2024 Triumph SPEED 400 [QuickTest#33] 

I don't think any reviewer has done, or will do a more-thoughtful overview and riding review of this new Triumph. The 400X Scrambler, ergonomically, would be the ideal version for me. Unfortunately though, my nearest dealer is 90 miles away...

They'll sell out. It's as much as you need most of the time. I'm becoming more and more a smaller bike person. Light, carefree motorcycling with no 5 minute preflight checklist before you ride. Simple bliss. Good review. Ride safe 👍

Being one of the first few owners of Speed here in India, I don’t have any problem with the bike in my 5 months of ownership. One can’t get a better Bike than this for $3500 ! Even I didn’t need this bike (since I have a 225 CC motorcycle and also a Kawi 650), but the mouth watering price made me go for an impulse buy which I’m not regretting! Also, note that Bajaj is a hugely popular brand in India which makes and exports its own motorcycles in addition to owning almost 50% stake in KTM (and making their sub-500 CC motorcycles)

Ordering one for my daily commute to replace the 125 I currently use. For the price it’s ideal, and the box can take the laptop etc. It also means the pride and joy can be left in the garage for dry weekends.

A few clarifications: 1. The Indian variant of the Speed 400 comes with Apollo Alpha H1 or MRF Steelbrace tyres, which are pretty good for our road conditions. I don't think Ceat is one of the suppliers for the 400s. 2. The stalling issue has been fixed with an ECU update already. 3. The Speed gets sintered pads, while the Scrambler variant gets organic pads. That's why the Speed brakes have better bite inspite of the Scrambler getting a bigger disk up front. This was done deliberately to offer more progressive bite on the Scrambler for dirt trails. 4. The short ratios for the first 3 gears can be annoying in stop-go traffic but once on the move, you can pick up from 30/40/50 in the 4th/5th/6th gears respectively. The engine is really tractable. I got mine mid October 2023 and am really enjoying riding it. It's a really likable motorcycle and looks handsome. Looks wise, only things I wish were different are the gold forks (would have preferred black), a smaller logo like the Scrambler 400x and wish the rear end was a more retro design to gel well with the overall neo retro design.

I think it's a fine looking bike, the sort of thing I'd have gone for 25 years ago when starting. There was a dearth of 4/500's back then. I'd go for the X version though due to the higher seat, long legs... I'm jealous of the nice weather there, cold and drizzly here in the val de Loire !

Your reviews lead and others follow. Very informative, well done.

I always appreciate your measured and considered reviews and this one is no exception. Cheers! 👍

Good review Mate!

Superb review Mr RM! 🎉

Great review!

Great. well balanced review. Thanks.

I know the tiger name has become attached to the adventure triumphs but, this bike reminds me of the tiger cub of the sixties.

I like it. It is a perfect city bike. Looks good and just has a good vibe.

RM has a very good relationship with his Triumph dealer, so relying on them to deal with any issues seems natural. Some of us are not as fortunate though. I wish the new Honda CL500 hadn't turned out so ugly. I'd probably trade my TS 660 in for one otherwise.

Good review again and nice bike

Bravo........excellent review. I'm guessing they will make there way to the U.S. by early summer, hopefully sooner. Once again, great job.

A grown-up test-person. No stupid music. No soy boy attitude. Excellent.

Nice review RM. The Scrambler was top of my shortlist until recently when I saw the new Honda NX500. I'll have to let the test rides decide it for me. Thanks for the ride around Vilamoura... a lovely spin down memory lane for me 👍

@ 4:15 you are absolutely bang on with that suggestion. It really would transform the look.

good review! keep it up...

Went and looked at the 400x today ..very nice in the flesh , very impressed with it , I refused a test ride because I’m certain I’d be taking delivery of one if I did ..can’t justify one just yet 🤔

Bloody good review Sir

Excellent review.. You even researched about the ownership reviews/issues coming from India about the stalling and broken swingarm. Well done 👌

I´m waiting for the red one i purchased to arrive in a few days. I have already a Guzzi V7 850 but i think this Triumph will be a good little sister for her. Excellent review (and i watched almost every review of this bike).

Awesome review! After a few years of not riding, I might get back into it this spring. This is a the top of the list, along with the 2024 Vitpilen 401. Hope you get to do a review on one of those too!

Great chann,had to sub !

Nice real world perspective review! This little bike appears to be well made, handsome, light, performs decently and is reasonably priced machine that one can be proud of owning and being seen on. (Let's keep it real, the last two items are important to most riders.) Some what reminds me of performance/qualities of my first street bike, waaay back, a new 1981 Suzuki GSX 400, and I went everywhere with that gem...excellent economy and very decent on road performance.

