Triumph’s Latest Hit Single

Triumph's first single-cylinder motorcycle for India opened to big bookings. For those who are yet to get an allotment, this may just help you decide

- Joshua Varghese

WITH THE TRIUMPH W Speed 400, the Triumph-Bajaj partnership has taken off to an amazing start. The till has been ringing non-stop even though the introductory price (Rs 2.23 lakh) was limited to the first 10,000 customers. We were also suitably impressed during the first ride of this motorcycle because it lived up to our expectations, so it only made sense to use it comprehensively for a week or so in everyday conditions and we have done just that.

Triumph mastered the concept of modern classic motorcycles with their Bonneville range. Shiny, curvy, and stylish machines that look like they escaped from the pages of history and went on to equip themselves with modern engineering. The Speed 400 has received that treatment wholeheartedly, placing it right at home in the Speed family. Its compact proportions are augmented by a generous helping of attractive shapes that lead the eye; further enriched by interesting colours. It is equipped with LED lights all around. The headlight illuminates the road quite well, making night rides an enjoyable affair.

Before the launch, there was a considerable amount of doubt on social media regarding the quality of this motorcycle. That can be easily settled. This is a well-made product and it is easy to appreciate its levels of quality and fit-and-finish. Personally speaking, I would have preferred an embossed Triumph badge on the curvy fuel-tank; it somehow feels more premium and would have complemented the nature of the motorcycle well. Some may say that spoked wheels are most appropriate for modern classics and I agree but alloy wheels are just easier to maintain. Plus, they offer better levels of feedback. Triumph's choice of 17-inch 10-spoke alloy rims make sense for our road conditions.