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Test rode the Triumph Speed 400: Here's why I decided to buy it

21st August 2023, 08:22 by Dev Shah

This thing has ample amount of torque to roam around in the city and then pick pace on highways.

BHPian neononwheels recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got a message from the Pune dealer yesterday about TRs available starting today and did not miss this opportunity to check the bike up close. All the 3 colour bikes are on display and I am pretty impressed by its presence. Of course this is not a big bike but the fit and finish is so good that you just fall in love with her. Personally I liked the bike in black colour and its what I pre-booked a month back. Sadly, the SA told me that Bajaj has made red bikes more in the first lot and chances are, I will have to wait until month end for my black beauty. When I mentioned that I will transfer funds the moment you show me the bike allotted to me, his reaction was not too inspiring. He wanted me to pay by 15th and wait for my bike.

Now coming back to the TR:

Being 5’4”, I don’t have much options available in more than 350CC category, which are comfortable to ride in city. I am happy to say that this bike is pretty easy to manage, thanks to its low weight
I could flat foot on any one side and it did not intimidate me. However, the handle does not let it manoeuvre easily in tight spots. I am coming from scooters so you can discount this discomfort which might go away once you get used to the bike
This thing has ample amount of torque to roam around in the city and then pick pace on highways. I was happy that I test rode this in traffic which did put my apprehension about city handling to rest.
The bar end mirrors provide good rear visibility but they make the handlebar look wide and you have to be careful while taking it to narrow lanes. Also I felt the handlebar could have been a bit smaller (2-3 inches total) than they are for a perfect city dweller
I did reset the FE figures and then took 8-10 KMs test ride, end of which it did show 29 kmpl which is not bad considering I could not even engage 5th gear at all. I am sure on highway, if you ride it under 100, it would return decent mileage.
The gear shifts are flawless and its fun to downshift and go full throttle. Unfortunately, I got only one patch of 200 meters free but it was fun nonetheless.
As the bike was used continuously for the test rides, I could feel the heat most of the time. It was not bad but it made its presence felt.
I am not a fan of the rear end of the bike. Somehow it makes this bike look smaller than it is. May be a round taillight like Hunter would have completed the retro look.
Speed400 was parked next to Speed twin and you don’t feel like this bike is made by Bajaj. Kudos on the execution !!!

I liked the experience at the price offered and I will go ahead with my booking the time my bike arrives.

Here' what BHPian MandarMax had to say on the matter:

Went to check out the Street 400 at B U Bhandari, Pune a couple of days ago. In summary, it felt a bit underwhelming. Maybe the short distance or traffic played a part, or perhaps my expectations were too high.
Here are my thoughts after the test ride:
Pros:
Engine and gearbox are tractable; it pulls well even in higher gears at low speeds.
Styling is decent, and the build quality seems okay for now.
Despite the good looking red colour in photos, the black looked classier in person. I'm leaning towards it if I decide to buy.
Cons:
No "wow" factor in terms of power or torque.
Felt smaller than anticipated with a hard clutch, hoping it smoothens over time.
Concerns about the brand's quality, longevity, and after-sales service.
Engine heat was noticeable, even on a cool day. This was also possibly due to constant test rides and abuse/hard revving from other test riders.
Other points:
Booking management seems completely messy. My early booking done on June 29th wasn't recorded in their tracker sheet. I had to show my receipt a couple of times and then they managed to locate the booking in one of their systems.
Overcrowded showroom with many being told to wait until December for new bookings.
Did a back-to-back test ride with the KTM 390 Adv. Preferred the KTM's height, presence, and build quality. However, the Street 400 felt better for city rides given better gearing and the ability to pull even in higher gears. The Triumph Scrambler might be a more interesting option given its stance and build and slightly more heft.
After riding the bigger Triumphs such as the Tiger 660, Bonneville and Speed Twin, I'm left wondering if the Street 400 will soon feel inadequate. My test ride of the Tiger 660 was a joy, making me question if I should wait and invest in a bigger bike. That being said, I might just change my booking from Street to Scrambler (if that's allowed) and wait for the test rides to start later this year. If that too feels inadequate then I guess I will have to take the plunge and get a bigger, pricier bike early next year.