The Stallions Scrambler 400 - Affordable 400cc Scrambler
The Stallions Centaur CT400 is well received by the Thai motorcycle market, it's very successful model and Stallions Motorcycles have noticed that the market is asking for a more scrambler oriented version of the Stallions CT400.
The manufacturer is considering to introduce the Stallions Scrambler 400, with styling like the late '60s or early '70s when most off-road motorcycles were really just road bikes with a few off-road styling cues added to indicate mud plugging ability. Hence the semi-knobby tires, wide-braced handlebars, competition plate, mesh headlight protector and two-into-one exhaust.
The Stallions Scrambler 400, with lots of matt or satin black it all works well, giving a tougher image than the standard Stallions Centaur CT400, though it really needs a high-level pipe to finish it off.
Mechanically, the Stallions Scrambler 400 is almost identical to the Centaur CT400, which means the same 400cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine which offers around 29 horsepower at 7,000rpm and teamed with a 5-speed gearbox. The engine is fed by an electronic fuel injection system from Delphi (USA brand). The chassis is a simple but strong, proven tubular steel design, the front with our preview model a disc brake and the rear a drum brake. The suspension is at the front telescopic non-adjustable forks and at the rear a set of two shocks.
As you climb aboard the Stallions Scrambler 400, it's clear that this will be a relaxing ride. The seat is a low 780mm and you sit upright, hands grasping the wide handlebars with a good view of what's going on around you.
Stallions Motorcycles likes to say that its 400cc's don't compete with the king of retros, the Royal Enfield Bullet, which has its roots in the '50s. And they're right, because the Stallions Scrambler 400 engine is a design of the '80s, far easier to revv, power peaking at 7,000rpm with an ignition cut-out at 8,500rpm. Truth be told, I never got that far with the test motorcycle, which had only 60 kilometers on the clock, but experience with the mechanically identical Stallions Centaur CT400 suggest more performance than 29 horsepower might suggest, certainly enough a road riding fun.
Some vibes do come in over 5,000rpm, nothing really annoying, bu the Stallions Scrambler 400 will happily cruise at 110km/h, with plenty in reserve, though the upright riding position gets a bit blowy at anything over 120km/h.
Reality, the Stallions Scrambler 400 is better suited to back roads, and in fact the engine is quite flexible, pulling with less than 3,000rpm showing. It handles well too, as the wide handlebars enable you to tip it into corners with a tiny nudge, at least in the dry. It's a slim and lightweight motorcycle, which helps. The basic suspension doesn't suffer from having no front-end adjustment, and the rear shocks do have pre-load, which will need winding-up if you want to take a pillion.
