Collaborations are a wonderful concept. Two entities coming together to develop something special and sometimes extraordinary. The Triumph Speed 400 can be termed as one such fine example. A product of the collaboration between Bajaj and Triumph, the Speed 400 is quite the interesting motorcycle. It enters the competitive entry-level retro motorcycle segment with a surprise — the highly competitive pricetag. But there is more than the price that should have you consider this motorcycle.
Triumph is known for making beautiful motorcycles, especially with its retro range. That fact has not changed with the Speed 400. At first glance, the Speed 400 looks like a scaled-down Speed Twin. While the lines are unmistakably retro, the Triumph Speed 400 is modern throughout. The round headlamp gets the LED treatment, as do the turn indicators. A cool design feature is the slim LED tail lamp that sits flush under the seat. Even the liquid-cooled engine is styled to look like an air-cooled motor with the radiator hidden between the front downtubes and coolant canister behind the sump guard for a cleaner look. Another cool feature is the chain and sprocket on the right side of the rear tyre, a design signature seen on Triumph’s retro range. Fit and finish levels are impressive and are up there with the larger Triumph motorcycles.
Triumph has done well in speccing up the Speed 400’s features list. While it is not breaking new ground in this department, you are not missing out on much. The Speed 400 gets a semi-digital instrument console with a large analogue speedometer and a small digital tachometer with a gear indicator. While it does not get ride modes, in terms of features, it replicates larger Triumph motorcycles. It gets ride-by-wire, traction control, ABS and a slip-and-assist clutch.
Another highlight is the all-new 398cc liquid-cooled motor that delivers a class-leading 40PS and 37.5Nm. It is one of the lightest motorcycles in its class as well, weighing in at 176 kilos. The comparatively high power-to-weight ratio gives the Speed 400 an edge over its rivals with sprightly performance on tap. Even more impressive is how easy it is to access all that performance thanks to a strong mid-range.
It accelerates with gusto from low revs and performance does not let up till 8,000rpm. The motor excels in areas of refinement as well and we only experienced mild buzz on the handlebars at around 5,000rpm post which it smoothens out. It also sounds fantastic with a deep bassy exhaust note.
While the Speed 400 sits in the category of leisure motorcycling, the suspension seems tuned for sportiness. The motorcycle feels light on its feet and impresses with its agility. The Speed 400 features a hybrid frame with a bolt-on rear subframe as well as 43mm upside-down Big Piston Forks and a gas-charged monoshock. The motorcycle turns in quickly and feels quite stable when leaned into corners. The Speed 400 is easy to ride as well thanks to the neutral rider’s triangle and low seat height. While the ride feels firm, the suspension offers a kind of sophistication that has the rider and pillion well insulated from sharp-edged surfaces.
Braking consists of a 300mm front disc with four-piston radial calipers and a 230mm rear disc, both aided by dual-channel ABS. These brakes offer fantastic bite and feel and the well-calibrated ABS feels least intrusive under hard braking.
At Rs 2.33 lakh ex-showroom, the Triumph Speed 400 impresses on most fronts and should find a lot of takers. However, given Triumph India’s limited dealership reach, the bikemaker will have to scale up its dealer network fast. It’s impressive how much the Speed 400 offers at such a competitive price. That’s the beauty of collaborations. It lets you have your cake and eat it too.
