Triumph Thruxton 400 vs Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: Battle Of The Cafe Racers

Published August 11, 2025
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Comparing specs of the two most affordable cafe racers in India

Triumph Thruxton 400 VS Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: Specifications Compared

Triumph recently launched the Thruxton 400 in India, and it's based on the same platform as the Speed 400. It’s the most affordable cafe racer in India, significantly undercutting the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. The Thruxton 400 is Triumph’s fifth bike based on the 400cc platform. We compare its specs with the Conti GT 650 to see how they stack against each other.

Engine

Specifications	Triumph Thruxton 400	Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
Engine	398cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine	648cc, twin-cylinder, air-cooled engine
Power	42PS @ 9,000rpm	47.4PS @ 7,250rpm
Torque	37.5Nm @ 7,500rpm	52.3Nm @ 5,150rpm
Gearbox	6-speed	6-speed

It is the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 which makes the most power and torque of the two bikes, thanks to its larger parallel-twin engine. The GT makes its peak torque much earlier in the rev range as compared to the Triumph. Meanwhile, the Triumph has a higher-revving engine, which should mean the rider will have to open the accelerator quite a lot to extract the maximum performance from the bike. That said, it is the Triumph that has a better power-to-weight ratio, since it’s the lighter bike.

Underpinnings

Specifications	Triumph Thruxton 400	Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
Frame	Perimeter Tubular Steel	Double Cradle Tubular Steel
Front suspension	Inverted telescopic with 135mm wheel travel	Telescopic
Rear suspension	Preload adjustable monoshock with 130mm wheel travel	Preload adjustable dual shock absorbers
Front brake	300mm disc	320mm disc
Rear brake	230mm disc	240mm disc
Front tyre	110/70 R17	100/90-R18
Rear tyre	150/60 R17	130/70-R18

The Triumph Thruxton 400 gets the more modern suspension of the two. It gets a monoshock as compared to the twin shock absorbers on the Continental GT 650. But, the Continental GT 650 gets the larger brakes at both ends. Both motorcycles get dual-channel ABS as standard. The Royal Enfield comes with Vredestein tyres, while the Thruxton gets either the Apollo Alpha H1 or the MRF RevZ.

Dimensions

Specifications	Triumph Thruxton 400	Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
Wheelbase	1,376mm	1,398mm
Fuel tank capacity	13 litres	12.5 litres
Seat height	795mm	820mm
Kerb weight	183kg	212kg

The Triumph Thruxton 400 has a lower kerb weight of the two, which should make it easier to manoeuvre at low speed, like in a parking lot. Even riders with short statures would prefer the Triumph due to the lower seat height. The Triumph also has a shorter wheelbase (as compared to the GT), which should make it more agile but at the cost of reduced straightline stability. But if you truly want to tour on your motorcycle, the Triumph will be better since it has a slightly larger fuel tank.

Features

	Triumph Thruxton 400	Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
Instrument Console	Semi digital	Twin pods with a small digital inset
Traction Control	Yes (Switchable)	No
Smartphone Connectivity	No	No

In terms of features, both the bikes are almost at par. Both of them have an LED headlight. However, the Thruxton’s switchable traction control helps it marginally triumph over the GT. That said, the GT’s twin-pod instrument console, a conventional tail-light and indicators give it a proper old school charm which is still desirable. But then again, the Thruxton’s semi-fairing gives it a sportier look.

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Instrument Console

Price & Verdict

Triumph Thruxton 400 (ex-showroom, Delhi)	Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 (ex-showroom, Chennai)
Rs 2,74,137	From Rs 3,25,897 to Rs 3,52,459

The Triumph is the more affordable bike of the two and by quite some margin. It gets a revv-happy engine, lighter kerb weight, more accessible seat height, and a nice-looking semi-fairing. The GT has a more bare-looking cafe-racer appeal. To choose between the two, the Thruxton wins if you want an affordable cafe racer with sportier styling and good performance. However, if you have the extra money to spare for the GT, the thumping twin-cylinder engine feels slightly refined as compared to Triumph’s single. To put in simpler terms, the Thruxton feels like a fancy Espresso shot, while the Continental GT, fittingly being from Chennai, feels like a cup of filter kaapi. There’s nothing wrong with either – just a matter of what you prefer.