By: Javed Ali Khan
The Indian Motorcycle market has made slow but steady growth which is evident from the fact that we are one of the largest producers and exporters of 2 wheelers in the world to an extent that sometimes Indian manufacturers export more than what they sell in India. The product range has also grown from commuter to Cruiser to Tourers. But somehow none of the Indian manufacturers ever entered into the scrambler segment with a commitment, at least not in a manner as was done by Ducati and Triumph.
Finally, Royal Enfield, the oldest Indian motorcycle producer, has introduced Scram411 which they refer to as ‘ADV CROSSOVER’. This was expected as Yezdi under Classic Legends had recently introduced Scrambler in the Indian market. The Scram411 is out and out based on Himalayan but with a few tweaks here and there to make it more colorful, attractive, and efficient without taking away the spirit of adventure. The best part about the Scram411 is its looks and when you see it you realize that even after so much resemblance to its Elder Himalayan, it is different, it is the SCRAM411.
”What does then Scram411 offer if it is not so different from Himalayan?”, a question I was going through while writing this piece. Well, indeed, why would anyone, especially a manufacturer like Royal Enfield, bring in a product to undermine their existing product? The reason given by RE is that it is a brand new ‘sub-category’ which means that it is part of Himalayan but with different qualities. In layman’s terms, twin but born a few minutes later and with few different attributes.
So, the basic difference between Himalayan and Scram411 is following:
- Scram has a 19” Front Wheel whereas Himalayan has a 21”.
- Scram has ABS which has no option of ‘De-activation’, whereas in Himalayan the option is available.
- Scram has a ground clearance of 200mm, wheelbase of 1455mm, length of 2160mm, height 1165mm, seat height 795mm whereas Himalayan has a ground clearance of 220mm, wheelbase of 1465mm, length of 2190mm, height 1370mm, seat height 800mm.
- Scram has a Front Suspension of 41 MM forks – 190mm travel whereas Himalayan has 41 MM forks – 200mm travel
- Scram has a weight of 185, Himalayan is 199.
- Scram Headlamp moves around with the handlebar which is quite convenient during night rides.
We could have added prices (Scram411 Starts at Rs. 2.03 lakh ex-showroom, Chennai) as one of the core differences between the two but at the end of the day, many of the parts like the main stand, tripper- to name a few- needs to be bought separately as a part of the MIY package. This eventually will add up to the cost and weight of the motorcycle. One of the best things which RE has done with the Scram411 is the clour options. Yes, 7 interesting and attractive color combinations are out there and indeed would attract buyers. We even believe that anyone interested in buying a Himalayan may end up buying a Scram411 instead.
So is it a bike worth spending your hard-earned money on, well we can tell that only when we get our hand on the Scram411. And we hope to do it soon. If you have any questions, do mention them in the comments section and we will answer each and every one of them. Till then be safe, ride safe, and drive safe.
