The best mod for Triumph Scrambler 400X – 15t front sprocket

The cheapest and best mod for the Triumph Scrambler 400X 15t front sprocket review

The Triumph Scrambler 400X’s highly responsive and peppy nature of the throttle on the road can be a little too much and intimidating off road. There are two solutions to it. Either you can practice a lot and get used to it, or spend 250 INR and get the 15t front sprocket.

The one nature of the Scrambler 400X that we loved right from the time we test rode the bike is how responsive the throttle was. The bike is quick to rev even with the slightest throttle twist.

However when we started taking it off road, we found that nature to be quite uncomfortable especially when riding an unknown challenging terrain. The extremely sensitive nature of the throttle made it difficult to slowly manoeuver through the trails. The bike jumps even with the slightest throttle movement which gets intimidating.

So I decided to try the Speed 400’s 15t sprocket on the Scrambler 400X. It costs around 270 INR, labour cost excluded.

And now we did more than 4000 kms with it out of which 3000 kms were done in Ladakh and Kashmir. Long story short, it’s the best mod the Scrambler so far. So here are the pros and cons to the 15t sprocket on the Scrambler 400X.

Pros of the 15t front sprocket for the Triumph Scrambler 400X

1. Less Jerkiness

The biggest improvement is the reduced jerkiness especially at low speeds when riding off road. This makes the throttle response a lot more predictable and pleasant.

2. Less Aggressive Engine Braking

Just like the decrease in the jerky throttle, the engine braking also becomes less aggressive and smoother. This is again more useful off-road especially in sandy or slushy conditions. When you cut off throttle in these terrain, the sudden deceleration causes the wheel to dig in. The 15t sprocket smoothens it out and then engine braking is now more manageable and useful.

3. Taller Gear Ratios

The scrambler has very short gear ratios. Even in the city traffic I used to find myself in 6th gear if I wanted to ride in the lower half of the rev range. And while on dirt we found ourselves changing the first 3 gears quite often. With the 15t sprocket, the gear ratios have panned out perfectly.

The first gear is actually usable off road and you don’t need to frequently change gears in city traffic anymore. Surprisingly I didn’t notice any drop in lower end torque as expected. I think it’s mostly because Scrambler has more than enough low end torque to spare.

4. Higher Cruising Speed

One disadvantage of the Triumph Scrambler 400X is that the bike seems to get chocked up around the 6000rpm which roughly translates to 110 kph. Now since the ratios are taller, the bike sits at 300-500 rpm less at a particular speed compared to the 14t sprocket. So now you can cruise comfortably at 120 kph.

5. Smooth Running

Overall, owing to the above mentioned points I feel the bike in general has become smoother and comfortable.

6. No Change In Mileage

I have noticed a slight improvement in mileage on my Himalayan when I made a similar sprocket change. However in Scrambler I think there’s not much change in the mileage. We got a mileage close to 35 kmpl in Ladakh but there in general all bikes get good mileage and so I can’t attribute that to the sprocket. But there’s no drop in mileage for sure.

Cons of the 15t front sprocket for the Triumph Scrambler 400X

I’ve not noticed any con so far. Usually with a higher teeth front sprocket you tend to lose some of the low end torque but surprisingly that wasn’t the case with Scrambler. The bike is still damn responsive and engaging.

Still you can spin the rear wheel on dirt with a slight twist of the throttle and still it climbs steep hills like the high passes in Ladakh in low rpms with ease. That’s why I think the 15t sprocket is the best mod you can get for your Scrambler 400X.

The best touring accessories for the Triumph Scrambler 400X

The best touring accessories for the Triumph Scrambler 400X

Although the Triumph Scrambler 400X is a nearly complete package for city commutes and short rides, here are a few touring accessories for the Triumph Scrambler 400X that take it up a higher level and make it more comfortable for long-distance touring.

1. Maddog ScoutX Aux Lights

Maddog Scout X touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

The stock LED headlight is very weak and provides very little visibility on the highways. We installed the Maddog Scout X aux lights which has a good focus as well as enough throw to light up quite a large area ahead.

There are cheaper alternatives like the HJG lights but we went for the Maddog ones as they have a warranty and better-quality wiring and switches. It costs almost 10k for the lights, clamps, switch and wiring. Now a word of caution. Get it installed by an expert and not by the guys at any accessory store to avoid any wiring issues.

Product Link – https://www.maddog.co.in/product_details/SCX-1

2. Triumph Luggage Tail Rack

We installed the tail rack from Triumph itself as they fit perfectly and come with a 2-year warranty. It costs around 2k INR but its worth the price as the build quality is top-notch.

Product Link – https://khivrajtriumph.com/shop/luggage-rack-speed-speed-400-and-scrambler-400-x/

Triumph Luggage rack touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

3. Studds Top Box

studds vault top box touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

On the tail rack, we’ve installed Studds’ Vault top box. We are not big fans of those huge hard luggage cases and hence we went for the smallest one. It costs 800 INR. It fits basic necessities for city commutes like rain covers, a pair of gloves, specs, a microfibre towel and so on.

