[RahulNagaraj]

Triumph Speed 400

Triumph Speed 400 Pros

• Quintessential Triumph design that can stand proud next to the rest of its modern classic range
• Build quality, fit and finish are of a high order - arguably the best in the broad segment it straddles
• Stunning price proposition! Bajaj and Triumph have launched it at a price that leaves no doubt that they're gunning for a thumping success
• 39.5 BHP engine is reasonably tractable with a strong pull. Smooth & refined power delivery at a kerb weight of ~176 kg, results in a fairly peppy performance aided further by a slick 6-speed gearbox
• Great ground clearance in real-world riding, combined with a reasonably plush ride
• Exciting but not intimidating - the bike is very beginner-friendly and will be easy to recommend to newer riders as well as older ones getting back to some easy riding after a gap
• A very generous 16,000 km / 1-year service interval. Parts and service costs are also expected to be kept competitive

Triumph Speed 400 Cons

• Absence of some features like connected tech, riding modes etc.
• Very tall folk may find themselves gravitating towards the Scrambler 400. The Speed 400 looks just a tad small for very heavyset / very tall riders
• Non-adjustable brake and clutch levers, although they are light and easy to operate. Adjustable levers would have been a nice touch.
• Analogue + Digital speedometer doesn't suit the bike's character. They should've gone in one of these directions, either the simple round style similar to the Trident or the gorgeous twin dials of the 1200 classic
• Only single-sided saddle bag luggage is being offered by Triumph as of now. You will have to look at aftermarket solutions for double-sided saddle bags
• The entire service experience remains uncharted territory with Triumph leaving a negative perception on this front in some parts of the country. Whether one can have a positive dealership experience under Bajaj’s watch is something that remains to be seen

Link to Review

Harley-Davidson X440

Harley-Davidson X440 Pros

• Single-cylinder, 440cc engine has good low-end torque to make city riding as well as highway cruising comfortable
• NVH and refinement are really good. Combined with good ergonomics, you can cruise at 80-100 km/h all day long
• Well priced. It is on par with its peers, albeit with an extra ~40-90 cc
• Built by Hero, who know the Indian two-wheeler consumer extremely well
• Decent level of kit - standard dual-channel ABS, Bluetooth connectivity, connected features, etc.

Harley-Davidson X440 Cons

• Design and styling can be polarising. Not your typical Harley
• In a segment that has heated up with lots of new offerings, the X440 doesn't ace any specific aspect
• No riding modes or traction control. Essentially not a lot of ways to customize your ride
• This is the first product of the Harley Davidson - Hero partnership. Sales, after-sales and service support and experience are unknown

Link to Review

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

Link to launch thread

Team-BHP 2-Wheeler of the Year, 2022!

Link to ownership review

Honda CB350 RS

Link to launch thread

Link to ownership review

BMW G 310 R

Link to launch thread

Link to ownership review

KTM 390 Duke

Link to launch thread

Link to ownership review

Bajaj Dominar 400

Link to launch thread

Link to ownership review

Royal Enfield Classic 350

Link to launch thread

Link to ownership review

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Link to launch thread

Link to ownership review

[Omkar]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[anilp]

We (my wife and me) went through a recent evaluation exercise with the same options in front of us for her new bike. She loved the CB 350 RS and hated the Hunter. We have a 390 Duke at home, so the KTM was also out.

She found the Interceptor/Continental GT/Super Meteor too heavy, even though the power delivery was good. The others didn't even make the cut for a test drive in her mind, especially the BMW due to its sub par ownership/service experience stories.

We were in two minds about the Harley, but finally decided against it--it looked like it had been put together by a local garage in Kurla.

She loved the Triumph the moment she started the test ride with just a couple of words. "This is such a friendly bike". Now, I wasn't expecting this since I was expecting it be more of a tamed down KTM 390 or Dominar type of experience. I realized what she meant the moment I took a test ride.

The Triumph Speed 400 is perfect for riders who want a sorted ride with a bit of everything thrown in. Especially the suspension comfort and the great mid end power.

We booked ours online the moment we reached home!

[Axe77]

If I was in this segment and wasn't price conscious, my money would go to the 390 Duke for sure. Its a clear notch above the other comparable offerings (not counting the higher CC 650 offerings, but those are distinctly heavier too) and just far more exciting as an overall package. The Speed makes a good value package as a general beginner friendly all rounder.

The teasers of the new 390 seem very promising and I'm really eager to see what sort of 390A offering this new platform throws up. Pity its a year or more away for now.

