Royal Enfield Bullet 350 vs Triumph Speed T4: Detailed Comparison

The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 has been one of the most popular bikes over the last few  decades, and has been the blueprint of how to stay relevant in modern times with subtle updates over the years. The Triumph Speed T4 is the third bike to arrive from the British manufacturer’s 400cc platform. While Royal Enfield has been going full-retro with the Bullet, Triumph is taking on the segment with a neo-retro approach. So, how do the two bikes fare against each on paper? Is it easy to make an obvious choice between the two? Let’s find out:

Price & Variants

• Both bikes are priced similarly (at least compared with the higher variant of the Bullet), and are quite affordable for sub-400cc machines. But the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 offers you more affordable options like the Battalion Black, Military Red and Military Black colour options, albeit with slightly lesser features. 

• Multiple variants of Bullet 350 means it’s easier for Royal Enfield to cater to customers with different budgets.

• The Triumph Speed T4, on the other hand, makes the decision making process much easier with just a single price tag for the five colour options.

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Dimensions & Design

• A longer wheelbase on a bike usually translates to better stability on straight roads. Also, the bike feels more planted and inspires confidence when ridden at high speeds. As such, the Triumph Speed T4, with the longer wheelbase should trump the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 in those aspects.

• But on the flip side, a shorter wheelbase should result in quicker agility and direction changes. While the Bullet should have an upper hand at this, the fact that it weighs a whole 15kg more may simply negate this advantage. So the Bullet might just be the one that’s more in its element on straight roads, whereas the Triumph might feel at home while navigating through traffic, and it should have a more agile handling. 

• This is also backed by our observations from our real-world reviews, where the Triumph Speed T4 was the bike with better handling characteristics than the Royal Enfield Bullet 350.

• In terms of design, the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 oozes retro charm with the round headlight and mirrors, teardrop shaped fuel tank and the peashooter exhaust. The bike has a very muscular stance and a great road presence.

• The Triumph Speed T4 has a much sleeker look compared to the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 but it still manages to look the part of a retro bike thanks to the round headlight, mirrors and classic-looking tank. Its simple design lines give the roadster quite a classy look.

• The Bullet 350 has multiple colours, but most of them have a black base, emphasising on its retro roots. Take a closer look at them in our Bullet 350 colours explainer.

• In the Triumph Speed T4, the colour schemes are much brighter and vibrant. The Baja Orange colour option with the orange and dark grey combo on the fuel tank strikes a good balance between funkiness and subtlety.

• The Lava Red Gloss / Pearl Metallic White is the most vibrant colour option, and the grey pinstripe between the two colours on the fuel tank blends in with the overall look perfectly.

• The Caspian Blue / Pearl Metallic White is similar to the above mentioned colour scheme but the blue paint adds a bit of calmness to the bike’s character.

• The Phantom Black / Storm Grey colour scheme is all about stealthy looks.

• The Phantom Black / Pearl Metallic White adds a wholesome Yin-and-Yang (combination of dark and bright colours) vibe to the overall look.  

Underpinnings

• With more wheel travel at the front, the Triumph Speed T4’s suspension should be able to handle broken patches of road, and should offer better overall comfort while cruising on the highways.

• On paper, the Triumph Speed T4 has a 30mm smaller disc brake, but it’s also 15kg lighter than the Royal Enfield Bullet 350, which means the smaller brakes shouldn’t really be a concern.

• In our real-world tests, we found the Royal Enfield Bullet 350’s brakes to be progressive, suiting the bike’s easy-going nature. Whereas, on the Triumph Speed T4, the brakes had a comparatively sharper bite, which is more in line with its sporty roadster character.

• The Speed T4’s sporty riding dynamics is complemented by the smaller 17-inch wheel setup, making it easier for quick direction changes.

• And in line with the Bullet 350’s easy going nature, the 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel setup should provide better straightline stability at high speeds.
  

Features

• The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 has a semi-digital instrument console with an analogue speedometer and a digital inset that shows fuel gauge, odometer and trip meter readings. Bluetooth connectivity for call alerts along with turn-by-turn navigation is available through Tripper Navigation pod as an accessory. 

