Test Ride the Triumph Speed Uncover the Thrills in Every Corner

The British firm attacks the vast Asian market with one of its hallmarks. The new Triumph Speed 400, a neoclassical starter with a strong sporty character, bursts onto the scene to mark a turning point in the history of this segment. It will also be marketed in Europe and only 6 specialized media from around the world have been able to test it: Motorbike Magazine has been one of them.

You rarely have the opportunity to make contact with the final prototype of a motorcycle that emerged after five years of development and four months after its official international dynamic presentation. Two weeks ago we already opened our mouths with the static presentation in London, both of our protagonists, the Triumph Speed 400, and its sister, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X, of which we will also publish its corresponding test in October.

In August 2017, the legendary Triumph, which celebrated its 120th anniversary last year, announced a collaboration agreement with Bajaj, definitively formalized in January 2020. The objective is to establish a solid alliance with the Indian giant so that the British brand can penetrate the Asian market with low/medium displacement motorcycles, while taking advantage of its well-established sales network to introduce the new Triumph models in emerging markets (Indonesia or the Philippines), thus reaching more potential customers. This does not mean that these models are also sold in Europe, so we will see the Triumph Speed 400 and Triumph Scrambler 400 X in our dealerships soon.

For those unfamiliar, simply state that Bajaj Auto Limited (founded 1945) is a subsidiary of parent company Bajaj Group (founded 1923), the world's third-largest vehicle manufacturer and second-largest 2-wheeler from India. Currently, Rahul Bajaj is the director of this company, valued at more than 1,500 million dollars. It is worth mentioning that Bajaj owns 46.5% of KTM, producing and distributing the single-cylinder road models of the orange firm and Husqvarna since 2012. Contrary to what happens with the Austrian brand, which shares engines with specific models from the Bajaj catalog, Triumph mechanics are exclusive to models of the British brand.

EQUIPMENT

• Helmet: Scorpion Covert-FX
• Jacket: Spidi Clubber
• Pant: RaceredTuono
• Gloves: Spidi Garage
• Boots: XPD X-Village

Price and Rivals of the Triumph Speed 400 2024

Facing the European market, the new Triumph Speed 400 lands as a new entry-level of the Triumph neoclassical family, below the Triumph Speed Twin 900 and Triumph Speed Twin 1200. The final price will be made public at the end of the year, an Essential sales argument to fully enter the war for this competitive segment, which in Spain should be around €6,000. It will be available in three colors: red for the test, blue, and black.

Regarding its rivals, we find some models with a retro trend that could well go to war with it, such as the BenelliLeoncino 500 (€6,490) and Brixton Crossfire 500 (€6,499) among the twins, or the Royal Enfield HNTR 350 (€4,187 ), VOGE 350AC (€4,789), Honda CB300R (€5,650) and Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 (€6,169) as single-cylinder, although the last three are neo-retro cut, but all with 17-inch wheels.

News and technique of the Triumph Speed 400 2024

The Triumph Speed 400 uses a newly made single-cylinder engine with the name TR (Trophy) in allusion to the old Triumph mechanics common for off-road use. We are talking about a 398 cc DOHC 4-valve engine with liquid cooling and assisted slipper clutch that declares 40 CV at 8,000 rpm and 37.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm, ideal for users with an A2 license. Both the crankshaft and internal parts have been conveniently worked to reduce inertia, thus gaining acceleration/response.

At the cycle level, we find a solid steel frame with an open perimeter with a bolted subframe (of the same material) and a conventional aluminum swingarm supported by a wide aluminum handlebar, and a suspension consisting of a 43 mm inverted fork (not reg.) together with a rear shock without linkage with a separate gas bottle (reg. preload). 17-inch 5-spoke Y-spoke wheels and ByBre radial front brake calipers round out the ensemble.

RbW accelerator, electronic injection system and ABS signed by Bosch, traction control (disconnectable), full-LED lighting, USB-C socket (to the right of the clause), wing mirrors, mixed analog-LCD instrumentation, and MetzelerSportec M9 RR tires are included as standard. The Triumph Speed 400 claims 170kg full, with a 13l fuel tank.

