The Scrambler 400X felt slightly intimidating (not as much as the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450) but the ergonomics were right in place.

BHPian ss11011988 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

So, I got a chance to test ride all 3 of the 400cc offerings from Bajaj-Triumph last weekend. I went to Khivraj Triumph, Hosur Road to take the test rides. The staff were courteous around, addressed my request really quickly and promptly provided the test ride bikes. Rode the bikes in the following order along with my partner as a pillion and this is what I felt:

Triumph Scrambler 400X

Felt slightly intimidating (not as much as Himalayan 450), however, the ergonomics were right in place and off we went. I will be honest here on the fact that I couldn't enjoy the bike much as this particular one was heavily abused and there were telltale signs of the same. However, the suspension soaked in the imperfections with ease, the engine was tractable and nice, and the line of sight was clear. I felt the initial gears were quite short as compared to the Speed 400.

All went well till I had to execute a U-turn, and I faced difficulty here and I believe this is owing to the very nature of the particular platform, so not exactly a deal breaker for a good many. I believe it might get better in a month or two into ownership, however, initial impressions weren't very reassuring. My pillion mused about the high seating position as well.

Triumph Speed 400

I really liked this bike. Spot on ergonomics, nice, clean linear pull and quite sprightly, almost to the point where I felt the bike being slightly busy and pushy. Maybe years of riding a slow-revving UCE engine had its effect on me that made me state the previous statement. It's not as pushy as say a KTM, but you will feel it at times, especially if you are coming from long strokes. My pillion was fine with the rear seat ergonomics as well, she couldn't find much to complain about.

Felt fine as long as I was making use of the low-mid range grunt to shift up and get onto likeable speeds, as revving the bike out also brought in vibes, which though not as bad as some old and new bikes out there will get to you at times. However, did I feel like I was riding a 40BHP bike? I guess not. Probably that's how the bike's designed, not to be snappy and unforgiving to first-timers or to the level-ups. Need to spend more time with the bike.

Triumph Speed T4

Now this one was interesting. Everything felt the same till you start riding. You can immediately feel the lazy, easy-going nature of the bike. You can also feel the higher inertia crank at work. It felt easier to get accustomed to, compared to the Speed 400, and the lack of 9BHP was never felt thanks to the torque wave coming in early. This means you could easily cruise at lower rpm in higher gears, with fewer gear shifts, which means commuting will be a relaxed affair.

I felt this to be a better proposition for those who are looking to buy, say a Hunter 350 or Meteor 350 for that matter. However, if I were to choose between the Speed and the T4, I would definitely go for the former considering the fantastic package that is, and the amount of goodies the latter loses for not so much of a price difference. And also because power corrupts, and power corrupts absolutely.

PS: Opinions are personal, and you are most welcome to disagree with me.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Apart from the Royal Enfield, Triumph and Harley, we also have the Hero Mavrick 440 and Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 in this comparison.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450

What you'll like:

• All-new, well-rounded and well-differentiated roadster from the Himalayan platform
• Sporty and youthful motorcycle, targeted at a younger audience. More exciting colourways than with any Royal Enfield motorcycle ever
• Looks substantial compared to some rivals, with a long wheelbase and some elements like the tyres being the largest in class
• Very approachable motorcycle with a seat height of 780 mm and a kerb weight 11 kg lighter than the Himalayan. Feels well balanced as well, not top-heavy!
• 39.5 BHP Sherpa engine has been retuned for a very peppy midrange. Refinement levels are slightly better than the Himalayan too
• Slick 6-speed gearbox with a decently light slip and assist clutch helps to stay in the torque band all day long. Best experienced between 3,000 to 6,000 rpm
• Competent city ride and handling package from Showa - compliments the urban nature of the motorcycle well
• Excellent instrument cluster carried over from the Himalayan - now with updated features. Navigation, though not a perfect implementation, is still useful

What you won't:

• Not for everyone! With its scrambler-inspired looks and loud colourways, the Guerrilla is set to polarize opinion
• The Sherpa motor has a slightly erratic idle, followed by a slightly jerky low-end below 2000 rpm - best kept within the torquey mid-range even when in the city. Not newbie-friendly
• Single-cylinder vibrations, though made smoother now compared to the Himalayan, are present throughout the revv range. No deal-breaking resonance experienced at any rpm range, but certainly not dismissible either
• Runs hot - The radiator fan was unexpectedly busy even on rainy and cold Bangalore days. Summer performance needs to be monitored
• Suspension is good for the city but feels significantly less sophisticated than in the Himalayan when ridden hard. 11L fuel tank could also affect touring abilities!
• Poor lamps all around. The headlamp is woefully inadequate and the quirky new indicator stalk + tail lamp vibrate on bad roads, making it blurry for traffic behind
• Fit and finish could be improved. Good overall build is marred by poor execution of touchpoint items like the joystick switch, indicator switch, etc. Also, the stock mirror is useless at highway speeds
• Missing features for rider control like traction control, IMU / cornering ABS, quick shifter, adjustable clutch and brake levers, backlit switchgear, etc.

Review Link

Triumph Scrambler 400X

What you'll like:

• Quintessential Triumph design that looks distinctly like its bigger Scrambler siblings for the most part
• Build quality, fit and finish are among the best in the segment
• Thanks to its taller and more substantial stance, it does better visual justice to the 400cc ‘big bike’ feeling than the much more compact Speed 400
• Larger riders will also appreciate its relatively roomier ergonomics compared to the Speed
• Nice bespoke touches that lend aesthetic value as well as utility where needed - sturdier metal bash plate, headlight grille, twin barrel exhaust with the black cladding, round indicators, tank grips, step-up seat to highlight some
• 19” wheel, superior ground clearance, longer wheelbase and better suspension travel, all make for a much more stability-biased ride, in keeping with its Scrambler DNA
• 39.5 BHP engine is reasonably tractable with a strong pull. Smooth & refined power delivery at a kerb weight of ~185 kg results in fairly peppy performance aided further by a slick 6-speed gearbox
• Still a hoot to ride despite its taller stance and longer wheelbase
• Generous 16,000 km / 1-year service interval. Parts and service costs are also expected to be kept competitive

What you won't:

• Missing features like connected tech, riding modes, adjustable clutch and brake levers, etc.
• Inexperienced riders (especially shorter ones) may find the 835 mm seat height a tad challenging
• Analogue + digital instrument cluster doesn't suit the bike's character
• Some ergonomic issues such as mirrors fouling with hand and footpegs flexing downwards while stand-up riding
• Vibrations at higher rpms
• Split rear seat is compact. Riders should carefully evaluate how comfortable the bike will be for two-up touring with luggage if that is a key use case
• Only single-sided saddle bag luggage is being offered by Triumph as of now. You will have to look at aftermarket solutions for double-sided saddle bags or wider luggage options
• Entire service experience remains uncharted territory with Triumph leaving a negative perception on this front in some parts of the country. Whether one can have a positive dealership experience under Bajaj’s watch is something that remains to be seen

Review Link

Harley Davidson X440

What you'll like:

• Single-cylinder, 440cc engine has good low-end torque to make city riding as well as highway cruising comfortable
• NVH and refinement are really good. Combined with good ergonomics, you can cruise at 80-100 km/h all day long
• Well priced. It is on par with its peers, albeit with an extra ~40-90 cc
• Built by Hero, who knows the Indian two-wheeler consumer extremely well
• Decent level of kit - standard dual-channel ABS, Bluetooth connectivity, connected features, etc.

