Enter to win a 2024 Triumph Speed 400 or 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400! rvz.la/3NlYciY Read more about the Speed 400 on Common Tread: rvz.la/4eCfR23 Check out all of the newest motorcycle gear available: rvz.la/4eZk4N0
@@jeremygillespie4203 Yes. There are a fucking LOT of options at or under the $5k mark that are completely reliable and reasonable to ride every day. Look at the market for 400-class bikes right now and compare it to the low displacement market ten or twenty years ago. Hell, at one time the entire low displacement market was basically just a Ninja 250 then it jumped straight to 600's. The only better time to be a new rider was probably in the 70's when minimum wage was the equivalent of double what it is now and purchasing power was better overall. Even then you were getting a relatively crap 70's motorcycling experience and nothing like a modern machine that won't break down every few hundred miles.
I like to think that India is the saviour of the cheap motorcycle - without India and Indian-manufactured motorcycles to keep prices down the Japanese manufacturers would jack up their prices.
On the subject of gearing, i work at a dealer that sells ktm and triumph. The 390 duke sprockets fit the speed and scrambler, so we've been putting a lot of 16t fronts from ktm on them to sort out the gearing misstep
This was my beginner bike I got this past spring. I've put a few thousand miles on it (almost entirely back roads with no real highway time), and I absolutely adore it. The break in period is rough, but once its woken up it's a fantastic little machine.
This summer my local triumph dealer had a demo day. Having shopped a Scrambler 1200 xe and Tiger 900 before I bought my BMW 850GS I selected the scrambler 400 for a ride around town. Incredibly fun bike, so easy to ride. Perfect for getting around town. I have no issues with the power of this engine in any way. My 6 foot 220 lb frame didn't destroy the suspension or brakes.
I'd say you forgot the $1800 price difference between SCL500 and Speed 400. If both in garage you'd take 500, but if both are next to each other at dealer, I'd bet you'd take the 400. Another great video👍
For the Indian roads a bike in 400cc/40 bhp to 600cc/75-90 bhp with low down torque are the most ideal bikes. In terms of fuel economy, there was a time in the 80’s and 90’s, where 50-80 kms/ liter was the selling point for those 100cc commuter bikes (think Honda Cub like power & reliability). One of the slogans from a pre-eminent motorcycles makers used to be - ‘Fill it, shut-it, and forget it’.
I test rode a Speed 400 and loved it. A good bit spunkier than you'd anticipate, and hilarious to toss side-to-side. I could scrape pegs just going left-right within a single lane. Heavily considering one to toss in the truck and haul to the mountains for weekend rips.
I'm stepping down to a 400 scrambler. I took it for a test ride and loved it. It's small, "cheap," and fun. I can practice on it and then ride some dirt roads and not care too much if it gets dinged up and dirty. My dealer in Mass said that the 400s have been flying off the showroom floor. It looks like Triumph slammed it out of the park with these bikes.
I bought one of these as a returning rider bike after 20 years. It was/is absolutely a wonderful machines. I traded it after four months for a Royal Enfield INT650 because I ride a lot of interstate for work, and the Speed 400 felt dicey at 75mph around traffic, especially large trucks. 10/10 I would buy one again, if only for back roads and running errands around town.
That's the issue with all of these 350-400cc bikes. Small frames Steep Steering rakes, combined with engines that aren't developed to run at realistic freeway speeds, which tend to be anywhere from 75-85 MPH.
Yes!! Finally thank you! Was good to hear your thoughts on the speed and it’s small flaws. I don’t think many of them would matter to me as a new rider because I wouldn’t really know the difference but it’s still good to hear and be aware of!
Currently own an Interceptor 650, went for triumph 400 and speed and scrambler test drive . Speed 400 was more fun, agile and nimble because of riding posture. Scrambler 400x was equally fun to ride but obviously not as agile as speed 400 but more comfortable. I am 5’10 height, so preferred to go with scrambler, should be more comfortable for long ride and has better road presence .
Yeah, I got the scrambler 400x, and the speedo shows 5 miles higher than the GPS on my phone, so 70 mph is actually 65 mph for me. And totally agree that the bike needs to be geared up.
Very nice review…as I’m thinking about going smaller at my age….and your review is easy to understand and covered all the bases…still listening…thanks bunches from Arizona!
Over here (Uk), it's 2nd in sales to a 125 Honda scooter. Flying out of show rooms. It's great that we have such choice in the 400cc (ish) lower priced end of the market. For a time I think manufactures forgot about that section.
I've got the 400x and at 60 years of age have owned bikes from all over the spectrum. Make take on it is that it's a great bike for sub 60mph around town, back road kind of stuff. With it's lack of wind protection it's far down the list of what I'd choose were I looking to do big highway miles. I picked up the x because it looks great, reminded me of my 1st street bike (Honda 350) and my need for speed ran away a good 20 years ago. If you are looking for a cheap, good looking bike that will lump along for sedate back road exploring you won't be disappointed.
