Triumph’s Sporty Speed 400
If you read Road Tests and reviews regularly, you will know we love our Triumphs, and many of the team have been wanting a lightweight model from the British firm. Introducing the 400s by Triumph has also proved popular with many bikers as they trade in heavier machines or return to riding, purchasing from the expanding 400 range. We took the bike to Dorset for a ride along the coastal roads and then into the superb biking roads in the countryside.
The Triumph Speed 400 may be in the lightweight sector of the bike market, but it is far from being labelled lightweight. It looks like a larger capacity machine and doesn’t lack in presence, performance or prettiness.
The Triumph Speed 400's ride quality is excellent in any riding mood, whether pushing along the B roads or cruising on winding A streets. The suspension combines superbly with the chassis setup, so the bike is balanced, mops up the bumps, and provides confidence in moving through heavy traffic to blasting bends near Bournemouth. The Metzeler MSRR tyres help with this, too, providing a gluey grip after a quick warm-up.
For lighter riders, it does sit on the firmer side of the spectrum at the rear, but don’t let that put you off, as the resulting agility and support of the standard set-up is more than worth it – and the preload is adjustable on the rear if you fancy a change.
The four-piston brakes are also absolutely incredible. They offer a tremendous amount of bite and feel through the lever, with ABS intervention that isn’t too aggressive.
It feels like a package that is truly premium and far more than ‘just’ an A2 machine, with a riding position that’s roomy enough to back up the big-capacity style. Although a little more compact than the Scrambler 400 X model, the Speed is comfortable and roomy enough thanks to the long seat, large tank and well-placed bars and pegs, allowing for many different rider heights and sizes.
Yet perhaps most importantly, it also has a low seat height and wet weight, which, combined with the thin chassis and engine, makes the Speed 400 nimble and easy to move or navigate at slow speeds.
The seat is stiff for those who plan on heading out on long-distance rides, but only after a few hours in the saddle.
From 3000rpm upwards, it’s punchy in its power delivery, with a broad spread of torque that allows the Speed 400 to pull in the higher gears, too happily. Up to 70mph, it's fast enough and eager in its delivery, with a sweet soundtrack to match. Speed’s chassis has been crafted for fast, flowing rides, and that single-cylinder motor works wonders.
However, being quite a feisty, fruity single-cylinder motor in its nature means that the sharp response from the ride-by-wire throttle connection is quite evident, especially in the lower gears – so much so that first gear isn’t even needed to pull away.
The gearbox is smooth and crisp up and down, but with a soft clutch action, the Triumph Speed 400 would benefit from longer gearing. The motor is more than capable of cruising, but at motorway speeds, it gets pretty vibey sitting at over 6000 rpm at 70mph.
At £4995, the Triumph Speed 400 looks like a quality machine; more importantly, it rides like one. At only 170kg wet, the Speed 400 is agile and feels like a Street Triple in its ability to carve through corners with impressive poise and precision. The 398cc motor is solid, offering a broad power and torque spread covering the whole rev range. The negatives are that the throttle is quite sharp, the gearing is short, and it’s nosey at high speeds, but it’s still an incredible bit of kit that will satisfy the sportiest riders.
The Speed 400 has ample technology, including LED lighting, traction control, and a part LCD, part analogue dash. The interface is easy to navigate and displays the fuel gauge, gear indicator, and more. There’s also a USB-C socket on board for charging.
The Triumph Speed 400 is a spectacular, well-put-together machine. Although it is the brand’s first attempt at a low-capacity machine, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. Triumph has assembled a premium machine that provides sublime ride and handling with decent performance and style. The package belies the 400 cc capacity, and you think it is a bigger brapper.
The bike is ideal for the A2 Licence buyers, but I have spoken to many 400 owners who have bought one to return to riding after years away or downsize from a heavier, higher CC bike. They were all attracted by the price, too.
£4995
