2024 Triumph Speed T4 first ride review: More than an entry-level variant

At ₹2.17 lakh ex-showroom, the new Triumph Speed T4 saves you ₹23,000 over the Speed 400. However, don’t think of it as merely a more affordable entry-level variant. While it does omit a few features and has 25 per cent less power, the Speed T4 aims for a different kind of rider. As a result, it offers a unique riding experience, with much more happening under the surface. Let me get you up to speed (no pun intended) with the T4, starting with the changes in styling.

Triumph Speed T4 styling

At first glance, the Speed T4 looks very similar to the Speed 400, but a closer inspection tells a different story. The most noticeable cosmetic change is the shift to 43mm telescopic forks upfront, replacing the stylish golden USD-forks on the 400. This change also impacts the T4’s ride and handling, but more on that later. Unlike the Speed 400, which features adjustable levers and bar-end mirrors, the T4 uses non-adjustable levers and more conventional stem-type mirrors. This change was made based on customer feedback; 400 owners often found it hard to filter through traffic due to the protruding bar-end mirrors, but Triumph assures that won't be an issue with the T4’s traditional setup—and that’s certainly true.

The bike sports new graphics on the 13-litre fuel tank, a fresh ‘Speed T4’ graphic on the side cowls, and the option of three single-tone shades to differentiate it from its siblings. While the saddle height has risen by 3mm to 806mm, Triumph has reprofiled the seat on the T4 to make it narrower at the front, helping riders reach the ground more easily. It also has 10mm more padding for the pillion, enhancing comfort. The bike features a matte black exhaust with a high-corrosive paint resistant to chipping at high temperatures. Aside from these changes, the T4 continues to offer LED lighting all around, a semi-digital cluster, a blacked-out radiator grille, and a bash plate. The engine retains its matte black powder-coated finish, beautifully contrasted by silver fins, a Triumph logo, and a Triumph badge. In terms of quality, there’s no cost-cutting on the T4; it feels just as solid and well-built as the other bikes in the 400 line-up.

Triumph Speed T4 engine

The Triumph T4 is powered by the same 398cc TR-Series single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine as its older sibling, but with reduced power. It produces 30.5bhp at 7000rpm and 36Nm of peak torque at 5000rpm—9.5bhp and 1.5Nm lower than the Speed 400. However, the T4 boasts more torque between 3500 and 5500rpm, making it better suited to low-speed riding. In fact, 85 per cent of the 36Nm is available from just 2500rpm. While this may seem like a simple tuning adjustment, there are several internal engine changes that enhance low-speed rideability, such as a 30 per cent increase in crank inertia thanks to a heavier flywheel. It also gets a larger diameter throttle body and an optimised intake duct. Additionally, the bike has received a smaller rear sprocket, reduced from 43 to 39 teeth, resulting in taller gearing.

The first thing you’ll notice when riding is the improved low-end torque, making the T4 a pleasure to ride in the city. The bike feels eager in every gear, and overtaking between 40 to 70kmph doesn’t require a downshift, even when riding in higher gears. The taller gearing means you can comfortably leave the bike in third or fourth and still pull away from as low as 30kmph. The shorter rear sprocket also makes the T4 more relaxed on the highway at triple-digit speeds. Between 100-120kmph, it cruises at just over 4500rpm in sixth gear, with plenty of power in reserve for overtakes, making it an excellent touring machine. However, during spirited rides where you want to rev through the gears, you’ll notice a lack of top-end power as it fades away after 6500rpm towards the 8000rpm redline. The reduced power output prompted Triumph to remove traction control and opt for a traditional cable-operated throttle instead of the Speed 400’s ride-by-wire system. While the absence of traction control is no big deal, the cable throttle can feel a bit choppy at lower speeds due to the the fact that more torque is available at lower revs. The engine is paired to a slick six-speed gearbox, with a slipper clutch, that’s incredible to use.

Triumph claims the T4 has a combined fuel efficiency of 30kmpl which is 4kmpl more than the Speed 400 and I wouldn’t be surprised if owners easily achieve it or even better it due to the bike’s easygoing nature.

Triumph Speed T4 chassis, ride, and handling

The Speed T4 shares the same steel tubular perimeter frame with a bolt-on rear subframe as the Speed 400. It also rides on the same 17-inch 10-spoke cast aluminium wheels. However, its riding experience is different due to the aforementioned 43mm telescopic forks and a switch to bias-ply MRF tyres, which have a higher, stiffer profile and narrower rear width. The bike also gets a 20mm longer wheelbase thanks to a different trail angle at the rear, and the monoshock doing duties at the back has 10mm shorter travel. This setup improves comfort over bad roads and makes the T4 feel slightly more plush than the Speed 400, though it comes at the cost of sharp handling. The MRF tyres, which add about 2kg of weight, focus more on longevity than grip due to their harder construction. As a result, the T4 doesn’t feel as nimble as the Speed 400 shod with Vredestein tyres.

With a kerb weight of 180kg, the T4 is only 1kg heavier than the Speed 400, and once moving, it hides its mass very well. The comfortable rider’s triangle, with mid-set footpegs and a high handlebar, provides excellent ergonomics, making long stints in the saddle a breeze. However, at lower speeds, you do feel its heft, especially when reversing out of parking spots. Braking duties on the T4 are handled by a 300mm disc at the front with an axially mounted caliper (the 400 gets a radially mounted unit) and a 230mm disc at the rear and this pair offers good bite, progression and doesn’t fade even after heavy use. Its supported by a well-calibrated Bosch ABS, but the T4's tyres don’t inspire much confidence, which I feel is an area that definitely needs an upgrade.

Triumph Speed T4 verdict

The Triumph Speed T4 doesn’t feel like a low-cost variant of the Speed 400 in any way, but with a nominal price difference of ₹23,000 between the two, it’s hard to justify its existence—despite its appeal to a different audience. It performs exactly as advertised, making for a fantastic city runabout with excellent touring credentials, in fact even better than the Speed 400. However, considering that the Speed 400 offers USD forks, traction control, and grippier Vredestein tyres at only a slightly higher price, selling the T4 could be a challenge for Triumph. The T4 is an easygoing version of the Speed 400 with fewer features, but it has everything you need, including a potent engine, superb build quality, good fuel efficiency and those head-turning looks like its elder siblings. It’s for those who enjoy the chill of riding rather than the thrill of riding. But it would have made a significantly stronger case for itself if it was priced closer to ₹1.8 lakh mark.