Great review! I own a Speed 400 and have put almost 3,000 miles on it since June. I live in Palos Verdes, near where you shoot your daily rider reviews and I've found I get blown around a lot on the 47 bridge. Did you find that when you went over for this video? I actually take Anaheim now to avoid the 47 bridge.
First one I saw at my Triumph dealer really had to look twice to see it was a 400. It blended in to the other bikes. Which to me is a tip of the cap to Triumph. The fit and finish and quality at its price point is commendable.
Bought one of these recently as my first "new" bike, graduating from a series of decades-old UJMs. I love the immediate power delivery and light weight. Feels like an old bike with all the modern safety and performance needs to get you around town or hit the country roads.
Interesting to hear Zak say it was lighter on it's feet than the Scrambler 400. I had a deposit down on a scrambler but when i tried it found the front end stodgy and overly firm and it put me right off. Perhaps i need to give the Speed 400 a try...
I was looking at the Scrambler 400 a couple weeks ago. and then a used 2019 1200xe came up for basically the same price. i got the xe lol but the lil scrambler is still super nice. A Nice retro step up from the Speed 400 would be the Kawasaki Z650rs looks great the Ptwin 650 is a pretty good motor not super spicy at the top but it does the trick. also Kawasaki's paint on the retros is always looks premium.
I agree. I had a Speed 400 for 6 months, loved the looks and the handling but was never completely happy with it. I tried a 2024 CB500X and felt the Honda had more presence, more comfort, much better transmission and felt more complete but the Triumph is a brilliant first iteration.
@jamesballard6564 You're largely right but they are close in cc and price, if you buy secondhand, so they may present as similar options for some people.
I went to switzerland last month and saw quite a few of these. They look so good and definitely have a premium vibe for a more entry level/small bike. Then I came home and started seeing a few around Chicago as well. Super cool bikes.
Living up in the mountains where a lot of people have steep driveways, I think I would appreciate that lower gearing. And with most roads being limited to 55, I think it would do well for me.
light weight small bore bikes are a blast, at 66 with nothing to prove me & my little CBR 250 R have been all over, I never get tired of this bike, 42,000 miles Lumpy
I really enjoy your reviews, but as someone who commuted by bike for several years there are a few aspects of a commuter bike that get missed: - is a rear rack available? A lockable waterproof trunk is absolutely essential for a commuter! - how large a tank bag can be accommodated? Is the tank metal or plastic? Mag mount bags can scratch, but they are way more convenient if they need to be moved for refueling. - is some sort of small fairing available? I don’t like fairings, but having some place to mount an EZ pass has become a necessity. A fairing or something that allows an EZ pass transponder to be mounted is essential. Neither my tank bag nor my jacket pocket work (according to the Virginia DOT at least).
Your suspicion is correct. Motorcycles made for the local Indian market are not as good in quality as those made to a standard by the companies who have them built in India.
Oh My Gosh. Finally my bike gets featured. I watched the India video, then i saw the price a few months later and immediately called and put down my deposit. Needless to say, its right around 4000 miles right now
I think the next upgrade from this would actually be the Trident 660. It's actually very beginner friendly because of the throttle tuning but you get all the power you could need if you want it. also extremely similar styling
I tested both this bike and the new Vitpilen 401, and ultimately ended up with the Husky. They were both very nice bikes, but the Vitpilen was a bit sportier and the ergos suited me better.
Bikes like this are so very good at chill riding on roads with lower speed limits. I do a lot of this style of riding and I'm guessing that the Triumph is better at it than most. If I need to run errands or just enjoy a sunny day, a bike like this is so much better than a 200 hp hyperbike, an 800 pound cruiser or a 550 pound luxury adventure bike. Perhaps I would favour a Vespa GTS over the Speed but only slightly. The Daily Rider reviews are done in the Los Angeles area. I have a brother who lives in the South Bay area and when I visit I find the California freeways very intimidating. Those of who never have to use such roads evaluate a bikes character through a different lens.
For country roads and emerging riders, a good choice. It's worth pointing out that the cost of this bike is roughly what I paid BMW to install a new ABS module in my RT.
I would love it if you guys could include service intervals in your stats when reviewing bikes. I bought an interceptor (INT650) based on these reviews and then found out it was 5000kms only….so I sold it and bought a T100 (16,000kms).
The top half of the board are just expensive, impractical bikes that Zack likes. That's not what Daily Rider should be about. An M1000R as a normal guy's normal commute daily rider? come on, I think we've lost touch here a little bit.
20+ year rider here. I rode this bike and the Trident 660 back to back and I bought the Trident. It was an easy decision. This bike is fun for scooting around town short distances at 55mph or less, but once you get it to 60+ mph it gets extremely vibey and uncomfortable. Trident is everything this bike isn’t and is better looking, faster, more stable and MUCH more fun to ride, IMO.
Co worker has one and loves it. He's like 6'5" so it seems like it'd be a major mismatch but he really likes it. A fun contrast to his other big adv bikes maybe? I rode one during a demo day and also loved it, and agree 1st gear is basically useless.
