I’m of the belief that Triumph makes some of the best-looking bikes on the face of this earth. For instance, the Bonneville has become nothing short of a global icon, and so too have all the sub-models beneath it. But for me, the Thruxton has always been the one to get. It’s muscular, aggressive, and every inch a cafe racer.
As such, when Triumph decided to bid farewell to the big boi Thruxton, it felt like the end of a glorious era of torquey, dapper machines.
But here’s the thing, it might not be goodbye for the Thruxton after all. It seems that the iconic name will live on, albeit in a small-displacement package. How so, you might ask?
Well, Triumph has been in a partnership with Indian motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj for quite some time now. And quite frankly, it’s been a game-changer. The Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X have been a global smash hit, selling thousands upon thousands of units. And it’s easy to see why they have such mass appeal. I mean, who doesn’t love unmistakable Triumph styling mated to the accessibility and reliability associated with Bajaj?
And so, the logical next step would be to diversify the portfolio even further. Enter the Thruxton 400, a concept bike that’s looking like it’s becoming a reality more and more each day. In fact, a test mule of this thing has been spotted making the rounds in India, and it seems that it will indeed carry the cafe racer DNA of its bigger sibling. It gets a half front fairing, clip-on handlebars, and a cropped tail section with passenger grab handles.
It’s just a shame that it rolls on alloy wheels instead of wire-spoked ones, as I think it gives the bike a cheaper, more mass-produced feel. Nevertheless, this is something the aftermarket will surely sort out much sooner than later.
Just like the other 400cc Triumphs, this thing will be powered by the same 398cc thumper that dishes out 39.5 horsepower and 37.5 Nm (around 27.8 pound-feet) of torque—by no means the fire-breathing torque monster the Thruxton RS once was, but hey, times are changing.
As was the case with the Speed and Scrambler 400, the Thruxton 400 will more than likely debut in India first. But let’s be real—it would be a mortal sin for Triumph to sell this as an India-only model. So expect it to make its way to all corners of the globe not long after its official debut. Based on how I see it, this thing will be nothing short of a global success.
And that’s because if we look at the industry as a whole, it’s clear to see that the sub-500cc segment is booming, even in the US where small displacement bikes were once frowned upon. Simply put, small bikes make sense—they’re easy to ride in the city, and more often than not, have enough juice to get up to and maintain freeway speeds. Best of all, they’re affordable, reliable, and make motorcycling accessible to a wider audience. It’s a win-win-win, and then some.
Personally, I’m hoping that Triumph brings the Thruxton 400 into production sooner than later. It’s a bike that’ll give the entry-level segment some much-needed cafe racer pizzazz, and one that just might find its way to my collection.
Sources: Financial Express, Rush Lane via Instagram
