Greetings from a new rider

[Imechstuff]

Hello,

I am very new to motorcycling, having passed my CBT in the UK in June 2024, riding a 125cc motorbike (2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 125) mostly to commute to work for the past few months.
I am one of those strange people who haven't yet learned to drive and don't have a car, so the bike has been my first form of proper independant transport.
I have an educational background in Mechanical Engineering and work as a design engineer for a commercial truck bodybuilder.
I am lucky to live close to the Peak District National Park in the UK, and have done a few short rides there.
I also do some 3D printing and Mountainbiking as my other hobbies.

I passed my full motorcycle test yesterday (6th February 2025), but I have been looking at the motorbike market for a lonq while, before I even learned to ride.
I am interested in Royal Enfield for my next bike, and the modding opportunities of the platform (mostly interested in the Scram).
Found this forum a couple of weeks ago, now a new member .

 

[sam2019]

Welcome, and as you wrote elsewhere, the 440 Scram seems a perfect bike for you. I have not tested the top speed but GB has speed limits right? It should be about 120 kmh or near so faster than you are allowed to go most places.

 

[Imechstuff]

Yes the max speed limit is 70mph (112kph) on motorways and some dual carriageways. For my commute to work the max speed is 60mph on a short section of rural road. Otherwise it's mostly 30-50mph (48-80kph) on rural roads and some built up areas.

My current 125cc has 15bhp and can do my commute perfectly fine. It can only reasonably get up to 60mph on the dual carriageway (never been on a motorway yet). It could probably get to 70mph on the flat but then the engine would be screaming.

The Husqvarna road bikes are based on the KTM duke engine and chassis, so it has a very revvy, under square engine. It also has lots of tech including lean sensitive ABS, quickshifter, TFT display with phone connectivity and turn by turn navigation etc.

The Scram 440 is the complete opposite of that bike, long stroke air cooled engine with no technology at all to speak of, but I like that about it. I can just use my phone on a handlebar mount for most things anyway. I only currently have space for one bike, so I will be selling the Svartpilen when I get a new bike. So I've ended up being very careful with it and keeping it in good condition when I sell it. The Scram is a bike I think I could own for a long time, so I can do what I want with it. And if I want more performance out of it there are of course engine mods available

 

[sam2019]

The Scram is a bike I think I could own for a long time, so I can do what I want with it. And if I want more performance out of it there are of course engine mods available

I agree - spares are a different issue, the scram was only sold for a few years, much less than the Himalayan 411, and the 440 will be a niche bike with even less in production. So I would stock up on parts that need replacing in the foreseeable future (say 10 years) - I mean I still drive my BMW from 2000 but that is a different story, hardly any repairs. Performace enhancing that makes a real difference (not the BS type they sell you like FuelX which has no perceivable effect on a stock bike) will be expensive. When that time comes change to a more powerful bike may be the way to go.

just my 5 Eurocents.

 

[Imechstuff]

When that time comes change to a more powerful bike may be the way to go.

I am actually thinking about getting two bikes in future. There is space for more than one bike in the garage, just need to de-clutter first. One could live outside if necessary. I want to sell the 125 when I get a new one, since I don't see the reason to keep it for the long term (complex and low power).
I am also thinking about something like a KTM 390 Adventure (the new ones which also haven't been released yet) if I wanted something more powerful than the Scram in future; or something completely different who knows, I could buy a Honda Blackbird in good condition for £4500ish lol.

I would probably keep the Scram though alongside another bike as a winter bike, and something to learn to maintain and mod.

 

[sam2019]

its does not make sense to buy expensive shit when in 10 years by EU law everything has to be electric LOL