I just picked my Speed 400 up last week. So far, I LOVE it!

Looks like a lovely little bike

Thanks for mentioning reliability.

Spot on! I did a back to back test rides last Sunday with Interceptor and S400 and this is 80% of that.

So refreshing to have a review without the hype ( although in a recent post on my channel I called it hysteria), loved the review, and I accept its a cracking buy. PS with 50yrs of biking behind me, I was so hot in Europe last Sept I did a lot of miles glove less....not done that since I was 16..Lock me up!!! Haha

You have such a nice soothing deep voice and you sound so kind even when you dismissed the bike for yourself 😉 I don't know if this is supposed to be a small town or a city suburb but writing from India, I really really envy the nice empty roads, it's such a pleasure to watch empty roads. We only saw this during peak covid lockdowns. We would have 50 bikes in the stretch of road that was visible in front of the camera and guess what, 😎 all of them would be doing higher speeds than you were doing. Yes it can look very chaotic and very scary out here. Speed, scrambler, interceptors, Himalayas, scrams, the other REs, and a host of small capacity commuter bikes and scooters and cars and trucks and 3 wheelers and pedestrians and cattle. Whew! 😀🙏 Nice video and great skies

Good review. All said and done, is what may be the obvious choice when my scrambler 900 becomes (or when I admit it becomes) too heavy to be usefully enjoyed. I had thought I may have to follow the masses to a Hunter or even go to Caballero but this little bike looks ideal

I waited six months for the bike and when it was in the showroom, it also became clear to me that it was more about the brand than the applicability. In the end, I bought a Yamaha XSR 700. Great review.

Que descubrimiento más bueno acabo de hacer con este canal. Me encanta. Por fin un vídeo de las nuevas triumph diciendo algo diferente, y no lo mismo que los demás. Congrats ¡

Nice review and like yourself, I'd like to see different tank graphics; this is just to gaudy for my taste, but each of us are different. I run a Guzzi Breva 750, but my daughter's looking to upgrade from her Suzuki VL250 and I think this Speed 400 might be just the thing for her.

Both weight and power figures are surprisingly similar to the '69 Daytona T100R I rode for 30 years (branded 500cc, but actually a 490 I believe)... I love lightweight, and the single combines simplicity and torque.

Thanks for this review. I'm realizing I'm not really interested in dealing with a heavy bike (for me that's 200+ kg), so this (actually the scrambler) would be perfect. Enough power to have fun, but still light weight. I'd be actually satisfied with my current CB300R if the seat would be crap. This Speed's seat looks comfy enough. Yay!

I feel the same way. I have a 1300gs ordered and wouldn’t mind a speed 400 for around town fun. But it won’t get enough use to make the purchase logical. It’s funny how the extras on the BMW are more than the price of the Triumph.

I'm currently on my Yamaha XSR125 post-CBT in the UK, but I think this will be my next bike after my test. A few years building up some NCB then onto a Speed Twin 1200.

Excellent review as always. The scam 400 seems the perfect way to go for anyone commuting to work and fun weekends.

Thanks for another great , no BS , review . It certainly looks a great little bike , if I wanted a commuter or a back lanes bike , I'd choose it over any of the 350 Enfields because it has a bit more zip. But alas it's not really the kind of bike for the roads around here . Bigger bikes that can carry luggage for longer distances are what's required [ Darn it ! ] . Time will tell if Bajaj Indian build quality/ reliability is better than Royal Enfield Indian build quality/ reliability . I'm betting there won't be much difference .

With a lot of people downsizing at the moment this bike really came in as a wild card I had the KTM 390 adventure and the BMW 310 GS at the top scrapping for placement the the CF moto 450 and RE Him 450 joined in. I was going to get the KTM and tested this about a month ago and the dealership said they just got them in and did I need another test ride well I took a red and black one for N hour ride and it’s an amazing little bike I have the 400x scramble ordered replaces the Harley 883 Iron 883 2017 even gf approved. Owner of a BMW 310GS

Great and objective review. One detail if I may… wearing gloves would be a nice way to set an example for new riders 😉

Bearing in mind it's only 6hp down on an early 70's Triumph Bonneville it's an excellent machine and will sell very well.

That was an excellent review! You answered all of my questions, including: "Is it for me?" And, the honest answer is yes! Both my bikes are 'big boi' bikes & I could use a drop a box off @ the P.O. bike, or, I only need milk for my coffee bike. I used to have a nice Hyosung 250 cruiser for them, but I gave to a new enthusiast. Or, she wouldn't give it back?

