Nice review, good to see new content. I took the MSF at a local Harley shop, and during a break I told the instructor I was pondering a 300cc to get started. She said "Well, you're riding a 500cc here. Does that seem like too much power? Just be respectful of the power of whatever your bike is, and you should be fine." I bought a MT-07 two weeks later and love it.
@@ButtonLicker Harley is the only company using bigger bikes in their classes. Everyone else uses off the floor small cc bikes. Harley does not sell any. Google it. It's not something Harley publicly talks about, but quite a few people teaching the classes have posted about how they detune them.
I started on a triumph trophy 500 twin scrambler in the early 70's. I loved that bike, and took it places I probably shouldn't have. It gave me a life long love of scramblers and dual-sports. Still riding at 70 now on a gen 3 klr.
Great review……honestly if a new rider is present, stays aware and was taught correctly they should do just fine on either bike. I think a throttle that is a fly by wire is harder to deal with for a new rider more than anything. It’s makes riding a bike with low end grunt jumpy in a new rider’s hand until they are comfortable with it.
All beginners are different. This seems like a good entry point for someone with the right budget and a reasonable sense of self preservation. The ABS and Traction control may be able to help newer riders avoid serious mistakes.
I past my test on a 125 in 1970 in the good old days when the RAC and the police did the training, a week later I was riding cx 500 , with continuation training with the same instructors which was brilliant. Now I’m a oldie with Iam training of 30 years and Still learning a. Nice vlog and with experience you don’t need 180 bhp on a bike , you’ll only ever need it if you go on a race track , I’ve done 140 mph and didn’t enjoy it ,.
Thanks for posting an interesting review. I have a few bikes one of them is a "400" street bike with a single cylinder engine from a different manufacturer. I have to say, I think this is likely to be a continuingly growing, if not already, massive market. The lighter bikes are very much better in the city and with just enough power to keep up with the traffic on the highway for short trip. Across a country, that's where you need a bigger bike, but for every day convenience, this is the sweet spot for bike size and weight.
Very good! I like your style and delivery and content. I look forward to more. I picked up my speed 400 this past week and love it. And I have been riding 62 years!
I am really sad, I will have to leave the world of motorcycling because my medical problem returns, I will have to sell my CBR600 RR, I feel too bad, I took great care of her
That is sad but you’re not alone. I am also struggling with health issues that could end riding. Just had surgery and I expect I’ll be ok to ride for another season and hopefully more.
I currently own a Triumph 1050 Sprint ST. Its a big heavy bike but also a great bike, but at 74 years of age I am now struggling to push it around and pull back onto the centre stand, so i am now seriously looking at the Triumph 400 because of its lightness, and I am done with 160mph missiles.
I'm an old guy with bad knees. I just traded my heavy Harley Davidson for a Honda SCL500 Scrambler. Perfect bike for me and the kind of riding I do. I love the torque it has at the lower rpms. I hardly ever hafta use brakes when slowing down.
Same here plus a cranky back. Road Glide gone and now proud owner of a CT 125 and taking delivery next week of my first and long awaited Triumph. 400 X Scrambler, test drive was so much fun, 400 lbs so nice.
Living in the same area as you I'm super jealous that you were jetted off to Europe to ride motos. February is not exactly prime riding season here. Excellent review btw. Lots of fun for 400 cc.
My first bike was a 1971 BSA Victor 500 B-50T that I got in 1973 while I was in high school. I weighed 125 pounds - it weighed ~295 pounds (dry) and had 34 horsepower. I learned to ride on a friend's 1972 Kawasaki G5 100 and had about six months of experience, so I knew what to do and the BSA was not too much. However, it was at the upper end of what was reasonable for me at that time. I think people ought to learn on enduro/dual-sport bikes of up to about a 250 cc, depending on the rider's weight. An hour of off-road experience is worth about 10 hours of road experience while being a lot more forgiving of mishaps. Bikes today are generally too tall to be good examples, but the old Honda SL-125 / XL-250 are about ideal for beginners / new riders.
Thanks for your review . I'm deciding between speed 400 and Yamaha r3 . I'm a return rider 2018 . 63 years young and a little height challenged, so speed 400 sounds good. Kind regards, Mark, perth Western Australia .
Nice review. I traded in my RE Hunter 350 yesterday for one of these, Speed 400. I thoroughly enjoyed the Hunter, I always thought while riding it, it lacked a little power. This has the power the Hunter lacked, I can flat foot it comfortably. At higher revs / speed the handlebars tend to vibrate / buzz a bit. I’m hoping after the break-in period that will become less. I know after a few thousand miles on the Hunter, the character of the ride changed. The seat could use a little extra padding. Love the way it shifts, clutch is nice, suspension is acceptable. Can’t beat it for the price! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I love Valencia, lucky lady.
Displacement and horsepower are not interchangeable terms. I've owned a v-twin 950cc which yielded about 50 HP, and I currently own a 700cc parallel twin with about 75 hp. I also own a 1000cc inline 4 with about 160hp. There are more factors to take into account outside of displacement. The speed 400 and scrambler 400x aren't necessarily beginner bikes and give you a good amount of power (around 40hp). They are both bikes that should be easy to grow into and possibly even grow out of, but this is all dependent on your use case. The biggest takeaway with these bike are the price points, which are easier for new riders to get into if buying new. I'm actually considering a Husqvarna 401 Vitpilen/svartpilen for commuting around town, and I've been riding since 2009 for some more context. Great video nonetheless!
My very first bike was a 1990 Yamaha Virago 1100 that I bought in 1990 in my late 40's. To this day, it was the best bike I ever owned. Just thought I would share this because so many people assume that anything in the 400 to 900 range would be too much for a beginner. I test drove a used Honda shadow 750 back then, I had never been on a bike before, for less than a week, and hated it because it felt like a tank. I took it back to the dealer and the salesman let me try a brand new 1100 Virago for a test and I fell in love with it. Compared to the Honda. the Virago felt like a Porshe. 😎
As an older rider, I would have loved to have tried one out as I restarted my riding experience - at 66 years old. Basic is good. This motorcycle is backed up by Triumph and built beautifully by Bajaj Auto. I ended up with a middleweight cruiser, which I've converted into an everyday commuter (Kawasaki Vulcan S). This bike, to serve the same purpose, would need a windscreen at the very least. I've also added crash bars - things happen even though I haven't dropped it yet. It does have a lovely roll-on character on faster highways that I doubt a 400 cc thumper could match. Interstate 70 has a 70 MPH speed limit in spots.