What you won't:

• Design and styling can be polarising. Not your typical Harley
• In a segment that has heated up with lots of new offerings, the X440 doesn't ace any specific aspect
• No riding modes or traction control. Essentially not a lot of ways to customize your ride
• This is the first product of the Harley Davidson - Hero partnership. Sales, after-sales and service support and experience are unknown

Review Link

Hero Mavrick 440

What you'll like:

• Single-cylinder, 440cc engine has good low-end torque to make city riding comfortable. Fairly responsive mid and top-end keep highway cruising engaging
• Superb ride comfort; gobbles up bad roads without letting the rider, or even pillion feel them
• NVH and refinement are really good. Combined with good ergonomics, you can cruise at 80-100 km/h all day long
• Features such as standard dual-channel ABS, Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation etc. are standard on all variants. Top variant gets e-sim connectivity
• Hero's sales and service network is unparalleled, even in tier 2 and 3 towns
• Well priced for what it offers. Undercuts most competitors

What you won't:

• Very basic instrumentation cluster in terms of look, feel and functionality
• Missing features such as riding modes, traction control, upside-down suspension fork, etc.
• Built to a cost. Cost-cutting is evident in a couple of areas
• Ride gets unsettled at higher speeds
• To many people, the Hero brand doesn't have the badge cachet of Royal Enfield, Honda or Harley-Davidson
• Long-term reliability of the new engine is unknown

Review Link

Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

Ownership Review

Here's what BHPian Geo_Ipe replied:

Guerilla 450 for me. Smart looks, can tackle city & touring conditions with ease. Engine has enough grunt, service availability is adequate.

Triumph Scrambler 400X oozes the big bike feel, which will reflect in service costs and reliability as well.

The X440 & Mavrick don't have enough character to demand a second look. Husqvarnas are too niche.

Here's what BHPian sapien replied:

• Just based on looks, for me it has to be the RE Guerilla, although polarizing, it immediately feels special and that's why the vote. Dynamics on that other hand needs further polishing w.r.t erratic throttle @ lower rpms, unsophisticated suspensions etc.
• Harley seems most rounded product but looks weird in an ungainly way. Maybe the next Harley product on same platform- like Nightster 440 will be a product to wait for.
• Triumph Scrambler is a super safe choice but looking at it doesn’t excite me.
• One may want to try newer Jawas and Yezdis- at least they look great.

PS: I have only driven Speed 400, Classic 350, Hunter and CB350 and my views are extrapolated from that.

Here's what BHPian pedrolourenco replied:

A tough call between the Triumph Scrambler and the RE Guerrilla. Picked the Guerrilla as it's easier to ride.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The 400X performed fairly well across various riding conditions. Like a true jack of all.

BHPian nasirkaka recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

DIWALI WEEKEND BIKE TRIP

It was the long Diwali weekend and 4 of us rider friends decided to go on a bike trip from Bangalore. The destination locked was Kodaikanal and its surroundings. The trip was for 3 nights and 4 days. The chosen places to stay were off the beaten path and not easily accessible.

4 musketeers on their steed. Two BMW 310GS, my 400X and a BMW GS1250.

It was a wonderful trip comprising of good national highway, some country roads and lots of twisties and hairpin bends. We choose the route to include less travelled roads. The road conditions were such that it could be placed under off-road category. We all love trails so bad roads were not at all an issue. Not to mention the views were breathtaking, weather was great, and camaraderier was top notch.

We stayed at couple of lovely remote place on the hill and in forest, where the scene around was changing like a kalidoscope. One moment its nice and bight and the next moment the entire valley is engulfed in fog. And throw in some intermittent rain to make things interesting.

We did some general exploratory ride around the Kodai and Kookal region. As this was long Diwali weekend, the regular tourist spots including the entire Kodai town was heavily crowded. We tried staying away from the crowd as much as we could. We encountered multiple waterfalls, lakes, valleys, and beautiful and lush green terrace farming.

We also encountered some rains on the hill but were adequately prepared for the same. There was a brief period of anxiety when i misplaced the bike key due to sudden onset of rain and us rushing to a near by shelter. But the key was soon found to a big relief from the group. Phew! ( i was carrying a spare key, which was at the place of our stay).

