Triumph Speed 400: The Loveable Retro Roadster

Is the performance of the Bajaj-Triumph bike as exciting as its price tag?

The Triumph Speed 400, the first motorcycle from the Bajaj-Triumph partnership, has caused havoc in the Indian market with its Rs 2.23 lakh (for the first 10,000 customers) and Rs 2.33 lakh (thereafter) price tag (both ex-showroom India). The Indi-Brit retro roadster sure stole the limelight from the new Harley-Davidson X440, but can it steal the thunder from Royal Enfield?

Likes

Performance

The new 398cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine is a hoot on the go. It is not as manic as the KTM 390 Duke’s motor, but a lot friendlier and usable. This engine puts out as much as 30Nm right from 3,000rpm, and that has resulted in a bike that’s super tractable in the city. 5th gear at speeds as low as 25kmph? No problem. 

Even with that level of tractability, it is a super entertaining machine at high speeds. It clocked up to a speedo-indicated 165kmph and cruising speeds can be as high as 130kmph. Vibrations? Yes, there’s a buzz at the handlebar and the footpegs, but it is so little that it remains unobtrusive. 

Handling

Complementing that performance is the handling of the Triumph Speed 400. It is light on its feet and can change directions with poise, and yet it can handle our bad roads effortlessly. The suspension is tuned in a way that soaks up undulations and even potholes without unsettling the bike or you. 

Despite being absorbent in the urban jungle, the suspension feels pleasantly settled through corners too. On the Bajaj test track, the soft suspension did rob us of confidence, but this bike is not meant for the track anyways. That said, on your weekend jaunts to the nearby ghats, the Speed 400 will feel at home. And a big credit also goes to the W-rated Apollo H1 tyres that instill confidence. Even if you are an amateur, fret not, since the Speed 400 is accommodating enough for mid-corner corrections.

Styling 

One glance at the Speed 400 and you’ll easily identify it as a Triumph motorcycle. It carries the same neo-retro design with its distinguishing LED headlight and DRL, premium paint jobs, the iconic triangular engine case and even the semi-digital instrument console as the other bikes from the Bonneville family. 

Build Quality

This Bajaj-Triumph bike is built up to Triumph standards, and everything from the paint quality to the switchgear feels solid and built to last. There are no exposed wiring or bad welds, something that’s really appreciable on a bike at this price point.

Dislikes

Brakes

The brakes on the Triumph Speed 400 don’t lack stopping power. But there could have been small improvement in terms of the progression, at least on our test bike. On the bike we rode, the brake lever felt almost spongy to a point, after which there was a strong bite. A linear progression would have been appreciated and would have improved the braking performance. That said, the brakes felt different on some of the other test bikes. So, if nothing else, Bajaj might need to work upon consistency between all the Speed 400s they build.

Instrument Console

The semi-digital instrument console looks good, and packs a decent amount of information. However, the analogue part of the console could have been used for the tachometer, instead of cramping it in the LCD screen. The speedometer could have been placed there instead. Seeing the rev needle climb as you build speed is something that looks and feels really cool.

Verdict

Bajaj and Triumph have nailed the pricing of the Triumph Speed 400. At Rs 2.23 lakh or even Rs 2.33 lakh, the bike offers some serious bang for your buck. For perspective, it is almost the same price as the Bajaj Dominar 400 and way cheaper than the likes of the BMW G 310 R or even the Honda CB300R. 

The Triumph Speed 400 comes across as an amateur-friendly motorcycle that is also a great option for experienced riders who have a big bike and are looking for a second bike for commuting or even short weekend jaunts.

But will this Triumph pose a threat to the likes of the Royal Enfield Classic 350? Well, with almost 10,000 bookings in under 10 days of launch, it clearly shows the potential of this platform. But if you are wondering if this is the best sub-400cc roadster you can buy right now, stay tuned for our road test review.