5 Reasons Why We Love The Triumph Speed T4 Over The Triumph Speed 400

The Triumph Speed T4 has recently received a massive discount of Rs 18,000, making it a lot more affordable than before. After its launch, many thought that the Speed T4 was just a cheaper Triumph Speed 400. But the bike is more than that. In this article, we will be going over 5 reasons why we love the Speed T4 over Speed 400. 

Better Bottom End Grunt

Both the Triumph Speed 400 and the Triumph Speed T4 get the same engine. But the 398.15cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder motor produces 31PS and 16Nm on the T4. This is 9PS and 1.5Nm less compared to the Speed 400. 

But the power figures don’t paint the entire picture. Triumph has made a lot of changes to the engine, like giving it a heavier flywheel. This has improved the bike’s bottom end torque quite a bit. The bike makes more torque than the Speed 400 between 2,500 to 5,500rpm, which makes it more responsive. Compared to the Speed 400’s revvier engine, the Speed T4 feels a lot better when riding in the city.

The Engine Is Tractable

Another reason why we like the Speed T4 is tractability. The bike can be easily ridden at speeds of 30 to 40kmph in 4th gear. The best part is, you can open the throttle at these speeds and the bike will pick up without any knocking or juddering.

When riding inside the city, the tractability really helps the Speed T4 perform better. Plus the rider doesn’t have to worry too much about having to constantly downshift for quick overtaking.

Can Cruise Better

Triumph has given the Speed T4 a smaller, 39-tooth rear sprocket instead of a 43-tooth one like the Speed 400. This gives the bike taller gearing, which in turn helps it cruise at higher speeds at lower rpm.

To give you a real-world perspective, on the T4 at 100kmph in the sixth gear, the engine revs at about 5,450rpm. At the same speed on the Speed 400, the engine is at about 6,150rpm. This makes it easier for the Speed T4 to cruise at higher speeds for longer, while also feeling more relaxed. This also means the T4 should be more frugal, be it at city speeds or even when cruising on the highway. 

Smoother Throttle

The Triumph Speed T4 gets a cable-operated throttle body whereas the Speed 400 has a ride-by-wire throttle. But in our experience, the T4’s throttle feels a lot smoother and more predictable compared to the Speed 400’s, especially at lower speeds.

One of the issues we have found with the Speed 400’s ride-by-wire throttle is that it doesn’t feel as smooth. This is clear during the on and off throttle transitions, and leaves you wanting for more.

Predictable Handling

The Speed T4 gets a conventional telescopic fork instead of a inverted fork. But this hasn’t made the handling bad in any way. The bike feels a lot more predictable while also being nimble enough to cut through traffic.

The Speed 400 on the other hand feels a bit too quick to steer. Overall, the Speed T4 offers greater predictability when it comes to handling. It also feels a lot more easy going than the Speed 400.

We had recently ridden the Speed T4. In the review we have done a deeper dive into what makes the Speed T4 different when compared to the Speed 400.