Food has always been an integral part of our trips. We try and look for outlets which are known for local delicacies and relish the same. So much that the food is mostly over by the time the thought of taking a picture crosses mind.

That brings to the end of a lovely weekend outing to the Kodai hills, the clouds and the fog. Some paced highway riding. Puttering along some scenic country roads. Lots of ghat sections, never ending & winding mountain roads and even road blockage due to fresh land slide. On the way back, we did enounter the heavy rush of long weekend returning traffic but being on two wheels made it all passable. It was sad to see the folks stuck in their 4 wheelers on long jam of crawling traffic.

The 400X performed fairly well across various riding conditions. Like a true jack of all. I was a bit worried on spending long hours on the saddle without any wind protection. But there was no issue at all as along as one was maintaining sane speed.

On the hill, bike did have a stationary fall. I had parked and walked a few steps away when I had a heart wrenching 'thud'. Turned back to see the bike fallen on the road. I suspect it was due to the bike standing too straight on the side stand. I have decided to reduce the length of the side stand to increase the lean angle, will share the DIY details on the thread soon.

The stationary dead fall did result in some damage to the bike. The tip of front brake lever broke. the plastic knuckle guard on the brake lever side cracked and broke. There were scratches on the lower engine guard and the silencer. The bike had the Hepco top box as well, but thankfully it held fine with some minor scruff marks.

All in all It was a memorable trip and ride experience.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

There are times when I still wonder about the KTM 390. But I am planning to give the bike and year or two, if the feeling remains, who knows the orange alien might happen.

BHPian Harsh_sharma recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Preface

I used to ride a 2017 Apache 200. The bike was showing its age with almost 55k on the odometer. Although I had no hurry to change it, the itch to upgrade was not letting me sleep or spending countless hours on teambhp reading reviews. Meanwhile, I have been constantly riding a friend's BMW 310GS for long trips to the mountains & Super Meteor 650 in the city. So I was pretty clear about wanting the bike in a similar 400cc space or better say ~40bhp bikes.

My major run is in the city with a maximum of 2-3 trips to the mountains a year. So the bike had to be Delhi/Gurgaon traffic-ready.

The Huge Dilemma

I am a very confused person in my life. This trait also helped me short down on a bike pretty quickly, just short of a whole year.
I took a test ride of every bike available within the 2-4 Lacs bracket. I will not go into what I liked/disliked in the bikes I test rode, I'll just mention the names and the conclusion.

I test rode Yamaha R15 V4, Suzuki Vstorm 250, KTM 390 Adventure, Yezdi Scrambler/Adventure, Honda Highness 350, TVS Ronin, Xpulse 200 4v, Harley H450, RE Interceptor, Guerilla, Himalayan, KTM Duke 390/250. And in the end, I only giggled when I test-rode the 390. So why did I end up in this thread?

Buying Saga

On a lazy Sunday after countless days of discussing bikes every day with my wife & best friend, we decided that a bike would be booked today. The major three contenders are the KTM Duke 390, Himalayan 450 & Scrambler 400x.

I went to the Triumph showroom first, saw the bike in black took the quotation took a test ride (3rd time) & liked it. Booked it right away. By the time there was another person with a Himalayan 450 in the showroom & I figured out the bike was too big for my daily running. It would be like getting a 7-seater car while I mostly have to commute within the city alone.

For the KTM. I did not visit the showroom as I knew I would end up buying one if I saw it/ride it. Everybody knows the pros of the KTM (That engine!), but a few points steered towards the Scrambler 400x more:

• KTM was small in size. After riding the 310GS and SM650 i was used to the heft & appreciated the big bike feeling
• I am married & have responsibilities. I thought thke KTM was too maniac & i would risk myself more on KTM
• It was not available in a muted black/orange color
• Touring wouldn't be easy on KTM.

Phew! You can feel that I still have a soft corner for the Duke & the problems stated are not true. I just had to convince myself.

