The all-new, made-in-India Triumph Speed 400 is the first product from the Bajaj-Triumph alliance. Designed and developed at Triumph's headquarters in Hinckley, and manufactured by India's largest exporter of motorcycles, the Speed 400 is the first made-in-India Triumph and will power Triumph's ambitions to take the brand to the masses. We spent some time with it, and have to say, it makes an extremely strong impression.
Also Read: Triumph Speed 400 Review - Hamara Triumph!
The Speed 400's fit and finish, and attention to detail is immaculate. It looks good from every angle, and cajoles you to take a look over your shoulder every single time you park it. That’s more than enough reason to entice you to take it for one more spin, so full marks in aesthetic appeal and desirability.
The all-new 398 cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine doesn’t have a lazy long stroke thump, but it sounds enthusiastic, and is free-revving. In numbers, the engine puts out 39.5 bhp at 8,000 rpm and 37.5 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. It has a similar 89 mm bore to the Dominar 400’s but a slightly longer stroke of 64 mm, and no, it has nothing in common with the Bajaj mill.
Acceleration is urgent, but won’t scare you silly, or try to throw you off. The speedometer needle is eager to climb and before you realise it, you would’ve seen the needle cross the ton! Claimed 0 to 100 kmph is in 7 seconds, but power delivery is friendly, and won’t intimidate new riders.
The engine has a wide powerband, it's quick enough, to keep things entertaining. There’s some buzz, from the higher mid-range to around 8,000 rpm which you can feel on the seat of the pants, but it isn’t something bothersome or something alarming to complain about. Claimed top speed is 145 kmph, but with my weight of 75 kg, we saw a top speed of over 162 kmph.
Out on the highway, it will do triple digit speeds all day long without a whimper. There’s plenty of power in reserve to cover long distances effortlessly, and more than enough entertainment accelerating through the gears in town.
The Triumph Speed 400 is no sports bike, but it’s got ‘sporty’ written all over it, in the way it handles and rides. The suspension is tuned on the softer side to offer good ride quality in Indian riding conditions, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Pushing it hard around corners, the softness is apparent, but not wishy-washy. It’s not rigid or stiff as a sportbike, but offers very good grip and balance, something which will be welcomed by new and experienced riders alike.
The brakes, with dual-channel ABS, offer progressive performance, and won’t surprise you with an extra strong bite, but offer sure-shot and composed stopping power, so no complaints in that department as well.
At Rs. 2.33 lakh (Ex-showroom), the Speed 400 will not just take on every other rival in the segment, including the recently launched Harley-Davidson X 440, but also take on segment leader Royal Enfield Classic 350. The Speed 400 will also take on Bajaj’s other roadsters in that price bracket, including the KTM 390 Duke, as well as the Bajaj Dominar 400.
It may be the most affordable and accessible model in its line-up, but Triumph has hit it out of the park with the new Speed 400. Yes, it’s difficult to find fault with this baby, and that’s saying something!
(Photography: Pawan Dagia)
