Both Harley Davidson (with Hero MotoCorp) and Triumph (with Bajaj) recently launched their 400cc…ish motorcycles for the Indian market. But which is best and which will likely come out on top in sales terms albeit not necessarily in customer appreciation.
Harley Davidson and Hero MotoCorp released the X440 ahead of schedule (some have speculated) to counter Triumph and Bajaj release of the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X, however sales were down for Hero whilst Bajaj were heavily investing in 120 city outlets around India to give the Triumphs a really big push.
Both have similar characteristics in styling. Both are retro cool bikes and their ultimate target is Royal Enfield but they would be wise not to trip over each other and keep their eyes on the big prize. But initial thoughts are that the Triumphs are more advanced in terms of specifications and will sell better overall in India due to Triumph name recognition rather than the Harley Davidson that was never a big name in motorcycling terms for Indian riders.
Let’s look at the specs for both.
Triumph Speed 400 boasts a Liquid Cooled 4 valve, DOHC single cylinder 398cc engine delivering 39.5 bhp and 37.5Nm of Torque.
Harley Davidson X440 counters with a 440cc Single Cylinder Air-Oil Cooled Engine delivering 27 bhp and 38Nm
So the Triumph really does outperform the Harley Davidson and its LC engine would be well suited to deliver more power in a smaller capacity too. Both are similarly priced but Triumph/Bajaj are giving a slight discount for the first 10K buyers which matches H-D/Hero prices too.
Both branded bikes have fuel injection, disc brakes, upside down front forks with the Triumph having a monoshock for the rear and the Harley Davidson utilising a twin shock set up.
The X440 comes in at a considerable 190.5Kg on the road, whilst the Triumph Speed is consderably lighter by 20Kg at 170Kg.
Both do well with electronic packages but the Triumph has switchable traction control and throttle by wire and the Harley Davidson has superior infotainment with built in Sat Nav too.
Which is best? If we’re looking at performance then the Triumph Speed 400 with more horsepower and overall lighter chassis comes out on top. But the Harleys were never about performance and what it lack in power it makes up as an overall package.
Triumph Speed 400 Specs
| ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION | ||
| Type | Liquid-cooled, 4 valve, DOHC, single-cylinder | |
| Capacity | 398.15 cc | |
| Bore | 89.0 mm | |
| Stroke | 64.0 mm | |
| Compression | 12:1 | |
| Maximum Power | 40 PS / 39.5 bhp (29.4 kW) @ 8,000 rpm | |
| Maximum Torque | 37.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm | |
| Fuel System | Bosch electronic fuel injection with electronic throttle control | |
| Exhaust | Stainless twin-skin header system with stainless steel silencer | |
| Final Drive | X-ring chain | |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate, slip & assist | |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | |
| CHASSIS | ||
| Frame | Hybrid spine/perimeter, tubular steel, bolt-on rear subframe | |
| Swingarm | Twin-sided, cast aluminium alloy | |
| Front Wheel | Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 17 x 3 in | Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 19 x 2.5 in |
| Rear Wheel | Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 17 x 4 in | Cast aluminium alloy 10 spoke, 17 x 3.5 in |
| Tyres | Metzeler Sportec M9RR | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| Front Tyre Size | 110/70 R17 | 100/90 R19 |
| Rear Tyre Size | 150/60 R17 | 140/80 R17 |
| Front Suspension | 43mm upside down Big Piston forks. 140mm wheel travel | 43mm upside down Big Piston forks. 150mm wheel travel |
| Rear Suspension | Gas monoshock RSU with external reservoir and pre-load adjustment. 130mm wheel travel | Gas monoshock RSU with external reservoir and pre-load adjustment. 150mm wheel travel |
