A Triumph you can afford? The Triumph Speed 400 & Scrambler 400X has been unveiled globally.

Triumph, the iconic British motorcycle brand, has unveiled two new models in its 400cc segment in the UK today, the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X. These bikes are the result of a partnership with Bajaj Auto, one of India's largest two-wheeler manufacturers, and will be built by Bajaj at its Chakan plant near Pune.

The Speed 400 is a street naked bike that draws inspiration from the Speed Twin 900 (previously known as the Street Twin), while the Scrambler 400 X is an off-road-oriented bike that mimics the Scrambler 900. Both bikes have the same engine, chassis and electronics but different styling, suspension, brakes and tyres.

Engine and performance

The heart of both bikes is a new liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that Triumph calls the TR series. It has a displacement of 398cc and produces 40hp at 8000rpm and 37.5Nm at 6500rpm. These figures are comparable to the KTM 390 range, but the Triumphs make their peak power and torque earlier in the rev range.

The engine features a DOHC layout, a slip-and-assist clutch, and a ride-by-wire throttle system. It also has some cooling fins on the cylinder head for aesthetic purposes and a triangular engine cover on the right side that resembles Triumph's larger modern classic models. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox, which is one more than the Triumph's 900cc twins.

Chassis and suspension

Both bikes use a hybrid tubular steel spine/perimeter frame that is designed to offer rigidity and stability. The suspension setup consists of a 43mm big-piston fork and a mono-shock at the rear, but the Scrambler gets more travel than the Speed. The Scrambler has 150mm of travel at both ends, while the Speed has 140mm at the front and 130mm at the rear.

The wheel sizes are also different for both bikes. The Speed rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends, wrapped in Metzeler Sportec M9RR tyres that are suited for sporty riding. On the other hand, the Scrambler has a 19-inch front and a 17-inch rear alloy wheel, shod with Metzeler Karoo Street tyres that have a block pattern for better grip on dirt roads.

Brakes and electronics

The braking system on both bikes consists of a single disc at the front and rear, with dual-channel ABS as standard. However, the Scrambler has a slightly larger front disc of 320mm, compared to the Speed's 300mm unit. This is probably because of its higher weight and off-road capability. The Scrambler also has a switchable ABS feature that allows the rider to turn off the rear ABS for more control on loose surfaces.

The electronics package on both bikes is fairly basic, with only two riding modes - Road and Rain - that alter the throttle response and traction control settings. The traction control is also switchable on both bikes. The instrument cluster is a circular LCD unit that displays speed, rpm, gear position, fuel level, odometer, trip meter, clock and service indicator.

Design and features

The design of both bikes is influenced by Triumph's neo-retro theme, with round LED headlamps, LED turn indicators, LED tail lamps, tear-drop-shaped fuel tanks and minimal body panels. The Speed has a more sleek and sporty look, with bar-end mirrors, a single-tip exhaust and a single seat. The Scrambler has a more rugged and adventurous look, with a headlight grille, knuckle guards, a taller handlebar, a scrambler-style twin-tip exhaust and split seats.

Both bikes have some premium features such as an aluminium swingarm, an aluminium bash plate (on the Scrambler), an aluminium sump guard (on the Speed), an aluminium radiator guard (on both), an aluminium fuel cap (on both) and an aluminium rear fender (on both). The seat height of both bikes is also different - the Speed has a lower seat height of 790mm, while the Scrambler has a higher seat height of 835mm. Both bikes' kerb weights are also different - the Speed weighs 170kg, while the Scrambler weighs 179kg.

Launch date and expected price

Triumph has announced that both bikes will be launched in India on July 5th but has not revealed their prices yet. However, they are expected to be priced competitively to attract buyers in India's growing mid-size motorcycle segment. Some reports suggest that they could be priced around Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom), which would make them cheaper than the KTM 390 Duke and the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

These bikes are also expected to be exported to other markets, such as Europe and Southeast Asia, where there is a demand for affordable and stylish motorcycles. Triumph has said that these bikes are the first products of its partnership with Bajaj and that more models will be developed in the future.