Bajaj’s remarkable engineering speed has allowed the company to turn a shortsighted and punishing new regulatory structure into a win-win situation. All the locally manufactured Triumph motorcycles will now be sold with a new 349cc single cylinder that has been downsized from the original 399cc motor. A slightly differently tuned version of this engine will also find its way into the NS400 and Dominar 400 while another differently tuned one will make its way to the KTM 390s.
We got our first experience with this new engine in a Triumph Scrambler 400 X - and yes, Bajaj is not changing the names on any of the above mentioned bikes, despite the drop in capacity. But the naming choice is the only real controversy, because we can now report that
this new engine is actually a rather likable thing.
How they did it
The downsizing was done by reducing the stroke, rather than the bore. Changes include a new crankshaft, connecting rod as well as new cams although the valves and the rest of the head design are the same. Naturally, the mapping is completely different as well.
On paper, the performance drops are impressively small with power going from 40hp at 8,000rpm to 37hp at 8500rpm and torque from 37.5Nm at 6500rpm to 32Nm at 7,000rpm. On paper, the engine has simply become slower and more peaky, but in reality it’s a better story.
New improvements
The big improvement comes in refinement - both in terms of vibrations and power delivery. The older motors tendency to suddenly surge at 3,000rpm has been ironed out and the power delivery is now more linear. Power picks up nicely at 6,000rpm and it redlines at 9,700rpm. The motor now produces noticeably lower vibrations and this is something you’ll enjoy both in the city and on the highway. There are no changes to the gearing, but the bike now feels more relaxed at a 100kph and this will make it a better tourer as well.
Small losses, big gains
Accelerate side-by-side with a 399cc Triumph and the new one will slowly fall back, but the difference is marginal and will only be noticed by those familiar with the previous engine. On the other hand the improvements will be appreciated by a wide audience and we believe this engine makes for a better experience with these Triumph bikes. The prices have also been lowered by upto Rs 11,000 depending on the model and that’s nice as well.
With this decisive move, Bajaj has now entered the massive 350cc space with force and that makes it a win-win for both Bajaj and its customers.
Dinshaw Magol
Azaman Chothia
Ved Janve