Great review- love the honest, open questioning approach, cos that is where we are at. I am male, 68 years old and 5' 10''. Much happier the Speed 400.
When it comes to choosing a beginner bike, engine displacement is just one piece of the puzzle. What truly matters is how that power is managed. It's all about the horsepower and torque delivery to the rear wheel, how smoothly it accelerates, the handling, balance, and overall size of the motorcycle. But let's not forget the rider. Comparing two riders with different ages and body builds on the same bike isn't fair. A petite rider and a larger rider will have vastly different experiences. So, when discussing beginner bikes, it's crucial to consider all these factors to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride for everyone. My own experience resonates with this. I started riding in 2012 on a Kawasaki GPZ500s, a bike manufactured in 1992. Having held my rider's license since February 2007, my previous riding experience involved occasional short rides on bikes like the Kawasaki ZX9R from '98 and a Honda VFR 750 from '92. Having all that said... Triumph really nailed it with these 400cc bikes covering really well the requirements of small and larger riders.
I checked out the triumph, royal enfield and husqvarna 400cc bikes. In the end I sacrificed that characterful single cylinder sound for a twin and got a 2024 CB500 Hornet.
It all depends. When I was starting I had trouble riding on 125 and 250, then one lesson my instructor said "try this today" without telling me it's an A2 restricted 600 and I had a perfect lesson. I was riding it for the rest of the course and it felt ideal. It was MT-07. I bought one straight after getting a license and I was very satisfied, I still have it.
You were definitely the type of new rider that has a mindset to handle bigger bikes responsibly! And getting professional instruction is excellent, a fast track to being a great rider for sure
@@AntiParallali Oh, yeah, I was already in my 30s and a little too shy when it came to handling the throttle, that's why high torque motorcycle turned out to be better for me despite the bigger engine. It also lasted quite a while as my skills grew and I allowed myself to ride a bit more dynamically. I still ride very defensively on my XR 900 - got her for her beauty, not for her bigger assets.
@@HeliNomadic It means it's locked to restrict power so it'd be legal to ride it with A2 driving license (simplification: there's A1 for scooters for teens, A2 for small motorcycles for 18 years old young adults and A for full blown machines for people over 21).
Hi Lali, you were right! You had a vid in the works and here it is as promised. How sweet, you were able to go to Spain and ride! Looked like a great time and yes, gorgeous!! I haven’t rode a bike in years so I can’t be helpful for you on your question to leave my thoughts in a comment. But another great video! You did very well on your review and I’m sure it helps those who may be considering getting something. Anyways, take care Lalipop and stay safe!! Best wishes! 😉😆👍❤️ spring should right around the corner!!
@@AntiParallali Welcome! It was a really well done video. Want to clarify something… Not sure if you got my Lalipop play on words thing or not? I got to thinking that maybe I should have included more to it, to make sense. I first used it when I asked you the question about posting vlogs, in the comments on your short vid you posted. You answered stating it was to cold to ride, which I agreed with forgetting about being winter time. That’s when I put the Lalipop and not freezing because if you did, it would make you a Lalipopsicle. See?? 😉😆 tc
I spent most of my riding time on a 250 cc dual sport, then did some riding on torquey little 59HP 350cc sport bike, which seemed a lot, at the time. I was uncomfortable in the more tucked riding position, narrow bars, fairing and, at the time had not had any instructions, experience, or license (oops). Now I am legal and getting back to it. The MSF was cake. I plan on going higher in displacement on my next bike 700 to 900cc's and take the time to get to know it. I also plan to take more advanced classes than just the minimum required. I'm sure I would be quite happy on the 400 scrambler. I know that particular type of fun, extracting all the joy out of a smaller bike. I am intrigued. The price point would, in the short term get me up on two wheels faster with about 80% of my riding needs satisfied. They are very good looking. Thanks Lali.
Nice review, this bike will be fun….mine will be delivered in June and will supplement my „old“ Tiger 955. Even thought imprinting for 40 years now, I am still excited. Well, 40 HP are somewhat fitting…ride safely, Regards from Hamburg, Germany
The 400 4 stroke single cylinders are fine for a beginner bike. 40HP, 27ft-lbs torque, in a 375lb bike. That's not going to send you to moon or anything, but it's enough to have some fun
Lali, at first I was upset. You came to Spain and you didn't visit me! Then I realised you were at the other end of Spain, so I forgive you. I rather like the look of the Speed 400. I reckon it would suit me as a retirement bike. I mean a lighter bike that will be easier to handle as I get older (currently 69 years old riding a BMW K75). Nice presentation Lali.
I love the fact that you're a science PhD candidate and have experience designing experiments. Not wanting to make many comparisons after only one ride each. Nice!
I started out on a Suzuki GSXR 750 many moons ago, so no i do not think 400cc is too much for beginner and Triumph build great bike for beginners as well for seasoned riders. Brilliant video by the way..!! 👍🏼
NOT a beginner (riding since 1961) Bought one about a month ago for a "play bike". It's a hoot. Absolutely fun to ride on the back roads here in northern Virginia. The saddle sucks after 100 miles or so - but that's not what I bought the bike for. Considering adding the Scrambler version if I can clear up some garage space. 😁
I would go for the Speed 400, as I don't want tall bikes anymore. Just traded a Super Tenere with 25K mi on it for a Burgman 200--yep I did. Had 2Yamaha scooters B4 the Super T. Looking at bikes now with Cruise Control for longer rides, but will keep the Burgman for intown and short trips. Great video!!
mhm. And in europe we get our license on 650cc engines with 95 hp. This misleading crap needs to stop with "non beginner bikes". I mean, sure, don't get 1l 150hp+ bikes as a first bike, but really this is getting ridiculous. Especially when most new bikes (including this triumph) also comes with all kinds of aids suc as traction control and slipper clutch. Internet people make it seem like 650cc bikes will literally throw you off the bike. The Honda CB650R I took my license on is so tame and gentle I can't see for the life of me how it could kill me UNLESS I go crazy with the throttle. I mean just don't get it above 5k rpm and NOTHING HAPPENS. LITERALLY.
