• Source:JND
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Anirban Mitra: One glance at the Speed 400, and you instantly recognise a couple of things. Build quality is top-notch. It's spotless. Secondly, it is small, which means taller riders with healthy builds are going to struggle a little with their knees cramping up.

Thumb the starter and gently twist the throttle, and you again observe a thing or two. The raspy exhaust note mirrors the bike’s intention to go fast and zip through the mundane traffic. The instrumentation looks neat and the digital half of it packs enough riding data for its size.

Swing your leg over the saddle and take it out for a spin. The bike’s compactness, tight wheelbase, and relatively light weight make it feel extremely nimble in traffic. Quick directional steer comes naturally. However, a full U-turn at a standstill draws additional attention and effort from the shoulder muscles. Like the bigger Triumphs, the Speed 400’s handle tends to lock earlier than similar motorcycles of its size, thereby increasing the turning radius.

Will the heat dissipated from the 398.1cc engine fry your calf? Ideally, it should not. The liquid cooler with fins will be put to the test in peak summer. Going flat out on the track was fun. 170 km on the speedometer felt much quicker. No fairing on the Speed 400 meant dollops of wind constantly tried to unsettle at high speeds. Ask for 100-120 kph, Speed 400 offers that all day long with a smile.

The engine feels smooth, peppy and tractable, and the poke from it kicks in at about 3,000 rpm and pulls strong until 8,000 rpm. Good, flat torque means fewer gear shifts in traffic. Light clutch action won't sore your hands on bad days in stop-and-go traffic.

Handy bit of hardware on offer. LED lights, USB charging, switchable traction control, dual-channel ABS and slipper clutch come as standard. Connectivity is not a Bajaj’s forte is a miss here too. W-rated MRF tyres felt grippy enough on Bajaj’s proving ground as much as they did on the uneven, twisty and wet tarmac in and around Pune.

Triumph Speed 400 rides on 43mm upside-down front forks and 10-way preload-adjustable rear mono shock. My initial impressions speak in favour of the sporty tuning of the springs. The bike could comfortably hold its shape around the corners and felt planted as the speed increased. Out in the open, especially on broken and patchy roads, the ride may feel slightly bouncy, however, never unsettling. A lot of due credit for a promising ride also goes to the newly-developed hybrid perimeter chassis where the engine acts as a stress member.

Should you buy it over Harley-Davidson X440? My two cents say they aren't direct rivals but will cannibalise each other and somewhat eat into RE Classic’s market due to the pricing. After all, from Yezdi to H’ness, X440 to Speed 400, the game is to unsettle Classic, the Goliath’s monopoly.

Tech specs and pricing:

Triumph Speed 400: Rs 2.33 lakh (ex-showroom)Engine: 398.1-cc, liquid-cooled, 4 valves, DOHC, single-cylinder

Output: 40PS/37.5Nm

Gearbox: 6-speed

Seat height: 790 mm

Weight: 176.5 kg