Test Triumph Speed 400 2024

Being a "big rider" has its advantages when it comes to riding GT, custom, or maxi trail frames, but you always run the risk of the opposite happening with bikes under 500cc due to how compact and minimalist they are. With the Triumph Speed Twin 400 I expected more of the same but, oh surprise! It is not small! Something fantastic because, in addition to being spacious and comfortable for "XL sizes", it exhibits a powerful image, has packaging and a lot of presence, very important elements in a neoclassical motorcycle.

In addition, its engine causes it to be narrow and, although the classic position requires you to go "high on top of it" and not integrated as it happens in a pure naked, you can hug its tank with your legs, something that always improves control. With a 79 cm distance from the seat to the ground and my 1.80 m, I have no problem supporting myself with both feet on the ground.

The performance of the engine, the element that most interested me, is excellent: it responds quickly, recovers forcefully, admits overrevs, and has "chicha". Logically, the first hit of gas is not that of a 47 CV parallel twin, but it is that it does not drive the same either. If you get the hang of it, between 5,000 and 8,000 rpm (it cuts ignition at 10,000 rpm, so the 10-12,000 rpm range on the display is for show) you'll enjoy it because that's where the "good zone" is. In addition, the needle rises very quickly up to 140 km/h, then slow down and continues ascending up to 160 km/h (I ran out of roads before checking if it reaches 180 km/h, the top number on the marker). Only at that speed, you will notice some vibration, but nothing comparable to what the single-cylinder mechanics of a lifetime had us used to.

The clutch is butter, while the gearbox is precise and well staggered, although on our bike the drive was a bit hard, perhaps due to lack of running-in or because it needed to polish details: remember that we are talking about a pre-series unit. Another strong point is that it is a low-cost engine and, after our contact, we set the average consumption at 4 l./100 km, which would give us more than 300 km per tank.

triumph speed 400 2024 Gloucester 10On the other hand, the cycle part is surprising because, despite mounting an inverted fork without adjustment, its setting is very consistent and allows you to attack the curves with determination without fear of sinking it too much in braking or that it looks like a flan in quick direction changes. The shock absorber, on the contrary, did not convince me so much, it was a little dry in reactions for my taste, and also a little soft: perhaps with a little more preload...

As in the Speed Twin 1200, the 17-inch front wheel works the miracle, transforming this "innocent" neoclassical into a true naked that has nothing to envy to street-fighter focus bikes. The MetzelerSportec grip luxuriously, something to be appreciated when many Asian motorcycles tend to mount second-rate tires to reduce costs, as well as being narrow (110 front and 150 rear) to enhance manageability. The braking of the ByBre radial double caliper (a Brembo subsidiary) with a metal hose is very powerful and the ABS was not noticed at any time. For its part, the power of the 230 mm rear brake is somewhat low for me, having to step on the pedal decisively, something that I am not too used to with larger motorcycles.

On a practical level, the information provided by the instrumentation display includes a gear-engaged indicator, average/instantaneous consumption, estimated autonomy, clock, or fuel bar. With short presses on the round "i" button of the left pineapple you navigate through the different parameters of the menu, while with long presses you change the parameters of some of them (traction control, settings, etc) individually.

Like any self-respecting Triumph, a list with more than twenty accessories has also been designed to customize it to the taste of each client, including a tire pressure sensor, heated grips, bullet turn signals, comfort seat, fenders, "twin" silencer, luggage bags, etc.

Conclusions and opinion

If after the presentation of a new motorcycle you have been left wanting more, it is because you had a good time and you are looking for another moment to repeat. That is the feeling I have after getting off the Triumph Speed 400, a model that I got on with certain prejudices and some doubts (Indian manufacturing, quality of finishes, performance, technology...) and from which I got off with a smile after a fun day with a lot of "British" flavor.

This is one of the best examples of industrial decentralization, globalization is like that, we have to assume it naturally and we have to speak in Asia without fear of being wrong: most of the companies on the planet no longer manufacture in the place of origin of their brand, without this affecting the final quality of the product.

The Triumph Speed 400 is the first of a new generation of A2 license-specific medium displacement frames set to satisfy a wide spectrum of riders, a well-resolved bike that boasts a lot of personality, while being authentic, easy, accessible, and efficient, both on the highway and in the city. A universal motorcycle that adapts to the driver, regardless of his experience on two wheels: it will make everything easier for newcomers and rejuvenate veterans. We only need to know its final price in each market, something that will mark the success or failure of this motorcycle with which Triumph has hit the first time.