Nice one Lali. Thank you. 400’s (or bikes around this) are perfect beginner bikes. One reason is due to legal restrictions in basically every other country apart from the land of the free. However, if here are hardly the quickest in this section. Just about average which is a good thing. 250’s if you have zero experience would be safer however lack a bit to escape a dangerous situation.
I would have to slightly disagree with the tag that the 400 Scram is a starter bike, most adventure touring riders look for light weight cost effective options, and the engine and power reflects a more diverse range of riders. This is something we have all been waiting for. I rode my Harley Iron 883 today 300 km nothing fancy, but outside the CBD the roads are rubbish here, lots of actual halfway complete road repairs and later some pot holes in one area that almost had me launched out of the seat. Note the 883 has better shocks but that still are not super good. (I understand different bike) With the group, we can run at 100 km and a range 300 km a tank.The x400 has no issues, with poor roads, every one can ride without any problems at this stage, we can ride on normal to mid range fire trails. We changed the tyres for 50/50 and they are set up for adventure touring light and mid. They are comfortable and capable off road if you don’t push too hard. The base speed limit is 80 km & 100 km on highways, however country roads very. (at most intersections in the City they have speed & red light cameras) We have things that hop on the road, kangaroo's and wildlife. I hit a 6ft Red Male, totalled my Mazda 2, he was taken to the vet survived, the Mazda was a write off. Thanks mate for the video.
I took my MSF course on a Suzuki VanVan, approximately 200-ish CCs and fairly newbie friendly. After the class, I was very worried that getting the motorcycle I wanted, a KTM 390 Adventure, would be too much for me. I just hit 300 miles on my new 390 Adv and I'm super happy I made the decision to get it.
My first bike was a Honda FT500 Ascot, which was a pretty good choice for me. I haven’t had a chance to test either of these yet, but they seem ideal for both new riders and anyone who likes having a smaller option in the garage. (So, don’t assume these will all go to new riders. Some of us more seasoned riders are eyeing them, too.) 😁
Hiya, great vid. I've had a 1200 Speed Twin for 5 years, and have recently bought a Speed 400. It's an awesome little machine, very light and clickable, amazing torque great handling, and is an absolute blast to ride. I thought the Speed Twin was great, but having used the 400 for a while while running it in, when I got back on the 1200, it felt heavy and cumbersome. I'm actually finding I go to the 400 more than the 1200 for a ride out, because it's so much easier to ride, being a mixture of town and country roads and lanes, but if doing a longer journey on the motorways (freeways?) where I want to maintain a higher speed for longer, i'l take the 1200. Interesting to hear your accent, and you commented on speed in kilometers per hour, are you in Canada?. Once again, thanks for a great vid, you have a very professional and enjoyable manner of presentation, making your vids very easy to watch. Thanks for posting it.
Lali vid! Let's go! 💯 I think for safety in mind, I think the ladder system we have in Europe is a great way in doing so. Only objection I have with it, it's that it's too long of a term to be able to proceed to a higher cc bike from like A1. And A2 as well, 35kW is a decent limit to get acquainted to after A1 but also it may be to long as well before you can go full A. Then again, that probably is different for anyone. Quite some riders have self control and discipline, they are vigilant and like to go on their own pace. Learning throttle control, brake control, cornering control with their own bike besides the lessons or course for the USA. Me included as well, I learned at the lessons, enhanced on that with my own riding and my own bike and I still do. Since I got my bike in June 2023. Other may not have this and will crash or get in dangerous situations due to this and they can great benefit and get more relax riding a smaller cc bike first. So to me, people can start on bigger bikes if they have the discipline and respect for it and take their time to learn the bike and the responses. Once who don't are better of starting on smaller cc's. But less CC doesn't mean less fun you can have a lot of fun on Groms for example. Just 125 cc but loaaads of fun. Same for the 300,400/500 class bikes. For a lot of people that more then sufficient for their commute or just riding in their free time. Also awesome place to ride in Spain it seems!
considering the price of these bikes you can hardly go wrong... finish, road holding, steering, brakes, comfort, engine capacity, are all more than sufficient to have a pleasant riding experience... and with a dose of common sense these bikes are quite suitable for beginners and also for more experienced riders who do not want to push the limit ... this is the opinion of a motorcyclist with 50 years of experience
Hi, good review especially the warning of the low down torq for beginners. as for starter bikes i think anything up to 500cc would be about right, i went straight to a Harley 883 iron, but that's a reasonably easy bike to learn from and forgiving, just have to get use to the weight. it wasn't so bad for me as i have ridden trials bikes for years so knew about balance etc. since then I'm in to my kawasakis and have had a Z1000 and now a Z900RS that's a nice bike but a bit eager at low down revs, but like all bikes you get use to them. yes i think the Triumph 400cc will be a good bike to start on but also a great little commute bike for just knocking around on. keep up the good vids and keep promoting girls to ride bikes .
I liked your review. Most guys are purely analytical, listing spec after spec. I can read specs, I want to hear what they feel like on the ride. Im thinking about picking this up as a second bike. Regarless of cc's and torque-ee-ness, a newbie needs to get intimately familiar with throttle, clutch and brake before riding on the street...or pavement even. Believe me - even a sub-400 cc dirt bike can " torque" your but down the road on your face if you dont bother to get familar with them. Dont ask me how I know this. Lol.
Thank you for your great review. In reality, 5k can be a lot of money for a lot people (like you said), but really, out the door in US its going to be more like 7k. I wish the US would list OTD prices like most other countries but alas... something to point out to new USA riders.
If you're a beginner rider, you'd have spent weeks if not months riding round on a 125cc bike, then taken lessons on a bike bigger than 400, as many schools use 750cc bikes with restrictors fitted to train people for the A2 licence. So, almost certainly a 400cc is nobody's beginner bike nowadays.
Lali I think a 400 would be fine for a beginner that has driven a manual car and is very athletic. But I think that a 250 or smaller would be a better choice for most people to start out on. Those Triumph;s look like to be some very nice and fun bikes to ride.