Yes, So back to the Scrambler 400x was bought along with 4 accessories: Front high ride mudguard, Luggage rack, Engine lower guard & tank pad.

Things I like

• Looks - The bike looks very clean yet classic. The fuel tank shape, round headlight, and scrambler bits are in the design. It is a very simple yet elegant design. The big bike feels is also there, which was completely missing in the Speed 400.
• Engine - The low-down torque is very usable, while for other bikes I had to wait to get in the rev band, the Scrambler pulls right away from 2000 rpm, even with a pillion. This trait also helps me potter very easily around in traffic. While the RPM is locked till 1000 km, I did not feel that I was short on power up to the 6,000 rpm limit. It is very easy to reach 80-90 without even realizing it.
• Handling - Despite the 19" wheel, and 835mm seat height, the bike is very clickable once you get a hang of it. The weight is centralized and it does not feel top-heavy. I could easily weave through choked traffic, despite the bike feeling big. Standing up position is also very natural.
• Exhaust note - My Apache had a great exhaust note & this is just better. The exhaust is the right amount of bassy & sounds very good at low revs. In my opinion, it is one of the better-sounding single-cylinder engines.
• Suspension - It is not as plush as a GS310, as phenomenal as a Himalayan 450, but it is quite good for the Scrambler. Soaks low-speed bumps pretty well, and is pliant at high speeds. I'm yet to test it at some trials.

Things I don't

• Headlight: They are just there, they look good. That's it. With the headlight grille, the beam is obstructed quite a bit. I don't do night riding much so they work as of now. Will look for Aux lights or ones from Vaishno Lights in the future. As of now I also pasted Trip machine, Headlight X, because there is no visibility anyway, at least it should look cool.
• Handlebar position: Maybe this is because I am vertically challenged (5'7) or maybe my hands are short. The reach to the handlebar is 80% extended by arms. So in traffic when I do full lock to either left or right, it is a bit of an effort. I am evaluating Zana handlebar risers in the future.
• Instrument console: No not complaining about Bluetooth or Google Maps being there. Most of us will use our phones mounted anyway. But the design itself is confusing. I wish they just swapped the speedometer to a digital display & tachometer to analog. As of now, the tachometer is hardly visible. The fuel range is 10% accurate. Sometimes I hit reserve with a 240km trip with 140km with the same riding pattern.
• Vibrations: It is butter smooth till 80, or 6000 rpm. But after that, there are good amount of vibration in just the foot pegs which is a bit annoying. From 80 to 90 the speedometer/mirror vibrates. Haven't checked on speeds above 100kmph.

Accessories

• Front high ride mudguard - Makes it feel more like a scrambler. Mud protection is yet to be tested.
  
• Luggage rack - I do not plan to use the top box shortly, I just bought it because of the 10% discount + no labor on accessories & it was better looking than a third-party luggage rack. Installed it, felt it ruined the look, removed and kept it at home. Will install if required for long rides.
• Engine lower guard - I am not into big crash bars from Zana or another third party as it ruins the sleek look of the scrambler. So 400x already had a leg guard, and a lower engine guard just completed the protection kit for me.
• Trip Machine handlebar grips and headlight X - Great quality grips & they look very good. The coffee tank color on the black bike is a nice contrast.
• Some Generic mobile holder/BOBO copy - Does what it needs to do, hold my Motorola edge 40 pretty well

Final thoughts

I am quite happy with the Scrambler 400x & do not fail to look back every time I park this beauty. There are times when I still wonder about the KTM 390. But I am planning to give the bike and year or two, if the feeling remains, who knows the orange alien might happen. But as every day goes the bond with the Scrambler gets stronger!

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I find the vibrations to be comparable to my previous motorcycle (a Honda CB350RS) for 80% of the situations.

BHPian Chugh_H recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Since some of us are seeking opinions on how the bike's character has changed on the highway, I'll share my impressions.

