Triumph Speed T4 Review: Desi Speed 400

While the Speed 400 is a motorcycle that enjoys going fast, the T4 promises to be a better motorcycle to deal with Indian traffic conditions with a few compromises.

Triumph almost hit it out of the park with the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X. The bikes look good, felt premium, offered ample performance and did not burn a hole in the pocket. However, riding in Indian traffic conditions comes with its own set of challenges. The biggest one being the constant braking and downshifting for speed breakers, traffic, animals, pedestrians, potholes and the list goes on. Keeping this in mind, the minds at Triumph have come up with the T4. 

Based on the Speed 400, the Speed T4 uses the same engine but in a very different state of tune - a more city friendly one. It promises to offer smoother and more convenient city rideability with compromises on exciting performance and premium hardware. And yes, it does cost Rs 23,000 less as well. We find out if the compromises are worth living with for the added city convenience, or the extra money is well spent on the Speed 400?

Design

If you have liked the way the Speed 400 looks, you will like the T4 as well. They are the same motorcycles but with some hardware differences and new paint schemes. The good thing is that at first glance, the T4 doesn't look like a less expensive Speed 400. You have to notice the difference to come to that conclusion.

The biggest giveaway is the front fork which is neither golden, nor inverted. The mirrors are now mounted on the handlebar (unlike the Speed 400 where they are on the bar-ends) and the exhaust is finished in matt-black. Look closer and you will realise that the new handlebar is steel and not cast aluminium and the brake and gear pedals are steel too. The brake and clutch levers are also fixed and are not adjustable for reach like the ones on the 2025 Speed 400. 

Passing by on the road, the T4 will not look any different. It looks plenty cool. However, in our opinion, Triumph should have done more to differentiate it from the Speed 400. While the lower cost hardware will not make much of a difference in city riding, the downgrade makes the T4 feel like a lower variant. If the bike looked different - with at least a new headlamp and a new fuel-tank, the T4 could have had its own identity. 

Features

As mentioned above, the motorcycle loses on a lot of flashy kit as compared to the Speed including inverted front forks, bar-end mirrors and aluminium handlebar and gear/brake levers. However, this is not the end of the story. The tyres too, on the T4, are not radials but slimmer bias-ply tyres and the front brake uses an axial calliper, not a radial one. Finally, the throttle here is also mechanical and not ride-by-wire like the 400. Furthermore, the traction control and the engine immobiliser have also been removed. In the real world, these changes will not make a day/night difference in riding. However, these are less premium and lower performance components as compared to the 400.

What the bike still gets is a semi-digital instrument cluster with a big analog speedometer and a tiny digital rev counter. The latter screen also houses gear position indicators and odometer/trips. No complaints here apart from the tachometer being too tiny to be readable while riding. And the bike (luckily) still retains dual-channel ABS. With the said kit and especially considering the deletions - the price of the motorcycle should have started at 1.99 lakhs - and not the current Rs 2.17 Lakhs (ex-showroom),

Ergonomics

The new handlebar is now slightly wider in the T4. And the seat height is also up with added cushioning. This puts the rider in a more upright stance which helps with the control on the handlebars while cutting through traffic. This riding posture will also be more fatigue free and relaxed for riders upgrading to the T4 from more humble commuters. However, the seat height has gone up to 806mm and so has the ground clearance (to 170mm). But these are marginal increases and come from the new tyres - so won't affect the rider's confidence. The kerb weight stands at 180 Kg which is manageable in a parking lot. 

Engine And Performance

While the overall engine is the same as the Speed 400 - there have been some mechanical changes in the T4. The biggest one is the new heavier flywheel and combined with a new power tune - the low end torque delivery is a lot better. What this means is that despite the T4 making (31PS and 36Nm) 9PS and 1.5Nm less than the Speed 400, it won't feel slow or sluggish in the city. Helping it further is the gearing. While the gearbox remains the same as the Speed 400, the T4 gets a taller overall gearing thanks to a smaller 39 tooth rear sprocket while the 400 gets a larger 43 tooth rear sprocket. 

Theory apart, the bike feels quite different to ride in the city as compared to the 400. Of course, it is not as quick to accelerate as the 400 but it is more effortless where it matters - in traffic. The much better low end torque makes the bike feel more at ease when twisting the throttle from lower RPMs. It's very tractable and you can easily pick up speeds from 30kmph in 4th gear. Even for a quick overtake if you open the throttle hard, there is barely any hesitation from the motor. This is where you’d have to downshift on the Speed 400 but not on the T4. While it can't keep up with the more powerful sibling in a drag to 100kmph - as Triumph claims that the T4 is indeed 1.3s slower, it makes up for it by being more effortless in traffic. 

Even the mechanical throttle feels smooth to roll on and off without any jerk - whereas the ride-by-wire throttle on the Speed is a bit more urgent and can feel jarring for a pillion. Even on the highways, the T4 manages to remain more calm. 100kmph in 6th gear is 600 RPM lower than that on the Speed 400 and it can sit there all day without stress. It's only when pushing beyond that speed or going for an overtake where the Speed will perform significantly better. 

While we haven't tested the braking performance of the T4 yet, its safe to say that the Speed 400 will outdo the T4, given the hardware difference in the tyres and brakes. However - the feel of the brakes is something which is better. T4's front brake is more communicative and easier to modulate which gives you more confidence to brake late or hard. 

Ride Comfort And Handling 

The Speed 400 is a very plush riding motorcycle. However, the same cannot be said about the T4. While the ride quality is quite good for the most part and it manages to absorb bumps well, the rear feels slightly stiffer. The front suspension feels soft enough to absorb most bumps but the larger bumps make the rear shock toss you off the seat a little. You won't feel this at lower speeds but given our road conditions - it's hard not to miss the plushness of the Speed 400, on the T4. 

When it comes to handling, the T4 is actually quite a nice and stable motorcycle. If you like your motorcycles to not be too sharp and overwhelming to ride - you’d love the T4. It turns and steers a bit slower and feels more confident. It's not lazy at all and cutting through traffic is super easy as well. But, the process just feels more predictable. Even the new MRF tyres hold up pretty well even on wet roads. 

Verdict

The Triumph Speed T4 is a very friendly motorcycle. It's relaxed yet fun to ride in the city, comfortable enough for you to not complain and the handling package will feel safe and confident for new riders swinging a leg over a 400cc for the first time. The only limitations include the limited highway performance and the absolute lack of any fancy features. Both of these are not deal breakers. However, there is one. 

Standalone - the bike’s only issue is the price which should have been lower by at least Rs 10,000 to justify the more basic hardware. However, inside the showroom, it won't be standing alone. It will be standing next to the Speed 400 and that is its biggest problem. For Rs 23,000 more (which will be an insignificant difference in EMIs), the other sibling will offer much better hardware, keep you entertained with its performance for longer into the ownership and no one will look at you and think you bought the most affordable (read cheapest) Triumph possible. 

If only Triumph did more to differentiate it in terms of looks to give it a different image - then the T4 could have truly realised its potential by rivalling the likes of the Hero Mavrick 440. However, if the image problem doesn't bother you - the T4 will be plenty to play with in the City.