable modifications that have been related to my off-road mission.
The primary and most vital is that the Scrambler will get an additional 10mm of suspension journey up entrance and one other 20mm on the rear. This brings whole journey to five.9 inches entrance and rear. Each ends have barely tweaked damping in comparison with the Pace 400. Floor clearance has additionally improved to about 8 inches.
It’s additionally price noting that regardless of related appearances, the Scrambler 400 will get its personal distinctive body. This body employs a steeper rake angle of 23.2 levels to compensate for its bigger and heavier 19-inch entrance wheel. The path remains to be barely longer at 4.25 inches because of the suspension and wheel combo. This could strike an excellent stability between dealing with on the road and stability within the filth.
The 398cc engine, then again, is precisely the identical, proper right down to the fueling. Nonetheless, Triumph noticed match to tweak the gearing considerably to raised go well with off-road responsibility. The Scrambler package deal additionally features a plastic skid plate and plastic hand guards, in addition to mesh grilles over the headlight and radiator for cover.
Rubber knee pads line the perimeters of the gasoline tank, and the footpegs are bigger and extra aggressive with detachable rubber inserts. Final however not least, the entrance brake caliper is barely bigger at 320mm and has a special pad compound to cut back preliminary brake chunk and supply extra predictability on free surfaces.
The Triumph Scrambler 400 X Check
Our check route was a roughly 350-mile loop that primarily ran across the scenic backcountry of the Chattahoochee Nationwide Forest. Parts of the route happen on winding paved roads. Nonetheless, nearly all of the terrain is both maintained gravel or unmaintained two-track filth roads. There’s additionally a handful of nasty, rutted 4×4 trails.
As is the case with most BDRs, the route isn’t significantly technical. There are a number of sketchy climbs and descents, free rock gardens, muddy sections, and a handful of shallow water crossings. However there’s nothing right here you’d want onerous enduro chops to perform.
Right here’s how that each one went aboard this budget-friendly motorbike.
On the Pavement
My purpose for this assessment was to make use of the 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X as a dual-sport or mini-ADV. This meant attending to and from the enjoyable stuff was a part of the experience. As such, I rode the Scrambler up from my dwelling simply north of Atlanta, a roughly 60-mile haul with an excellent mixture of streets, cities, and freeways.
All issues thought-about, the Scrambler was an amazing little road bike. Out on the freeway, the liquid-cooled single cruised fortunately at 70mph with loads of oomph left over for passing as wanted. It obtained slightly vibey up round 80mph or so, however it didn’t shake my fillings out both once I was in a rush. The indicated prime pace is round 100mph, in case you have been questioning.
On twisty roads, I’d say the Scrambler was good however not nice. The engine was a keen companion, cranking out enjoyable, usable torque in nearly any gear. However the bigger and heavier entrance wheel required slightly additional effort to show in. The Scrambler’s well-damped suspension all the time felt secure and beneath management, however I needed to muscle it a bit to carry a line, which was enjoyable in its personal means.
Round city, I couldn’t ask for rather more. The Scrambler’s impartial using place felt commanding and relaxed. And there was all the time loads of leverage on the bar for low-speed maneuvers. The moderately low 32.8-inch seat peak made a simple attain to the bottom for each my 6’1” body and that of my 5’10” buddy.
Maybe probably the most sudden shock I discovered on the road, nonetheless, was the Scrambler’s seat. It was unbelievably comfy, even after a full 10-hour day within the saddle. With its barely scooped form and supportive foam, the inventory seat jogged my memory of the Corbin I had on an previous journey bike, which was most likely my favourite saddle up to now — not one thing you’d count on on a motorbike this inexpensive.
Getting Soiled With the Triumph Scrambler 400 X
To place it mildly, my off-road expectations for this bike have been low. Between the 19-inch forged entrance wheel, restricted suspension journey, and street-biased rubber, I used to be mentally ready for a 3-day, 300-mile sufferfest adopted by a less-than-glowing assessment.
I can’t, in good religion, let you know that the Scrambler 400 X is a real dual-sport in road clothes. However I’m blissful to report that it exceeded expectations by an extended shot. That is no desert sled constructed to go smashing by the whoops. However for those who’re trying to do some trustworthy off-road exploration, it was nicely suited to the duty.
A lot of this was because of the Scrambler’s easy one-touch “off-road mode.” This cuts each ABS and traction management off completely with an extended press of the data button.