15:00 probably worth mentioning re: heat and the bike not making much power - it's A LOT for a 400cc single. There's a ton of 650cc singles out there with 48hp more or less, and this is a lot more power vs capacity, especially for a single. A Honda CB500 is 47hp from a twin, and it's only 78cc more. Again, I think this is impressive power for a single and I'm not surprised that it gets hot. Would be interesting to compare it to the new Royal Enfield naked (that shares the engine with the Himalayan).
That was my question about the next bike to consider after the Speed 400, you read my mind! Everything you mentioned is how I feel about this bike and GREAT next bikes to consider. I had an INT650, got bored, next bike I’m test riding is actually going to be a MT 07 🖤
As usual a great review, I always look forward to watching anything from Zach. The Triumph would be a great second bike for anyone. I really would like to get one but my problem (at least here in the UK) is it would cost me around $1500 to trade in my Yamaha SCR950 (less tan 5 years old, 6000 miles, excellent condition-but they're not popular here) for the Triumph and I can't bring myself to do that. Maybe if I win the lottery tonight.....
There's something to be said for a simple bike with just enough power to get the job done, that old "it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow" thing.
I'd love to see a Daily Rider review of the Trident 660. It seems to be missing from this series, whereas there have been several 400 videos, and the Trident appears to be a solid commuter/all-arounder.
I dont understand why they started using Trident 660 Instrument on everything. It shouldnt even be on the Trident and now it's on well all 660 class, Street Triple R, Scrambler 1200X and now on the speed 1200....
@@getty6974 I own a trident and tbh the speedo is one of the best with little to no lag, and I would say it's better on trident compared to any other tft, it's really aesthetically pleasing and looks premium. But I would agree, the speed twim 1200 is getting it now and it looks way off there a dual round tft would've looked better there, if they wanted to go modern but ah well
@@AAKEngine Idk, no personal experience what this but from how i've seen the new himalayans Instrument. That thing looks way more premium on what a 7k€ bike compared to well Trident 10k€, Street triple R 13k€, scrambler X 20k€ bike. In that sense the Instrument looks really budget for what way more budget brands use as their instruments. And well you can add CFmoto Instruments aswell. Edit: Also have to say, i kinda live in the past, i think Triumph kinda had it perfect with their old Daytona/street triple instrument Analog RPM needle and digital speedo. Also it had a shift lamp LEDs at the top of the Instrument.
@@getty6974 I know, the other brands are provided better equipment but I must say it does feel way premium irl for some reason. It will never lag, won't get outdated colours as it's simple. It has its charm. But I would expect better from Triumph in future for sure
This review makes me feel good about my purchase of a low mileage 2012 NC700X for about the same price. Better ride comfort, better gearing, better mileage(~75MPG).
@@jamesballard6564 For a light adventure style touring bike? I guess if all you ride is highway... I've never felt the need for cruise control on any bike, and I've done 475 mile trips on a bike like this(I had a 2009 Versys 650 until someone broke into my garage and stole it). They're also a lot of fun in the twisties, quite nimble.
The Triumph is waaaay better looking than that ugly 500 Honda and has much more character, in my opinion. Suspension is better than the bouncy Honda too.
really nice review. I live in Spain and have been thinking about getting a smaller displacement motorcycle for around town. I bought a brand new 1973 Triumph Bonneville 750 in Spain and still have it, but it is back in the U.S. I’m 6’2” so leg room is important for me.
I love that you keep cancelling the turn indicators even though they're not on. I also have that compulsion, tick, twitch, fetish(?) so as not to look like an idiot.
I thought about getting the scrambler version of this bike but when I sat on one, I was on mmy tippy toes (I'm not a tall guy). The scrambler 900 fits me better because I can just about flat foot when sitting on that. I guess Triumph is aiming the 400 scrambler toward taller, bigger riders(?) and the 900 for smaller riders.
Tubskid has this bike and his entire ignition broke on the first offroad spill. Triumph charged him $1800 to fix it. That's the reality of these modern adventure bikes.
Cali freeways, suburban mix: the Int 650 is very good. If you are doing just city-suberb, with some fwy as needed, Triumph Speed 400 is good. Of course, Honda has its own claim to fame.
For trading up I’d consider the Z650RS, XSR700, or even a W800. The W800 will be much like this or the Bonnie in being a mellow and simple bike. It’s supposed to be easy to maintain and fairly elemental. I think if you want something that’s a better version of the same thing but you’re willing to go older an SR400 is going to be just better. It’s not necessarily great on the highway but it’s a very exciting bike bellow that, it can handle being on the highway just fine though.
I bought a Caspian blue for 6800 OTD, rode it for almost 700mi before trading into a Honda Shadow. It was a great starter bike, would've kept it for longer if it had been more comfortable on my injuries, lol.
This is not the 100 year old bike I was expecting for the 100th episode 😂😂 seems a sweet little bike tho Although now I have watched all the way to the end I realise it’s actually Ep98…. The daily rider playlist did me dirty 🤣
I honestly think the speed 400 is just about the best LOOKING bike on the market right now, and would love to see Triumph stick it in the Xerox at 110% and slap the 660 in it. I know they have the trident in that position, but it just is flat out not as pretty as the speed 400. Literally a 110% enlarged carbon copy of the Speed 400, with the 660 engine, and I think that would be perfect!
