One of the most highly-anticipated big bikes among Royal Enfield and classic bike fans is finally in the Philippines! I’ve personally been wanting to see and test ride the Scram 411 ever since it was first announced, because it promised to check so many boxes for a first big bike in the Philippines, namely:
Highway legal (400cc and up, 411cc to be exact)
Relatively light, easy to ride and commute
Great classic looks
Cheap and easy to maintain
Off-road capability
The Royal Enfield Scram 411 in Graphite Blue at its Philippine launch
Here’s the basic facts about the bike:
Envisioned and developed as an “ADV crossover” for commuting on the weekdays and on-and-off-road fun on the weekends
411cc fuel-injected, 4-stroke, SOHC, air-cooled single-cylinder engine with maximum power of 24.3bhp at 6500rpm and max torque of 32Nm at 4000-4500 rpm, same as the Royal Enfield Himalayan
200mm ground clearance (best in class)
Telescopic front suspension with 41mm forks and 190mm travel
180mm travel on the rear monoshock
Dual-channel ABS (non-switchable)
19in front wheel (down from 21in on the Himalayan), 17in rear
Improved seat compared to Himalayan
795 mm seat height, lower than Himalayan
Starts at PhP 311,000 up to PhP 315,000 for premium color variants
I attended the launch (video above) and shortly after was able to test ride it:
Overall, the bike did not fall short of my expectations: It was nimble and easy to handle in traffic thanks to that 19in front wheel, smoother than the Himalayan with a revised, longer gearing that makes it nicer to ride at low speeds, along with a more comfortable seat. Suspension is stiffer than the Himalayan but still much more comfortable than comparable standards, like the Svart 401. I’m looking forward to spending more time on the bike and really traveling with it, the way it was meant to be used, tackling mixed roads and light to medium off-road.
At its price, it competes directly with its sibling the Himalayan (currently starting at 338k), the KTM 390s (Duke, Adventure, Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401), and entry-level bikes from CFMOTO, Bristol, etc. Offhand, this is how I think they stack up:
Pick any of the 390s if speed is a priority and you are tall enough:
390 Duke for the lightest, near cheapest, and most sporty
Svart 401 for a super light, stylish city bike that can handle light touring (my personal pick of the 390s)
390 Adventure for more aggressive riders that want to go off-road and tour, or riders moving up from small dual sports
Vitpilen 401 for pure style and a sporty ergos and ride, NOT for touring
Himalayan for lovers of off-road-biased touring, those who want a chill ride, and short riders
CFMOTO and Bristol for cheapest bikes with extra electronic features, for short riders too
The Scram 411 for a jack-of-all-trades bike that can commute, tour longer, look great at cafes, offer a chill ride, while having the capacity to bring luggage using the Himalayan’s accessories. Also good for short riders and lower than the Himalayan.
As you can tell, I’m pumped about the Scram as it really does check so many boxes in its class, so much so that I find myself wanting one as a daily bike and something to thrash around on light trails. It’s lighter than my Interceptor while having that tractable engine from the Himalayan that’s so easy and stable off-road.
Test riding the Scram 411 at Royal Enfield Quezon City
And it’s also one of the cheapest options—it offers so much, and frankly is only mainly lacking in the speed and acceleration department. But since I already own a faster bike (the Royal Enfield Interceptor), that’s not a major consideration for me.
You can test ride one today in the Philippines by contacting Royal Enfield Quezon City or Royal Enfield Bacoor.
That’s my initial take on the Royal Enfield Scram 411! Don’t forget to stay subscribed to my Youtube channel for more motorcycle and travel content coming on the Scram 411 and many more.