40 bhp at that weight is pretty good fun combination, if a beginner has a lot of push bike experience it would be familiar but still need to learn that throttle clutch control
I started on a 1925cc (Harley Road King special 117ci 😅) and will say it was scary. Should have started like you Loli and learned more before handling a big bike
400 is not too much. As long as the power is approachable and controllable with a little practice. Also bear in mind that you are tiny, the riders taller than you are likely to weight more as well and that is going to smooth things out on the power through inertia alone. The upside is that you won’t also outgrow it in 3 months like you might a 250 or 300cc bike.
Not a bad attempt from Triumph to create affordable, single-cylinder 400cc bikes. And kudos to Bajaj for being up to the task for manufacturing these bikes for Triumph. Lots of nice 400cc class bikes coming out this year, including the much-awaited CFMoto Ibex 450/450MT adventure bike that uses their 450cc 270-degree crank parallel twin engine.
In the U.K all beginner motorcycles had to be 250 CC or less. I think recently its dropped to 200 CC. Far too many accidents in the U.S are due to a motorcycle being far too powerful for the rider's ability.The manufacturers are actually irresponsible, there is no need for such power levels, it's a nonsense.
my first bike was a 2006 ninja 250 and I thought it was way more peppy that most people said. I rode it 25,000 miles so I don't think im a noob, even though i haven't ridden for 15 years. I have been considering the z400 or emiminator 400 but was just told about the speed 400 and I like it.
Wow Scrambler 400x is so expensive in your country. I think You said you will have to pay 5000 dollar. But Scrambler 400x price is 3143.94 dollar in my country (India) Last year I bought Pulsar f250 its a good bike but as I m traveling like 6000 to 8000 kilometer in a single trip so now i think i should go for at least 400cc bike. May be next year I will buy my another bike but I am little confuse between scram 400 and Bajaj Dominar 400. Actually I just love Dominar 400 but the only one thing is making me little worried abt Dominar that It is so Heavy. anyway Nice video friend. Have a wonderful evening.
I think a 400 falls into a sweet spot for new or returning riders honestly. It might be a little intimidating at first, but the bike will have a longer life with that rider because they will have enough power for many uses, and still have a lighter weight to maintain a more nimble feel when riding. Where a lighter 250 or less that rider might grow tired of the lack of power and want to swap out to something larger sooner.
While I don't remember what bike I rode during my MSF course (I assume it was probably around the 200-300 range), my first bike three months after the course was a Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Initially, I was intimated by that much power (and weight), but because it is such a low bike, I found it incredibly easy to ride, and I didn't feel at any time that it was too much power (plus, I was 41, so I was past the point of thinking I was invincible and wanting to always go fast). I know own a KLR 650 (two actually) and a Suzuki DRZ-400. For me, that power range seems perfect, and I fully intend on adding the 400X (and maybe even an SV650) to my stable. Not having ridden the 400/400X and experiencing the low-down torque, that might not be ideal for new riders, but from all of the reviews that I've seen of these bikes, they seems like they'd be not only good to gain experience on, but something to grow into and be happy with down the road. I am certainly looking forward to getting the 400X.
Love triumph and love the looks of these bikes. It's nice to have a 400cc that doesn't look like a transformer insect or racer boy wannabe I've been dragging my feet for a while but I think I might have to pull the trigger on the lil speed
I’m not sure what’s the problem. I moved to Speed 400 from bigger bikes and actually prefer it as a daily rider. It’s just super easy and sounds great. At least you won’t drop it when manoeuvring in tight spaces at slow speed…
I think Triumph hit the mark with these. Great entry/reentry bike that they won’t outgrow. 400cc with torque is great for beginners. Makes it easy to get going from a start, then a four-cylinder high RPM bike.
A true starter motorcycle would be similar to a 80cc dirt bike for the basics & a little seat time. After approximately 100 hrs of learning then move to the 400 class to continue the learning. Nothing wrong with starting on a small bike.
Nice review, good to see new content.
I took the MSF at a local Harley shop, and during a break I told the instructor I was pondering a 300cc to get started. She said "Well, you're riding a 500cc here. Does that seem like too much power? Just be respectful of the power of whatever your bike is, and you should be fine." I bought a MT-07 two weeks later and love it.
So he left out the detail that they detune those 500s to the equivalent of a 250 to comply with MSF standards?
Not in the US .@@RebelCowboysRVs
@@RebelCowboysRVs Do they actively detune the hondas?
@@ButtonLicker Harley is the only company using bigger bikes in their classes. Everyone else uses off the floor small cc bikes. Harley does not sell any. Google it. It's not something Harley publicly talks about, but quite a few people teaching the classes have posted about how they detune them.
@@leeinwis they don't have to, Harley already did. it's a 500lbs motorcycle with 30hp
This is the best review I have seen so far thank you. Appreciated the silent moments to hear the exhaust as well!
Thanks so much! ❤️
I started on a triumph trophy 500 twin scrambler in the early 70's. I loved that bike, and took it places I probably shouldn't have. It gave me a life long love of scramblers and dual-sports. Still riding at 70 now on a gen 3 klr.
This is great due to the 10k service interval compared to RE. It even costs less when you get it serviced. That is important to me.
Valid points ✅
I like the RE but I hate taking my bike to the shop.
These are definitely looking like really great bikes for a huge variety of riders.
I think so too, new riders should be smooth on the throttle when learning and experienced riders can just rip it and have fun lol
Cheers. My wife (60) is planning to get her first bike and a deeper dive from a woman's perspective would be very helpful. Great review.
Glad it was helpful!
Great review……honestly if a new rider is present, stays aware and was taught correctly they should do just fine on either bike. I think a throttle that is a fly by wire is harder to deal with for a new rider more than anything. It’s makes riding a bike with low end grunt jumpy in a new rider’s hand until they are comfortable with it.
The Speed 400 looks perfect for city and laid-back twisty riding.
It’s quite small for anyone 5’9 or taller
That's exactly what I think, great in town and narrow twisty country lanes.
All beginners are different. This seems like a good entry point for someone with the right budget and a reasonable sense of self preservation. The ABS and Traction control may be able to help newer riders avoid serious mistakes.
I past my test on a 125 in 1970 in the good old days when the RAC and the police did the training, a week later I was riding cx 500 , with continuation training with the same instructors which was brilliant. Now I’m a oldie with Iam training of 30 years and Still learning a. Nice vlog and with experience you don’t need 180 bhp on a bike , you’ll only ever need it if you go on a race track , I’ve done 140 mph and didn’t enjoy it ,.
