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@@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'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 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!
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.
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.
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 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).
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 .
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.
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.
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...
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.
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!
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.
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 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).
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.
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.
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.....
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 🖤
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.
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.
I love the show, but I am a little dismayed this year especially by the three Uber-bikes at the top of the list of the current Daily Rider leaderboard. They are all phenomenal bikes and you are an excellent rider able to wring all of their performance out of them, but are they not literally overkill for what the Daily Ride really entails? Perhaps this little 400 in fact IS a far better daily rider for 90% of the population. To put it into car terms, sure, a BMW M5 or a Porsche Macan Turbo or whatever is likely a VERY good and capable way to get to work and use for everything else, but the reality is that something like a Toyota Camry Hybrid (or even a RAV4) would provide all of the necessary stuff, be reliable, inexpensive to own and maintain, and most everyone can reap most of the benefits of most of them every single day for most everything they do. I'm at the point where I'm just sort of ignoring the top 6 or so this year and looking where new bikes fall starting around the midpoint of the chart. I'm not really sure if this comment makes a lot of sense, but that's where I'm at with this....And I FULLY understand it's YOU reviewing these bikes (and appreciate that) , I wouldn't change a thing about the actual reviews, just how the leaderboard is set up...Maybe it needs to be segmented more somehow.
890 SMT owner here. It’s certainly not a cheap motorcycle but, and this is the important part, in the context of LA I think you need at least 50+ horses to be able to comfortably keep up with traffic which can run at 85 and up on the highway. Especially with bags on which was important for me when I commuted to the office with clothes in the bags, you need some power and handling to be confident in the machine. You -can- commute with 40 horses on a smaller bike, but having a roomy saddle, cruise control, heated grips etc. all make the experience that much nicer for actual workhorse daily use. The reason a bike like the 890 is up there is because it can do almost everything well and is fun while doing it. I’m a mediocre rider and I can appreciate its performance just fine. The 1390 I sort of agree with you about.
@@CorbinGoodwin I can respect that and can certainly see the point of view (and congrats on the awesome bike!), half my lifetime ago I used to commute across the SF Bay Bridge on a KLR650 with a few miles of SF city after and about ten miles of freeway before and some residential neighborhood before getting to that...And it was fine to good and genuinely fun every day. While it's nice to "comfortably" keep up with the speeders in the fast lane it also doesn't seem really "necessary", most any bike will get off the line faster than anything else and can easily keep up with at least the middle lanes. The point I didn't make earlier is that I don't see cost as being as big a factor as it could (should?) be. Your bike was about $14k out the door? This one is about $5500 and Zack seems to feel it's pretty terrific overall. That's a huge price difference to many people that don't have a stable of bikes although yes in real terms it's cheaper than any car. It's relatively easy to throw a few thou more at the price of a bike and presto it's FAR better due to what it affords in components, BUT someone still has to pay that. $5500 is kind of (almost) throwaway money for most families as far as a commuter is concerned, but get into the teens and ESPECIALLY the $20k+ range of some bikes and that becomes a "gotta have a family discussion" type of budget. I guess that's my main point...But I certainly don't begrudge anyone their own choices!
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.
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.
It's nice but if you look on videos from India too many people have a problems with stalling on second gear. Change oil is horible odysea and chain cleaning too. I was in Triumph shop and it's realy looks like India bike. Then I went to Honda and I bought Honda cl500 ;)
My new 2013 Triumph Tiger 800XC was so bad that I swore off the brand. Do they actually honor warranties now? Is every new Triumph still chock full of "known issues"?
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.
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.
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).
Got fed up waiting for Triumph to fix mine so I sold it after 3,000 miles and 9 months. Potentially a great little big bike ruined by poor build quality and reliability. Great shame Triumph didn't bring manufacturing in house as I suspect they're as frustrated with Bajaj as Owners are. Mine suffered poor build quality (fixings and footpegs), immobiliser fault with rogue engine management light, stalling and non starting. Triumph claimed they were waiting for a software update (after the first update caused worse problems). Personally I suspect a hardware fault they are trying to correct with software. Overall, a disappointing purchase and haven't regretted selling it at all, though if it had been sorted and the dealer had better customer service I'd have happily still had it.
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 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
I'm not keen that the top bikes are large cc hot machines. I generally reach for one of my 650-750cc machines for actual commuting. Even the wee little zx4rr is better than the Speed Triple 1200 for traffic as that bike can make the frame crazy hot uncomfortable. Same with the Monster SP that bike is hot running.
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.
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 don’t know if I interpreted right what you said about European manufacturing going outside for production but I agree. I have a bmw 310gs and I would pay the premium if I knew workers that produced it were compensated on a proper scale. If I misunderstood you I apologize but I hate paying workers low while execs get millions. Great review.
