Triumph Speed 400 - Top 5 Pros and 5 Cons Explained

It's been around a year since the Triumph Speed 400 launched in India. It is the most affordable bike by the brand in India, and it offers quite a good value-for-money package at the price tag it is being offered. In a segment full of well-established rivals, the Speed 400 has its own set of positives and negatives. Read our detailed analysis of the top 5 pros and 5 cons of the Speed 400 before you make your buying decision. Also, become a member of our 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel to get the latest automotive updates regularly.

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Triumph Speed 400 - 5 Positives

Good Overall Package

Triumph being a top-notch bike manker, decided to make a brilliant bike at a very attractive price. Combined with the Bajaj expertise, Triumph offers a very good value-for-money package with the Speed 400. The overall build quality is nice and the engine performance is tractable. Also, buyers can get their hands on the British quality and performance at a very attractive price tag of Rs 2.25 lakh ex-showroom.

Premium Build Quality

It is a Triumph and it has to meet the quality standards of a typical Triumph bike. Hence, the overall quality of the Speed 400 is outstanding. The parts used are of premium texture and small elements like paint quality, bolts, and weld joints, all feel very premium altogether. Every touch on each panel provides a supreme feel that transforms the overall ownership experience into a premium one.

Tractable and Peppy Engine Performance

Triumph developed a new 399cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine co-jointly with Bajaj specifically for the Speed 400. This engine is very tractable and peppy to ride. The strong mid-range is the best part of this engine's performance, and one can easily pull the bike in higher gears at even lower speeds. The responsive nature of the engine also helps in attaining decent fuel economy figures, especially in city riding conditions. Not to mention, the 6-speed transmission along with a slipper clutch function, helps in smooth and relaxed performance. Additionally, the short gearing makes it easy to ride inside the city, while the taller sixth gear helps the bike cross 160 kmph on the highway.

Agile Handling and Balance

The chassis balance of the Speed 400 is commendable. The agility of the chassis helps in taking corners and bends at higher speeds than the rest of the traffic. Also, filtering the bike in tight traffic is super easy due to the well-balanced chassis. Moreover, the quality of the materials used and the welding joints are top-notch, which also helps in peace of mind. Overall, it's a very fun-to-ride bike, especially for those who are shifting or upgrading from a lower-capacity motorcycle.

Relaxed Ergonomics

The roadster design of the Speed 400 is well complemented by the relaxed ergonomics for the rider as well as the pillion. It is a very relaxed bike to ride, irrespective of your age and body build. The tubular handlebar is set towards the rider while the footpegs give you a sense of sportiness as well as a relaxed cruising experience. Additionally, the seat cushioning is well done and it supports your lower back on longer rides.

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Triumph Speed 400 - 5 Negatives

Lack of Modern Features

The Speed 400 belongs to a premium motorcycle segment where the rivals are offering the latest connected features like TFT screen and more. In fact, the newly launched rivals like the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 offer Google Maps integration as well. However, the Speed 400 lacks such modern and hi-tech features. It has a semi-digital console with an LCD screen that offers basic info on the go. We wish that an updated version of it gets more features. Lack of ride modes etc., makes it appear sub-par to the rivals in terms of features.

Mediocre Braking

As already reported online by users, the braking of Speed 400 is not very sharp. By this, we mean that it offers a decent performance but the sharp bite that rivals like the TVS Apache RTR 310 offer, lacks. Despite the Brembo brake callipers, the braking performance is not up to the mark for high-speed riding. We would wish that Trimph improves it with sintered brake pads or steel braided brake lines.

Engine Heat

No doubt that the 399cc engine of the Speed 400 is very peppy and performance-rich. But, the engine heat bothers the rider, especially in the city. The heating issue can be bothering users who aim to ride it mostly within the city and during bumper-to-bumper traffic. A revised engine heat management can probably improve this issue, as reported by users on our website.

Lack of Road Presence

The Speed 400 is good good-looking bike with superb build quality. But, the road presence is an area where it lacks due to its smaller dimensions. The nimble size is easy to handle inside the city, but the rivals offer bigger bikes that look intimidating on the road, while the Speed 400 easily dissolves in the traffic. If you like road presence and attention, aim for rivals than the Speed 400.

Small Service and Sales Network

Triumph is a premium motorcycle brand that is used to selling premium bikes only. A motorcycle that is well-priced for budget buyers requires an extensive network of sales to provide test rides, while a bigger network of services to provide existing owners better experience. Ironically, Triumph lacks a widespread network in India. While the officials claim that continuous efforts are being made to reach tier-2 cities, there are still bigger cities where customers feel the lack of a network.

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Triumph Speed 400 Fuel Economy and Review - Video

If you are interested in buying the Speed 400, make sure to watch our detailed ride review and fuel economy run below.