Words: Akshay Jadhav | Photographs: Saidatta Naik
Triumph has delivered yet another baby and this time it looks quite different from its siblings. The British marque has been on a roll lately, and as we all know, the 400 series platform from Triumph has followed a naming convention inspired by its larger-displacement bikes. So, it was only a matter of time before we saw this one arrive. Enter the Thruxton 400. This is not just a smaller sibling of the widely admired Thruxton 1200, it is also Triumph’s attempt to step into the niche but growing segment of the affordable lifestyle motorcycle category.
Alongside the roadster and the scrambler based on the TR-series engine platform, Triumph has now launched a café racer for those who want their motorcycles to carry a healthy dose of heritage along with modern usability. And heritage is something this bike has in spades.
Café racers are an inseparable part of British motorcycling history. Back in the day, the locals would gather around the Thruxton race track, watching in awe as riders wrestled their machines around the bends. Those gasoline-guzzling, race-faired motorcycles inspired an entire generation of young riders to strip down and modify their own bikes so they looked like the ones tearing up the circuit. The goal was simple yet thrilling: hit 100mph on the speedometer while riding from one café to another, which is how these bikes came to be known as café racers. That culture was all about speed, style, and attitude, and the Thruxton name has carried that legacy for decades. So the big question is, beneath all this retro charm, does the Thruxton 400 genuinely have the heart of a true-blue café racer? Let’s find out.
At first glance, it seems to tick all the right boxes. There is a neat bikini fairing up front, an extended fuel tank, a low-slung clip-on handlebar, and the whole nine yards that make a café racer silhouette instantly recognisable. The retro colour scheme on offer only adds to the charm. Visually, the fuel tank appears larger than that of the Speed 400, although the capacity remains the same at 13-litres. A Monza-style tank cap further amplifies the old-school appeal.
Keeping with the café racer theme, the Thruxton 400 comes fitted with circular bar-end mirrors. They certainly look the part, but in practice, they are more about style than practicality. The field of view is quite limited due to their size. In the cockpit, you will find the same semi-digital display as the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X. This display blends well with the neo-retro design language and provides all the essential information without looking too modern or out of place.
However, there is one design detail that feels slightly off for a café racer. Traditional café racers often have flat, minimalist seats that follow a straight design ethos. In the Thruxton 400, the seat and the rear subframe are slightly raised, giving the rider a more aggressive and committed stance. While this does aid the sporty riding position, it takes away from that classic straight-line café racer profile. The rear fender extension also appears like an afterthought and does not integrate seamlessly with the rest of the bike. On the plus side, the bike features a removable rear seat cowl, which can be detached by unscrewing a pair of bolts if you want to accommodate a pillion.
Powering the Thruxton 400 is the most potent version of the TR-series engine yet. This 398cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor produces 42PS of power and 37.5Nm of torque. While it is the same engine architecture seen in the Speed 400, Triumph has extracted an extra 2 PS here by making mechanical changes to the camshaft, air intake, and exhaust system. Despite carrying 5 kg more weight than the Speed 400, it accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in just 6.7 seconds, which is a full second quicker than its roadster sibling.
The character of this engine is unmistakably torquey, with 80 percent of its torque arriving as early as 3,500 rpm. This gives the bike a lively feel and makes it very forgiving in real-world riding. Forget to downshift in busy city traffic? No problem. It will happily pull even in third gear without complaint. The throttle response is crisp thanks to the ride-by-wire system, and the power delivery feels linear yet engaging.
When it comes to hardware, Triumph has kept the Thruxton 400 in line with the value-focused philosophy of their 400cc series. It rides on 17-inch cast aluminium wheels at both ends instead of tubeless spoked wheels, which are more common in premium modern café racers. Suspension duties are handled by 43mm USD forks up front and a gas-charged monoshock with 10 levels of preload adjustment at the rear. Compared to the Speed 400, the Thruxton gets 10mm more suspension travel at both ends compared to the Speed 400. The electronics package mirrors that of its siblings, featuring a slip-and-assist clutch, switchable traction control, and ride-by-wire throttle. Braking is handled by a single front disc with radial calipers and a rear disc, both assisted by dual-channel ABS.
On the road, the riding experience is everything you would expect from a café racer. The low clip-ons and rear-set foot pegs put you in an aggressive stance, perfect for attacking twisty roads. The tank is shaped to be gripped comfortably with your knees, and the bike feels planted in corners thanks to its revised rake angle and shorter wheelbase. In fact, its agility through bends is one of its standout qualities.
The chassis and suspension work together perfectly to provide confidence when riding spiritedly, whether on winding backroads or open highways. The ride quality strikes a good balance between sporty stiffness and everyday comfort, making it enjoyable. However, the brakes could use a bit more bite to match the bike’s dynamic capabilities. There is adequate stopping power, but for such an agile machine, a sharper initial response would have been welcome. As for refinement, the engine remains smooth across most of the rev range, with only minor vibrations creeping in at higher RPMs. These are not intrusive enough to spoil the ride, though. The suspension is capable enough to handle spirited riding without feeling harsh, and the overall package feels well put together.
That said, the aggressive riding position, while perfect for weekend blasts, is less forgiving in urban environments. Navigating heavy traffic or enduring long commutes can become tiring, especially with your weight shifted forward and wrists bearing more load. But then again, this is a café racer, and comfort is not its primary mission.
At a price of ₹2.74 lakh (ex-showroom), the Thruxton 400 presents itself as an extremely tempting package. It combines authentic café racer styling with modern mechanicals and electronics, all wrapped in a package that is both accessible and fun to ride. The design will undoubtedly turn heads, and the riding experience delivers on the promise of engaging performance. To answer the question we began with, yes, the Thruxton 400 does have the heart of a true-blue café racer. It is not just a styling exercise; the riding dynamics, engine character, and heritage-inspired details make it a genuine member of the family. In the 400cc segment in India, there is nothing else quite like it, and that makes it all the more special.