• The Triumph Speed T4 has a semi-digital instrument console with an analogue speedometer and a digital inset on the side that shows tachometer, gear position, fuel gauge, odometer and trip meter readings. The roadster misses out on Bluetooth connectivity and navigation entirely.

• So, while both bikes have adequate information, the Bullet get the upper hand because of the optional connectivity features.

Performance

• The Royal Enfield Bullet 350’s engine obviously makes less power and torque compared to the Speed T4’s bigger motor. But the Bullet’s J-series engine has lots of torque at the low-end and mid-range, which means it has great tractability when ridden at low speeds in 3rd or 4th gear, and smooth power delivery at speeds of 80-90kmph on the highway.

• The Triumph Speed T4’s engine is also reasonably tractable for riding comfortably in heavy traffic scenarios. The power delivery is linear and the acceleration is smooth too. 

• Compared to the Bullet 350, the higher power and torque output of the Triumph Speed T4’s engine allows it to handle speeds of 100-110kmph comfortably while travelling over long distances - all the while ensuring the overall riding experience is sporty and engaging.

• Plus, the Triumph Speed T4 has a 6-speed gearbox compared to the Bullet 350’s 5-speed setup. The extra gear allows the bike to handle higher speeds more efficiently for a longer duration of time on the highways.

• Having more power and torque output doesn’t necessarily make the Speed T4’s engine the better option. Actually, both engines have their own distinct character for the purpose they are supposed to serve. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is meant to be ridden in a chilled-out manner, and its engine’s easy-going nature suits that specific purpose. The Triumph Speed T4 is more of a sporty roadster and its engine’s ability to handle high speeds better suits that character. 

Verdict

The Royal Enfield’s classy colour schemes and muscular but properly retro design elements are a perfect match to the torquey air-cooled engine. If you want to enjoy the scenery while riding leisurely (and also comfortably), then the Bullet 350 is the most obvious choice. The presence of optional connectivity features sweeten the deal even further. 

The Triumph Speed T4 offers a more vibrant feel - both in terms of colours and design. Moreover, this also complements its sporty nature: be it performance or handling. If all those aspects of the bike are appealing to you and the lack of Bluetooth connectivity and navigation doesn’t bother you, then the Triumph Speed T4 is the bike for you.

So, the decision to choose will ultimately depend on the type of bike you prefer, even though both are roadsters.

Comparison With Other Rivals: 

• Royal Enfield Hunter 350: The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 has the appeal of the Bullet nametag and the grunt and comfortable riding ergonomics for cruising on the highway while the Hunter 350 is the more affordable option and friendlier to ride in the city.
• Yamaha XSR 155: The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is the more powerful and bigger bike of the two, suitable for a relaxed riding style while the Yamaha XSR 155 offers sportier performance and handling capabilities.
• Royal Enfield Classic 350: Both the Bullet 350 and the Classic 350 are very similar in terms of engine, ride comfort, handling and features. The Bullet 350 offers more traditional styling while the Classic 350 offers a vibrant vintage appeal.
• Honda H’ness CB350: The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 looks more old-school, and is pretty torquey, whereas the Honda H’ness CB350 prioritises refinement and light clutch action.
• TVS Ronin: While the Bullet 350 is retro in-and-out, the TVS Ronin balances between feeling retro and being modern, especially with the tractable engine and a long list of features - that too at a comparatively affordable price tag.
• Royal Enfield Meteor 350: The Meteor 350 prioritises highway cruising over nimble city commuting when compared to the Bullet.
• Jawa 350: The Jawa 350 is all about feeling sprightly, whereas the Bullet takes the calmer approach. 
• Jawa 42 FJ: The 42 FJ is a modern roadster with a proper liquid-cooled engine whereas the Bullet keep things simple with an air-cooled heart. 
• Honda CB350: This bike and the Bullet are similar looking, but the Bullet has better low-end grunt.  
• The Indian two-wheeler space also has several other bikes in the same price segment as the Bullet.