Hi all, I really like the 400x but I am challenged due to being short (164cm). I am close to booking it but don’t want to regret and hence exploring all options that is available to lower it. I have seen couple of kits in the market and was wondering if anyone has used it. I understand people here may suggest Speed 400, but I really like the Scrambler over the Speed.
Should I just forget my dream because of the seat height. I am a competent rider (30 years, current bike HD Roadster@265kg flat foot) but have one weak ankle due to past surgeries.
All suggestions/advises, however harsh (but genuine) they are, will be appreciated.
I have a 400X Scrambler. The seat height is 835mm which while fairly tall is not unusual for this type of bike. I have 32 inch legs and can get both feet down okay, so easy for me. Before the Scrambler I had a Tiger 900 Rally Pro which had a seat height of 860mm (on the low setting!) so that was a lot more challenging.
However, it wasn’t so much the seat height itself that was the issue, it was the combination of height, width and weight of the bike which made it very top heavy and that was the problem for me.
The Scrambler whilst quite tall, is also quite light and quite narrow which makes it a fairly easy bike to manage. Have you tried one for size? Even if just sat on one at the showroom. You may find you get on okay with it despite being on tip-toes.
I can’t help with lowering kits I’m afraid, and don’t like the whole concept of them as I think they potentially change the whole dynamics of the bike. I’m very much in the camp of buy a bike that works for you rather than try modifying one that doesn’t.
HI RobShak. Always good to see new faces (well, avatars) around here - welcome!
It’s not clear from your post whether you’ve sat on a Scrambler yet. That would be your first move, obviously. My partner is also shorter, particularly the inside leg measurement, and struggles with the height of many bikes. I’m nearly 6ft with a 32" leg so can get on pretty much anything but one thing she’s found out over the last couple of years, test riding all sorts of bikes, is that the width of the seat and the bike makes a big difference. She took out a Tiger 900 Pro with standard seat and could just about get her feet on the ground but the Scrambler she couldn’t.
A decent alternative to the 400X would be the new RE Himalayan 450. It’s heavier than the 400X by about 20 kilos but the seat height is only 805mm. I did think about one, but there’s no Royal Enfield dealer within 50 miles of me so I couldn’t be bothered.
Overall though, I’m very happy indeed with the 400X, it’s a great bike.