Thanks for posting an interesting review. I have a few bikes one of them is a "400" street bike with a single cylinder engine from a different manufacturer. I have to say, I think this is likely to be a continuingly growing, if not already, massive market. The lighter bikes are very much better in the city and with just enough power to keep up with the traffic on the highway for short trip. Across a country, that's where you need a bigger bike, but for every day convenience, this is the sweet spot for bike size and weight.
Glad to you’re back & creating new content.
Guess who back, back again Lali back tell a friend . Those new Triumph are cool looking bikes 💯✌️🤟🤘
Very good! I like your style and delivery and content. I look forward to more. I picked up my speed 400 this past week and love it. And I have been riding 62 years!
I am really sad, I will have to leave the world of motorcycling because my medical problem returns, I will have to sell my CBR600 RR, I feel too bad, I took great care of her
That is sad but you’re not alone. I am also struggling with health issues that could end riding. Just had surgery and I expect I’ll be ok to ride for another season and hopefully more.
What medical problems? What's so bad that could leave you from motorcycle riding?
@@93mlo epilepsy
Torquey Down Low is my band's name
Haha I love that
For real?
Yes for real, for real.@@sagarchawla8145
Also my adult film name.
In my opinion a 400CC is a perfect beginner bike. Started on a CBR500 myself and learned a lot on that bike.
I currently own a Triumph 1050 Sprint ST.
Its a big heavy bike but also a great bike, but at 74 years of age I am now struggling to push it around and pull back onto the centre stand, so i am now seriously looking at the Triumph 400 because of its lightness, and I am done with 160mph missiles.
I'm an old guy with bad knees. I just traded my heavy Harley Davidson for a Honda SCL500 Scrambler. Perfect bike for me and the kind of riding I do. I love the torque it has at the lower rpms. I hardly ever hafta use brakes when slowing down.
Same here plus a cranky back. Road Glide gone and now proud owner of a CT 125 and taking delivery next week of my first and long awaited Triumph. 400 X Scrambler, test drive was so much fun, 400 lbs so nice.
Living in the same area as you I'm super jealous that you were jetted off to Europe to ride motos. February is not exactly prime riding season here.
Excellent review btw. Lots of fun for 400 cc.
Yeah it was a bit chilly but I really will not complain 😂
My first bike was a 1971 BSA Victor 500 B-50T that I got in 1973 while I was in high school. I weighed 125 pounds - it weighed ~295 pounds (dry) and had 34 horsepower. I learned to ride on a friend's 1972 Kawasaki G5 100 and had about six months of experience, so I knew what to do and the BSA was not too much. However, it was at the upper end of what was reasonable for me at that time.
I think people ought to learn on enduro/dual-sport bikes of up to about a 250 cc, depending on the rider's weight. An hour of off-road experience is worth about 10 hours of road experience while being a lot more forgiving of mishaps. Bikes today are generally too tall to be good examples, but the old Honda SL-125 / XL-250 are about ideal for beginners / new riders.
Thanks for your review . I'm deciding between speed 400 and Yamaha r3 . I'm a return rider 2018 . 63 years young and a little height challenged, so speed 400 sounds good. Kind regards, Mark, perth Western Australia .
Sat on the scrambler, it's suprisingly big, and i'm 6ft3 with long legs. Not bad!
Nice review. I traded in my RE Hunter 350 yesterday for one of these, Speed 400. I thoroughly enjoyed the Hunter, I always thought while riding it, it lacked a little power. This has the power the Hunter lacked, I can flat foot it comfortably. At higher revs / speed the handlebars tend to vibrate / buzz a bit. I’m hoping after the break-in period that will become less. I know after a few thousand miles on the Hunter, the character of the ride changed. The seat could use a little extra padding. Love the way it shifts, clutch is nice, suspension is acceptable. Can’t beat it for the price! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I love Valencia, lucky lady.
being single cylinder the buzz will stay only a twin or 4 cylinder eliminates that
@@ben9l351 appreciate the input, something to think about.
I'm considering the exact same thing. How is the Speed 400 now, 4 months or so later? I very much appreciate your thoughts!
Displacement and horsepower are not interchangeable terms. I've owned a v-twin 950cc which yielded about 50 HP, and I currently own a 700cc parallel twin with about 75 hp. I also own a 1000cc inline 4 with about 160hp. There are more factors to take into account outside of displacement. The speed 400 and scrambler 400x aren't necessarily beginner bikes and give you a good amount of power (around 40hp). They are both bikes that should be easy to grow into and possibly even grow out of, but this is all dependent on your use case. The biggest takeaway with these bike are the price points, which are easier for new riders to get into if buying new. I'm actually considering a Husqvarna 401 Vitpilen/svartpilen for commuting around town, and I've been riding since 2009 for some more context. Great video nonetheless!
My very first bike was a 1990 Yamaha Virago 1100 that I bought in 1990 in my late 40's. To this day, it was the best bike I ever owned. Just thought I would share this because so many people assume that anything in the 400 to 900 range would be too much for a beginner. I test drove a used Honda shadow 750 back then, I had never been on a bike before, for less than a week, and hated it because it felt like a tank. I took it back to the dealer and the salesman let me try a brand new 1100 Virago for a test and I fell in love with it. Compared to the Honda. the Virago felt like a Porshe. 😎
Just commenting because it helps with the numbers on lali's views so Triumph will take her on more Launches and let her do more reviews.
😂 I love that thank you
As an older rider, I would have loved to have tried one out as I restarted my riding experience - at 66 years old. Basic is good. This motorcycle is backed up by Triumph and built beautifully by Bajaj Auto. I ended up with a middleweight cruiser, which I've converted into an everyday commuter (Kawasaki Vulcan S). This bike, to serve the same purpose, would need a windscreen at the very least. I've also added crash bars - things happen even though I haven't dropped it yet. It does have a lovely roll-on character on faster highways that I doubt a 400 cc thumper could match. Interstate 70 has a 70 MPH speed limit in spots.
Great review- love the honest, open questioning approach, cos that is where we are at.