@@chrishart8548 Yeah, if they updated the trident to be the Speed 400's bigger brother, with the same proportions and shapes, it would really hit the mark for me.
Next step up that sticks with the style of the Speed 400 would be a XSR700 or a Z650RS. If you really like the single maybe a BSA Gold Star but I don't think that really applies for us in the US
When I worked for Triumph"s press Fleet I1999- 2005 always removed those Nanny Stickers for gas tank, Etc for good Photos. Back then, according to Triumph, Most of there bikes [in The US] had to maintain at least 80-85 Mph. To keep up with "CarTraffic"
I forgot to mention, MY 2015 Victory and 2018 Chevy Colorado have pretty accurate "Real Time " Gas mileage " Display. When I close the "Throttle" On My bike and Truck 99MPG! Registered by my ECU.
let me ask you a weird question - if you could have ONLY 1 bike between the scrambler 400x and cb500x, which would it be? Use cases would include city commuting, touring and general out and about. super-light offroading only.
The look of the Trident is totally different than this one. Not really a good comparison or even upgrade from this bike. A bigger one that looks similar is what he said, the Interceptor 650. Could also look at Kawa w800, but that is quite a bit more $.
Walking around the back of my old FZS I, as you did here, reflexively hold on tothe passenger grab handle and use that as a pivot point to guide my body around the machine. Weird, isn't it?
Enter to win a 2024 Triumph Speed 400 or 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400! rvz.la/3NlYciY
Read more about the Speed 400 on Common Tread: rvz.la/4eCfR23
Check out all of the newest motorcycle gear available: rvz.la/4eZk4N0
Tried signing up for the giveaway but i am from Philippines
Canada is not eligible correct?
While "cheap and cheerful" cars have completely disappeared, we're embarrassed for choices when it comes to fun, entry level motorcycles.
@@MarkLoweLowebrauembarrassed for choices means there are a lot of options
@@jeremygillespie4203 any 250cc to 500cc bike. There are a ton on the market and most are under 5k.
@@jeremygillespie4203 Yes. There are a fucking LOT of options at or under the $5k mark that are completely reliable and reasonable to ride every day. Look at the market for 400-class bikes right now and compare it to the low displacement market ten or twenty years ago. Hell, at one time the entire low displacement market was basically just a Ninja 250 then it jumped straight to 600's.
The only better time to be a new rider was probably in the 70's when minimum wage was the equivalent of double what it is now and purchasing power was better overall. Even then you were getting a relatively crap 70's motorcycling experience and nothing like a modern machine that won't break down every few hundred miles.
I like to think that India is the saviour of the cheap motorcycle - without India and Indian-manufactured motorcycles to keep prices down the Japanese manufacturers would jack up their prices.
@@AshleyPomeroy "Without cheap labor, things would be more expensive." Thank you for that utterly brilliant and original observation.
On the subject of gearing, i work at a dealer that sells ktm and triumph. The 390 duke sprockets fit the speed and scrambler, so we've been putting a lot of 16t fronts from ktm on them to sort out the gearing misstep
Does it put the speedo out?
Was going to ask the same, could the speedo be calibrated then to be right?
@@greatkingrat Probably speed is taken from the ABS ring, that's the modern thing to do, also because it's cheaper to manuf that way.
how about stock trident front sprocket?
@@greatkingrat the speedo is connected to the front wheel, you can see it when Zack ends the wheelie if you can call it that
This was my beginner bike I got this past spring. I've put a few thousand miles on it (almost entirely back roads with no real highway time), and I absolutely adore it. The break in period is rough, but once its woken up it's a fantastic little machine.
How long is the break in period?
Can you elaborate on the break in period? I've had mine for a week but it's my first bike so I have no real experience.
What specifically was rough about the break in?
@@rileystanek They limit the rev limiter to like 6k or something from 12k (I think thats the redline I dont own the bike)
@@jonathonsimmons2341 break in period is 1000kms or one month in India, so a similar can be expected.
I love my Scrambler 400x. 1st bike. New rider. (In my 40s). Been riding for half a year on it and 1200 miles. Super good experience. Peach of a bike
This summer my local triumph dealer had a demo day. Having shopped a Scrambler 1200 xe and Tiger 900 before I bought my BMW 850GS I selected the scrambler 400 for a ride around town. Incredibly fun bike, so easy to ride. Perfect for getting around town. I have no issues with the power of this engine in any way. My 6 foot 220 lb frame didn't destroy the suspension or brakes.
I'd say you forgot the $1800 price difference between SCL500 and Speed 400. If both in garage you'd take 500, but if both are next to each other at dealer, I'd bet you'd take the 400. Another great video👍
For the Indian roads a bike in 400cc/40 bhp to 600cc/75-90 bhp with low down torque are the most ideal bikes. In terms of fuel economy, there was a time in the 80’s and 90’s, where 50-80 kms/ liter was the selling point for those 100cc commuter bikes (think Honda Cub like power & reliability). One of the slogans from a pre-eminent motorcycles makers used to be - ‘Fill it, shut-it, and forget it’.