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.
As much as the bike seems like a very nice motorcycle, there are inherant limitations on fast interstates that make it something that I would avoid. My current motorcycle is a Kawasaki 650 cc parallel twin. It's smooth and powerful on interstates at posted speeds. The Speed 400 is not. For I70 in Maryland, that's 70-75 MPH. I have ridden up that road into Carroll and Frederick Counties. It makes a difference for long ride comfort on such roads if you really need them to get somewhere.
Every time I adjusted the "adjustable levers" on my Street Triple, the Triumph mechanic would set them back and tell me off apparently "they're not for reach convenience"?! Perhaps the brakes fade on track and you can dial them back a bit? Or the main dealer lies?
The more you set the adjustable lever back, the stronger the initial bite/the less distance brakes have to travel to provide stopping power. That said they can just as easily work for reach convenience-your dealer was being a prick. I set mine to '3' because my hand was the most comfortable at that distance and I like the initial bite
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
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.
Bajaj makes this bike . It’s a great brand in India . Triumph is lucky to have the collaboration with Bajaj. It’s much cheaper to buy in India . Btw I own a tiger 900 gt pro. Love triumph brand
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 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.
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.
Enter to win a 2024 Triumph Speed 400 or 2024 Triumph Scrambler 400! rvz.la/3NlYciY
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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
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 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.
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👍
It should have been called the Speed Single, to join the Speed Twin and Speed Triple convention.
Or the "Speed: One"
@@sidharthkm5030 👍
Waiting for your take on the RE Guerilla. Nice update on the little Triumph one year after your ride in the Himalayas.
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'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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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)
Triumph is doing some good things
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.
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
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).
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 picked one up as my first bike about a week ago. Loving it so far!
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'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.
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!
Please do a review on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Zach. Love the reviews.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 .
23:11 Guys someone's fridge is on the run.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 have the X and love it. Handles green lanes and pot holes fine. Looks and sounds great too.
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 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).
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.
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.
It’s also restricted to 60kmpl in India as well, they might fix it for mpg when they update it.
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.....
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.
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.
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. ;)
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.
It's a throwback. The electronics package on my first bike was headlight, taillight, and turn signals.
I love the show, but I am a little dismayed this year especially by the three Uber-bikes at the top of the list of the current Daily Rider leaderboard. They are all phenomenal bikes and you are an excellent rider able to wring all of their performance out of them, but are they not literally overkill for what the Daily Ride really entails? Perhaps this little 400 in fact IS a far better daily rider for 90% of the population. To put it into car terms, sure, a BMW M5 or a Porsche Macan Turbo or whatever is likely a VERY good and capable way to get to work and use for everything else, but the reality is that something like a Toyota Camry Hybrid (or even a RAV4) would provide all of the necessary stuff, be reliable, inexpensive to own and maintain, and most everyone can reap most of the benefits of most of them every single day for most everything they do. I'm at the point where I'm just sort of ignoring the top 6 or so this year and looking where new bikes fall starting around the midpoint of the chart. I'm not really sure if this comment makes a lot of sense, but that's where I'm at with this....And I FULLY understand it's YOU reviewing these bikes (and appreciate that) , I wouldn't change a thing about the actual reviews, just how the leaderboard is set up...Maybe it needs to be segmented more somehow.
890 SMT owner here. It’s certainly not a cheap motorcycle but, and this is the important part, in the context of LA I think you need at least 50+ horses to be able to comfortably keep up with traffic which can run at 85 and up on the highway. Especially with bags on which was important for me when I commuted to the office with clothes in the bags, you need some power and handling to be confident in the machine. You -can- commute with 40 horses on a smaller bike, but having a roomy saddle, cruise control, heated grips etc. all make the experience that much nicer for actual workhorse daily use. The reason a bike like the 890 is up there is because it can do almost everything well and is fun while doing it. I’m a mediocre rider and I can appreciate its performance just fine. The 1390 I sort of agree with you about.
@@CorbinGoodwin I can respect that and can certainly see the point of view (and congrats on the awesome bike!), half my lifetime ago I used to commute across the SF Bay Bridge on a KLR650 with a few miles of SF city after and about ten miles of freeway before and some residential neighborhood before getting to that...And it was fine to good and genuinely fun every day. While it's nice to "comfortably" keep up with the speeders in the fast lane it also doesn't seem really "necessary", most any bike will get off the line faster than anything else and can easily keep up with at least the middle lanes.
