Video summary

Scrambler 400X After 26,000 KM | Pros, Cons, Accessories & Tips - #kaushikpravesh

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed

Triumph Scrambler 400X

  • Reviewer ownership: ~26,000 km over ~1.5 years
  • Review emphasis: long-distance touring

Key features / what the review focuses on

  • Real-world touring use
    • Mostly highways / long rides
    • Example: ~1200 km nonstop from Rann of Kutch, Gujarat to Delhi in 18 hours
  • Maintenance & durability
    • What fails or wears out
    • What to change
    • Accessories that improve day-to-day ownership
  • Mileage (fuel economy) testing
    • City vs touring
    • Factors affecting results
  • Comfort mods for long rides
    • Handlebar risers
    • “Arm/hand” comfort setup
    • Seat cover upgrades
  • Protection & cosmetics
    • PPF / lamination on the tank
    • Polishing / waxing
    • Shocker (shock) seal cover

Mileage / performance claims (numbers mentioned)

Reviewer’s experience

  • City mileage: ~27–28 km/l
  • Heavy stop-go city use: ≤ 25 km/l
  • 2-day Jaipur ride: < 25 km/l

Possible reasons for mileage variation

  • E20 ethanol discussed among riders (not confirmed for the reviewer’s specific fills)
  • Mileage depends on:
    1. Tyre air pressure
      • Front: ~31–32 psi
      • Rear: ~33–34 psi
    2. Filling method
      • Measuring “full to top” when filling
    3. Injector cleaning additive
      • Reviewer mentions a ~30–45 ml bottle per tank (~₹100)

Pros (unique points)

  1. Strong touring capability / highway stability Supports long-distance travel (e.g., 1200 km / 18 hours ride).

  2. Brake performance still good after switching to better pads After replacing worn organic pads, the reviewer reports braking remained strong.

  3. Shock absorber seal cover protection A ~₹800 cover helped protect the shock seal after ~26,000 km, including muddy/off-road use.

  4. Upgraded horn improves real-world audibility Stock horn felt too weak; Minda dual horn is “decent” and noticeable even on highways.

  5. Crash guard improves safety and leg protection Emphasizes correct mounting to the chassis; considers it essential.

  6. PPF on fuel tank keeps appearance After ~1 year 2 months, tank PPF still looks good with minimal/controlled issues.

  7. Seat comfort upgrades for long rides Sahara seat covers + gel pad + extra rear foam (also adds comfort for pillion).

  8. Chain/sprocket tuning matches his riding style Prefers 14-tooth front sprocket for “crispness/grunt”; changing tooth count changes feel and engine braking.

  9. Tyre upgrade for grip Stock MRF replaced at ~23,000 km with similar MRF tyres (described as a copy of Pirelli Scorpio). Reviewer reports improved grip in rain/hills/off-road/slush/city/highway and more confidence.

  10. Original equipment top box is aerodynamic + stable

    • Lightweight: ~1.5–2 kg empty
    • Aerodynamic oval shape
    • Doesn’t disturb balance much during crosswinds

Cons (unique points)

  1. Headlight is “only for show” Company headlight not useful; reviewer says night riding above ~50–60 km/h without auxiliary lights is impractical.

  2. Front disc brake pads wear fast (organic pads) Organic pads wear around ~34,000 km; reviewer also observed disc wear. Recommends switching to sintered/Brembo-style pads earlier.

  3. Stock horn from ineffective in real conditions Hard to hear in the city and worse on highways.

  4. Some accessories must be installed carefully / can introduce tradeoffs

    • Crash guard warning: some aftermarket guards mount to footpegs (not chassis), increasing vibration and weakening impact transfer.
    • Lower-engine crash guard added later felt partly “wasted” due to insufficient coverage compared to earlier installation.

  5. Seat cover water retention Sahara covers may trap water longer after rain/washing, occasionally leaving rider feet wet.

