Yezdi Scrambler vs RE Scram 440: Which One?

• Yezdi Scrambler is cheaper, more powerful and feels more youthful
• RE Scram 440 is dearer, heavier, but offers better comfort, range and highway ease

The new Yezdi Scrambler has recently been updated and stands against the Royal Enfield Scram 440 with very similar specs and closer still with pricing. Depending on what colour and variant you pick, average ex-showroom ranges from Rs. 2.01lakh to Rs. 2.11lakh for the Yezdi Scrambler, and higher Rs. 2.22lakh to Rs. 2.30lakh ex-showroom for the Scram 440. Clearly Yezdi is more accessible motorcycle at the showroom level reaping in GST2.0 benefits. This price gap can then pay for your riding gear, crash protection, auxiliary lights, luggage or even the first few services.

The Scrambler Idea

Right at the get go it looks like the Yezdi Scrambler wants to attract riders who like a more energetic, compact and visually sharp motorcycle. It gets a redesigned fuel tank, new radiator cowl, revised side panels, ribbed seat, a single exhaust in place of the earlier twin-exhaust look, and four colours to pick from namely Legacy Black, OG Yellow, Rogue Red and Rally Blue. The design now looks more focused than before, and honestly that single exhaust also helps reduce some weight.

RE Scram 440 as everybody remember came with a original Himalayan’s road manners, and has a character that is more mature. The 440 has definitely been improved upon the Scram 411, now with five colours, Force Teal, Force Grey, Force Blue, Trail Green and Trail Blue. The new colours, LED headlight cowl and tank extensions add some freshness to the design, but the 440 engine itself is a massive improvement in terms of refinement and response.

For the buyer, Yezdi Scrambler looks like the more exciting purchase if the budget is tighter and the rider wants something lighter with a bit more revvy nature. The Scram 440 on the other hand is more mature if the buyer values better touring range and highway manners, a more proven big-single, Royal Enfield’s wider service network and easier resale confidence.

Performance and Everyday Use

Yezdi Scrambler here gets the clear performance edge on paper with its 334cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder DOHC engine makes 29.5bhp at 8,100rpm and 30Nm at 6,750rpm. It also gets a six-speed gearbox and the new ‘Katar’ engine with a slipper clutch. At 174kg, it is also lighter than the Royal Enfield Scram 440 helping you in traffic, on broken roads and quick changes of direction.

The Scram 440 has a 443cc oil-cooled long-stroke single-cylinder engine good for 25.4bhp and 34Nm. It comes with a six-speed gearbox and has improved NVH levels now. The Scram’s larger engine does not produce more power than the Yezdi, but it makes more torque and makes it earlier in the rev range at that. This will help in daily riding with fewer gear changes and lower speeds feel less in effort.

When we rode the Scram 440, its good low-end torque and punchy mid-range meant we could ride at 40-45kmph in fifth gear without a downshift. The taller sixth gear helps sit at 100kmph with very little vibration, but we did feel some buzz irritating at higher speeds. Scram 440 then is the better choice for riders who often move between city traffic, open highways and weekend rides.

The Yezdi feels sharper and more responsive because of its lower weight and higher power output. It gets three ride modes, semi-knobby tyres, spoke wheels and 200mm ground clearance. Torque peaks higher in the rev range than the Scram 440 meaning you have to have a more active riding style. If you enjoy revving the engine and riding in a more playful way, Yezdi is the one to go for. For riders demanding relaxed touring, the Scram 440’s lower-revving nature will feel easier.

Comfort and Feature Set

They are both scramblers and are built for bad Indian roads, but they approach their objectives differently. Yezdi Scrambler has a double-cradle frame, telescopic front forks with 150mm stroke and 130mm rear wheel travel. The seat height at 813mm is decent enough for most, but the 12.5-litre fuel tank may feel short. Its light weight and 200mm ground clearance though will help riders deal with rough patches, village roads, trails and uneven city edges.

The Royal Enfield Scram 440 also offer 200mm ground clearance, has a lower 795mm seat height, dual-purpose tyres, monoshock at the rear and a larger 15-litre fuel tank. Its ride quality is one of its strongest traits with the suspension handling minor undulations, speed breakers and potholes very smoothly indeed. It will offer you a practical range of around 442km in city conditions from the 15-litre tank after a tested 29.5kmpl fuel efficiency figure. For buyers who travel beyond city limits often, this range advantage will be an important consideration.

The Scram 440 is also slightly more practical. The Force variant gets alloy wheels with tubeless tyres, while the Trail version gets spoke wheels with tube-type tyres. There is provision for adding a top box with 5kg carrying capacity.

Features wise Yezdi edges ahead with its ride modes, LED lighting, digital cluster, ABS and slipper clutch. The Scram 440 gets LED headlamp, switchable dual-channel ABS, semi-digital console and improved braking hardware. This looks barren for a segment where buyers increasingly expecting Bluetooth, richer displays and more electronic polish. Scram 440 is conservative, but it makes up ground with better comfort, range and Royal Enfield’s ownership ecosystem.