[aargee]

Voted RE 650 over Triumph 400 for the musical exhaust note of the twins as I'm exhausted hearing the monotonous sound of a single 4S dead beat; besides, RE650 offers the best VFM, relaxed speed & the convenience of wide spread ASC which further influenced my choice.

PS - In my personal opinion: except for the price factor & HP, there's no other way the 650 twins is qualified in this segment.

[antz.bin]

Was upgrading from a Pulsar 220 so none of the 350s were an option.

The real competition in my case were the Speed 400, KTM 390s (all of them) and the RE Continental GT 650.

Turns out that my family also intends to share my enthusiasm for motorcycles and the Speed 400 happened to have the most accommodating seat amongst the contenders.

I voted with my wallet. My Triumph was delivered yesterday.

Another point that can be added to the Speed 400 Pros is that it comes with a generous (in terms of time) 5Yr/45k km Extended warranty by default to overcome the con that it is a the first product in a brand new product line by a new partnership in a new plant.

[Nilesh5417]

Voted for the 390 Duke / Adv - been around for ages so proven and service is possible almost everywhere, fun engine, loaded with tech, jack of all. And yeah, looks sharp!

[SoumenD]

Voted for Others.

I am evaluating bikes in 3-4L segment since sometime now with following requirements:

Plush Suspension & high GC: Absolutely non-negotiable considering our pothole filled roads & unscientific speed breakers.
Pillion comfort : Again non-negotiable as missus wishes to join me for some rides.
Good low & mid range: Mine's a one bike garage, so it will be used in city as well.
Highway usage: Cruising at 90-110kmph 2-up at sub-6k RPM should do as usually post that vibes start creeping in. But should have juice left for quick overtakes.
Height : Being 5'7", KTM Advs felt too tall for city usage. Need to check out the low-seat version though.
Weight : Prefer sub 170/180kgs kerb weight.
Features : Dual channel ABS & Bluetooth for maps should be enough.

Love the Honda 500X & BMW GS310 but while the former is kinda out of budget(have my eye out for used example), not too comfortable with the limited BMW brand reach across the country. Waiting for TVS to come up with its counterpart(TVS 310 GS) which would be perfect for my needs hopefully. Or if Triumph comes up with a Tiger 400, that too would be awesome

[davelok]

@SoumenD, wouldn't the Speed 400 or the Scrambler 400X be ideal for you? It seems to inhabit the sweet spot for your needs.

The Speed 400's ground clearance does not seem to be inadequate for our road conditions. Of course, You'd need longer suspension travel if you want to go on even mildly rocky rides, so the Scrambler could also be considered if the seat height is not a challenge.

[Abhisheknott]

Voted for the Speed 40 as this is what i will put down my money as of now.
Ideal will be the 440 engine in Xpulse 200T guise.
KTM though the most technically advanced is let down by stiff suspension.

[Freespirit27]

Putting Interceptor 650 in the poll just because it falls into a price category doesn't make sense, so while I like it, I haven't voted for it.
Since I like the ride position of a classic retro and amongst these, since Honda, honestly lacks character- I voted for Classic 350 for a timeless kind of nature while being able to be driven easy and long. Hunter would be a close second if I was younger!
The KTMs, Dominar and BMW also belong to a different class (not my riding style) and Speed400 is kind of trying to be both. 440 is quirky - neither a Hero nor a Harley. So frankly it's a mix of non competing categories!

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by davelok

@SoumenD, wouldn't the Speed 400 or the Scrambler 400X be ideal for you? It seems to inhabit the sweet spot for your needs.

Don't really like the way these roadsters/scramblers/cruisers look. So was never a fan of REs/CB350 and same thing goes for the triumph 400 cousins/HD 440X

I prefer something that looks more adventure-ish.

[aargee]

Would it be possible to include Honda 500X also in this poll please?

Edit: And also the 502cc motorcycles from Benelli & the 400cc Imperiale please

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by aargee

Would it be possible to include Honda 500X also in this poll please?

Wouldn’t that be just way too far off in price to throw into this mix? I can’t recall specific prices off hand but I assume it’ll be almost (little under) twice the price of the most expensive bike from the above list.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Wouldn’t that be just way too far off in price to throw into this mix? I can’t recall specific prices off hand but I assume it’ll be almost (little under) twice the price of the most expensive bike from the above list.

Ok, in that case Imperiale 400 is in the price range. Can that be included?

Also Benelli TRK 251, Honda CB 300F/300R, Suzuki V-Strom, Jawa/Yezdi all of them are in these price points. Can they be included as well?