It should have been called the Speed Single, to join the Speed Twin and Speed Triple convention.
Or the "Speed: One"
@@sidharthkm5030 👍
I test rode a Speed 400 and loved it. A good bit spunkier than you'd anticipate, and hilarious to toss side-to-side. I could scrape pegs just going left-right within a single lane. Heavily considering one to toss in the truck and haul to the mountains for weekend rips.
I'm stepping down to a 400 scrambler. I took it for a test ride and loved it. It's small, "cheap," and fun. I can practice on it and then ride some dirt roads and not care too much if it gets dinged up and dirty. My dealer in Mass said that the 400s have been flying off the showroom floor. It looks like Triumph slammed it out of the park with these bikes.
I bought one of these as a returning rider bike after 20 years. It was/is absolutely a wonderful machines. I traded it after four months for a Royal Enfield INT650 because I ride a lot of interstate for work, and the Speed 400 felt dicey at 75mph around traffic, especially large trucks.
10/10 I would buy one again, if only for back roads and running errands around town.
That's the issue with all of these 350-400cc bikes. Small frames Steep Steering rakes, combined with engines that aren't developed to run at realistic freeway speeds, which tend to be anywhere from 75-85 MPH.
Waiting for your take on the RE Guerilla. Nice update on the little Triumph one year after your ride in the Himalayas.
Yes!! Finally thank you! Was good to hear your thoughts on the speed and it’s small flaws. I don’t think many of them would matter to me as a new rider because I wouldn’t really know the difference but it’s still good to hear and be aware of!
Currently own an Interceptor 650, went for triumph 400 and speed and scrambler test drive .
Speed 400 was more fun, agile and nimble because of riding posture.
Scrambler 400x was equally fun to ride but obviously not as agile as speed 400 but more comfortable.
I am 5’10 height, so preferred to go with scrambler, should be more comfortable for long ride and has better road presence .
Yeah, I got the scrambler 400x, and the speedo shows 5 miles higher than the GPS on my phone, so 70 mph is actually 65 mph for me.
And totally agree that the bike needs to be geared up.
Gearing up a slow bike will make it more difficult to keep a constant speed on the highway
My old 1000RR would bounce off the rev limited at 90 mph in first gear. GPS showed 81 😂
It doesn’t have the power or the torque to cope with higher gearing, it will simply make it dull to ride but be a bit more comfortable on fast roads.
Very nice review…as I’m thinking about going smaller at my age….and your review is easy to understand and covered all the bases…still listening…thanks bunches from Arizona!
Over here (Uk), it's 2nd in sales to a 125 Honda scooter. Flying out of show rooms. It's great that we have such choice in the 400cc (ish) lower priced end of the market. For a time I think manufactures forgot about that section.
I've got the 400x and at 60 years of age have owned bikes from all over the spectrum. Make take on it is that it's a great bike for sub 60mph around town, back road kind of stuff. With it's lack of wind protection it's far down the list of what I'd choose were I looking to do big highway miles. I picked up the x because it looks great, reminded me of my 1st street bike (Honda 350) and my need for speed ran away a good 20 years ago. If you are looking for a cheap, good looking bike that will lump along for sedate back road exploring you won't be disappointed.
Great review! I own a Speed 400 and have put almost 3,000 miles on it since June. I live in Palos Verdes, near where you shoot your daily rider reviews and I've found I get blown around a lot on the 47 bridge. Did you find that when you went over for this video? I actually take Anaheim now to avoid the 47 bridge.
I picked one up as my first bike about a week ago. Loving it so far!
First one I saw at my Triumph dealer really had to look twice to see it was a 400. It blended in to the other bikes. Which to me is a tip of the cap to Triumph. The fit and finish and quality at its price point is commendable.
Bought one of these recently as my first "new" bike, graduating from a series of decades-old UJMs. I love the immediate power delivery and light weight. Feels like an old bike with all the modern safety and performance needs to get you around town or hit the country roads.
Interesting to hear Zak say it was lighter on it's feet than the Scrambler 400. I had a deposit down on a scrambler but when i tried it found the front end stodgy and overly firm and it put me right off. Perhaps i need to give the Speed 400 a try...
Rear suspension is adjustable.
I was looking at the Scrambler 400 a couple weeks ago. and then a used 2019 1200xe came up for basically the same price. i got the xe lol but the lil scrambler is still super nice.
A Nice retro step up from the Speed 400 would be the Kawasaki Z650rs looks great the Ptwin 650 is a pretty good motor not super spicy at the top but it does the trick. also Kawasaki's paint on the retros is always looks premium.
Yeah the XSR700 or Z650RS seem like the natural step up to me if you wanted to stick with similar styling with more power
23:11 Guys someone's fridge is on the run.
Triumph is doing some good things
can you do the 450 himalayan next?
i second this
@@vamsee6925I third it!
