Despite the article saying these Bajaj Indian made bikes will be available in India soon and 'in all other markets' by the start of 2024 I suspect 'other markets' could well end up meaning Asian markets only where they'll be going head to head with the just about to be launched Harley Davidson X440, which will be made in India by Hero Motors, and the X350 which will be simply a rebadging of an existing QJ Motors bike already Made in China. Triumph and HD are both very wary of the potential brand value dilution these bikes could inflict in Europe and the USA. These tie ups with established Indian and Chinese manufacturers allow them to compete in that market segment without massive R & D, development and production costs so they can see how it goes and to walk away if it doesn't pan out. The ultimately ill fated venture with the Indian built 500/750 vee twins burnt HD badly both reputationally and financially.

 

will be available in India soon and 'in all other markets' by the start of 2024 I suspect 'other markets' could well end up meaning Asian markets only

Here from an interview with Oliver Willand from Triumph Germany:

"With the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X, we are expanding the range of two extremely successful model series from our Modern Classics range. We therefore think that we will be able to realize a volume of around 350 units sold in Germany and Austria in the first year alone. In our estimation, the mix will tend slightly in favor of the Scrambler 400 X."

They really want to start 2034 in EU.

 

@Terry Colley, your points are valid. However, Triumph's approach might be different because, according to Cycle World, "As such, it will be manufactured in Triumph’s three factories in Thailand and in its Brazilian plant, as well as at Bajaj’s Indian facilities.". If the 400s were produced only in India, I would expect Triumph to have less control over the final product.

Triumph Speed 400 Ushers in New Era

Triumph has unveiled two new single-cylinder models; here’s a look at the street-focused 2024 Triumph Speed 400.

www.cycleworld.com

 

I’m still waiting for the Ricky Carmichael /Triumph MX bike

 

Wonder if the 20 year olds will dream about the Scrambler 400x the same way I did the Honda CL350 back in '72?

 

Wonder if the 20 year olds will dream about the Scrambler 400x the same way I did the Honda CL350 back in '72?

For me it was the Suzuki X6... eat that Honda for lunch

and then there was the Bridgestone 350...

And the ultimate Honda 350 eater... Kawasaki A7

 

As you rightly say back then there were bikes that could eat the Honda for lunch alas they lacked the all important name 'Scrambler'. Merely adding that tag to a bike imparts capability to conquer ANY terrain on the planet. If you couple that name with a high pipe and handlebar crossbrace you easily double those capabilities. The Bridgestone you referenced was the best of the bunch but it was the GTO not the GTR that was the alpha male of the genre. I believe the R in GTR meant Road and the O in GTO meant offroad but who knew? They should've persisted with the Hurricane Scrambler name originally used for the 175 twin.

 

I am planning on getting a 400 Scrambler when they finally arrive. I started riding in 1968. Time to downsize to a handsome, lighter, easy going ergos bike, with Class. Soon my 2 heavier bikes will need new owners. I have spoken!

 

I'm there with Steeltoe, legal riding since '66. My third bike was a Triumph Tiger Cub. The 400X will be a suitable geezerhood replacement. I don't know if I'd sell my Gold Wing bagger, but the thought has been rolling around.

 

Hodaka had the best names:
Road Toad, Dirt Squirt a Combat Wombat come to mind😊

 

Somebody remind me to nickname my next motorcycle the Combat Wombat. No matter what type of bike it is.

 

In the bike world yes, I agree. In the car world Nissan has come up with some doozies. Nissan Cedric! And best of all, Nissan S-Cargo, a play on the French word for snail, Escargot .

 

Chevrolet had an issue when they tried to sell the Nova in Central and South America. "No Va" means "wont go".

 

And the ultimate Honda 350 eater... Kawasaki A7

View attachment 815552

The A7 Avengers seem to have completely disappeared. Bringatrailer has never had one. Reading about the A7's motor design and lubrication in Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_A7_Avenger), I think they should have been more popular. I wish that I had bought one back in the day. Instead, I bought a Honda CB350.

 

A friend had an Avenger. I had a Yamaha YDS3 previously, I was impressed with the Avenger compared to my Yamaha. He traded it on an H1 which he highly modified. It was the quickest thing I have ever ridden. Had to roll-on the throttle to keep from getting hurt. He lit up the rear tire when nailing it rather than slipping the clutch.
kk

 

The white 1969 H-1s were a blast to ride. You just twisted the throttle to the desired angle of the motorcycle. The H-2s took motorcycle wheel standing to a completely new and terrorizing level.

When they came out we warned every buyer of exactly what they had. We had a yard full of H-1s within 6 weeks waiting for back ordered rear fenders, tail lights and seats.

And yes, the A7 was a nasty little 350 but got overrun by the nice guy Honda 350 advertising campaign and got lost. Kawasaki was completely caught up in promoting the H-1.

A decent rider on an A7 could make a British twin rider wonder what had happened if they tangled with one in a straight line.

 

His was a '69, white with the blue. His mods were from Tony Nicocia (sp?) who drag raced them setting national records. The bike was a brute not real pleasant to ride. Idled at 2,000 rpm, vibrated and the powerband was like a light switch. It was fun to ride, I didn't really get on it as it wasn't mine. Just rolling on the throttle in the first three gears resulted in wheelies which required the rider to back off. Good times.
kk

 

I worked for a Kwacker dealer and we used to run against Tony (Nicosia) @ Atco dragway.

Beat him a fair number of times even though he was factory backed.

Those were the days...

 

The local Triumph dealer said the USA price will be anounced Thursday, Oct 5th. Deliveries will be early 2024...

 

 

Scrambler 400X

 

I like the Speed 400 specs. 20 lbs lighter with the same fuel capacity.

 

I like the 20 lbs lighter but i'm afraid i need the room of the scrambler as i am no longer as flexible as I used to be.

 

For today only my local Triumph/Royal Enfield etc dealer has the 400s and the new 1200 Scrambler to look at and sit on. I sat on the Speed 400 and not surprisingly I found it to be much like my RE Meteor 350 in size, weight and seating. Very comfortable except the handlebars felt kinda wide and flat, like a scrambler. For my liking I’d need a different bar or risers that bring them back a bit. The fit and finish is as good as it looks in its videos. Handlebar controls and switches are all familiar, just like other Triumphs.
Sadly, I didn’t sit on the other two, I only ran in to quickly pick up my RE plate and registration and my wife was waiting in the car and we were on our way to someplace else. Salesman remarked that Triumph redid the 1200 scrambler to make it lower.

 

My local dealer here on LI tells me he also has the 400's in the showroom.
They are pre-production models, don't run, so no riding I'm told. I will go see them tomorrow hopefully

 

So I showed up to check one of these bad boys, albeit a couple of days later than I could. Little did I know that when the dealer told me they would be there Monday, he forgot to tell me it was a one day only event.
When I showed up on Wed to take a look they told me the two bikes were being toured to the local dealers in the Tri-state area for one day only at each site 😡 😡

 

Yes it was only 1 day at each dealership. The only way I realized that is that I was on two different dealer’s email lists and one had them on Friday, and another one in my same state had them on Saturday.

 

What tease..When I spoke to the manager about when the retail ones will arrive, he said January sometime.
But they wont be there long. Every one of them is sold already, likely to be picked up by the new owner the day its ready for delivery

 

LOW Seat for sale

Triumph Speed 400 Sahara Complete Seat. 1' lower, 1"narrower. As new. Wife no longer rides. I don't need it. All original, perfect no rips, tears or scratches, original box. Cannot be told from new. Shipped Free continental US. $169.00, Paid $209.46