I am male, 68 years old and 5' 10''. Much happier the Speed 400.
When it comes to choosing a beginner bike, engine displacement is just one piece of the puzzle. What truly matters is how that power is managed. It's all about the horsepower and torque delivery to the rear wheel, how smoothly it accelerates, the handling, balance, and overall size of the motorcycle. But let's not forget the rider. Comparing two riders with different ages and body builds on the same bike isn't fair. A petite rider and a larger rider will have vastly different experiences. So, when discussing beginner bikes, it's crucial to consider all these factors to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride for everyone.
My own experience resonates with this. I started riding in 2012 on a Kawasaki GPZ500s, a bike manufactured in 1992. Having held my rider's license since February 2007, my previous riding experience involved occasional short rides on bikes like the Kawasaki ZX9R from '98 and a Honda VFR 750 from '92.
Having all that said... Triumph really nailed it with these 400cc bikes covering really well the requirements of small and larger riders.
I checked out the triumph, royal enfield and husqvarna 400cc bikes. In the end I sacrificed that characterful single cylinder sound for a twin and got a 2024 CB500 Hornet.
@G-Man01 I'm considering the 500 hornet as well. I can keep it longer, and I'm on the taller side.
It all depends. When I was starting I had trouble riding on 125 and 250, then one lesson my instructor said "try this today" without telling me it's an A2 restricted 600 and I had a perfect lesson. I was riding it for the rest of the course and it felt ideal. It was MT-07. I bought one straight after getting a license and I was very satisfied, I still have it.
You were definitely the type of new rider that has a mindset to handle bigger bikes responsibly! And getting professional instruction is excellent, a fast track to being a great rider for sure
@@AntiParallali Oh, yeah, I was already in my 30s and a little too shy when it came to handling the throttle, that's why high torque motorcycle turned out to be better for me despite the bigger engine. It also lasted quite a while as my skills grew and I allowed myself to ride a bit more dynamically. I still ride very defensively on my XR 900 - got her for her beauty, not for her bigger assets.
I have the XSR 700 they didn't sell the full power over here at the time so I removed the restrictions. I'm 67 and never really stopped riding.
What does A2 restricted mean?
@@HeliNomadic It means it's locked to restrict power so it'd be legal to ride it with A2 driving license (simplification: there's A1 for scooters for teens, A2 for small motorcycles for 18 years old young adults and A for full blown machines for people over 21).
Hi Lali, you were right! You had a vid in the works and here it is as promised. How sweet, you were able to go to Spain and ride! Looked like a great time and yes, gorgeous!! I haven’t rode a bike in years so I can’t be helpful for you on your question to leave my thoughts in a comment. But another great video! You did very well on your review and I’m sure it helps those who may be considering getting something. Anyways, take care Lalipop and stay safe!! Best wishes! 😉😆👍❤️ spring should right around the corner!!
😎 thank you
@@AntiParallali Welcome! It was a really well done video. Want to clarify something… Not sure if you got my Lalipop play on words thing or not? I got to thinking that maybe I should have included more to it, to make sense. I first used it when I asked you the question about posting vlogs, in the comments on your short vid you posted. You answered stating it was to cold to ride, which I agreed with forgetting about being winter time. That’s when I put the Lalipop and not freezing because if you did, it would make you a Lalipopsicle. See?? 😉😆 tc
I spent most of my riding time on a 250 cc dual sport, then did some riding on torquey little 59HP 350cc sport bike, which seemed a lot, at the time. I was uncomfortable in the more tucked riding position, narrow bars, fairing and, at the time had not had any instructions, experience, or license (oops). Now I am legal and getting back to it. The MSF was cake. I plan on going higher in displacement on my next bike 700 to 900cc's and take the time to get to know it. I also plan to take more advanced classes than just the minimum required. I'm sure I would be quite happy on the 400 scrambler. I know that particular type of fun, extracting all the joy out of a smaller bike. I am intrigued. The price point would, in the short term get me up on two wheels faster with about 80% of my riding needs satisfied. They are very good looking. Thanks Lali.
Speed 400 - I did the test ride yesterday and loved the motorcycle. Good torque, flexible, and light. It's also a very beautiful bike
Like always, enjoyed your video. Hope you get more out soon.
Nice review, this bike will be fun….mine will be delivered in June and will supplement my „old“ Tiger 955. Even thought imprinting for 40 years now, I am still excited. Well, 40 HP are somewhat fitting…ride safely, Regards from Hamburg, Germany
I rode a Suzuki 200 van van this might be good upgrade for me
The Speed 400 seems nice. Thanks for the review.
Good work Lali. This bike could be a perfect match for me, coz I'm tired of all the high powered bikes that I have owned. Big thanks!!
The 400 4 stroke single cylinders are fine for a beginner bike. 40HP, 27ft-lbs torque, in a 375lb bike. That's not going to send you to moon or anything, but it's enough to have some fun
Strange, we have spring here in Scandinavia and your weather still looks better !?. Soon, its biking time.Take care. ❤️👍
Lali, at first I was upset. You came to Spain and you didn't visit me! Then I realised you were at the other end of Spain, so I forgive you.
I rather like the look of the Speed 400. I reckon it would suit me as a retirement bike. I mean a lighter bike that will be easier to handle as I get older (currently 69 years old riding a BMW K75).
Nice presentation Lali.
I love the fact that you're a science PhD candidate and have experience designing experiments. Not wanting to make many comparisons after only one ride each. Nice!
Great review! We've missed our Lali. Shoutout to Valencia Spain great looking ride country.
I started out on a Suzuki GSXR 750 many moons ago, so no i do not think 400cc is too much for beginner and Triumph build great bike for beginners as well for seasoned riders. Brilliant video by the way..!! 👍🏼
NOT a beginner (riding since 1961) Bought one about a month ago for a "play bike". It's a hoot. Absolutely fun to ride on the back roads here in northern Virginia. The saddle sucks after 100 miles or so - but that's not what I bought the bike for. Considering adding the Scrambler version if I can clear up some garage space. 😁
I would go for the Speed 400, as I don't want tall bikes anymore. Just traded a Super Tenere with 25K mi on it for a Burgman 200--yep I did. Had 2Yamaha scooters B4 the Super T. Looking at bikes now with Cruise Control for longer rides, but will keep the Burgman for intown and short trips. Great video!!
mhm. And in europe we get our license on 650cc engines with 95 hp.