I fourth this..
Zach has a Royal Enfield bias. So doubt he'll do it.
@aumkar2 against or for?I thought his reviews were unbiased (as most reviews should be)
Wow, I just looking again for more reviews for the Speed 400 and one of the bets youtubers just uploaded this 2 hours ago, crazy!
I agree. I had a Speed 400 for 6 months, loved the looks and the handling but was never completely happy with it. I tried a 2024 CB500X and felt the Honda had more presence, more comfort, much better transmission and felt more complete but the Triumph is a brilliant first iteration.
CB500X is also a step up. It's not a direct competitor. The Honda also cost a lot more money.
@jamesballard6564
You're largely right but they are close in cc and price, if you buy secondhand, so they may present as similar options for some people.
Long time follower, first time commenter... Zack you are one of THE BEST objective motorcycle reviewers out there. Keep 'em coming!
I went to switzerland last month and saw quite a few of these. They look so good and definitely have a premium vibe for a more entry level/small bike. Then I came home and started seeing a few around Chicago as well. Super cool bikes.
Living up in the mountains where a lot of people have steep driveways, I think I would appreciate that lower gearing. And with most roads being limited to 55, I think it would do well for me.
Daily rider is like a Marvel movie, always gotta stick around for the bonus scene after it ends.
Hey there, do you know if they have wind protection for the bike now like a nice size fairing
@@ewheel1629yes it’s on their stores website
@@ewheel1629 what the fuck?
@@ewheel1629 Use a motorcycle parts and accessories site to look that up, enter the make and model and look for windscreens.
light weight small bore bikes are a blast, at 66 with nothing to prove me & my little CBR 250 R have been all over,
I never get tired of this bike, 42,000 miles
Lumpy
I really enjoy your reviews, but as someone who commuted by bike for several years there are a few aspects of a commuter bike that get missed:
- is a rear rack available? A lockable waterproof trunk is absolutely essential for a commuter!
- how large a tank bag can be accommodated? Is the tank metal or plastic? Mag mount bags can scratch, but they are way more convenient if they need to be moved for refueling.
- is some sort of small fairing available? I don’t like fairings, but having some place to mount an EZ pass has become a necessity. A fairing or something that allows an EZ pass transponder to be mounted is essential. Neither my tank bag nor my jacket pocket work (according to the Virginia DOT at least).
Your suspicion is correct. Motorcycles made for the local Indian market are not as good in quality as those made to a standard by the companies who have them built in India.
Oh My Gosh. Finally my bike gets featured. I watched the India video, then i saw the price a few months later and immediately called and put down my deposit. Needless to say, its right around 4000 miles right now
I think the next upgrade from this would actually be the Trident 660. It's actually very beginner friendly because of the throttle tuning but you get all the power you could need if you want it. also extremely similar styling
I tested both this bike and the new Vitpilen 401, and ultimately ended up with the Husky. They were both very nice bikes, but the Vitpilen was a bit sportier and the ergos suited me better.
Bikes like this are so very good at chill riding on roads with lower speed limits. I do a lot of this style of riding and I'm guessing that the Triumph is better at it than most. If I need to run errands or just enjoy a sunny day, a bike like this is so much better than a 200 hp hyperbike, an 800 pound cruiser or a 550 pound luxury adventure bike. Perhaps I would favour a Vespa GTS over the Speed but only slightly. The Daily Rider reviews are done in the Los Angeles area. I have a brother who lives in the South Bay area and when I visit I find the California freeways very intimidating. Those of who never have to use such roads evaluate a bikes character through a different lens.
For country roads and emerging riders, a good choice. It's worth pointing out that the cost of this bike is roughly what I paid BMW to install a new ABS module in my RT.
I would love it if you guys could include service intervals in your stats when reviewing bikes. I bought an interceptor (INT650) based on these reviews and then found out it was 5000kms only….so I sold it and bought a T100 (16,000kms).
The top half of the board are just expensive, impractical bikes that Zack likes. That's not what Daily Rider should be about. An M1000R as a normal guy's normal commute daily rider? come on, I think we've lost touch here a little bit.
I agree. It seems like the top bikes here Zack lost focus on actual daily riding, and more focused on longer weekend enjoyment riding.
20+ year rider here. I rode this bike and the Trident 660 back to back and I bought the Trident. It was an easy decision. This bike is fun for scooting around town short distances at 55mph or less, but once you get it to 60+ mph it gets extremely vibey and uncomfortable. Trident is everything this bike isn’t and is better looking, faster, more stable and MUCH more fun to ride, IMO.
Co worker has one and loves it. He's like 6'5" so it seems like it'd be a major mismatch but he really likes it. A fun contrast to his other big adv bikes maybe? I rode one during a demo day and also loved it, and agree 1st gear is basically useless.
It’s also restricted to 60kmpl in India as well, they might fix it for mpg when they update it.
