IDENTITY CRISIS

One is an ADV in a scrambler's guise, and the other is an everyday motorcycle pretending to be an ADV. Which one will come out on top when the dust settles?

- DHRUV PALIWAL

At first, I thought that a comparison between the Royal Enfield Scram 411 and Suzuki V-Strom SX was an odd one. I mean, an Indian motorcycle from the house of Royal Enfield going up against a Japanese motorcycle from the house of Suzuki? One is powered by a big lumpy motor and likes to take it easy, while the other one has got a high-revving engine with less displacement and likes to be on the boil all the time. One is tough, and the other’s precise. The difference is clearly not subtle. In terms of style, it becomes even more conspicuous, for both these bikes are poles apart. Regardless of how I looked at it, I couldn’t find a common point to begin the comparison, except that both bikes are quite closely priced. It was then that Manav chimed in, ‘Don’t both motorcycles promise you an adventure? Why not start there?’

THE PLAN