This misleading crap needs to stop with "non beginner bikes". I mean, sure, don't get 1l 150hp+ bikes as a first bike, but really this is getting ridiculous. Especially when most new bikes (including this triumph) also comes with all kinds of aids suc as traction control and slipper clutch.
Internet people make it seem like 650cc bikes will literally throw you off the bike. The Honda CB650R I took my license on is so tame and gentle I can't see for the life of me how it could kill me UNLESS I go crazy with the throttle. I mean just don't get it above 5k rpm and NOTHING HAPPENS. LITERALLY.
I really wanted to have you compare the speed to spicy boi. I think the lighter weight offsets the power a bit. Pretty solid review.
Good Stuff.
I'm in PA too, I'd love to buy a 400x but nobody near me seems to have them in stock, even though the websites say they do. Very annoying.
I started on a 400x two months ago. Feeling fine so far to start on a 400cc from Triumph.
Nice one Lali. Thank you. 400’s (or bikes around this) are perfect beginner bikes. One reason is due to legal restrictions in basically every other country apart from the land of the free. However, if here are hardly the quickest in this section. Just about average which is a good thing. 250’s if you have zero experience would be safer however lack a bit to escape a dangerous situation.
I would have to slightly disagree with the tag that the 400 Scram is a starter bike, most adventure touring riders look for light weight cost effective options, and the engine and power reflects a more diverse range of riders. This is something we have all been waiting for. I rode my Harley Iron 883 today 300 km nothing fancy, but outside the CBD the roads are rubbish here, lots of actual halfway complete road repairs and later some pot holes in one area that almost had me launched out of the seat. Note the 883 has better shocks but that still are not super good. (I understand different bike) With the group, we can run at 100 km and a range 300 km a tank.The x400 has no issues, with poor roads, every one can ride without any problems at this stage, we can ride on normal to mid range fire trails. We changed the tyres for 50/50 and they are set up for adventure touring light and mid. They are comfortable and capable off road if you don’t push too hard. The base speed limit is 80 km & 100 km on highways, however country roads very. (at most intersections in the City they have speed & red light cameras) We have things that hop on the road, kangaroo's and wildlife. I hit a 6ft Red Male, totalled my Mazda 2, he was taken to the vet survived, the Mazda was a write off. Thanks mate for the video.
was not expecting emotional POV but we got one!! but it wud have been helpful if we got a better comparison on every aspect.
Really cool I like how smooth the handling was.
oooh new video!! Ty lali u need to do more of this in youtube!!
Very good review, interesting Thumper.
Love your videos Lali!!
Thank ya! ❤️
Where were you lali? Missed your videos. Thang god you are back.
I took my MSF course on a Suzuki VanVan, approximately 200-ish CCs and fairly newbie friendly. After the class, I was very worried that getting the motorcycle I wanted, a KTM 390 Adventure, would be too much for me. I just hit 300 miles on my new 390 Adv and I'm super happy I made the decision to get it.
My first bike was a Honda FT500 Ascot, which was a pretty good choice for me. I haven’t had a chance to test either of these yet, but they seem ideal for both new riders and anyone who likes having a smaller option in the garage. (So, don’t assume these will all go to new riders. Some of us more seasoned riders are eyeing them, too.) 😁
Hiya, great vid. I've had a 1200 Speed Twin for 5 years, and have recently bought a Speed 400. It's an awesome little machine, very light and clickable, amazing torque great handling, and is an absolute blast to ride. I thought the Speed Twin was great, but having used the 400 for a while while running it in, when I got back on the 1200, it felt heavy and cumbersome. I'm actually finding I go to the 400 more than the 1200 for a ride out, because it's so much easier to ride, being a mixture of town and country roads and lanes, but if doing a longer journey on the motorways (freeways?) where I want to maintain a higher speed for longer, i'l take the 1200.
Interesting to hear your accent, and you commented on speed in kilometers per hour, are you in Canada?. Once again, thanks for a great vid, you have a very professional and enjoyable manner of presentation, making your vids very easy to watch. Thanks for posting it.
Lali vid! Let's go! 💯 I think for safety in mind, I think the ladder system we have in Europe is a great way in doing so.
Only objection I have with it, it's that it's too long of a term to be able to proceed to a higher cc bike from like A1. And A2 as well, 35kW is a decent limit to get acquainted to after A1 but also it may be to long as well before you can go full A.
Then again, that probably is different for anyone. Quite some riders have self control and discipline, they are vigilant and like to go on their own pace. Learning throttle control, brake control, cornering control with their own bike besides the lessons or course for the USA. Me included as well, I learned at the lessons, enhanced on that with my own riding and my own bike and I still do. Since I got my bike in June 2023.
Other may not have this and will crash or get in dangerous situations due to this and they can great benefit and get more relax riding a smaller cc bike first.
So to me, people can start on bigger bikes if they have the discipline and respect for it and take their time to learn the bike and the responses.
Once who don't are better of starting on smaller cc's. But less CC doesn't mean less fun you can have a lot of fun on Groms for example. Just 125 cc but loaaads of fun.
Same for the 300,400/500 class bikes. For a lot of people that more then sufficient for their commute or just riding in their free time.
Also awesome place to ride in Spain it seems!
considering the price of these bikes you can hardly go wrong... finish, road holding, steering, brakes, comfort, engine capacity, are all more than sufficient to have a pleasant riding experience... and with a dose of common sense these bikes are quite suitable for beginners and also for more experienced riders who do not want to push the limit ... this is the opinion of a motorcyclist with 50 years of experience
Missed ya in more new videos Lali
Hi, good review especially the warning of the low down torq for beginners. as for starter bikes i think anything up to 500cc would be about right, i went straight to a Harley 883 iron, but that's a reasonably easy bike to learn from and forgiving, just have to get use to the weight. it wasn't so bad for me as i have ridden trials bikes for years so knew about balance etc. since then I'm in to my kawasakis and have had a Z1000 and now a Z900RS that's a nice bike but a bit eager at low down revs, but like all bikes you get use to them. yes i think the Triumph 400cc will be a good bike to start on but also a great little commute bike for just knocking around on. keep up the good vids and keep promoting girls to ride bikes .