The point I didn't make earlier is that I don't see cost as being as big a factor as it could (should?) be. Your bike was about $14k out the door? This one is about $5500 and Zack seems to feel it's pretty terrific overall. That's a huge price difference to many people that don't have a stable of bikes although yes in real terms it's cheaper than any car. It's relatively easy to throw a few thou more at the price of a bike and presto it's FAR better due to what it affords in components, BUT someone still has to pay that. $5500 is kind of (almost) throwaway money for most families as far as a commuter is concerned, but get into the teens and ESPECIALLY the $20k+ range of some bikes and that becomes a "gotta have a family discussion" type of budget. I guess that's my main point...But I certainly don't begrudge anyone their own choices!
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.
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.
It's nice but if you look on videos from India too many people have a problems with stalling on second gear. Change oil is horible odysea and chain cleaning too. I was in Triumph shop and it's realy looks like India bike. Then I went to Honda and I bought Honda cl500 ;)
My new 2013 Triumph Tiger 800XC was so bad that I swore off the brand. Do they actually honor warranties now? Is every new Triumph still chock full of "known issues"?
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.
When are you going to review the Himalayan 450 Zack!?
Man!
Do get that new Himalyan 450 to test out soon.
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.
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.
Got fed up waiting for Triumph to fix mine so I sold it after 3,000 miles and 9 months.
Potentially a great little big bike ruined by poor build quality and reliability.
Great shame Triumph didn't bring manufacturing in house as I suspect they're as frustrated with Bajaj as Owners are.
Mine suffered poor build quality (fixings and footpegs), immobiliser fault with rogue engine management light, stalling and non starting. Triumph claimed they were waiting for a software update (after the first update caused worse problems). Personally I suspect a hardware fault they are trying to correct with software.
Overall, a disappointing purchase and haven't regretted selling it at all, though if it had been sorted and the dealer had better customer service I'd have happily still had it.
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 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
I asked for this a while ago. Thanks zack/revzilla! 💪🏽
I'm not keen that the top bikes are large cc hot machines. I generally reach for one of my 650-750cc machines for actual commuting. Even the wee little zx4rr is better than the Speed Triple 1200 for traffic as that bike can make the frame crazy hot uncomfortable. Same with the Monster SP that bike is hot running.
Are you guys finally getting into the CFMoto 450s? Preferably the 450 Ibex
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.
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.
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.
Such a gorgeous bike, wish they did a 125 like the xsr, for European people to ride with just a car license
Not sure if it was mentioned, but are bar end mirrors standard on this model?
Triumph has launched 2025 version of Speed 400 with adjustable brake and clutch levers
They are putting adjustable levers on the 2025 model.
I don’t know if I interpreted right what you said about European manufacturing going outside for production but I agree. I have a bmw 310gs and I would pay the premium if I knew workers that produced it were compensated on a proper scale. If I misunderstood you I apologize but I hate paying workers low while execs get millions. Great review.
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.
As much as the bike seems like a very nice motorcycle, there are inherant limitations on fast interstates that make it something that I would avoid. My current motorcycle is a Kawasaki 650 cc parallel twin. It's smooth and powerful on interstates at posted speeds. The Speed 400 is not. For I70 in Maryland, that's 70-75 MPH. I have ridden up that road into Carroll and Frederick Counties. It makes a difference for long ride comfort on such roads if you really need them to get somewhere.
Every time I adjusted the "adjustable levers" on my Street Triple, the Triumph mechanic would set them back and tell me off apparently "they're not for reach convenience"?! Perhaps the brakes fade on track and you can dial them back a bit? Or the main dealer lies?
The more you set the adjustable lever back, the stronger the initial bite/the less distance brakes have to travel to provide stopping power. That said they can just as easily work for reach convenience-your dealer was being a prick. I set mine to '3' because my hand was the most comfortable at that distance and I like the initial bite
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…
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
"sidestand presence" I like the expression.
Would like if you can do NX500 next to continue with 500ish Hondas.
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?
Bajaj makes this bike . It’s a great brand in India . Triumph is lucky to have the collaboration with Bajaj. It’s much cheaper to buy in India . Btw I own a tiger 900 gt pro. Love triumph brand
Sir, what would you recommend for a person with low budget. Buy old royal enfield continental 350 with cash or instalments on this bike ?
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.
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 ❤❤
30:20 I thought for sure you were going to say SV650.
Never clicked so fast in my life
You guys should test the Kawasaki W230
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?
I know they’re going out of production, but can you please do a Thruxton RS daily ride. I adore them so much.
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.
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.
Would be great to see the Triumph Speedmaster on daily rider! Thanks for all the awesome videos!
Gear up a slow bike? I'm thinking about gearing down my XSR 900
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.