15:00 probably worth mentioning re: heat and the bike not making much power - it's A LOT for a 400cc single. There's a ton of 650cc singles out there with 48hp more or less, and this is a lot more power vs capacity, especially for a single. A Honda CB500 is 47hp from a twin, and it's only 78cc more. Again, I think this is impressive power for a single and I'm not surprised that it gets hot. Would be interesting to compare it to the new Royal Enfield naked (that shares the engine with the Himalayan).
48hp is the highest hp for a A2 licens in europe
It must fall into the A2
My W800 makes 48hp.
@@jeeves6490 Its an A2 bike
@@Airpang100 I don't live in Europe.
A2 is meaningless in Oz.
It's a throwback. The electronics package on my first bike was headlight, taillight, and turn signals.
I have the X and love it. Handles green lanes and pot holes fine. Looks and sounds great too.
That was my question about the next bike to consider after the Speed 400, you read my mind! Everything you mentioned is how I feel about this bike and GREAT next bikes to consider. I had an INT650, got bored, next bike I’m test riding is actually going to be a MT 07 🖤
Nice review.
Those decision moments at the leader board are always great.
As usual a great review, I always look forward to watching anything from Zach.
The Triumph would be a great second bike for anyone. I really would like to get one but my problem (at least here in the UK) is it would cost me around $1500 to trade in my Yamaha SCR950 (less tan 5 years old, 6000 miles, excellent condition-but they're not popular here) for the Triumph and I can't bring myself to do that. Maybe if I win the lottery tonight.....
Nice to see that we still get affordable 2 wheels rides, that are actually fun to ride. Great work by Triumph offering entryway in to their brand ❤❤
I think if you're looking to go up from here and stay Triumph, I'd consider the Trident or even the Tiger 660 and get into their triples.
There's something to be said for a simple bike with just enough power to get the job done, that old "it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow" thing.
Really waiting for your take on the Honda CB650R E-Clutch! Would be nice to know how the E-clutch affects the daily riding
I'd love to see a Daily Rider review of the Trident 660. It seems to be missing from this series, whereas there have been several 400 videos, and the Trident appears to be a solid commuter/all-arounder.
"sidestand presence" I like the expression.
I would take the clocks on this bike over what they put on the new 1200RS....
I dont understand why they started using Trident 660 Instrument on everything. It shouldnt even be on the Trident and now it's on well all 660 class, Street Triple R, Scrambler 1200X and now on the speed 1200....
I just wish the speedo and tach were swapped.
@@getty6974 I own a trident and tbh the speedo is one of the best with little to no lag, and I would say it's better on trident compared to any other tft, it's really aesthetically pleasing and looks premium. But I would agree, the speed twim 1200 is getting it now and it looks way off there a dual round tft would've looked better there, if they wanted to go modern but ah well
@@AAKEngine Idk, no personal experience what this but from how i've seen the new himalayans Instrument. That thing looks way more premium on what a 7k€ bike compared to well Trident 10k€, Street triple R 13k€, scrambler X 20k€ bike. In that sense the Instrument looks really budget for what way more budget brands use as their instruments. And well you can add CFmoto Instruments aswell. Edit: Also have to say, i kinda live in the past, i think Triumph kinda had it perfect with their old Daytona/street triple instrument Analog RPM needle and digital speedo. Also it had a shift lamp LEDs at the top of the Instrument.
@@getty6974 I know, the other brands are provided better equipment but I must say it does feel way premium irl for some reason. It will never lag, won't get outdated colours as it's simple. It has its charm. But I would expect better from Triumph in future for sure
This review makes me feel good about my purchase of a low mileage 2012 NC700X for about the same price. Better ride comfort, better gearing, better mileage(~75MPG).
Too bad it doesn't have cruise control. It's desperately needed for a bike of its type.
@@jamesballard6564 For a light adventure style touring bike? I guess if all you ride is highway... I've never felt the need for cruise control on any bike, and I've done 475 mile trips on a bike like this(I had a 2009 Versys 650 until someone broke into my garage and stole it). They're also a lot of fun in the twisties, quite nimble.
The Triumph is waaaay better looking than that ugly 500 Honda and has much more character, in my opinion. Suspension is better than the bouncy Honda too.
Are you referring to the SCL?
I think if someone were to take this for short tour/vacation trip it would be to take it on secondary highways and open roads, not a boring freeway.
100% this little fella is designed for the smaller twisties.
All well and good--until you inevitably have to get on the freeway for a bit. This happens often enough that you need to be able to do it comfortably.
@@kpmsprtd it can do that easily. Have you rode one?
Man!
Do get that new Himalyan 450 to test out soon.
Please do a review on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Zach. Love the reviews.
really nice review. I live in Spain and have been thinking about getting a smaller displacement motorcycle for around town. I bought a brand new 1973 Triumph Bonneville 750 in Spain and still have it, but it is back in the U.S. I’m 6’2” so leg room is important for me.
I love that you keep cancelling the turn indicators even though they're not on. I also have that compulsion, tick, twitch, fetish(?) so as not to look like an idiot.