  6. Chain set life perceived as short Chain set changed about every 16,000–17,000 km.

  7. Handlebar risers / comfort mods cause low-speed wobble Minor wobble when releasing hands at low speed; also warns wobble can depend on gear/speed (especially below ~60 km/h).

  8. Top box opening usability With a tail bag attached, the bag can rise and reduce ease of accessing/organizing items via the flap. Aftermarket top boxes may differ in depth and opening behavior.

Specific cost / parts and maintenance points (as stated)

  • Front brake pads
    • Original/sintered option: ~₹27–28k? (exact subtitle unclear)
    • Reviewer suggests earlier switching; later mentions aftermarket sintered pads costing “a few thousand” (with brands like Brembo-style referenced)
  • Auxiliary lights: ~₹4000 budget (HJG mentioned)
  • Shock seal cover: ~₹800
  • Dual horn: ~₹350–400
  • Tank PPF / lamination
    • PPF cost: ~₹2000 (tank pad around ~₹350 worth doing)
    • Lamination done soon after purchase; later scratches happened after a few months, then corrected
  • Crash guard (lower engine guard)
    • Spent ~₹2500, later felt unnecessary/wasted due to insufficient coverage
  • Chain & labour
    • Chain/sprocket kit cost: ~₹27–28k? (subtitle messy)
    • Parts + labour included; service center labour up to ~₹7000–8000
    • Reviewer estimates sprocket change labour around ₹1200
    • He suggests outside labour could be less
  • Air filter
    • Stock filter: ~₹300–350
    • Non-oil filters (e.g., BMC and similar) may cost more and require additional maintenance (cleaning/oiling), so reviewer avoids them
  • Seat covers: ~₹3000 (customized)
  • Tyres
    • Replaced after ~23,000 km
    • Set cost: ~₹7500 total for two tyres
    • Size matching is crucial

Comparisons / alternatives mentioned

  • Brakes: stock organic pads vs sintered/Brembo-style pads for better bite and longevity
  • Headlight: stock headlight vs adding auxiliary lights
  • Tyres: stock MRF vs upgraded MRF tyres described as an “exact copy of Pirelli Scorpio”
    • Mentions alternatives like Apollo but not preferred
    • Main caveat: tyre size must match exactly
  • Air filters: stock oil-based filter (low hassle) vs non-oil/dry filters (more maintenance)
  • Top rack: aftermarket carriers may use iron/steel with worse finish
    • Reviewer recommends original/aluminum top rack plate for fit, strength, and looks

User experience notes (overall feel)

  • The reviewer focuses heavily on long-distance touring comfort and reliability.
  • Mods are mainly chosen to:
    • make night riding safer (aux lights),
    • improve brake and horn effectiveness,
    • protect the bike (PPF, shock seal cover, crash guards),
    • reduce rider fatigue (handlebar risers / comfort setup).
  • Maintenance discipline mentioned:
    • oil change ~every 8,000 km
    • filter changes ~every 5,000 km
    • frequent polishing / waxing

Unique points list (all distinct claims made)

