BREWED FROM SPEED

Can the Triumph Thruxton 400's café racer style and extra punch make it the ultimate blend of retro charm and modern performance for the discerning Indian rider?

- Abhinav Jakhar

The Thruxton 400 is the latest in Triumph's TR-Series of motorcycles, the same lineup powered by that familiar 398cc single-cylinder motor. I don't know about you, but I've always had a soft spot for the Thruxton. Its sleek, cool, and classy design language always evoked an emotion, one that was always positive and thought-provoking. Triumph proudly calls it the OG cafe racer, which has a proud lineage right from the 1960s. The TR family already includes the Scrambler 400X, the XC, the Speed 400, and the Speed T4, but to my eye, this is the prettiest of the lot. Of course, looks are subjective, but the Thruxton's proportions, fairing, and stance make it stand out in a way that feels true to its heritage. So, does it have the performance to match the looks? Before we delve into that, let's talk about how it's different from the Speed 400.

While it shares its basic platform with the Speed 400, the Thruxton 400 has been reworked in several key ways. It gets a bikini fairing or half-fairing, which immediately gives it a more aggressive, purposeful look. The USD forks are still present, though finished in black rather than the Speed's gold, and the rake angle, suspension travel, and wheelbase have all been subtly altered. The tank design is new, although capacity remains unchanged, and there's a fresh brake fluid reservoir design, along with Thruxton 400 badging that could have been a touch more premium. There's also a redesigned rear sub-frame in the mix. The seat design differs, too, paired with a standard cowl that can be removed by taking out the seat, and the tail section has been reshaped.