The new Triumph Scrambler 400X 2024 in an everyday test

The appearance and features of the A2-compatible Triumph Scrambler 400 X immediately grabbed my attention and filled me with excitement. The two-tone tank, sporty handguards, and two-piece brown leather-look seat make this bike a real head-turner. Equipped with a 19-inch front tire and a 17-inch Metzeler Karoo Street tire at the rear, it's clear that this Scrambler is ready to tackle any terrain. The golden USD fork, stylish LED headlight, and other intricate details further add to its appeal, attracting the attention of onlookers both in the city and beyond. Priced at 6045 euros in Germany and 6695 euros in Austria, this bike is not only visually striking but also affordable. Sharing its electronics, tank, and engine with its Modern Classic counterpart - the Speed 400, it promises a thrilling ride. Only time will tell if it lives up to its visual allure once put to the test on the road.

After the first few meters, it became increasingly clear to me personally that despite the 835 mm seat height (due to the 19-inch front wheel and the 150 mm suspension travel), a very safe riding experience is guaranteed. The upright riding position, the wide handlebars, and the ground clearance made handling completely uncomplicated and suitable for everyday use. The first half-hour ride in the city proved to be good preparation for the winding route ahead in the nearby mountains. Stop and go, fairly rapid acceleration, a small turning circle - no problem for the newcomer. Even though the Speed 400, the sister model of the 179 kg speedster, is known for its sportier handling, I had the exact opposite experience. As this is not intended to be a comparison of the bikes, I'll leave the experience on the Speed 400 out of it if possible - but in my opinion, the Scrambler performed quite smoothly even in the tight corners. After previous experiences with tires of a similar profile on the road, I was positively surprised by the grip and agility. In addition, there was no annoying whirring when driving, as I have experienced at lower speeds with the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR, for example. Even though 40 hp is not the world and the steam up front is only really noticeable from third gear onwards, the power of the Triumph Scrambler 400X is perfectly adequate for everyday use.

The only noticeable downside of the Triumph Naked Bike (subjectively speaking, of course) slowly became apparent after a few hours of riding: the braking performance. The 300 millimeter single disc provided by ByBre and its brake pads should have a somewhat more "aggressive" effect to reduce the high manual force required. Compared to the braking system of the Speed 400, which had shown strong bite on the same route, the difference in this case seemed quite significant. Nevertheless, the system performs adequately and also features deactivatable traction control and ABS - a clear advantage for off-road riding, of course.