A few days ago, Triumph Motorcycles dropped a bomb in the entry-level scrambler segment named the Scrambler 400 X. It came as a big blow for Royal Enfield, which even plummeted the stock price of Eicher Motors (RE’s parent company). But it seems the Indian giant has shaken it off and is all set to launch a counterattack toward its British counterpart. How, you ask? Well, by preparing a bigger and better Scram 440 in an attempt to beat the 400 X. It’s right around the corner too, so buckle up.
The Royal Enfield Scram 440 Will Boast An All-New Engine
Yes, you read that right. Royal Enfield is working on a new Scram 440 (as reported by AutoCar) that would sit above the currently on-sale Scram 411. Going by the codename ‘D4K’ internally, the new bike is not a stripped-back variant of the upcoming Himalayan 450. Instead, it’s an all-new offering, set to feature a new 440cc, single-cylinder heart. The mill will be an air-and-oil-cooled unit, based on the current Scram’s 411cc engine, albeit with more power and torque to match up with the Triumph. For reference, the Scram 411 produces 24 horsepower and 23.6 pound-feet–15 ponies less than the 400 X.
Why isn’t RE using the Himalayan 450’s engine? Well, money. You see, liquid-cooled motorcycles are more complex and thus cost more to produce. So with a simpler mill on the Scram 440, Royal Enfield’s aim is to keep manufacturing costs down, in turn, meaning a lower buying price for you. The Scram 411 currently sells for a dirt-cheap $5,099 MSRP in America, so even a few hundred dollars increment won’t harm the 440’s prospects.
Royal Enfield Also Has A Couple Of 350-450cc Motorcycles In The Works
Aside from the 440cc Scram, the Indian giant also has a couple more motorcycles in the 350-450cc space. These include an updated Bullet 350, a 350cc bobber, and the much-anticipated Himalayan 450. The first two will be based on RE’s J-series platform (present on the Meteor and Classic 350) while the 450 will be the company’s first liquid-cooled motorcycle since its inception. The Himalayan 450 was spied in the flesh recently, in case you want to know about it in depth.
When Will The New Royal Enfield Scram 440 Debut?
You’d be happy to know the Scram 440 will debut in less than a year’s time. The timeline seems believable too, considering the Scram platform is already well-received. So all RE needs to do is increase the bore (or stroke), slap on a few extra features, and that’d be it. Meanwhile, the Bullet 350 and Himalayan 450 will both arrive in the next couple of months. Of course, they’ll first reach Indian dealerships, then Britain and Europe, followed by the United States. In related news, the bikemaker is also prepping a 750cc, twin-cylinder assortment of motorcycles. A little down the line, though.