2024 · Scrambler · Buyer's Guide
Big-Bike Manners, Small Package
The Scrambler 400 X is Triumph's first bike in the small-capacity class, and it doesn't feel like a budget bike. The 398 cc liquid-cooled single is shared with the Speed 400, but here it's tuned to spread its torque more widely, making 39 hp and 28 lb-ft. The chassis also earns the Scrambler name. You get 5.9 in (150 mm) of travel at each end, a 19-inch front wheel, dual-purpose tires and a USD fork on a steel trellis frame. Bosch ABS, traction control and a slipper clutch all come standard. Over the road bike it shares an engine with, it adds real hardware, not just a new paint job.
It's playful and forgiving, it soaks up broken pavement well, and the finish looks like it belongs on a pricier machine. Running costs stay low, which matters if you plan to keep it for years. It's a strong pick for newer riders, returning riders and anyone who wants a stylish bike for back roads and graded gravel. The honest caveat is the suspension, which is budget hardware. The fork has no adjustment at all, and only the rear shock takes preload. Easy trails are fine. Hammer it hard off-road for long stretches and it runs out of answers.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 39 hp (29 kW) @ 8,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 28 lb-ft (38 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 398 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 140/80-17 |
| Wheelbase | 55.8 in (1418 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 395 lb (179 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.4 gal (13 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Safety
What follows comes from years of listening: paddock talk, owner chats, club-night conversation and the messages riders send me directly. On the Scrambler 400 X the pattern is clear. Owners love the engine and what they got for the money, while the complaints center on the front brake, with a few notes on buzz and gearing.
Riders consistently praise the engine. It pulls cleanly from low revs and revs out with a crisp, eager top end, and many feel it outperforms most of its rivals. The price sits near the bottom of its class, yet owners say the badge, finish and equipment feel a level up. Larger riders report that the cockpit fits them, and the two-piece seat stays plush on long days.
The most repeated gripe is the front brake. Owners describe a spongy lever with little initial bite, which they put down to the soft-compound pads, and it costs them confidence on the road. A few find the single buzzy through the pegs and bars at higher speeds, which wears on long highway runs. Others say the short gearing keeps them shifting constantly in traffic.
Rear shock fade after extended rough-road use
Under sustained off-road pounding, the rear shock overheats and loses damping effectiveness, causing a wallowy, disconnected feel.
Engine warning light and intermittent stalling
Many owners report the MIL illuminating randomly and the engine stalling or refusing to start, often traced to a software glitch in the fuel-injection mapping.
Metal particles in engine oil at first service
A few owners have found a concerning amount of fine metal flakes in the oil during the 600-mile first service, raising questions about initial engine run-in cleanliness.
Where this Triumph Scrambler 400 X pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Scrambler 400 X is actually built for.
Hill Country back roads are where this bike feels most at home: light, stable and easy between BBQ stops. With 39 hp it's a relaxed weekend partner, not a sport tourer for long interstate hauls.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
Historic routes, small towns and an unhurried pace suit it well, and it looks right parked on any main street. Plan shorter days. The 3.4 gal tank and 39 hp favor back roads over big interstate stints.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Be straight with yourself: this is a nimble single, not a big-twin cruiser, and it won't bring that rumble or presence to a rally. As a light, stylish second bike for local runs, it makes real sense.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Triumph Scrambler 400 X. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2024
Purist Style, Featherlight Grip
~$700 cheaper used than this bike at 2 yr
Competitor · 2023–2024
Trust Built From Lap One
Roughly $500 pricier used than this bike at 2 yr
Competitor · 2020–2024
The Lightweight That Leans Deep
About the same used price as this bike at 2 yr