The Royal Enfield SCRAM 411 is here! How does it compare to the competition?

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.

3 Ways To Make Owning A Motorcycle Cost Effective

If you haven’t been following along my social media, I’ve really gotten into motorcycling! In fact, I just bought myself a new bike so I can travel and explore all around the Philippines on two wheels.

Owning a motorcycle is more than just owning a vehicle: it’s a combination of a beautiful machine, exhilarating speed, and the ability to drive comfortably and easily, without needing to (necessarily) sit in traffic like car drivers have to. However, some aspects of motorcycle ownership can be expensive, so here are some tips on how to make owning a motorcycle more cost-effective. 

Insurance 

When it comes to insurance, it’s a must. Not only is it the law, but if you did have an accident, your bike could be repaired or even replaced, and if you were injured, you would have a claim for compensation and for your medical costs to be covered. Your insurance company might even be able to help when it comes to finding the right motorcycle accident attorney for you. 

Some insurance is costly, however, especially for those who have only just passed their test or who have had claims in the past. The best thing to do is to shop around for a great deal. Don’t just do this online (although comparison websites are a good start), but actually phone the companies up and discuss your particular situation. See if they can beat other prices you’ve been given. The worst that can happen is that they say no, but you might get a deal out of just picking up the phone. If you’ve already got insurance, don’t forget you can shop around too; make a note of when the insurance will expire (just in case you don’t get informed) and start looking. You can even tell your current supplier that you’re leaving, and they might be able to arrange a discount to keep you with them. 

Repairs 

Every mechanical thing will need repairs from time to time. To begin with, you’ll want to buy the best bike you can with the budget you have; buying too cheap can lead to you needing to spend a lot more money on getting things fixed, and this will often be more money than you would have spent buying a better quality motorcycle in the first place. Even when you buy brand new, there will still need to be repairs done after a while. Why not take a course or at least learn as much as you online to learn how to do the more straightforward maintenance yourself? Of course, this is only cost-effective if you pay close attention to doing it right, otherwise you could spend more than you need or make expensive mistakes. 

Use Highways and Drive Steady

It’s great to be able to take a motorcycle out into the country and meander through the twisting, turning roads enjoying the scenery, but just know that this actually uses up more fuel than driving at a steady pace.

The most fuel-efficient way to drive a motorcycle is to keep it at a steady speed (ideally around 90-100 kph), just like you can maintain on a highway. Fuel is wasted when you have to keep changing speed, changing gears, and when you need to keep stopping for lights or stop signs. It’s also more fuel-efficient to only top up your tank to half full, as there is less for the bike to carry.