" Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X are the first results of Triumph-Bajaj venture "
400 cc Triumph Singles Mark New Era for British Brand By Ben Purvis
Since John Bloor took control of Triumph back in 1983 , the company has manufactured bikes with two , three and four-cylinder engines , but these new 400 cc machines are the first single-cylinder models to reach production in the 40 years since he saved the brand . The new Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X are the fruit of Triumph ' s collaboration with India ' s Bajaj ( also KTM ' s partner ), and the hope will be to take on the likes of Royal Enfield for a substantial slice of the domestic Indian motorcycle market . They ' re not simply Triumph-badged Bajaj machines , but clean-sheet
" Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X are the first results of Triumph-Bajaj venture "
designs that will be made in all Triumph ' s mass-production factories - three in Thailand , one in Brazil - as well as Bajaj ' s Indian plant , will be sold in all Triumph ' s global markets - presumably , including the United States . Both models are built around the same platform , centered on a completely new single-cylinder engine . Despite the fins , the 398 cc single is water-cooled , with double overhead camshafts and four valves operated by finger-followers . There ' s a reverse-rotating balance shaft to keep it smooth and DLC internal coatings to reduce friction . The result is 29.4 kW ( 40 PS ) at 8,000 rpm and
Scrambler 400
37.5 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm . Despite only a slight capacity advantage , the Triumph single makes around twice as much horsepower as Royal Enfield ' s 350 cc engine . The power goes through a slipper clutch to a six-speed transmission , and reaches the ground tamed by a switchable traction control . The engine is mounted in a ' hybrid ' frame that ' s part perimeter , part spine design , made of steel tubes and
Speed 400 featuring a bolt-on subframe that will allow more varieties of bikes to be made from the same central building blocks - a classic modular approach . At the bottom of the new singlecylinder range there ' s the Speed 400 , which is designed to align with the Speed Twin 900 and 1200 models in Triumph ' s ' Modern Classics ' line . Although the seat and tank are retro in shape , as is the simple , round headlight , the 43 mm USD forks and
rear monoshock suspension are upto-date , promising strong handling and putting the bike into the mix against more modern-looking rivals like KTM ' s 390 Duke ( also built by Bajaj ) and BMW ' s G310R , which is made in India by TVS . There ' s a 1,380 mm wheelbase and 24.6- degree rake , plus 17-inch cast alloy wheels and
Metzeler Sportec M9RR tires , all aligning to promise fun handling , while a low 790 mm seat means the Speed 400 is low enough for most riders to get their feet flat on the floor . Even with the 13-liter fuel tank filled , the bike weighs only 170 kg , so the single front brake , by Brembo ' s ' ByBre ' sub-brand , should be enough to be effective . On board , you get a combined analog and digital readout for all the main functions , plus a USB-C charging port . The Scrambler 400 X takes the same main components and remixes them to fit in with Triumph ' s Scrambler range . The wheels are still alloys , but the front grows to 19 inches in diameter , and the frame is reworked with a 20 mm longer front section at the steering head and a revised , 23.2- degree rake . The suspension is similar to the Speed 400 but with longer travel , raising the seat to 835 mm . The same ' ByBre ' front caliper grabs a 320 mm disc - up from 300 mm on the Speed 400 - to cope with the Scrambler 400 X ' s slightly increased 179 kg wet weight .