I completed the Delhi - Manali - Zanskar - Jammu - Delhi route a couple of weeks ago on my Scram400. I've earlier done the Spiti circuit on the same bike, albeit with the original 14T sprocket. After installing the new sprocket, I rode the bike for about 300kms in the city and then started my journey to Zanskar.

City

In the city, the bike is calmer. This is especially noticeable when you close the throttle. The bike had aggressive engine braking in the city which meant you had to constantly modulate the throttle if you were aiming for a smoother ride. A calmer bike is a smoother ride. And the 1st gear is now useable as well.

Highway

Out on the highway, there are three observations:

• If you are cruising < 100 km/h, there are fewer vibrations expected since the bike is running at lower rpms for the same speed now and this would make a ton of difference for people like me who prefer long-distance cruising between 90-110. Between the front sprocket and the BMC air filter I have installed on my bike, I find the vibrations to be comparable to my last bike for 80% of the situations. My last bike was a Honda CB350RS so this is one huge compliment. Vibrations are still noticeable when you cross ~105 km/hr and are evident as you go higher.
• From my earlier ride to Spiti, one thing I loved about the bike was the instant torque even in 6th gear cruising at ~80 km/hr. This 'pull' that has been giving me a smile every time I went to an open road, was not so much noticeable this time.
• For a long time now, I have been finding the 7th gear on my Scram on the highways. I am glad to share that I was no longer looking for overdrive gear.

Hills

On the hills, I was worried about the 'ease' of climb when the slope is steep. This was a non-issue. Even on hairpin steep bends, the bike still pulled in 2nd, good then and good now.

On some occasions, I had to shift to 1st to make good use of engine braking. I remember thinking at the time that this was something that could have earlier been possible in the 2nd gear itself. These kinds of situations came only far in between, maybe a couple of times and mostly in offroad situations near GonboRangjon.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I am a sucker for neo-classics and my dream bike is the Triumph Speed Twin 1200. I also like some of the Royal Enfields like the Shotgun 650, Guerrilla 450, and the Scram 411.

BHPian hot_wheels recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Okay, so I decided to return to motorcycling after almost 15 years. I am in my early 40s. After getting married, I gave up motorcycling (not consciously) and completely used cars for both commute and long trips. Now, I started to miss the joy of motorcycling and want to slowly get into it. Although I want to eventually get a higher capacity tourer (preferably a sports tourer), I am thinking of starting with a decent low-capacity city bike to say dip my toes and see how it goes. I also have a back issue from a past injury, so want to take it slow to begin with. My current use case will be occasional city commutes and weekend city outskirts rides with friends.

I am a sucker for neo-classics and my dream bike is the Triumph Speed Twin 1200. I also like some of the REs like the Shotgun 650, Guerrilla 450, and the Scram 411. I like the Triumph Scrambler 400 X as well. I am 6'1'', so would appreciate a riding stance that is not too cramped. So far I have test driven only the Guerrilla. While the bike looks good and feels powerful, I felt the bike is too low-slung and the pedal placement too high that it didn't feel very comfortable.

Ultimately I prefer a neo-classic roadster/scrambler design. I am not interested in the Himalayan as it's very purpose-built and I don't want to ride an ADV in the city. I was also a bit overwhelmed by Bangalore traffic when I test rode the Guerrilla. Taking the handlebar after so many years I experienced the insane chaos of the Bangalore traffic, particularly the two-wheelers, autos, and mini trucks. I know I will get used to it shortly but it would immensely benefit me if my future bike is relatively easy to manoeuvre in the city. That said for me beauty and proportion are very very important and it doesn't matter how good the bike is to ride if I don't stare at it to derive pleasure.

I request experienced T-BHP bikers to offer their pearls of wisdom to help me find the right one for my needs and tastes.

Here's what BHPian Ratan Prabhu had to say about the matter:

More often than not, I find myself recommending the Triumph Scrambler 400x for some or the other reason.

