Bike Files: Triumph Speed 400 

Small motorcycles are back in vogue and Triumph’s Speed 400 is among the best. Beautifully styled, highly specced and well priced, this little single is proving popular with riders young and old alike.

That’s one classic looking motorbike! How long has the Speed 400 been around?

Triumph’s one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world (they were founded in 1902) so they know how to make a traditional looking roadster. The Speed 400 was actually a new model for 2024, but the looks draw heavily on Triumph’s back catalogue – not least the bigger Speed Twin.

So what’s special about the Speed 400?

The Speed 400 (and the closely related Scrambler 400 X) have been smash hits since being introduced in 2024. They’re the first Triumphs with a single cylinder engine in over 50 years and the simplicity and sharp pricing, combined with neat detailing, has made them best sellers. They’ve a broad appeal and can even be ridden by new riders on an A2 licence.

So what about the Triumph 400 engine?

There’s a lot of clever stuff going on inside the engine of the Speed 400. It makes just under 40bhp, which is good for a top speed of over 70mph, and it’s been engineered to give loads of character. It feels great, sounds good, and delivers over 80mpg. What’s more, it’s got a service interval of 10,000 miles, which is staggering for such a small motor.

And the chassis?

With less than 40bhp to harness, the Speed 400 doesn’t need superbike levels of chassis components but what is there is more than up to the job. The single front disc brake has ABS and works well.

There’s preload adjustment on the rear shock, which is ideal when taking a passenger, and the sporty Metzeler Sportec M9RR tyres are better than you might expect on a small capacity and relatively inexpensive bike.

There’s also a lot of really nice detailing. Wires and hoses are neatly hidden away and the was the engine block is machined to replicate the fins found on old bikes gives it a really premium feel.

Key specification points

As a budget model you could be forgiven for thinking the Triumph Speed 400 would be low on spec, but actually you get quite a lot for your money. In addition to some pretty good quality components, safety is aided with a traction control system while the traditional analogue speedo also incorporates features like a fuel gauge and gear indicator.

A USB-C charging port is also included. This is an option on some bigger and more expensive Triumphs, so to have it included here is a welcome surprise and useful for riders who like to plug in their phone as a sat-nav device.

What’s the Triumph Speed 400 like to ride?

A lot of fun, since you ask. The low seat height and light weight make it very accessible, which is a big part of why it has such broad appeal.

Despite being called ‘Speed’ it’s not the fastest motorbike on the market, but it’s more than capable of keeping up with traffic and feels suitably sporty. The motor’s engaging and nicely playful, while the chassis is more than capable too. With 17” wheels shod with sporty tyres, it has a very different feel to the similar Scrambler model. Speed junkies will almost certainly want more, but for the target market it’s an absolute hoot.

What else is out there?

There are loads of models out there aimed at A2 licence holders, but there’s not much to directly compare to the Triumph Speed 400.

Royal Enfield’s Guerrilla and the lower specced HNTR give similar looks and vibes, while many Speed 400 buyers are likely to sway between buying the Speed or the closely related Scrambler 400 X, which is built on the same platform but is taller and comes with more rugged looks.

Other options include the Honda CL500, the most classically styled of Honda’s super popular 500 range, and Husqvarna’s Svartpilen 401, which is a quirky retro that’s more expensive but enjoys a higher level of specification.