There’s no superior slide management or something on provide, however due to the engine’s entertaining but approachable 39.5 peak horsepower, traction is successfully “built-in.” I actually needed to make an effort to get the bike to do something squirrely.
On maintained gravel, the Scrambler X was simply plain enjoyable. The engine was peppy and keen. And the street-biased Metzeler Karoo Road rubber supplied sufficient grip to maintain the bike monitoring predictably, even once I was banging it off the rev limiter out of corners.
The identical went on your common two-track filth highway. The Scrambler’s well-sorted damping made probably the most of its 5.9 inches of journey and did a decent job absorbing potholes, roots, or rockier sections.
The tall handlebar and mid-mount controls made for a reasonably comfy standing place. And there’s even a pleasant slim spot to wedge your knees between the tank pads and the entrance of the seat to grip with my legs.
Because the obstacles obtained bigger and extra frequent, nonetheless, the Scrambler positively began to indicate its limitations. I discovered the underside of the fork when trudging by uphill rock gardens or rooty descents. It was uncommon for the bike to really be bounced off-track. However my wrists took a number of abuse whereas hammering by the gnarlier sections of our experience.
As is usually the case with “scramblers,” offroading on the Triumph required extra cautious line selections and so much much less pace. It tracked its means by nearly something with an honest diploma of composure, however you’ll by no means mistake it for a long-travel path bike, both.
So far as complaints go, I actually solely have two main ones price sharing.
The Downsides of the Triumph Scrambler 400 X
So far as complaints go, I actually solely have two main ones price sharing. The primary is the rear brake, which I cursed repeatedly over the course of our 3-day journey. On the road, it was positive, however within the filth, it was an absolute stain on an in any other case spectacular bike.
The primary problem right here is that the lever wanted to journey a good distance earlier than I felt any suggestions. As a rule, that meant the one means I knew my rear brake was working was when the rear tire locked up completely, which wasn’t supreme once I was rigorously selecting my means down a rocky hill.
To make issues worse, the pedal sits about an inch beneath the footpeg, which made it extremely awkward to articulate once I was standing on the pegs. There’s no significant option to regulate the lever (there’s solely a single locknut above the brake clevis), so I used to be resigned to working across the problem for your complete journey.
My different notable criticism was a scarcity of any actual safety behind the entrance wheel. The radiator hangs down into hurt’s means, and the coolant reservoir sits simply beneath it. This meant all that stood between me and a doubtlessly catastrophic occasion out on the path was a skinny plastic skid plate. Upgrading to aluminum safety on each counts could be cash nicely spent. And as luck would have it, Triumph provides a correct skid plate as a manufacturing facility accent.
Conclusions on the 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400 X
For a sure sort of rider, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X is really the one recreation on the town. It’s inexpensive and had bonafide functionality each on and off-road. Moreover, it delivered an air of credible curb enchantment and retro-cool by advantage of merely being a Triumph motorbike.
The latter is arguably the Scrambler’s ace within the gap. There are better-handling road bikes for the cash (Triumph’s personal Pace 400). And there are extra succesful off-roaders (Honda’s 300L). However you merely can’t manufacture the deep cultural affiliation Triumph has earned during the last century.
If you image Bob Dylan using round with a lit cigarette and no helmet, he isn’t using a Royal Enfield. The identical goes for Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando, and Clint Eastwood, and I say Royal Enfield deliberately right here as a result of the elephant within the room is clearly the newest Himalayan 450.
In relation to sheer bang for the buck, the $5,799 Himalayan 450 delivers related road manners whereas providing significantly improved off-road functionality with a spoked 21-inch entrance wheel, extra suspension, and higher floor clearance. It lacks some enchantment as a road bike, nonetheless, and elegance isn’t the one cause why.
Royal Enfield is essentially considered as a made-in-India model that’s leveraging the enchantment of an iconic British marque. Conversely, Triumph is an iconic British model that’s leveraging the economic system of made-in-India manufacturing. To place it one other means, the “cool issue” is already baked into the Scramber 400 X, whereas Royal Enfield nonetheless has some work to do within the hearts and minds of the motorcycling public.
On the finish of the day, this road bike delivers timeless type at an outrageously low value. It was additionally enjoyable within the corners and fairly competent off-road. These gave it loads of functionality for dual-sport touring together with your buddies on forest service roads.
It’s one bike that offers riders of any ability degree a style of every little thing that’s nice about motorcycling. In different phrases, it’s an actual scrambler, and you’ll personal one for beneath six grand besides.
