Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent

Published August 11, 2025
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5 min read

Its more than just a Speed 400 in a café racer suit

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent highlights

After nearly two years and over 12,000km with my Speed 400, I thought I knew exactly what to expect from Triumph’s new Thruxton 400. Same 398cc heart, similar chassis, just dressed up in retro café racer styling. But a few kilometres in, it was clear: this one’s sharper, meaner, and far less forgiving.

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent details

Here To Make A Statement

Park the Triumph Thruxton 400 anywhere, it looks like nothing else currently on our roads and it’s impossible to miss. Even while riding it, you are constantly the centre of attention - onlookers, pedestrians, other riders, car drivers and everyone else - all look at you in awe.

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent overview

An eye-catching detail is the brake oil reservoir and Monza-styled brushed aluminum fuel filler cap - something that much more expensive bikes get. To nitpick, it misses out on the golden coloured inverted fork that both the Speed and Scrambler get.

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent gallery

A Callback Done Right

The sculpted semi-fairing has been inspired by Thruxtons’ of old, but more so from the Speed Triple 1200 RR. The round headlamp, narrow tank, rear-set pegs, and bar-end mirrors fit its classic inspired, neo-retro, modern classic (whatever you wanna call it) overall aesthetic to a T.

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent showcase

Meets Expectations

The build quality is solid - something we’ve come to expect from the Indian made Triumph bikes now. The panel fits are crisp and the premium paint quality is unmatched for its price and segment - also a hallmark of the Triumph 400s.

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent glimpse

More Power For More ‘Speed’

Like the Triumph Speed 400, the Thruxton uses Triumph’s 398cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine - but here, it’s tuned to make 42PS (up by 2PS) and revs to 10,200rpm (1,000rpm higher). The extra punch comes from new camshaft profiles that lift higher - letting in more air, revised ECU mapping for a sportier throttle response, and the higher redline that keeps it pulling when the Speed is already on the limiter.

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent snapshot

Not Just A Spec Sheet

On paper it might look like a mild bump, but on the road it’s a different story. In corners where the Speed brushes the limiter in 4th or 5th, the Thruxton just keeps charging, with a livelier top-end rush. The gearshifts while accurate are a touch firm - something that even other journalists noticed during the first ride event.

A Small Price To Pay For Salvation?

But all that extra energy comes at the cost of refinement. Above 6,000-6,500rpm, vibrations are more pronounced than on the Speed or Triumph Scrambler 400X - especially at the footpegs, and even on the clip-on handlebar. Push it for beyond 30 minutes at those revs, and your hands and feet will feel the tingle and become numb eventually.

Stiff, But Expected

From the factory, the monoshock is already at its softest preload setting. Even so, at my 65-66kg weight, the ride felt firm enough to pop me slightly off the saddle over the smallest of potholes, rumble strips, speed breakers, or small tarmac ripples. Though heavier riders may find it more comfortable - but don't expect Speed or Scrambler level comfort.

Even the front steering rake angle has been reduced and has been made sharper, so the wheelbase is 10mm shorter than the Speed thanks to this. This ends up in the bike feeling more direct, tipping in corners quicker, and mid-corner stability is rock solid.

Form Over Functionality

The clip-ons and rear-set pegs lock you into an aggressive stance that works brilliantly on twisty roads - but after my 70km ride, my wrists had started hurting a bit. Adding a set of tank grips is necessary I feel, but even the fuel tank felt too narrow. Brakes are strong and progressive, and the fairing actually cuts enough wind to make high-speed runs more relaxed than the Speed 400.

The Bare Minimum

The Thruxton shares all its equipment with the Speed and Scrambler: all-LED lights, semi-digital instrument console (analogue speedo), throttle-by-wire, immobilizer, a USB charge port near the ignition, and switchable traction control.

Missed Opportunities

In spite of getting ride-by-wire, we feel Triumph should've added riding modes, which they missed out with the Scrambler and Speed. Weirdly, it doesn't even get adjustable brake and clutch levers - which the Speed gets despite costing almost Rs 25,000 less.

Obvious Rivals, Though Not Really

Naturally, someone looking at the Thruxton will also take a look or think about the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 - the other ‘affordable’ cafe racer we get here in India. But, the GT costs Rs 50,000 more, has an extra cylinder, and weighs almost 30kg more.

By a far fetch, on the lower end of the spectrum is the Husqvarna Vitpilen 250, which can technically be considered a cafe racer. Well at least the previous generation was one, now not so much with the 2nd gen. The Husqy costs Rs 50,000 less, also makes 11PS and 12.5Nm less at 31PS and 25Nm, respectively.

Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Same Core, Different Intent visual

Not An Everyday Companion

The rear/pillion seat cowl is easily removable - it takes just 2 allen bolts under the seat to remove and the allen key of the same size is also placed under the seat. Bonus points for the 2 dedicated cavities below the seat to store those 2 removed bolts.

That said, the seat length and width is lesser than the Speed, plus the pillion footpegs are further behind and up as well - due to the rider footpegs also being pushed further up and rear wards.

Another sore point is the fact that the distance between the rider and pillion footpegs is frustratingly too close, something that has been an issue with the Speed 400 as well and is now even more pronounced here. I wear a size 8 shoe and the heel of my riding boot was fouling with the rear footpegs.

A True Blue Café Racer?

At Rs 2,74,137 (ex-showroom), the Thruxton 400 gives you genuine café racer style, sharper handling, and a livelier top end than its Speed and Scrambler siblings. But it also demands more from the rider: both physically and mentally. Though that’s café racer DNA for you: less plush, more precision.

If you already know what a café racer is (and what it isn’t), this delivers the full experience without losing the core everyday usability of the brand’s TR-series platform. For everyday riding, the Speed 400 still makes more sense (more so the Triumph Speed T4) and for pure weekend thrills - this is the one.