3 months ago I got what will probably be my last bike, a 2001 BMW F650Gs. I paid $2K. I'm 71 with all kinds of medical probs. Its a great little machine, with a last-forever Rotax engine. It's the newest bike I've ever owned. Before that I had a Blackbird for 7 years. Should not have sold it! Can't find one now...over here! Cheers from St Louis Missouri!

I don't know why the Husqvarna 401 gets always overlooked. It's in the same segment with a duke 390 engine and with Pirelli scorpion tyres and spoked wheels. It also gets fully adjustable suspension at the front and preload at the back. LED lights all round. Also, It's been around since 2018 and is cheaper than the Triumph. New model coming out soon with TFT screen, bigger tank and more ground clearance. Just my observation on the press groupies you mention at the start that talk like Triumph are revolutionising the segment.

Although I haven't yet had the opportunity to test either of these Triumph 400 models they look like one of them will be my last bike. When I can't handle the size and weight of my Tiger 800 anymore and given that imminent retirement means no need to get anywhere in a particular hurry I will probably replace it with one of these. I do agree that the logo is a bit OTT, but maybe that's because it is a bike that is aimed at a rather younger market than this old codger..

Seriously considering the 400 scrambler and downsizing from my 1200gs

I see an interesting pattern with these 400 Triumphs, i know many, many people put down deposits and then pulled out subsequently. I had a deposit down on a green 400X, test rode it and asked for my money back. Like you i thought the brakes, comfort and looks were great. I found the engine a mixed back, yes the Euro 5 snatchiness was present and correct but it's hardly unique in that regard and it was punchy enough for a 400 single but it also felt buzzy in an overgrown 125 kind of way. Worst of all however was a front end that felt so firm as to spoil the entire ride, goodness knows what it would be like even on a gravel road. I completely agree with you that when you open the garage there should be a buzz when you see the bike but if it all starts to feel a bit under developed when you turn a wheel then that smile soon fades. It's quite the polar opposite of say a Z400, a desperately plain parallel twin looks wise that has a wonderful engine and a simply sublime chassis for such a basic bike. Ultimately this will sell on looks alone because for the money, the NX500 is not a million miles away and is in a completely different league performance wise imho.

Being not interested on passing my A license ( curently A35 or A2 license for you in there ), because in the end i dont feel the need of riding powefull bikes, i'll probably more than likely take on that bike in exchange on my Benelli 752s. I just realise how fun it is to ride lighter and nimble motorcycles is so more much fun ( for me at least ) and i'm more like still having a motorycle with a certain personality, and that Triumph has one. That why today ( for info i got two bikes ) i still prefer riding my F.B Mondial Pagani 300, even though it's only 24hp, but very light and unique in a way and that speed 400 would make the perfect pairing, and will probably cost less in maintenace and less in fuel as well. And for last.... coincidence i'm Portuguese but living in a foreign country in Europe ( and unlike you my video's... in french lol ), so thanks for showing a bit of the southern of Portugal. Muinto òbrigado por partilhar esse contiudo! Ride Safe!😉

I bounced back and forth between the 2. Bought the street version. No regrets. May pick up a Himalayan when the 452s become available to satisfy the dirt roads - the Speed 400 is a bit squirrely on gravel.

Locating that diode/rectifier under the seat right next to the battery is a pinhead idea. If indeed that's what that finned metal thing is, and I can't see what else it could be. It's gonna heat up under there and burn out, and heat up the battery. The Bonnevilles used to place them under the headlight., and automotive ones have fan blades inside the alternator to keep them cool. They need air circulation.

I haven't ridden a Scrambler 400 but sat on one, they look great though. Like you, no use for one unfortunately. I do know, they are flying out of the dealerships. A game changer for Triumph.

Put an order in for a speed 400 at the weekend, test road it and loved it. I also have a Monkey bike and a Kawasaki z400. I like smaller capacity bikes.

Ideal bike to beat the congested traffic. Just slightly less better than a supermoto 400, like a drz400sm, more comfy, better flat footing, for steet only. Great value, that gives consumers better choice at affordable prices, trendy quality feel.

Err I'm not sure where the idea of the front forks being showa, but I've heard they are 'Endurance' suspension both ends, which is a very well known company in India, if they came from showa they would certainly have their name on the tin! 😊

I'm going to buy it for the city or long trips, it's the value I have at the moment and in my opinion it's the best value for cost benefit. I don't think I need a higher top speed than hers on any occasion, so for me it will be great for the value and beauty of this bike.

