Triumph Thruxton 400 (2025)

Triumph has hiked the prices of all of its 400cc bikes in India.

The Triumph Thruxton 400 is a new, modern-classic, cafe racer, inspired mainly by the Thruxton 1200 R. Apart from the retro-racer styling, to suit its character better, Triumph have updated the bike with significant changes compared to the Speed 400. So, this is much more than just a cosmetic update and the changes are said to have made the Thruxton feel different on the road.

I spent a full day with the motorcycle in different riding conditions to bring you a report on how the changes have transformed the riding experience and whether you should consider the Thruxton 400 as your bike for daily commuting.

The Thruxton 400 gets a fairing over the round LED headlight which extends all the way to the fuel tank. This fairing has some modern touches to its styling and also reminds me of the Speed Triple 1200 RR. The bike also gets clip-on handlebars which are placed lower, bar-end mirrors, and a redesigned fuel tank which is slimmer, longer and gets a new Monza-style fuel lid. The fuel tank has the same 13-litre capacity.

At the rear, the tail section is also new with a pillion seat cowl, a new grab rail, redesigned LED taillight, and shorter mudguard compared to the Speed 400. The pillion seat cowl can easily be removed by unscrewing two bolts after opening the single-piece seat. The bike misses out on golden coloured forks compared to the Speed 400, but gets a new oil reservoir cup. The proportions of the bike are a bit too compact and might not suit larger riders very well. 

Triumph Thruxton 400: Colours

Triumph offers the Thruxton 400 in four dual-tone colour options including Lava Red Gloss/Aluminium Silver, Phantom Black/Aluminium Silver ,Metallic Racing Yellow/Aluminium Silver, and Pearl Metallic White/Storm Grey. Overall, the bike has good road presence because of these loud colour schemes and the detailing is as precise as you’d expect from Triumph. If I had to nitpick, I would say that the styling of the rear could have been better, with a more raised tail section and the bike could have been offered with golden coloured forks for a more premium appeal.

Triumph Thruxton 400: Build Quality

Like the Speed 400, the Thruxton 400 has really good fit and finish levels. The paint quality is premium, there are no visible panel gaps, and the switchgear also feels good for this segment.

The bike gets the same digital-analogue instrument cluster as the Speed 400, displaying basic but necessary information like gear position, trip data, fuel level, and more. The bike gets all-LED lighting, the USB charging port has been repositioned, and a slip-and-assist clutch. 

Triumph Thruxton 400: Safety Features

Dual-channel ABS is offered standard, and the bike also gets switchable Traction Control. The bike makes use of sintered brake pads and they offer a good bite to get the bike to stop quickly.

Compared to the Speed 400, the Thruxton’s riding posture is more aggressive, with clip-ons that put your weight slightly forward and rear-set footpegs that tuck your legs back. It’s still not extreme by cafe racer standards so I was not lying on the tank, but the stance is noticeably sportier. 

With the rear set footpegs, the rear of my boot kept coming in contact with the pillion footrest In the city, but that was only when I was trying to get into a more aggressive position to attack twisty roads. The riding position is fine for short commutes, but over longer durations and while stuck in traffic jams, my wrists felt strained. The seat is fairly comfortable and will be good over longer rides too. The kerb weight stands at 183kg, making it 4kg heavier than the Speed 400 but it still feels very light and the 795mm seat height makes it easily accessible to shorter riders.

Triumph Thruxton 400: Pillion Comfort

Like most cafe racers, the Thruxton 400 isn’t really designed for a pillion but it still has a decent amount of space. The seat is narrow, slightly stepped up, and for a pillion, is best suited for short commutes rather than long journeys. Additionally, the bike looks in its element with the rear seat cowl and for added convenience, it can also be removed easily.

The Thruxton 400 shares its 398.15cc liquid-cooled single with the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, but puts out 42PS and 37.5Nm, making it 2PS more powerful. The peak power and torque come in 1,000rpm later and the redline is also higher, now at 10,200rpm. Additionally, the rear sprocket at 43-teeth is 2-teeth smaller than the Speed 400. The fueling of this engine is spot-on and the throttle response is crisp. Other changes to the internals of the engine include a different cam timing and airbox breather which help the bike rev higher and hold higher rpms for longer.

