It looks like Triumph’s new made-in-India 400 series is about to grow again. Along with the Scrambler 400 X and the Speed 400, it appears Triumph is about to bring in a new small-bore Thruxton cafe racer.
The news comes via the spy photographer circuit. Get to MCN, and you can see photos of the alleged new motorcycle there. It is basically a Speed 400 with a cockpit fairing and perhaps some different handlebars (those very well could be switched out on a production model anyway).
In other words, an easy re-skin of existing tech. The Scrambler 400 X and Speed 400 aren’t that different from each other, either. If and when this new Thruxton hits the lineup, Triumph’s Bajaj-built 400s will be roughly analogous to Honda’s 500 series, with a standard machine, a sporty bike and an on/off-roader. These bikes have a liquid-cooled DOHC engine (with finger-follower valvetrain, four-valve heads, ride-by-wire throttle, six-speed gearbox and slip/assist clutch) that makes almost 40 hp, and 27 lb-ft of torque. Not a lot of power, but more than enough to get a rider started and keep a smile on their face for a long time.
US pricing for the Speed 400 is $4,995; MSRP for the Scrambler 400 X is $5.595. Canadians see MSRP of $5,795 and $6,795 respectively. Expect the Thruxton to have roughly the same pricing as the Scrambler.
This is the Triumph 400 that most of us are excited about, the Scrambler 400 X. But any growth in this series of motorcycles is good, because it strengthens the lineup as a whole and induces the aftermarket to support the series. Photo: Triumph
Good news for ADVers
While the Road Warriors sub-forum shows that inmates have plenty of interest in road-going motorcycles like the Thruxton, there’s one other reason to see this as good news for ADVers: It means Triumph is very serious about the new 400 lineup. Unlike the built-overseas Harleys that are not slated for North America, these India-built Triumphs are going to come here in the next few months, and it looks like they’ll probably come in big numbers. That means the aftermarket will gear up to properly support the bikes, plus we can expect the general knowledge base (DIY videos, etc.) to strengthen. Will we see a boom in lightweight motorcycling as a result, with fun, attractive motorcycles hitting our market at prices we can afford? It could be just the boost that the industry needs.
