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Triumph Speed T4 Review: The Easygoing Modern Classic
It was just over a year ago that British marque Triumph entered the single-cylinder (300-500cc) neo-retro scene with the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X. The two smallest members of the Triumph modern classic proved to be quite the hit, but there were still some voices on the street that wanted the prices to be a bit on the lower side.
Those voices would have gotten even louder when the news that Triumph was about to up the prices of the new 400 Series modern classics, but the British firm, it would seem had its ear to the ground and already had an answer...
Enter the Triumph Speed T4. With a price tag of Rs 2.17 lakh (ex-showroom), the Speed T4 looks like a cut-price Speed 400. But have the changes made to bring the Speed T4 to life, given it a distinct identity, or is it just another case of Bajaj-induced cut-price compromise for the Indian rider? We rode the Triumph Speed T4 in Bangalore to find the answers...
Triumph Speed T4 Review: What's Changed - A Series Of Mechanical Changes
To bring the Speed T4 to life from the birthing pod that was the Speed 400, Triumph hasn't made that many mechanical changes to the bike, with the only major changes being the regular forks up front (no longer golden), the conventional rear-view mirrors and the Speed T4 badging on the side plate.
Mechanically, though, there are quite a few changes made to bring the Speed T4 to the streets at its price point. The first and most obviously visible are the front forks which are now conventional telescopic units, instead of the USD units on the Speed 400. The steering geometry is also slightly sharper as a result.
The other visible change on the T4 comes in the form of the tyres which are now MRF Zappers bias-ply units and not the radial units found on the Speed 400. The updated MY2025 Speed 400 now sports Verdestein tyres. The new T4 also sports radial-mounted front brake callipers and non-adjustable brake levers.
The other big change comes in the engine, which has been detuned and resulted in a difference in torque delivery. The 398cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine produces 30.6bhp at 7,000rpm and 36Nm of torque at 5,000rpm in the Speed T4 - 8.9bhp and 1.5Nm less than the Speed 400.
Triumph also claims that 85% of the torque offered by Speed T4's engine is available from just 2,500rpm which should make it easier to ride inside the city and in everyday conditions. This is also helped by the rear sprocket going down from 43 to 39 teeth.
The drop in power has also meant that the Triumph Speed T4 has ditched the traction control system of the Speed 400.
Triumph Speed T4 Review: Riding Impressions - Easygoing Everyday Rider
On the move, the Triumph Speed T4 feel more easygoing than the Speed 400. In city conditions, it feels easier to ride than its sibling, thanks to the abundance of low-end torque. This meant we could pull away at low speeds in higher gears and had to spend less time searching for the right gear in heavy traffic.
Push the Speed T4 a bit, and the drop in power while evident, is not missed much. The Triumph Speed T4 still accelerates hard through the rev range which allows you to have fun in the city, wherever you can. While the acceleration does drop a bit post 90km/h, the Speed T4 is still a bike that you can use to march along on the highway with ease.
Overall, the engine felt very smooth and refined and we only started feeling vibrations when we started getting close to the limiter. The engine also radiates quite a bit of heat, which is not felt that much when on the move but does get annoying in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic.
The suspension setup despite the switch to conventional front forks still feels up for a bit of fun and the Speed T4 can change direction with ease while also going over bumps and ruts without any issue at all. However, the front end does dive a bit more under heavy braking and the front end does become a bit light when you push the T4 hard into a corner.
The brakes on the Speed T4 are a bit of a mixed bag. The front brake provides a strong initial bite and the ABS works well with you. The rear brakes, on the other hand, work well at lower speeds. If you find yourself braking from higher speeds, the ABS setup at the rear feels a bit too intrusive for our liking.
Triumph Speed T4 Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts - The Easygoing Modern Classic
Triumph has cut quite a few bits off the Speed 400 to make it into the more affordable Speed T4 but the British firm has done it in a clever way that gives the new bike an identity of its own.
The new Triumph Speed T4 is a modern classic for the everyday rider, who wants to have a bit of fun from time to time, but wants a bike that has a more easygoing nature and therefore is easier to live with.
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