Triumph Thruxton 400: City Performance

The Thruxton is still easy to ride in traffic with the versatile nature of the engine. The torque spread is wide, and it pulls cleanly from lower revs without having to make constant gear changes. It was able to do slow speeds of 30kmph in third gear without any juddering. Compared to the Speed 400, it feels a bit more connected to the front end, which can be fun for darting through gaps, but slightly less relaxed in stop-go traffic owing to its aggressive riding position. 

Triumph Thruxton 400: Highway Performance

On the open road, the Thruxton 400 comes alive. The committed riding position feels more natural while cruising at higher speeds, and the chassis inspires with its confidence at higher speeds. It’s happiest between 90–110 km/h, and has enough in reserve for quick overtakes. The intent from Triumph to retune the engine was to give the bike a claimed top speed of 161kmph (100mph). While this has had a reputation of being a very smooth engine in the Speed 400, the Thruxton feels a bit more vibey, especially at the footpegs when revved over 6500rpm. While the Speed 400 felt like it was running out of steam in the top-end, the Thruxton 400 kept pulling. Additionally, the 0-100kmph sprint time has gone down by 1 second compared to the Speed 400 and it manages the run in 6.7 seconds.

Triumph Thruxton 400: Mileage

Real-world fuel efficiency sits at around 26kmpl depending on their riding style which is decent mileage for a bike in this segment. With the 13-litre tank, riders can expect a riding range of over 300kms.

Handling is where the Thruxton 400 surely shines. The shorter handlebar reach, combined with a slightly different weight distribution from the Speed 400, makes the Thruxton feel more precise and eager when tipping into corners. 

The Speed 400 was already a nimble and flickable machine and the Thruxton 400 manages to take that a step further with its sharper rake angle and a shorter wheelbase. It dives in quicker, feels stable mid-corner and extremely planted while powering out, which ultimately encouraged me to push harder and carry better lean angles in the process. For spirited weekend rides, the Thruxton is surely a satisfying motorcycle.

Triumph Thruxton 400: Tyres

The Thruxton uses the same 17-inch wheels and the option of either MRF or Apollo tyres. I was using a unit with Apollo tyres fitted to it and they offered really good grip in dry conditions and decent performance when I was riding on wet roads. 

Triumph Thruxton 400: Brakes

Braking performance is strong and predictable, with the ByBre radial caliper offering progressive bite. The rear brake is also easy to modulate, making it useful for mid-corner corrections, also thanks to the ABS intervention which is smooth and unobtrusive.

Triumph Thruxton 400: Ride Quality

The suspension setup is similar to the Speed 400; inverted forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. In comparison to the Speed, the tuning has been reworked to better suit its character and both ends get 10mm of additional travel. For my 57kg weight, the Thruxton felt marginally firmer than the Speed 400, complementing its sportier character. It was able to handle rough patches decently, but sharp bumps were felt more clearly due to the riding stance. Heavier riders will feel like the ride quality is more plush. On smooth tarmac, though, the Thruxton is a delight to ride.

The Triumph Thruxton 400 is a rare offering in today’s market considering we hardly see any cafe racers on sale. It takes the well-rounded performance of the Speed 400 and adds a sportier edge, making it perfect for riders who want a machine that looks as good parked outside a cafe as it feels when out on a twisty road. It is not as comfortable or versatile as the Speed or Scrambler, but for those who value style, handling precision, and an engaging riding experience, the Thruxton 400 hits the mark. It is much more than just a Speed 400 with a fairing and I surely enjoyed my day spent with the bike.

Triumph Thruxton 400: Variants

The Thruxton 400 is offered in a single variant with four colour options. All variants get inverted forks, dual-channel ABS, and all-LED lighting, with only paint schemes differentiating them.

Triumph Thruxton 400: Price

The bike is priced at Rs 2.74 lakh (ex-showroom), making it around Rs 50,000 more expensive than the Speed 400. At this price point in the Triumph 400cc portfolio, it sits above the Speed and the Scrambler, but is cheaper than the Scrambler 400 XC. It offers a unique style proposition that justifies the premium over its sibling, the Speed 400.

There are no direct rivals, but in a higher displacement and price bracket, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is another cafe racer to consider. In the sub-500cc space, the Thruxton 400 is in a league of its own, appealing to riders who want classic racer styling without the bulk and power of a big twin.