A stylish, punchy modern classic that's genuinely fun on gravel and dry lanes, but its wheels and clearance rule out anything muddy or technical. Rider ability, terrain, weather and tyre choice still move the real answer more than the bike alone does.
Four separate scores, not one blended number, so you can see what's actually driving it.
Beginner friendliness
5/5
Road usability
2/5
Technical off-road capability
2/5
Green-lane suitability
2/5
Full specs
Price (new, OTR)£5,595
Engine398cc
Power39.5hp
Torque37.5Nm
Weight (wet)179kg
Seat height835mm
Fuel tank13L
Real-world range~225 mi
Economy~80 mpg
Wheels (f/r)19" / 17"
Ground clearance195mm
Suspension travel (f/r)150mm / 150mm
ABSYes
Traction controlYes
Ride modesYes
Service interval10,000 miles
Licence requiredA2
What we actually found
Owners praise the Scrambler 400 X as a stylish, punchy modern classic with genuine light-trail ability. Riders report that the 398cc single offers eager low-to-mid torque, while the wide handlebars give great steering leverage on gravel lanes. With 150mm of travel and an accessible 835mm seat, it handles fire roads and dry lanes with ease, though owners note it lacks the clearance and knobby tyre options for deep mud.
Pros for green laning
Punchy 398cc single: delivers 39.5hp and 37.5Nm with a flat torque curve, pulling smoothly from low revs through loose gravel and dirt tracks.
Dedicated Off-Road mode: easily disables both traction control and ABS at the press of a button for loose-surface sliding and control.
Standard protective trail kit: comes factory-equipped with a headlight grille, radiator protector, aluminium sump guard, and handguards.
Upright scrambler ergonomics: wide handlebars provide excellent steering leverage, paired with an accessible 835mm seat height for confident dabbing.
Cons and limitations
Limited 150mm suspension travel: shorter travel and 195mm ground clearance bottom out when tackling deep ruts, rock ledges, or high-speed washouts.
19"/17" wheel limitations: wheel sizes restrict aggressive mud tyre options compared to a 21"/18" setup on dedicated dual-sports.
Heavier than dual-sports: at 179kg wet, it carries noticeable weight for a sub-400cc single when bogged down in thick UK clay.
Seated scrambler posture: handlebar-to-footpeg geometry feels slightly low for tall riders when standing on the pegs for prolonged off-road stretches.
Based on manufacturer specifications and independent motorcycle press reviews.
Remember: a rank here assumes reasonable stock tyres and a competent rider in decent conditions. The right tyres, or the wrong weather, can move a lane from easy to genuinely hard regardless of what bike you're on. Check a lane's own difficulty and hazards on the map before you go, don't rely on a bike score alone.
Find where to actually ride it
Browse legal green lanes and byways across England and Wales, filtered by difficulty, on Holloway's map.
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