In the world of motorcycles one of the most storied names is Triumph. Since 1902 the company has been building some of the most iconic bikes of the classic and modern era. With models like the Speed Twin, Bonneville, Thunderbird, and Speed Triple, the bikes from Triumph are truly legendary.
Now over the years I have owned somewhere around ten different Triumph bikes, from a 1969 T120 Bonneville all the way up to a 2005 T100 Bonneville and ridden models as old as a 1957 Twenty-One. In fact, the first motorcycle I remember seeing and wanting was a purple T100R Daytona 500 that I first saw when I was about 7 years old. I have since owned one of those and, though I do not currently own a Triumph, this may soon change.
This year Triumph introduced a pair of new motorcycles, the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X. These are brand-new bikes for Triumph which can compete with the likes of the BMW G310, the KTM 390 Duke, and many Royal Enfield models.
Both models share the same 398cc single cylinder TR series Triumph engine with the Speed a road bike and the Scrambler a sort of Urban on/off road bike. They both are said to have a wet weight of around 375 lbs and 39 horsepower.
Now, when these bikes were first introduced I kind of wrote them off thinking they would be both too small for me as well as would likely be too expensive. I also was concerned that the fit, finish, and quality of the bikes might suffer due to them having a entry level price point. Boy, was I wrong on all counts.
This bike has been talked about on the internet quite a lot, and in the UK a few journalists even got to ride them. During the past weekend I got to see both bikes up close for the first time at The Isle of Triumph area at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival, and to say I was blown away by them does not begin to describe what I thought after seeing and sitting on them.
Now, I am 6’4” tall and small displacement bikes are usually not my friend. After sitting on each I could easily ride either all day with no complaints. Both Triumph 400s have a medium seat height, with the Speed 400 being the lower of the two, and the 400 Scrambler fitting me like it was made for me.
More importantly the quality of both is as good as any Triumph built today. Both bikes had a seriously premium feel, much more like the BMW R9T than the KTM Duke or any Royal Enfield bike.
The styling of both bikes is spot on. The curved tank shape unmistakably identifies the bike as a Triumph to the point that if there were no badging on the bike you would still know what it is. The styling department in Hinckley really knows how their bikes are supposed to be look and are somehow able to build bikes like these that are modern yet still have a nice classic look to them.
These 400cc bikes also incorporate some great engineering with both the Speed 400 and the 400 Scrambler X featuring a large 43mm upside-down front forks, a mono-shock Rear Suspension Unit with external reservoir, and stopping provided by four-piston radial front brakes with a 300mm front disc with braided lines. The Speed 400 also has lightweight alloy 17-inch wheels.
The 400 Scrambler X is practically the same spec with the differences being that it has a slightly longer wheelbase, is slightly taller, has a more scrambler looking exhaust, and uses both a larger 320mm front brake disc mounted on larger 19” alloy front wheel.
In addition, both 400s feature a lot of technology as standard equipment including ABS, Traction Control, a torque assist clutch, ride by wire throttle, and full LED lighting.
Now for the best part. The 2024 Speed 400 has a base price of $4,999 and the 400 Scrambler X price is only $5,499.
With how great these bikes look in person, I am betting that Triumph will sell as many as they can build, and I added myself to the list yesterday.
If you love classic bikes like I do, especially British ones, and want a bike that offers little or no hassle but looks like and rides like a true British classic with some modernity thrown in, I would call your local Triumph dealer and get on the list. You can also get more info on them here.
