ZigOpinion: What The Triumph Speed 400 Means For The Sub-500cc Segment In India

Triumph surpassed the expectations of not only the media fraternity but also the discerning enthusiasts when it revealed the price of the Speed 400. Triumph and Bajaj’s partnership has given birth to such an impeccably designed motorcycle that even when it comes to the overall fit-and-finish, we’re happy to report that every bit of it felt exactly like how a Triumph motorcycle should be. After KTM, Bajaj has yet again proved its manufacturing prowess, showing how an Indian manufacturer can make a world-class motorcycle at an extremely accessible price point. 

This has certainly rattled Royal Enfield as well as Harley-Davidson, but how big of an impact can the Triumph Speed 400 make? We analyse:

The Hunter might become the hunted

The Royal Enfield Hunter 350 was born out of the Chennai-based bikemaker’s desire to make a modern, accessible motorcycle that doesn’t stray away from the Royal Enfield tradition. While it was light, affordable, and had an agile chassis, the whole setup really brought out the engine’s achilles heel: brute performance. 

But now that the Speed 400 is here with twice the power while weighing as much as the Hunter, for just under Rs 60,000 more (compared to the top-end colour variant of the Hunter), the equation changes and how! It isn’t really a substantial amount, with only a few more months of EMI, so the Triumph Speed 400 can potentially make a lot of sense for a typical Hunter buyer, especially given that the Speed 400’s accessible dimensions should be welcoming to newer riders as well.

The Classic will remain a classic

Vintage styling with a modern powertrain that makes you enjoy the journey and the surroundings more than the destination itself - that’s the Royal Enfield Classic 350 for you. With such a simple formula, the Classic rose like a phoenix from the ashes of irrelevance that Royal Enfield was becoming in the face of modern competition. 

Now in its latest iteration, all of its major flaws have been ironed out, and it remains the ever-so-delightful cash-cow for Royal Enfield. Will Triumph be able to dethrone this all-time classic? Unlikely, as it’s got a cult following thanks to its perceived ‘macho’ design, laidback nature and commanding road presence. A Classic buyer will always be a Classic buyer, unfazed by the competition in the market.

Harley might have a hard time

Hero MotoCorp once needed the help of Japanese manufacturer Honda to make a mark in the Indian market. However, as years passed, the bikemaker learned invaluable lessons from not only the Minato-based maker of precision two-wheeled machines, but also the ever-changing tides of the Indian market. Now, Hero MotoCorp’s manufacturing competence has reached a level where it was able to get the blood of Harley-Davidson flowing, thanks to its recently launched, most affordable Harley in India, the X440. 

However, this jolt of life might face a hiccup because of the Speed 400’s sheer performance and pricing. You see, even though Harley offers a base spoke-wheeled variant (called Denim) of the X440 at Rs 2,29,000, it’s unlikely that prospective customers would want to ‘compromise’ and go for the base variant. So what about the mid-spec Vivid variant at Rs 2,49,000? Well, while it sounded like great value for money considering the X440’s lively dynamics, the excitement lasted for less than 24 hours as Triumph managed to undercut the Harley-Davidson X440 too! A two-valve, air-cooled Harley versus a modern, liquid-cooled Triumph with way more power? Well, the answer is a no-brainer for most of the discerning customers.

• Take a look at the Triumph Speed 400 price
• Upcoming Bajaj bike launches in India
• Here’s Where To Buy The Triumph Speed 400 In India

However, Harley’s brand recognition is much stronger than Triumph in India. This, coupled with the fact that it will be available in pretty much every state/union territory of India, means a lot of folks will sway towards American lager than British tea. Yes, Harley may not get the response it anticipated, but things are still looking promising for the brand. Harley will now have to dial up its lifestyle quotient to eleven by offering curated rides, merchandise, and building a community strong enough for prospective buyers to be allured by the prospect of being a mean, leather-jacket wearing biker prowling the highways.

Summing up, Triumph has indeed shaken up the sub-500cc segment with its phenomenal pricing, features, and performance on offer (at least on paper). It was able to do so primarily because Bajaj used its years of experience with KTM and tempered its supply-chain offering premium, sophisticated components at scale. So now, the question remains: Is the Speed 400 too good to be true? Well, we’ll have the answer in just about a week from now, so stay tuned to ZigWheels!