Royal Enfield Scram 411 review: More than a naked Himalayan?

As with all Royal Enfield launches in recent years, much has been known about the new Scram 411 before it was launched, including the specifications. Royal Enfield’s idea with this motorcycle was to create an easier and more accessible version of the Himalayan, one that will be more at home in the city, but also game for some exploration beyond.

To that effect, the design changes have not only resulted in a less serious looking motorcycle, but one that also looks shorter than the Himalayan.

Royal Enfield Scram 411 features: face value

The bulk of the visual changes have happened towards the front, with the headlamp now being set lower and further in. I think that gives the bike a better sense of proportion, and the halogen lamp also sits within a nice cast aluminium surround.

Over to the sides, the big bulky fuel tank frame from the Himalayan is gone, and it's replaced by two small side panels. The seat is a new single piece unit that looks good while also being quite comfortable.

The rear section has also been re-profiled with a smaller grab handle and a different indicator/number plate set-up. The overall quality and finish is similar to the Himalayan, and while it doesn’t feel as special as the new RE 350s, it’s definitely better put together than the new Yezdi Scrambler.

Another area where the Scram really differentiates itself from the Himalayan is in the choice of colours, with seven funky schemes available. And then, of course, there’s the new offset instrument console. This display has been borrowed from the Meteor 350, but with a different colour treatment around the speedometer. The Tripper navigation display on the side continues to be an optional extra, just as it is on the Meteor.

While the display looks smart, there are a couple of downsides. For one, you don’t get a rev counter, which you do on the Himalayan. The bigger issue, however, is that this new console is more of a mechanical one. Unlike the Himalayan, there is no button to switch off the rear ABS. If you want to do that, you’re going to have to pull the ABS fuse out, which will deactivate the entire system, including at the front.

Royal Enfield Scram 411 dynamics: beyond aesthetics

On the bright side, that’s not the Scram’s only mechanical change compared to its sibling. While the chassis is exactly the same, including the headstock angle and the rear subframe, the bike does get a 19-inch front wheel as against the 21-inch unit on the Himalayan. The front suspension also has 10mm less travel, with a total of 190mm. The rear shock has the same spring rate and 180mm travel as the Himalayan, but the damping has changed slightly.

Moving to a smaller wheel has made some changes to the overall chassis geometry, with the steering rake angle getting a little sharper and the wheelbase reducing a little. All of these changes should result in the Scram feeling more agile to ride. 

Just how much more can only be confirmed when we ride it back to back with the Himalayan, but the noticeable difference is that the handlebar requires less effort at slower speeds. The handlebar itself is as wide as before, but it's now positioned a little lower and closer to the rider.

Because of these changes, the ground clearance has dropped by 20mm, to 200mm, and the seat height is down by 5mm as well.

Despite this, the Scram 411 remains quite well-specced as an off-road capable machine. In fact, it feels remarkably similar to the Himalayan and I rarely found myself thinking that the Scram was any less capable. The only thing I consistently missed was the ability to lock the rear tyre to help steer the bike in the dirt.

We got to ride the Scram on some trails around the Big Rock Dirtpark and, in most of the less challenging situations, the 19-inch front wheel never felt like a limitation. This bike also runs the same Ceat Gripp tyres as well, which increases the feeling of familiarity. 

It was only on the slower, more tricky sections that the extra stability from a 21-inch front wheel and the additional ground clearance would have been welcome. Those situations will be quite rare, unless you go actively looking for them, and if you’re that sort of a rider, the Himalayan will definitely make more sense for you, between the two.

Either way, there’s no shaking the sense that this is a heavy motorcycle. It weighs 5kg less than the Himalayan, which means its kerb weight is about 194kg (with the main stand), and that’s still quite a lot. Also worth considering is that the main stand is not part of standard equipment and you need to buy that as an optional accessory.

Royal Enfield Scram 411 engine: road manners

What hasn’t changed at all from the Himalayan is the 411 engine. The power and torque figures are the same, the gearing is the same, the sprocket sizes are the same and just like the BS6 Himalayan engine, it's surprisingly smooth. 100kph is a relaxed cruising speed, and while the indicated top speed is about 130kph, anything above 120 is a struggle.

As far as road comfort goes, the Scram does quite well. The suspension is set a little on the firm side, and it might even be slightly firmer than the Himalayan, but again, we’d have to ride them back to back to be sure. What is certain is that while this bike definitely isn’t as plush as the XPulse 200 4V, it’s also not as firmly set-up as the new Yezdi Scrambler.

Since there have been no changes to the brakes, it's a similar story – a rather dull feel at the front end and you need to use a full hand to make quick stops. It would’ve been nice if RE could have given this bike some more front end bite to go with its more urban aspirations.

Royal Enfield Scram 411 verdict: to Scram or not to Scram

With prices starting at Rs 2.03 lakh and going upto Rs 2.08 lakh (ex-showrom, Chennai), the Scram is priced below the Himalayan, which starts at Rs 2.15 lakh, ex-showroom. At the end of the day, the Scram 411 definitely feels very similar to the Himalayan in the way it sounds, the way it rides and just the general way it feels, and that is a good thing. But, I think it's a nicer looking motorcycle, it is definitely more youthful and meets Royal Enfield’s objectives of being easier and more accessible.

So if you want to get yourself a more rugged motorcycle, but don’t like the idea of going into a full-on adventure style motorcycle, the Scram presents an interesting alternative.

Also see

Royal Enfield Scram 411 image gallery