I was at EICMA 2015, when the BMW G 310 R was first revealed. At that presentation, a few guys from Triumph were standing next to me – within earshot.
As BMW’s team was hyping its new small-capacity-single cylinder machine, made by Indian company TVS, I overheard a Triumph higher-up, who shall remain nameless, speaking scoffingly.
He noted that Triumph had toyed with the idea of offering a smaller capacity motorcycle but that “there’s no money in it.” Equally, he seemed to be dismissive of BMW’s partnership with TVS.
Ten years later, Triumph has just revealed two new additions to its rapidly expanding line-up of small-capacity single-cylinder motorcycles, made by Indian company Bajaj: the new Tracker 400 and Thruxton 400.
That brings the total number of 400 models to five, with more possible. Indeed, Triumph has promised to deliver 29 new models – across all its platforms – for 2026. So far, most of those have fallen into the ‘bold new colors’ category of ‘new’ but there are still at least five more reveals to go. And the absence of an adventure bike from the 400 platform feels glaring.
But let’s focus on these two new variations, starting with the one that I think looks better, the new Thruxton 400.
2026 Triumph Thruxton 400
Powered by a 398cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, the Thruxton 400 joins all the other bikes in the line-up in promising 41.4 bhp at 9000 rpm and 27.6 lb-ft of torque at 7500 rpm. These numbers represent a slight boost for the platform that was first introduced in 2024.
Previously, the 400s had peak figures of 39.5 bhp at 8000 rpm. Torque was the same, but arrived earlier, at 6500 rpm.
“This has been achieved through a combination of new mechanical parts, including a revised camshaft profile, along with a new engine tune,” Triumph says.
Riders raising an eyebrow at the fact that the addition of 1.9 bhp has come at the expense of pushing peak torque some 1000 rpm further up the range will be comforted by Triumph’s promise that 80 percent of torque output arrives at/below 3000 rpm.
“Celebrated for its unmistakable cafe racer attitude and racing heritage, the Thruxton has always embodied style, performance, and character,” states a Triumph media release. “Now, that spirit is reimagined for a new generation, delivering the perfect balance of timeless design and contemporary engineering.”
The Thruxton 400’s “sporty handlebar and footpeg position” give it a more focused feel than the existing Speed 400, according to Triumph. It says that the cafe racer’s clip-on handlebars are 40 mm narrower and 246 mm lower than the Speed 400’s ‘bars. While footpegs are positioned 86 mm further back and 27 mm higher.
Most of those numbers feel too small to make much of a difference, but dropping the ‘bars 9.6 inches will be noticeable. I wonder how many riders will actually want to be hunched into a sport-riding position on a bike that will struggle to do the ton.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires come standard, as well as all the bells and whistles to be found on all the 400-series bikes, including LCD tachometer display, USB-C charging port, ride-by-wire throttle, switchable traction control, torque assist clutch, and ABS.
2026 Triumph Tracker 400
Sticking to Triumph’s long-standing habit of arriving on trends a few years after everyone else, the Tracker 400 draws inspiration from a sport that experienced a resurgence about eight years ago and has since returned to being niche: flat track racing.
“Designed to stand out in the crowd, the Tracker 400 combines race-inspired styling with aggressive lines for an unmistakable flat track silhouette,” claims Triumph media release. “Classic Triumph design cues and the iconic engine profile make this a true Modern Classic.”
Again, you get a 398cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine claiming 41.4 bhp at 9000 rpm and 27.6 lb-ft of torque at 7500 rpm. Again, you get a fair bit of technowhizzbangery.
Where the Tracker 400 differs from others is in its use of Pirelli MT60 RS tires, which were, incidentally, the same tires used by Ducati’s accidentally ahead of its time – and now defunct – Scrambler Sixty2, and the equally defunct Scrambler 1100.
Seating position on the Tracker 400 is also different.
“Wider handlebars, set 23 mm broader and 134 mm lower than those on the Speed 400, enhance the bike’s dynamic stance,” says Triumph’s media release. “Footpegs are repositioned 86 mm further back and 27 mm higher, creating a confident, aggressive posture.”
The thing is, Triumph already has the Scrambler 400 XC. Having another bike that’s inspired by but clearly not intended to be used for riding in the dirt feels like a real splitting of hairs. I predict the Tracker 400 won’t last a year.
That may just be my negative reaction to the bike’s look, though. I’m not a fan of the tank graphics. To me, they have the same aesthetic blah-ness that slightly ruined the 2025 Speed Twin 1200.
Triumph Thruxton 400 and Tracker 400 specs
| PRICE | • £5,995 (Thruxton 400)• £5,745 (Tracker 400) |
| ENGINE | 398cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder, DOHC |
| POWER | 41.4 bhp at 9000 rpm |
| TORQUE | 27.6 lb-ft at 7500 rpm |
| TRANSMISSION | Six-speed |
| WEIGHT | • 176 kg (Thruxton 400)• 173 kg (Tracker 400) |
| SEAT HEIGHT | • 795 mm (Thruxton 400)• 805 mm (Tracker 400) |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 13 liters |
| FRONT TIRE | 17-inch, 110/70 R17 |
| REAR TIRE | 17-inch, 150/60 R17 |
They’re still 400s
Meanwhile, earlier this year, there was some scuttlebutt that Triumph was planning to drop the capacity of its 400s to 350cc. This was because of a sudden change in India’s tax laws, which reduced the Goods and Service Tax (GST) on sub-350cc machines to 18 percent (down from 28 percent), and increased the GST on bikes with a capacity greater than 350cc to 40 percent.
The GST was heavy on the minds of Royal Enfield’s leadership when I spoke to them at Motoverse in November but their attitude has been to take a wait and see approach, rather than suddenly change the capacity of bikes.
With Triumph promising a 398cc single in these new 400s, I’m inclined to think that it and Bajaj, too, have taken a ‘wait and see’ approach to seeing how badly the GST bites. Or, perhaps the GST wouldn’t affect bikes sold outside of India? Honestly, I don’t know.
Leave a Reply to TheQCancel reply