OUR BIKES
HOW DOES IT COMPARE ? It ’ s interesting how the Scram 411 compares to other bikes I ’ ve owned . My new BSA 500 in 1972 started out at 100mpg , was light , handled well and had fab brakes , but the BSA vibrated . This smaller 411cc engine with five-speed gearbox , OHC , fuel injection and engine balance shaft is a very well-engineered unit . It ’ s very smooth , the flywheels seem light and it just skips along , the clutch light and the gearbox smooth . The steering is precise , the ABS brakes very effective and the tyres give great grip . I ’ ve ridden a lot of classics , retro classics , cruisers , old dirt bikes , tourers and a few sports bikes in the last decade and we have amazing choice today , there so many great bikes on the market . I have a 185.5cm ( 6ft 1in ) frame and my body fits the bike perfectly ; the 795mm seat height gives me confidence . I just want an easy bike to ride , a fun bike and the Scram 411 delivers completely . Commuting at 85-88mpg is easy on this pensioner ’ s wallet , at 80km / h in fourth the engines spins nicely , the seat is comfy and the controls easy to use . I keep trying to think of what is wrong with this bike , and I ’ m struggling . So , most will say its an underpowered , small single from India , and poor quality hence the cheap purchase price . However , from my calculations there have been 2000 new Royal Enfields sold in NZ in the past five years , 350 , 411 & 500cc singles , plus 650cc twins . From what I keep seeing , these bikes in the middleweight segment are good quality and great value for money – as I said , Fun with a capital F . The Scram 411 is a great bike for commuting ( 85mpg or 3.3l / 100km ), a fun weekend ride in the country or around the bays , a coffee ride , some gravel roads , playing on the beach , hooning in a paddock – because it is so light and the power is manageable . I ’ ve never seen the point in paying tons of money for horsepower I will never use , and a mountain of electronics to control the horsepower I will never use , and a weight I can ’ t manage . A single cylinder has low power , good torque , low tyre wear , chain wear and low brake wear . How boring does this sound ? A motorcycle that is cheap to run and fun to ride – shit this sounds like the 70s again . Royal Enfield & their Harris engineering team in the UK have nailed it big time – I ’ m 100 % certain this bike will be a sales success across the western world .
60 KIWI RIDER