Triumph Speed 400: Riding impressions by a Honda Unicorn Dazzler owner

All the power considering all I have had, and coming from a decade old bike the difference is night and day

BHPian al90 recently shared this with other  enthusiasts.

So I took the test ride of the Speed 400 from the Anna Nagar Triumph. The sales team were definitely great & polite, even gave a reminder call on the morning of the TD, they were even happy to reschedule for me as well, all this without even a booking. I purposely avoided going on the weekend and picked 2pm (a 40 degree afternoon is a deterrent in itself) on Thursday just to make sure there wasn’t a crowd. Sure enough just 3 others in the showroom including myself, the 3rd guy came back from his TD just as I was filling out the TD forms.

They gave me their standard TD route, asked them for a few patches of broken roads and they were happy to indulge, called a friend who sent location for his TD route as well. I spent 30 mins with the bike driving through traffic, open and broken roads. My driving is going to be mostly in the city and even if it’s on highways it will be in the city not outside.

Coming from a CB Unicorn Dazzler, which I have had for the last 13 years this is going to be my big step up, only concern was bit of stress on the wrists but not as painful as on my bike, definitely 80% less. I am 5’11 and weigh 105kg, so guess it’s mostly due to my size and weight.

But other than that absolutely loved the bike chucking it in and out of traffic. All the power considering all I have had, and coming from a decade old bike the difference is night and day, people coming from more modern vehicles might have things to nit pick but not me.

Post the TD, booked the bike in black, went to Honda Bigwing and cancelled my CB 350 RS booking. They asked me for the reason and a signed letter and in 7 days I had the booking amount refunded with a Rs. 500 deduction.

There are now only 2 bikes which might waiver my decision:

• Scrambler 400x: Considering the part of Chennai where I stay doesn’t have roads. The GCC promises of roads being re-done in another 2 or 3 months (ongoing metro and drain works) and the more upright riding position is inviting.
• Sherpa 650: If it’s launched before I take delivery of the Speed 400 and I get a TD, but I don’t find it very likely because I test drove the Interceptor 650 – it’s heavy and it put a lot of strain on my wrists which I believe could have been fixed with a handle bar riser and second the Hunter 350 felt minuscule, so since the Sherpa is going to be a hybrid of both, not sure how its going to turn out.

I forgot to take a pic. Here is a pic from my friend who took a TD a day before. We both had gotten the same bike for the TD:

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