I thought about getting the scrambler version of this bike but when I sat on one, I was on mmy tippy toes (I'm not a tall guy). The scrambler 900 fits me better because I can just about flat foot when sitting on that. I guess Triumph is aiming the 400 scrambler toward taller, bigger riders(?) and the 900 for smaller riders.
I agree: function over form - the SCL500 beats the TR 400 as a daily rider for me, unless... I'm daily riding in the Himalayas. ;)
30:20 I thought for sure you were going to say SV650.
Never clicked so fast in my life
Tubskid has this bike and his entire ignition broke on the first offroad spill. Triumph charged him $1800 to fix it. That's the reality of these modern adventure bikes.
Cali freeways, suburban mix: the Int 650 is very good. If you are doing just city-suberb, with some fwy as needed, Triumph Speed 400 is good. Of course, Honda has its own claim to fame.
Love that old school looking dash/speedometer
For trading up I’d consider the Z650RS, XSR700, or even a W800. The W800 will be much like this or the Bonnie in being a mellow and simple bike. It’s supposed to be easy to maintain and fairly elemental. I think if you want something that’s a better version of the same thing but you’re willing to go older an SR400 is going to be just better. It’s not necessarily great on the highway but it’s a very exciting bike bellow that, it can handle being on the highway just fine though.
I bought a Caspian blue for 6800 OTD, rode it for almost 700mi before trading into a Honda Shadow. It was a great starter bike, would've kept it for longer if it had been more comfortable on my injuries, lol.
I asked for this a while ago. Thanks zack/revzilla! 💪🏽
Next step up in power if you want a single would be a BSA Goldstar. 650cc single cylinder comparable in looks and pricing to a RE Interceptor.
Or go for the Triumph 660…
@@piersdenney not if you want a single though
@@VapidUsername true, but, if you wanted to stay with Triumph level quality…
This is not the 100 year old bike I was expecting for the 100th episode 😂😂 seems a sweet little bike tho
Although now I have watched all the way to the end I realise it’s actually Ep98…. The daily rider playlist did me dirty 🤣
Not sure if it was mentioned, but are bar end mirrors standard on this model?
I honestly think the speed 400 is just about the best LOOKING bike on the market right now, and would love to see Triumph stick it in the Xerox at 110% and slap the 660 in it. I know they have the trident in that position, but it just is flat out not as pretty as the speed 400. Literally a 110% enlarged carbon copy of the Speed 400, with the 660 engine, and I think that would be perfect!
Maybe the trident just needs a remodel. I don't like the way it looks either. It's retro but to modern.
@@chrishart8548 Yeah, if they updated the trident to be the Speed 400's bigger brother, with the same proportions and shapes, it would really hit the mark for me.
Next step up that sticks with the style of the Speed 400 would be a XSR700 or a Z650RS. If you really like the single maybe a BSA Gold Star but I don't think that really applies for us in the US
What's the pie-chart thing on the warning sticker atop the tank?
When are you going to review the Himalayan 450 Zack!?
Triumph has launched 2025 version of Speed 400 with adjustable brake and clutch levers
Would like if you can do NX500 next to continue with 500ish Hondas.
Such a gorgeous bike, wish they did a 125 like the xsr, for European people to ride with just a car license
Would be great to see the Triumph Speedmaster on daily rider! Thanks for all the awesome videos!
When I worked for Triumph"s press Fleet I1999- 2005 always removed those Nanny Stickers for gas tank, Etc for good Photos. Back then, according to Triumph, Most of there bikes [in The US] had to maintain at least 80-85 Mph. To keep up with "CarTraffic"
I forgot to mention, MY 2015 Victory and 2018 Chevy Colorado have pretty accurate "Real Time " Gas mileage " Display. When I close the "Throttle" On My bike and Truck 99MPG! Registered by my ECU.
Asia has always been the go to place for small capacity motorcycles 🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭
Currently $4,398 near me for ‘24’s
Seems like a decent price for what you get compared to a Grom or Monkey that are just a few dollars less 😅
06:25, it's true. The Indian variant weighs more due to these norms. Also, you missed the tires; the tires are different on the Indian one.
Wow! I agree, I would have been terribly shocked if the KTM did better and to me the Honda did better by avoiding the traction control stuff.
let me ask you a weird question - if you could have ONLY 1 bike between the scrambler 400x and cb500x, which would it be? Use cases would include city commuting, touring and general out and about. super-light offroading only.
For a lil bit more $ you can get a Trident, very tempting over this
3600 is not a lil bit...
The look of the Trident is totally different than this one. Not really a good comparison or even upgrade from this bike. A bigger one that looks similar is what he said, the Interceptor 650. Could also look at Kawa w800, but that is quite a bit more $.
Love mine. 5200 miles since mid June.
Walking around the back of my old FZS I, as you did here, reflexively hold on tothe passenger grab handle and use that as a pivot point to guide my body around the machine. Weird, isn't it?
when will you o the husqverna svartpilen 401 review..... really need that review from you guys
Like the klr , it's highway manners would improve with going one tooth up on the front sprocket
I know they’re going out of production, but can you please do a Thruxton RS daily ride. I adore them so much.