Royal Enfield has enjoyed runaway success in terms of sales of its bikes in the UK in recent years – and continues to do so.
That has been led by the Interceptor 650 and the Meteor 350, with the Himalayan also proving popular.
To some motorcycling punters – and pundits – this has come as a bit of a surprise.
On the face of it, the Indian firm’s bikes are pretty basic with engine performance that is hardly seat-of the-pants stuff.
But the truth is Enfield’s machines have a lot going for them – they have a retro-cool aesthetic, they are well deigned and built, they come with a great British heritage and history attached – and they are excellent value for money.
The popularity of the Himalayan – or Himmy as it’s known – is possibly the most unexpected.
At best you could say it’s utilitarian in both looks and performance, with a 410cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine that makes just 24.5bhp.
Yet the bike flies out of the dealers’ doors and has something of a cult following, with riders using it for all manner of long-distance adventures.
Obviously wishing to capitalise on this, but perhaps seeking a younger, hipper and more urban audience, Enfield has now released this variant of the Himmy – the Scram 411.
Short for scrambler, this has the same Harris-designed, half-duplex split-cradle frame and 411cc engine.
So, what’s different?
Well, the main change is to swap the Himmy’s 21in front wheel for a 19in one.
That may not sound much, but, combined with a wider more road-oriented tyre, it has quite a dramatic effect on the geometry and feel of the bike.
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The ride position is still very relaxed and comfortable, but is slightly more forward focussed.
And the front end is more responsive and quicker turning – perfect for city riding.
At the UK launch, head designer Mark Wells told us how he was particularly pleased with the redesigned seat, which is slightly lower and has much better padding than the Himalayan.
There’s a new analog speedo with inset digital screen displaying gear selection and all the other usual info – although no rev counter.
The bike also comes with Enfield’s Tripper Navigation system for turn-by-turn directions via a phone app.
There are five jazzy new liveries and the Himmy’s front bars/pannier rack are replaced with groovy looking printed number boards. The Scram also loses the standard bike's flyscreen.
This bike is super easy to ride and a pure joy.
It’s back-to-basics motorcycling at its best – smooth shifting, long gears, responsive turning and reliable, sure-footed handling.
That single-cylinder 400cc engine is never going to set the world alight, but its 24bhp is enough to keep the bike happily spinning along, reviving memories of many happy times riding old British bikes back in the day – but without the oil leaks and constant worry of breaking down.
A more powerful front brake would not have gone amiss, but I soon got used to having to employ the rear a bit more than usual.
In fact, for newer riders who are more likely to grab a handful in a tricky situation, not having super-sharp stopping power might be no bad thing
And despite being aimed more at tarmac riding, the Scram performed admirably on my local green lane, the long suspension easily soaking up all the rough stuff.
The dual-purpose tyres work well on the loose dirt and through the mud, and the bike is light and responsive enough to make off-roading on the Scram a really fun experience.
Overall, a really great-looking, rider-friendly urban adventurer which is even better than the original.
Retro cool headgear
The helmet I am wearing here is the rather excellent Glamster by master manufacturer Shoei.
It's part of the firm's Classic range and comes with a generous helping of retro cool.
It may have a vintage flavour, but the Glamster has all the latest technological, safety and comfort features.
The helmet comes in three outer shell sizes with a range of padding for a perfect fit.
It has a number of ventilation inlets on the brow and on the chin, and I experienced no misting at all while using it.
It is also very quiet and, despite the smooth shape and absence of a spoiler, I found it to have excellent stability, even at high speed.
The Glamster comes with a Pinlock antifog visor and all-round vision is very good.
The helmet also features a reassuring Emergency Quick Release System which can be used by a third party in case of accident.
Fastening is via a double D-ring system and with a secure press stud to prevent the overlap strap flapping (a personal bugbear of mine).
The lid comes with a five-year warranty and is available in a large range of colourways
Recommended.
RRP: £409 single colour; £509 Resurrection
