The Triumph Thruxton 400, with its distinctive cafe racer styling, finds itself in a relatively niche segment of our market. In fact, its only real rival is the larger, more expensive Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. Following recent price revisions, the disparity in price between the two has grown even wider. That said, the two share quite a few similarities on paper, and here’s how they stack up.
2025 Triumph Thruxton 400 vs Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: Engine and output
The GT 650 has higher peak output figures, but its higher weight results in lower power-to-weight ratio.
| Engine and output | ||
|---|---|---|
| Triumph Thruxton 400 | Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 | |
| Engine | 398cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled | 648cc, twin-cylinder, air/oil-cooled |
| Power | 42hp at 9,000 rpm | 47hp at 7,250 rpm |
| Torque | 37.5Nm at 7,500 rpm | 52.3Nm at 5,650 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 229.5hp/tonne | 219.6hp/tonne |
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 features a significantly larger engine and an extra cylinder over the Thruxton 400. As expected, it delivers higher peak output figures. On paper, the GT 650 makes just around 5hp more than the Thruxton, but in the real world, the characteristics of these two engines are vastly different.
The gap in peak torque between the two is more apparent, with the RE producing 14.8Nm more and earlier in the rev band.
However, the Triumph actually edges ahead when it comes to power-to-weight ratio, owing to the considerably higher weight that the Royal Enfield carries.
2025 Triumph Thruxton 400 vs Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: Weight and dimensions
The Thruxton 400 is a whole 31kg lighter than the GT 650.
| Weight and dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Thruxton 400 | Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 | ||
| Kerb weight | 183kg | 214kg | |
| Seat height | 795mm | 793mm | |
| Ground clearance | 158mm | 174mm | |
| Fuel tank capacity | 13 litres | 12.5 litres | |
| Wheelbase | 1376mm | 1398mm | |
The Triumph Thruxton 400 has a 22mm shorter wheelbase and is a substantial 31kg lighter than the GT 650. On paper, that should make it the more agile and easier bike to ride, but we’ll have to wait until we ride both back-to-back to say for sure. While the difference in fuel tank capacity is minimal, the Royal Enfield’s larger twin-cylinder engine is likely to be more fuel-hungry, meaning the Thruxton should offer better range between fuel stops.
2025 Triumph Thruxton 400 vs Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: Suspension, brakes and tyres
The Thruxton features wider tyres at both ends.
| Suspension, brakes and tyres | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Thruxton 400 | Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 | ||
| Suspension (F/R) | USD fork / monoshock | Telescopic fork / Twin shock absorbers | |
| Brakes (F/R) | 300mm disc / 230mm disc | 320mm disc / 240mm disc | |
| Tyres (F/R) | 110/70-R17 / 150/60-R17 | 100/90-18 / 130/70-R18 | |
The Thruxton 400 takes a more modern, performance-oriented approach to the cafe racer formula, featuring USD forks, a monoshock rear suspension and sporty tyres. The GT 650, meanwhile, has a more conventional telescopic fork and twin shock setup.
The GT 650’s 18-inch wheels are also period-accurate, while the Thruxton’s 17-inchers are a more common size that should open up a wider range of tyre options.
Lastly, while the Royal Enfield gets slightly larger brake discs, the extra weight it carries means any potential braking advantage is likely reduced when compared to the Thruxton’s smaller but less burdened setup.
2025 Triumph Thruxton 400 vs Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: Features
Both bikes keep things relatively simple when it comes to tech and electronics, aligned with their retro cafe racer styling, but the Thruxton does edge ahead in a few areas. It features a more modern-looking instrument cluster with an analogue speedometer integrated with a smaller LCD screen. The GT 650, meanwhile, features a more basic split-pod analogue console. The Thruxton also has all-LED lighting, a USB charging port, ride-by-wire, traction control and a slip-and-assist clutch.
2025 Triumph Thruxton 400 vs Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: Price
The GT 650 costs around Rs 50,000 more than the Thruxton.
| Price | ||
|---|---|---|
| Triumph Thruxton 400 | Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 | |
| Price | Rs 2.74 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 3.50 lakh onwards (ex-showroom, Chennai) |
At Rs 2.74 lakh, the Thruxton 400 manages to undercut the Continental GT 650 by a significant margin, offering a distinct experience at a more accessible price point. Notably, Bajaj Auto has absorbed the GST increase for the Thruxton 400, keeping its price unchanged despite motorcycles above 350cc now attracting a higher GST. It’s unclear how long this pricing will hold.
The Thruxton 400 costs Rs 2.74 lakh, while the Continental GT 650’s starting price has increased from Rs 3.26 lakh to Rs 3.50 lakh, with the top variant reaching Rs 3.78 lakh.
What’s interesting is that despite costing less, the Thruxton 400 actually pulls ahead of the GT 650 in several key areas – it’s lighter and brings in modern conveniences and more tech. However, the GT 650 continues to hold a strong allure for those who value classic motorcycling character – especially with that smooth parallel-twin engine.
.jpg?w=728&q=75)