Erie! Ha. I grew up in Meadville! Good work you do,
I liked your review. Most guys are purely analytical, listing spec after spec. I can read specs, I want to hear what they feel like on the ride. Im thinking about picking this up as a second bike. Regarless of cc's and torque-ee-ness, a newbie needs to get intimately familiar with throttle, clutch and brake before riding on the street...or pavement even. Believe me - even a sub-400 cc dirt bike can " torque" your but down the road on your face if you dont bother to get familar with them. Dont ask me how I know this. Lol.
That's such an amazing opportunity 😮
Excelent video. Încerc să decid între scrambler 400x sau trident 660. Care ai recomanda pt cineva care e 6’4?
great video !
Thank you for your great review. In reality, 5k can be a lot of money for a lot people (like you said), but really, out the door in US its going to be more like 7k. I wish the US would list OTD prices like most other countries but alas... something to point out to new USA riders.
I live in india and bought a speed 400 recently, absolutely love it.
My first bike, was a 1250cc Sportster S.
If you're a beginner rider, you'd have spent weeks if not months riding round on a 125cc bike, then taken lessons on a bike bigger than 400, as many schools use 750cc bikes with restrictors fitted to train people for the A2 licence. So, almost certainly a 400cc is nobody's beginner bike nowadays.
Lali I think a 400 would be fine for a beginner that has driven a manual car and is very athletic. But I think that a 250 or smaller would be a better choice for most people to start out on. Those Triumph;s look like to be some very nice and fun bikes to ride.
Very good review,clear and to the point thanks.
40 bhp at that weight is pretty good fun combination, if a beginner has a lot of push bike experience it would be familiar but still need to learn that throttle clutch control
I started on a 1925cc (Harley Road King special 117ci 😅) and will say it was scary. Should have started like you Loli and learned more before handling a big bike
400 is not too much. As long as the power is approachable and controllable with a little practice. Also bear in mind that you are tiny, the riders taller than you are likely to weight more as well and that is going to smooth things out on the power through inertia alone. The upside is that you won’t also outgrow it in 3 months like you might a 250 or 300cc bike.
Not a bad attempt from Triumph to create affordable, single-cylinder 400cc bikes. And kudos to Bajaj for being up to the task for manufacturing these bikes for Triumph.
Lots of nice 400cc class bikes coming out this year, including the much-awaited CFMoto Ibex 450/450MT adventure bike that uses their 450cc 270-degree crank parallel twin engine.
Thank you for the excellent video. Looks like Triumph has hit the mark.
Triumph is definetely working hard to bring new models on a regular basis. I am still loyal to Japanese brands, but nice to see some good competition.
In the U.K all beginner motorcycles had to be 250 CC or less. I think recently its dropped to 200 CC. Far too many accidents in the U.S are due to a motorcycle being far too powerful for the rider's ability.The manufacturers are actually irresponsible, there is no need for such power levels, it's a nonsense.
my first bike was a 2006 ninja 250 and I thought it was way more peppy that most people said. I rode it 25,000 miles so I don't think im a noob, even though i haven't ridden for 15 years. I have been considering the z400 or emiminator 400 but was just told about the speed 400 and I like it.
Triumph 400 target audience is Asia & global south.....Mid capacity singles & now twins sells crazy there.
Example; KTM
Thank you for the excellent content.
Seriously considering buying it as my first bike! I’m 5’2 😅😅
Many years ago, I started on a Ninja 600 and never had a problem. I think the only downside is it create a need for speed addiction fairly quick.
Wow Scrambler 400x is so expensive in your country. I think You said you will have to pay 5000 dollar. But Scrambler 400x price is 3143.94 dollar in my country (India) Last year I bought Pulsar f250 its a good bike but as I m traveling like 6000 to 8000 kilometer in a single trip so now i think i should go for at least 400cc bike. May be next year I will buy my another bike but I am little confuse between scram 400 and Bajaj Dominar 400. Actually I just love Dominar 400 but the only one thing is making me little worried abt Dominar that It is so Heavy. anyway Nice video friend. Have a wonderful evening.
I think a 400 falls into a sweet spot for new or returning riders honestly. It might be a little intimidating at first, but the bike will have a longer life with that rider because they will have enough power for many uses, and still have a lighter weight to maintain a more nimble feel when riding. Where a lighter 250 or less that rider might grow tired of the lack of power and want to swap out to something larger sooner.
While I don't remember what bike I rode during my MSF course (I assume it was probably around the 200-300 range), my first bike three months after the course was a Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Initially, I was intimated by that much power (and weight), but because it is such a low bike, I found it incredibly easy to ride, and I didn't feel at any time that it was too much power (plus, I was 41, so I was past the point of thinking I was invincible and wanting to always go fast). I know own a KLR 650 (two actually) and a Suzuki DRZ-400. For me, that power range seems perfect, and I fully intend on adding the 400X (and maybe even an SV650) to my stable. Not having ridden the 400/400X and experiencing the low-down torque, that might not be ideal for new riders, but from all of the reviews that I've seen of these bikes, they seems like they'd be not only good to gain experience on, but something to grow into and be happy with down the road. I am certainly looking forward to getting the 400X.
You are vlogger from which country?
Your videos content are just superb
Love from Nepal
Im trynna get either the speed or scrambler, id prefer the scrambler. First bike🤞🏻
Love triumph and love the looks of these bikes.
It's nice to have a 400cc that doesn't look like a transformer insect or racer boy wannabe
I've been dragging my feet for a while but I think I might have to pull the trigger on the lil speed
I’m not sure what’s the problem. I moved to Speed 400 from bigger bikes and actually prefer it as a daily rider. It’s just super easy and sounds great. At least you won’t drop it when manoeuvring in tight spaces at slow speed…
Nice review. I'm thinking of buying the speed 400. By the way, you're gorgeous
I think Triumph hit the mark with these. Great entry/reentry bike that they won’t outgrow. 400cc with torque is great for beginners. Makes it easy to get going from a start, then a four-cylinder high RPM bike.
A true starter motorcycle would be similar to a 80cc dirt bike for the basics & a little seat time. After approximately 100 hrs of learning then move to the 400 class to continue the learning.
Nothing wrong with starting on a small bike.