Triumph is back into the single-cylinder business, with the new Scrambler 400x aimed at the budget-friendly segment of the market.

This machine is one of two bikes resulting from a five-year project with Indian manufacturer Bajaj (the same company that owns a massive minority stake in KTM, and builds their lower-cc models such as the 390 Adventure). Triumph says the new Scrambler 400x is intended to be an all-roads bike, not an off-road bike. It’s intended to have the same premium feel as the rest of Triumph’s lineup, and performance better than anything else in this market segment—but we don’t know the MSRP, not yet.

A new engine

The new liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine has 398 cc capacity, a DOHC, four-valve top end with finger-follower valvetrain. Triumph says it makes 39.5 hp at 8,000 rpm, and 27.3 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. The engine uses a ride-by-wire throttle, and Triumph has gone to some paints to make it fit in visually with the company’s historic models and current lineup. Even though it’s a decidedly modern engine, there are faux cooling fins in the cylinder casting and even in the exhaust clamps.

This engine was specifically designed for Triumph, and will not be used by any other company. Other Indian and Euro manufacturers will share tech between each other, but Triumph says this will not happen.

Exhaust exits via a two-can-on-one-side arrangement, despite the fact this is a single-cylinder engine. Like many of the scramblers of old, this new Triumph has a low-mounted header an upswept muffler. It’s hydroformed, of stainless steel. The six-speed gearbox is mated to a slip/assist clutch, to make shifting easier. Traction control comes as standard, and, good news for off-roaders: It can be switched off.

A basic chassis

底盘是不完全是高性能,但Triumph did specifically design it for scrambler duty, whereas some other OEMs will do the bare minimum to convert a streetbike into a offroad-capable form. In this case, the tubular steel frame sees the headstock angle changed from the Speed 400 model, which lengthens the wheelbase. The non-adjustable 37 mm USD fork and preload-adjustable remote-reservoir shock are similar components to the Speed 400 as well, but with added travel (150 mm front and rear). There’s a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear wheel, both running cast rims (with no plans at this point to offer spoked rims, it seems). Metzeler Karoo tires are standard.

Obviously, this is not aimed at the types who want to go fast in the dirt, but at reasonable speeds, it should handle a dirt road in reasonable condition! Stay sensible, and the bike should be very enjoyable. Note that Triumph sensibly spec’d a bolt-on subframe, which is good news if you do manage to bung up the bike’s back end somehow.

前后刹车似乎类似于what’s found on the Speed 400 (larger 320 mm disc up front for the Scrambler, w/four-piston caliper; single 250 mm disc in back, w/floating caliper). A Bosch ABS system is standard, same as the Street 400x, but the Scrambler allows you to switch off the system at front and rear.

Fuel capacity is 3.4 US gallons or 13 liters, and although Triumph reckons fuel economy can be as good as 67 mpg or 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers (partially thanks to DLC treatment inside the engine, which promotes efficiency). Still, this sounds like an area where some riders may see immediate need for improvement, if they wish to ride this bike beyond the settled frontier, so to speak.

Triumph says the machine will weigh 395 pounds, which we presume is curb weight.

Seat height on the Scrambler 400x is 32.9 inches. The saddle is a straight, retro-looking two-piece arrangement; bolt-on passenger pegs are standard, as is an aluminum grab rail. Triumph says the machine has a “shoulders back” riding style, with a narrow waist where the tank meets the seat, making it easier to stand on the pegs.

Other details

The Scrambler 400x has all-LED lighting, an LCD dash, and a plastic skid plate is standard (a much beefer aluminum bash plate is optional in some markets, along with heated grips, luggage and more). The Scrambler comes in three colors: Phantom Black/Silver Ice, Matte Khaki Green/Fusion White or Carnival Red/Phantom Black.

Although the bike was designed in India, to be built there, Triumph is also manufacturing this series in Thailand and Brazil. Expect North American machines to come from either the Thai or Indian factories.