Well it looks very good, it seems not expensive ... the scrambler as a light additional bike where i might leave the road feels attractive. There are also the 390 KTMs but the look, no no noooooo!

great review and thoughts RM, you do review well - I think this is a very good move by Triumph and they've delivered to market a very desirable bike based on current trends that will sell. I have a Z650RS, which I applaud Kawasaki for delivering again at the right time and to the right market. There are rumours of a Z400RS for next year with Kawa's new four cylinder motor in it. If that's true, then I think that will do very nicely as well....

The low gearing of the CB300R spoiled it for me, shoulda put on a bigger front sprocket. I think the more obvious competitors to these Triumphs are the Husqvarna 401s. Similarly priced they are better equipped, most notably with quick shifter and adjustable suspension. They've got more power and are significantly lighter. The 2024s add many more features including traction control, rider modes, and a TFT display,

I ride big, heavy hundred horsepower, thirty year old Suzukis. I am 63 and thinking about an old age motorcycle. The Speed 400 has certainly caught my eye! I miss the light small motorcycles I started on, a MZ TS 250, Jawa 350, Moto Morini 3 ½, and Yamaha RD400. This Triumph 400 is better in every way in than each of those (the 2 stroke Yamaha could not adapt to unleaded gas ). And a real real motorcycle banana seat!

Sounds like all this bike needs is a slightly smaller rear sprocket or one tooth increase on the front sprocket to improve the gearing.

It's definitely the best looking bike in that price range and engine size.

Thanks for your review , I test rode one today in the pouring rain after a wet ride to the dealership, way to awkward for me and that front brake 😧 riding home on my speed twin it was like being back in bed with woman you love , old I may be but I think can live with the speed twin for a bit longer and definitely the wife. Although ride on the 400 speed might on better weather 😊 regards Fred

For practical reasons I never have more than one bike at a time, but if I had room for a second this would be a prime candidate.

I'm trying the 400s tomorrow. I still like the KTM 390 Adventure too. I have 1200cc adventure bikes but sometimes less is more

My other half has a deposit on a Speed 400 for when she passes her test - hopefully in April. We sat on one just before Christmas in a local dealer but I'm test riding it for her later in February to see what they are like. She's 5 ft 6 inches so the low-ish seat height and the ability to get the seat padding modified to accommodate her is a big draw along with the looks which she loves. I'm hoping it will be the ideal progression for her from the Honda 125. Sounds like it might.

Pity about cancelling the Scrambler but I get why it wouldn’t make much sense for you if you intend keeping the Transalp

Can you install Lowering Kits on these? Planning your install adjustable ones to lower it by an inch just so I can flat foot it to get used to the bike first.

Very good vid, thanks. The speed is now number 1 on my list as it passed the Kawasaki eliminator se. It just seems more like wine than beer. I only wonder about maintenance costs. Any thoughts?

Bit puzzled why you talk in Euros? Not £. Marvellous bike, will recieve mine in March. Had a demo ride in York. Looking forwards to it!

I bought a Kawasaki Z400 a few years ago to have a back-roads playtoy. I liked the combination of light weight, sufficient power, and low price. I don't particularly like the way it looks. If this motorcycle had been around at the time, I would have probably gotten it instead. A little less power but much better looks. I don't gear-up to ride my Z400 to the store or on errands, though. I might do so on a Speed 400.

Like you I have a large triumph speed master but not like you I would of got rid of all the small bikes and got the 400 I'm waiting to see if any problems and then going down to triumph and buying one👍

Looks good, but I prefer the Scrambler. I'll stick with my KTM 390 Duke as my second bike in Chiang Rai. Even lighter than the Triumph you're testing. Nick

I like your calm, pragmatic reviews. Will you be reviewing the Scrambler version. That is the one i woukd be interested in. Also, I tour a couple of times a year on California freeways which run at 75+ speeds, do you think it would hold up without feeling like it is abusing the engine? I had a RE 411 which I loved but felt like it would blow up every time I pushed it to those speeds. Thank you

Nice! Would be nicer as a twin. That cantilever sticking out the back, necitated by the "modern" trend for short seats and tail, is unfortunate.😢

Thanks for the review! I think they're both great looking bikes, and for city riding (NYC here) it's all that's needed ... if you don't do out-of-town trips like myself. As for the gearing ... can it be solved with a sprocket change? Cheers!

well done for saying that you needed to try the bike again just in case you were too hasty ,,, i am not a fan of the triumph company , - but this does look good , priced well , and has not skimped on power , -- will fit many peoples needs ..

Im thrilled with my BMW g310r ..quite the opposite being a bike noone seems to even consider. Their loss , the group tests will reveal all

I have big bikes... And a 125 scooter that I love and with her I have a lot of fun, more happy when I put gaz 😂

Very good review, how did you find the size? as you are quite tall.