| Front Brakes | 300mm fixed disc, four-piston radial caliper, ABS | 320mm fixed disc, four-piston radial caliper, ABS |
| Rear Brakes | 230mm fixed disc, floating caliper, ABS | 230mm fixed disc, floating caliper, ABS |
| Instruments | Analogue speedometer with integrated multi-function LCD screen | |
| DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS | ||
| Length | 2056 mm | 2117 mm |
| Width (Handlebars) | 795 mm | 825 mm |
| Height (Without Mirrors) | 1075 mm | 1190 mm |
| Seat Height | 790 mm | 835 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1377 mm | 1418 mm |
| Rake | 24.6° | 23.2° |
| Trail | 102 mm | 108 mm |
| Wet Weight* | 170kg | 179kg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 13 litres | |
*(90% fuel – mass in running order)
| FUEL CONSUMPTION | |
| Fuel Consumption | (Values Subject to Final Homologation) |
| CO2 Emissions | |
Harley-Davidson X440 Specs
DIMENSIONS LENGTH 2168 mm, SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN 805mm
GROUND CLEARANCE 170mm
RAKE 25.5, TRAIL 102.7mm, WHEELBASE 1,418mm
TIRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION 100/90 X 18
TIRES, REAR SPECIFICATION 140/70 X 17
TIRE, TYPE MRF Zapper Hyke
FUEL CAPACITY 13.5 l
OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER) 2.25l
WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED 181 kg, WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER 190.5 kg
ENGINE 440cc Single Cylinder Air-Oil Cooled Engine, BORE 79.6 mm
STROKE 88.4 mm, DISPLACEMENT 440cc, COMPRESSION RATIO 9.5:1
FUEL SYSTEM Fi
EXHAUST Single Side Exhaust
PERFORMANCE
ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHOD As per AIS 137
ENGINE TORQUE 38 Nm, ENGINE TORQUE (RPM) 4000
HORSEPOWER 27 bhp@ 6000rpm
LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.) 36
LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.) 36
FUEL ECONOMY TESTING METHOD WMTC carbon balancing cycle
FUEL ECONOMY 35 km/l
CO2 EMISSIONS TESTING METHOD WMTC emission cycle
DRIVE TRAIN PRIMARY DRIVE 2.308
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 1ST 2.833, GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 2ND 1.875
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 3RD 1.4, GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 4TH 1.136
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 5TH 1.043, GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 6TH 0.818
CHASSIS
FRONT FORK Front Fork : KYB USD 43mm Dual Cartridge Forks
REAR SHOCKS Gas filled Twin Shocks, 7-step preload adjustable
WHEELS, OPTIONAL STYLE TYPE Spoke and Cast Wheels
WHEELS, FRONT TYPE Spoke and Cast Wheels
WHEELS, REAR TYPE Spoke and Cast Wheels
BRAKES, ROTOR TYPE Front: Disc 320mm Rear: Disc, 240mm
ELECTRIC
LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION)
All LED Headlamp with Multi-Projectors and Signature DRL, LED Winkers and LED Tail Lamp, Auto Headlamp Illumination
GAUGES
3.5 inch TFT Display, Round Gauge, RTMI, RANGE Display, Gear Indicator, Speedometer, L/R turn Indication, High Beam Indicator, ABS Alert, Side Stand Alert, Service Indication, Low Fuel Indication, Neutral Position Indicator, Check Engine Light Indication. Smart Phone Feature which includes Turn By Turn Navigation, Music Control, Accept and Reject Calls, Phone Battery Status, Missed call Alert, Message Alert and Network Strength
INFOTAINMENT H-D™ CONNECT SERVICE Connect 2.0 Package available
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM Music control via Bluetooth connectivity
TYPE TFT Display, SCREEN SIZE 3.5″
HANDS-FREE MOBILE PHONE – VIA BLUETOOTH Standard
USB 2A Quick Charge 3.0 Standard
BLUETOOTH Phone/Media supported
BLUETOOTH & LTE CONNECTIVITY Available in Top variant only
RIDER SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
Dual Channel ABS included
Price in India:
Triumph Speed 400: INR 233000 (£2211, $2826, 2593 Euros)
Harley Davidson X440: INR 229000 (£2174, $ 2777, 2548 Euros)
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