At 6'1, the tall stance of the Scrambler 400x would suit you perfectly. It has good low end torque so city riding won't be difficult, capable on the highways, linear power delivery which won't feel scary (since you will be starting to ride after many years of gap). Very comfortable ergonomics. The front brakes are spongy. But from what I've read, switching to sintered brake pads improves the experience.

Other than this, In case you want a more chill ride with lower power, you can try the Suzuki V-Strom 250. It isn't really an adventure bike but more of a comfortable adv looking sports tourer which can do a bit of "bad roading". It also has comfortable ergonomics, smooth engine, linear power delivery.

So my vote goes for Triumph Scrambler 400x followed by Suzuki V-Strom 250. Both will fulfil your requirements.

Here's what BHPian timuseravan had to say about the matter:

I would strongly recommend you to check out the BSA Gold Star 650. It is a surprisingly fantastic bike. I am in the same age group and 6' and found the Gold Star had a very comfortable seating posture. The bike has good low end to potter around in the city and yet it can pull fast enough that it is faster to 100 than the Interceptor!

Below that I would suggest either the Scrambler 400x or the Scram 411.

Here's what BHPian MileCruncher had to say about the matter:

Good to see that you want to get back to motorcycling. You are part of the rising trend captured in this thread.

I think you have captured some pertinent points very well. I would like to point them out a bit more for your consideration.

• 15 yr hiatus from biking and mainly using a car means you are not used to the agility required for bikes
• In the last 15 years bikes have gotten heavier. Significantly.
• Riding a motorcycle beyond an hour at a stretch requires a good core and back. You have a bad back.
• Plus during the test ride, you were slightly out of sync in the traffic

What if after a couple of rides, you realise that this motorcycling business is too much to handle and is affecting your back? You realise it's not worth the trouble to spoil your back and disrupt your regular life.

The 400cc and above used bike market is full of low-run specimens. The higher CC you go, the more you see its prevalence. Because people buy the bikes but then realise that either time, health, other commitments or all are not permitting enough riding to justify a vehicle at home.

Hence, my contrarian view will be, Buy a Used Xpulse. Ride it for 6 months to see how motorcycling fits back into your life. Once you have a little more clarity, buy a bigger bike.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Overall it was a fun ride and I might book the bike next week as I really enjoyed the engine and suspension.

BHPian Renaissance Man recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Had rented the bike from Royal brothers for the weekend. The bike was fairly new and only had 650 kms when I took it from the pick up point.

Left home around 6.30 and was back by 11.45 doing a 300kms round trip to Kolli sagar dam. Got some rain during the beginning and again at the end but the weather was pleasant all around.

The below is at the fuel stop.

Stopped for a quick change over as the rain had stopped.

Backwaters of the dam which is used for cloth washing by the locals.

Some pics from the Dam, water level seems high and might require the gates to be open as rain is forecasted whole of next week.

Overall it was a fun ride and I might book the bike next week as I really enjoyed the engine and suspension.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I am happy with the purchase, and enjoying riding the bike daily to office commute and on the trails on weekends.

BHPian nasirkaka recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Sharing some pictures from a recent ride around Kanakpura, close to Bangalore. The monsoon has converted the landscape into lush green carpet all around and these are best enjoyed on two wheels.

The Scrambler 400 performed fairly well over bad broken trails. The tyres are not the best for wet grass, gravel, loose & wet mud but does fairly well if one is not trying to push too hard. Could do better with a bit offroad focussed tyres.

customary early morning sunrise shot.

3 rides, one on SX250, another on modified 300R and myself on the 400x.

Unreal hues of green.

View from a vantage point

Scrambler feeling at home.

Trails less taken.

400X is a fairly easy bike to ride on trails etc as long as the sections do not get very tricky/technical. Seat height could be one of the concerns as one lost footing means we will mostly end up dropping the bike. It remains to be seen how the bike takes the drops etc.