  1. Review based mostly on long-distance touring (mostly mileage outside city).
  2. Completed ~26,000 km in 1.5 years.
  3. ~1200 km nonstop ride in 18 hours (Rann of Kutch to Delhi).
  4. Company headlight is not useful for real night riding above ~50–60 km/h.
  5. Stock headlight “looks good but no confidence.”
  6. Stock front disc pads are organic; wear out and the reviewer also saw disc plate wear.
  7. Organic pads wear around ~34,000 km (reviewer’s experience).
  8. Recommends sintered/Brembo-style pads; improves bite; keeps strong braking.
  9. Stock horn is weak/inheard; resembles e-scooter-style audibility.
  10. Installs Minda dual horn (~₹350–400); noticeable improvement on highways.
  11. Shock seal cover (~₹800) protects against dust/rust/mud; intact after long usage.
  12. Crash guard is essential; correct mounting to the chassis matters.
  13. Warning: some aftermarket guards mount to footpegs/less solid parts causing vibration and weaker impact transfer.
  14. Lower engine guard added later felt partly wasted due to insufficient coverage.
  15. Tank PPF done early; still shiny after ~1 year 2 months (with some partial lift/small issues).
  16. Tank lamination/PPF recommended to prevent tank bag scratch damage.
  17. Tank pad recommended (~₹350).
  18. Mileage: ~27–28 km/l in city (best case).
  19. In heavy traffic, mileage falls to ≤ 25 km/l.
  20. Jaipur ride showed < 25 km/l.
  21. E20 ethanol influence discussed; not confirmed.
  22. Stock air filter kept because it’s cheap (~₹300–350) and oil-based (less hassle than dry mesh filters).
  23. Warns against aftermarket dry filters without proper oiling/maintenance.
  24. Sahara seat covers:
    • look good,
    • include gel pad,
    • add foam for rear comfort.
  25. Seat covers may trap water after rain/wash longer, making feet wet sometimes.
  26. Polishes/waxes bike (Formula One or similar), including black parts and silencer cloth polishing.
  27. Warns not to leave the bike unattended with washerman (scratches happened when dropped).
  28. Chain/sprocket:
    • prefers 14T for grunt/engine feel,
    • 15T makes bike slower and reduces engine braking,
    • chain set life felt short (~16–17k km).
  29. Chain set costs include parts + labour; labour higher at service center.
  30. Tyres changed after ~23,000 km; both stock and upgraded sets are MRF.
  31. Upgraded tyres mimic Pirelli Scorpio; cost ~₹7500 for the set.
  32. Major grip improvement in rain/hills/off-road/slush/mud/cornering.
  33. Tyre size must match stock exactly; otherwise gaps/look/handling can be affected.
  34. Aftermarket tyre sourcing difficulty; waited about a month via MRF manager/showroom ordering process.
  35. Handlebar comfort mod:
    • DIY hand/arm rest / palm support (~₹600 from Rider Planet; Amazon version reportedly broke)
  36. Handlebar risers installed for comfort for long distances.
  37. Downside: handle wobble at low speed when releasing hands; depends on gear/speed (above ~60 ok).
  38. Top rack recommendation: choose original for fit/alignment and strength; aftermarket may have poor finish.
  39. Top box pros:
    • lightweight (~1.5–2 kg),
    • withstands loads on Ladakh rides,
    • aerodynamic oval shape.
  40. Top box cons:
    • tail bag attachment can interfere with opening flap and accessing contents.
  41. Servicing schedule guidance:
    • company suggests ~16,000 km service,
    • oil change every ~8,000 km,
    • L-filter changed every ~5,000 km.
  42. Dashboard/orange light concern during a hot ride; went away after temperature increased/after lunch.
  43. Service center said it was preliminary indication; ECU/software updated afterward; no recurrence.
  44. Mention of Triumph service center session explaining radiator switch temperatures and ECU behavior; links provided.

Speakers / perspectives

  • Single primary speaker (reviewer): shares ownership experience, maintenance steps, and installed accessories.
  • Triumph service centre (mechanic/service advisor) perspective: appears briefly about the orange light concern and ECU update.
  • Biking group/community perspective (indirect): mileage discussion includes possible E20 ethanol impact, though the reviewer is unsure.

Overall verdict / recommendation

Recommended for long-distance touring only if you address its weaknesses with smart upgrades—especially lighting and braking.

The reviewer’s biggest criticisms are:

  • insufficient stock headlight for real night riding
  • fast-wearing stock organic brake pads

With upgrades like:

  • aux lights
  • better brake pads
  • protective/comfort accessories (crash guard, PPF, shock seal cover, horn upgrade, seat/handlebar comfort)

…the bike becomes a strong touring machine with good grip and real-world usability.

Original video