Product Link – https://ridersjunction.com/product/studds-vault-box-matt-black/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS38WtwyipjCGuk0Cv-_B7yAzZOBTDGzpC5l4C5xSHYHHccqxGCrwKUEaAlmKEALw_wcB

4. Triumph Lower Engine Guard

Triumph’s lower engine guards are so well built that it has survived 3 falls now. It’s very sturdy, protects the engine well, looks well in line with the rest of the frame and comes with a 2-year warranty. The only downside is that it sits close to the frame so once when the rider fell down, the bike fell on her legs and got stuck. So we had to lift the bike to get her leg out.

lower engine guards touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

She escaped unhurt with only a few minor abrasions. To prevent such incidents in the future, we might uninstall this and go for the Mototorque crash guard with the slider so that the rider will have some space to pull their leg out in case of a fall.

Product Link – https://khivrajtriumph.com/shop/lower-engine-bars-speed-400-scrambler-400x/

5. MX Handguard

mx handguards touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

The stock hand guards that come with the bike are entirely plastic and don’t absorb any impact. It’s mainly installed for aesthetic purposes. During the first fall itself, it broke off and didn’t even protect the clutch lever and we had to get the lever replaced.

We got the MX hand guard installed. It’s not an easy fit and it takes a bit of struggle to get it installed but it serves the purpose well. During the second fall, this guard and protected the lever. Only the screw got bent which we got replaced by a local store. MX Handguards without DRL costs around 1500 INR.

Product Link – https://www.motomodz.com/products/mx-handguard-without-drl-for-motorcycle?variant=47199098470698&currency=INR&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS3-MRhMmHTEm3NvMIInYBpQU3xn2dk-bycK1jSpsSKXFNeHqJeoGZQsaAgQfEALw_wcB

6. Pro Taper Gear Boot

Pro Taper’s gear boot prevents marks from forming on the shoes and gives a better grip when shifting gears. It’s a simple but one of the best touring accessories for the Triumph Scrambler 400X.

Product Link – amzn.to/3UOAxMK(opens in a new tab)

7. Carbon Racing Windshield for Triumph Scrambler 400X

carbon racing windshield touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

The Triumph Scrambler 400X hits a top speed of more than 160 kmph and cruises at 120-140 kmph. The only issue you face while cruising at such speeds is the strong wind blast due to the tall stance of the seating position. So to make it more touring-friendly, we’ve installed the Carbon Racing windshield which reduces a lot of wind blast to the chest area and some amount to the face.

Although it takes away the Scrambler look, the functionality it provides makes the Scrambler more touring-friendly. It comes in 2 tones – clear and tinted. It costs around 2600 INR. If you want additional protection, you may install a Pro spec windshield extender on top of this visor.

Product Link – carbonracing.in/collections/scrambler-400-x/products/wanderer-premium-touring-windshield-for-triumph-scrambler-400x-smoked(opens in a new tab)

8. Mototorque Number Plate Holder for Triumph Scrambler 400X

The Carbon Racing windshield is attached to the stock number plate mount in the front. So we had to get the number plate holder from Mototorque to mount the number plate to a different position. Even if you don’t get the visor, I feel the number plate looks better on the front fender than how it looks on the headlight. It costs around 500 INR.

Product Link – https://mototorque.in/products/triumph-speed-400-number-plate-holder

mototorque number plate holder touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

9. Zana Offset Handle Bar Risers

zana offset handlebar riser touring accessories triumph scrambler 400X

The stock configuration of the Triumph Scrambler 400X has a sporty stance which is good for city commutes and short rides. However, during the long hauls, we felt uncomfortable in our lower backs and shoulders as we were both short riders.

Zana’s offset handlebar riser took care of that issue. It elevates the handlebar and brings it closer to the rider for a better upright seating position more suited for the highways. The drawback is more windblast but now you know how to take care of that.

Product Link – https://www.zanamotorcycles.com/product/offset-handle-bar-riser-silver–for-triumph-scrambler-400

10. KTM Rear View Mirrors

The stock mirrors of the Triumph Scrambler 400X are good in terms of looks and stability but the field of view is very low. So we are planning to install the KTM 390 ADV mirrors once they come in stock at the service centre near to me. I have been using them on my Himalayan for the last 4 years and they are the best.

11. Bobo BM17H Phone Holder

My iPhone 12 mini’s optical image stabiliser got ruined by the handlebar vibrations during my trip to Rajasthan which rendered the main camera completely useless. It isn’t repairable and replacing the camera module would cost close to 15k INR.

I wasn’t aware of this issue with iPhones and motorcycle mounts and to prevent further damage, we got Bobo’s BM17H with the vibration dampener to protect the iPhone’s camera. Till now Yash’s phone hasn’t suffered any damage but I’ve heard from some users that even these holders with vibration dampeners aren’t enough to protect the OIS. So I recommend getting a normal holder like a Bobo BM4 and a secondary cheap Android phone just for navigation purposes.

Product Link – https://amzn.to/4b8EMsc

12. Mototorque Brake Fluid Reservoir Guard

mototorque brake fluid reservoir

Mototorque’s brake fluid reservoir guard is of good quality and looks aesthetic. An oil reservoir guard is a necessity when you go trail riding to prevent any stones or sharp objects from damaging the reservoir.

Product Link – mototorque.in/products/triumph-scrambler-400x-reservoir-oil-guard(opens in a new tab)

13. Helmet Lock

A generic numbered helmet lock from Amazon comes in handy for short rides and city commutes.

Product Link – https://amzn.to/3URUkLl

I hope you find the information on the touring accessories for the Triumph Scrambler 400X useful. Watch the detailed video on these accessories below.

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