So far, I am happy with the purchase, and enjoying riding the bike daily to office commute and on the trails on weekends. Surprisingly its giving decent mileage of around 27 - 29 kmpl with sedate riding comprising of a mix of city and highway usage. The fuel gauge is most erratic and I set the trip to 0 every full tank of gas. And refill with a full tank when the trip reaches around 290-300kms.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I am in the market for a bike that I'll use to commute 25 km to college everyday.

BHPian LBWKjesko recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey BHPians, hope you're all doing great. I am in the market for a bike that I'll use to commute 25kms to college everyday. For some context, this will be my first bike and I will learn to ride on it. I'm looking for a bike that is fun, safe and easy to maintain.

Option #1: The triumph scrambler400x
Loved the fit and finish on this bike. Took a test ride and it was really fun too. I was sold on it till I looked at option #2 and now I'm confused.
Will this be a good first bike as it is a but too tall and my dad says it'll be harder for me to control. I am 5'10, 200lbs.

Option #2: TVS Apache rtr310
I looked at this bike online and I didn't think I would like it that much. Went to the showroom very disinterested but I fell in love with this bike the moment I set my eyes on it. I absolutely loved the way it looked in person. This bike is also very modern compared to the Triumph. I've read that the engine is unrefined and TVS service is terrible.

Option #3: Honda CB350RS
This is my dad's favorite cause he has had Hondas in the past. The design is good, the ride I felt wasn't as good as the Triumph but it was okay. I felt like the build quality on this is subpar compared to the scrambler.

Please help me decide which bike to get. I am open to any other suggestions as well.



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I prepared the motorcycle for the journey and we packed our luggage in my ViaTerra Claw Mini and essentials in a tank bag.

BHPian Vijesh L recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

You know life is good when last-minute plans become the best adventures you can have. We had to go on a family trip along with my parents to Banglore for 2 days. The trip got cancelled due to some unforeseen circumstances. Suddenly I thought why not plan a trip to Varkala as our previous month’s plan got cancelled at the last moment. So me and my wife decided to take the bike. We started looking for stays at Varkala and planned the itinerary for a 2-night stay. The plan was to leave as early as possible to avoid traffic in Kerala.

Day 0

I removed the grab handles and fixed the luggage rack back on the motorcycle. Cleaned the chain and washed the bike in the morning. Let the bike and chain air dry for a few hours and then adjusted the chain slack, lubed the chain and checked the tyre pressure. Packed our luggage in my Viaterra Claw Mini and essentials in a Tank Bag.

Day 1, Sep 7th

We started from our home at 5 Am in the morning. Reached Traveloungue, Walayar around 6 am for our first stop. We had a coffee and a cheesecake break.

We resumed our journey towards Varkala. Filled the bike in a petrol bunk and planned to stop for a coffee break after an hour. On the outskirts of Kochi, google asked us to take a diversion and took us through less crowded routes. The roads were excellent but narrow and had too many diversions. With not many options for food and refreshment, we just took a water and stretch break. After another hour of riding, we stopped at a random hotel around 10.30 am to have our breakfast. It was getting very hot and humid. We stopped again around 12 pm for a tender coconut break.

We reached our stay at Varkala around 2.30 pm. Our stay at Point Break Surf and Stay was located at Edava Beach just behind the aquarium which is a lesser crowded beach. The room was small but adequately sized with a cozy ambience and clean washrooms. We were given a welcome drink.

After refreshing, we went to Cafe Sarwaa on the south cliff to have our Lunch. The food was good with an excellent view of the beach from the cliff.

We then returned to our rooms, parked the bike and went to Edava Beach which is just 100 metres away from the stay. We spent some time watching the Sunset from the beach and then proceeded to explore the North Cliff. Wife was busy shopping for souvenirs to give back home. We had dinner at Darjeeling Cafe and returned to our room for the night.

Continue reading Vijesh L's road trip experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.