With the new Triumph Speed T4 in the market as Triumph’s most affordable model, why should you choose it over the Speed 400? Or what makes the Speed 400 a better choice? The answers to these questions depend entirely on the type of rider you are and your personal preferences. Here, I’ll list a few of the differences so as to make your choice easier.
Design
Both the Speed 400 and the T4 look almost identical, but for a few details, like the blacked-out exhaust on the T4 and bar end mirrors on the Speed 400. Other changes include a steel handlebar, brake pedal, and gear shifter instead of the cast aluminium units on the Speed 400. Even the seat of the T4 gets a slimmer profile
Suspension setup
One prominent difference between the two is that the Speed 400 gets a more premium, golden USD fork, and the Speed T4 has a more conventional right-side-up telescopic fork. There is a noticeable difference in handling because of this, but that does not mean that the T4 got the short end of the stick; the Speed 400 just performs a little bit better.
Tyres
The Speed T4 rides on MRF Zapper, bias-ply tyres, while the Speed 400, on the other hand, has been upgraded to Vredestein radial tyres. This means that the Speed 400 feels more confident while cornering and upon hard braking. The tyre profiles are also slightly different.
Engine
While both motorcycles get a 399cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine, there’s a difference in the power and torque outputs in both. The Speed 400 pushes 39.5 bhp at 8000 rpm and 3.82 kgm at 6500 rpm, while the T4 puts out 30.6 bhp at 7000 rpm and 3.67 kgm at 5000 rpm. The T4 revs lower than the Speed 400, and the flywheel is heavier as well.
Throttle and gearing
The T4 gets a mechanical throttle, whereas the Speed 400 gets ride-by-wire. While both bikes have the same 6-speed gearbox, the T4 gets a smaller 39-tooth rear sprocket, as opposed to the 43-tooth sprocket on the Speed 400. This means that for the same speeds in the same gears, the T4’s engine will be running at a lower rpm.
Brakes and electronics
The braking setup is almost the same on both the Speed 400 and the T4, with a 300mm front disc brake and a 230mm rear disc brake, with dual-channel ABS, the only difference being that the T4 gets an axial calliper at the front while the Speed 400 gets a radial calliper. The T4 also misses out on traction control, while the Speed 400 gets switchable traction control, an engine immobiliser, and adjustable brake and clutch levers.
Price
The Triumph Speed T4 is priced at Rs 2.17 lakh while the updated Speed 400 costs Rs 2.4 lakh (both ex-showroom), which means there is a difference of Rs 23,000 between the two bikes.
In conclusion, the Speed T4 feels more at home, sanely filtering through urban traffic, while the Speed 400 is raring to hit the open roads and act a little rowdy with the capability to get away with it too! Now, it is up to you to decide what kind of rider you are.
