There ’ s this sense – reality – that Triumph has entered into the light-middleweight market , not with any intention of stealing food from the plates of its competitors , but merely to create a genuine launch point for customers to enter into the , er , Triumph brand experience ( for want of a better phrase ). When its smallest previous offering has been circa 600cc , Triumph has missed out on that early connection and thereby probably missing out on sales downstream . Now , given Triumph ’ s expanding relationships in India and the Far East , in terms of motorcycle production , there ’ s never been a better time for the British marque to reach out to , effectively , new riders . The cool thing here – and it is cool – is that Triumph has arrived in this market segment with its own motorcycle . It ’ s not a copycat , it ’ s not even an alternative , it ’ s an outright new machine with its own identity and purpose . And it is so very Triumph , an authentic ( sorry for that ) addition to their ‘ modern classic ’ ranges that will sit as the new start point for their ‘ Speed ’
and ‘ Scrambler ’ lines . Triumph has of late been scoring straight A ’ s in its bike design , comfortably producing great bikes with their own signature aesthetic , so it ’ s cool that Triumph has been able to bring that game into this budget-priced segment . The design , and the quality ( with the odd exception , to bring the project in at the necessary price point ) matches that of the rest of the ranges . Almost certainly , new riders taking home their new Triumph 400 are going to be very satisfied , if not to say proud , of their new scoot .
OLD SCHOOL Downtown Valencia , on the east coast of Spain , was a great place to start the 400 experience . Catching the tail end of rush hour , the civility of the 400s was immediately apparent . In fact , in keeping with Triumph ’ s other modern classics , the 400s are almost old school . The engine powers along in a most linear manner , the chassis , too , responds in a neutral fashion . The front brake and clutch levers have no adjustment
30 KIWI RIDER