Interesting! If you didn’t have the ADV350 and were also looking at the scrambler..would you opt for the scrambler being a more traditional bike and fit a top box or go for the ADV350 by comparison? i’ve also currently got a monkey, but don’t think i can sell it , but looking at something for the winter with a bit more poke. be interested in your comparisons having ridden the speed 400. i just think being taller i’m going to find an adv350 a bit cramped.

Hi RocketMan, how does the engine of the Triumph compare to a CB500X? It seems they are somewhat in the same category of motorbikes?

Nice! But, no centre stand 😞

Amazing bike for an amazing price, for me the only downsides are the tacometer, seems cheap, and the buttons also cheap. Chain is in the wrong side of the bike, chain lube will be dificult. The suspensiom i dont think are showa, but they look similar, its some indian brand. I love that triumhp side logo, not fan of the old ones

I 125cc motorcycle because i had no other option on 2 wheels. After i passed my test. I went straight to 650 cc

The bike gets Apollo H1 Alphas or the MRF Steel Brace boots in the Indian market. Both quite capable. There are no CEATs on this bike here though CEAT has just recently launched their version of similarl spec rubber. However what I don't understand or detect somtimes is a sort of predisposed bias towards the Metzelers or Pirellis from reviewers abroad. The Apollos and the MRFs are capable boots that offer almost equivalent performace for a significantly lower cost. If there's something India knows to deliver is quality at a much lower price. Goes for all our industries. Motorcycles to Aerospace. But having said that, this is certainly no Triumph. Let's be honest here. This is a Bajaj with Triumph decals for the aspirational value it adds. I bought one from the 1st 1000 motorcycles produced and it has had some serious quality lapses. Extensive and irritating valve train noise that was solved with a complete head assembly replacement. Additional issues with the headstock bearing (Caused due to a badly torqued headstock straight from the factorty) was fixed with a full overhaul of the headstock and bearing replacement. The next surprise was a metallic click noise everytime I went over a sharp bump. This left the service team scratching their heads and unable to resolve even after 2 headstocks, 3 headstock bearings and 1 entire new set of fork tubes. I decided to investigate the issue and took the fork tubes apart at home to find to my horror that the tubes were underfilled by 20% ..ie 390ML inplace of 480ML. And this was in both tubes. And I suspect the same case in my previous set of fork tubes. So yes. There are some serious production quality lapses and as of now the company seems to not be too bothered or willing to acknowledge these issues. I'm not sure where the bike you're being sold are made, India or Thailand. Hoping that the Thailand factory has better QC. Great channel. Keen follower of your content. Looking forward to more. Cheers.

Hi Rocket after watching one of your vids just changed my tank pads on my 1200 speed twin a waste that was , as now decided to change bike so lo and behold pushing 75 years I think it’s time for me to downsize so will it be the speed 400 or scrambler 400 x 😮many thanks for your vids and feedback 🇬🇧 Fred ps a test ride coming up when I can get one

Very desirable motorcycle, especially in Scrambler guise, unfortunately that is where it ends. In saying that I feel it was a fantastic effort by Triumph.

Hi looked at a royal enfield scram 411 inquired about service intervals first service 500 miles and a valve check then every 3000 miles and as a 411 it falls into higher road tax bracket here in the UK .Where as the triumph is every 10,000 and cheaper road tax and I think the depreciation will be less on the triumph . Talking to my local dealer and they said they had taken over 40 deposits for the 400 I think it's going to be a hit. Maybe you should buy one😁

I'd be interested to know what you make of the 400X at some point.....I wonder whether you'll rethink your decision on ordering one? (I have 5 bikes...I don't NEED 5 bikes....but they all get used!).

what are your thoughts for speeds for two up touring with some lugage. I mean between 400, 900, and 1200.

Good test mate. Greetings from South Australia. 😘🦘🦘🍺🍺. Subscribed. 40 hp is good. Honda GB 350 only puts out 20hp. Even the Suzy gixxer 250 puts out 27hp....pathetic from Honda. 😢

More people should probably think do they need another bike and will they actually use it I think. I have a bike for touring a bike for commuting and fun. A relaxed weekend retro and an old 2stroke race rep but im always looking at new bikes like this and wanting it as well but like you I'd hardly ever to ride it if i bought one. My commuter is a hornet which relaced a ktm390 duke so i feel im done with this size bike for now. Would be a great first or second bike though im sure.

probably the best bang for buck motorcycle for 2024

Just wondering is all the warning stickers on the tank are removable, or are they under the lacquer? They seem (like many new bikes), excessive.