The new Triumph Speed 400 is an extremely different motorcycle compared to what Royal Enfield currently has on sale in India. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Bajaj is clearly going after Royal Enfield’s giant share of the 350-500cc market in India. That’s the main reason why the Triumph was priced so shockingly low – its initial price of Rs 2.23 lakh ex-showroom is bang on par with the top Royal Enfield Classic 350 variant.
Despite being priced on par, the Triumph is a much more advanced machine with a liquid-cooled, four-valve DOHC motor whose 40hp power output is exactly double of what you’ll get in Royal Enfield’s top two sellers, the Classic 350 and the Hunter.
However, many bikes have come in the past that thoroughly outdo the REs on performance while costing just as much, if not less. And yet those bikes have made no significant dent in RE’s business. Where the Triumph differs is that it brings in a powerful combination of classy retro-modern styling along with superb quality and attention to detail. It also wears a nametag that commands a lot of respect in the Indian market. Style-wise, the Triumph is a lot closer to the Hunter 350 than it is to the purely retro Classic 350.
Another big point to consider is Royal Enfield’s enormous network of around 2,100 outlets across the country where you can buy a bike. In comparison, there are currently less than 20 Triumph dealers across the country, although Bajaj aims to quickly increase this to 120 outlets by the end of the financial year.
Nevertheless, the attractively priced Triumph has garnered a huge amount of attention since its launch and a lot of this attention is from existing or potential Royal Enfield customers. With that in mind, we recently tested the Triumph Speed 400 along with the Classic 350 and the Hunter 350 to see what sort of riding experience it has to offer.
Watch our video comparison here.
