Triumph Speed 400 vs H-D X440: Specifications Compared

The Triumph Speed 400, on paper, is more modern than the Harley in almost every way. 

• At Rs 2.33 lakh, the Triumph has priced the Speed 400 very competitively. 
• But with its prices starting from Rs 2.29 lakh, the Harley-Davidson X440 has been priced very well too. 
• Other rivals to both bikes include the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the Honda H’ness CB350. 

The past week saw two very highly anticipated launches take place, and they both exceeded our expectations in a positive way. Firstly, Harley-Davidson introduced the X440 with a very competitive price. And just when we were still excited about that, Triumph launched the Speed 400 in India at a price that completely amazed us.

So now that the Indian market has two additions in the sub-500cc retro segment, both of which sound very exciting, it only made sense for us to put them head-to-head and see which one came out on top. Here’s how that went: 

Triumph Speed 400 vs Harley-Davidson X440: Design & Features

The Harley-Davidson X440 has a stylish neo-retro design, taking inspiration from the iconic Harley-Davidson XR1200. It comes with a round LED headlight and a modern LED DRL strip that has 'Harley-Davidson' engraved on it.

The bike also features all-LED lighting as standard. The 13.5-litre peanut-style fuel tank adds to its rugged appearance, and the one-piece seat design complements it well. However, the exhaust design is a bit out of place, as it neither aligns with the floor for a clean classic look nor angles upward for a sportier aesthetic.

Despite being an affordable bike, the Harley-Davidson X440 offers impressive features. The top-spec variant comes with a Bluetooth-enabled TFT console that includes turn-by-turn navigation, call and SMS alerts, and more. The lower two variants have a standard TFT console that displays real-time mileage, distance to empty, gear position indicator, along with the usual tell-tale lights.

Triumph Speed 400 vs Harley-Davidson X440: Engines

Triumph has gone for a thoroughly modern engine setup for the Speed 400. The 398cc liquid-cooled engine is a brand new one and of the 37.5Nm, Triumph claims that the bike makes more than 30Nm of it from as low as 3000rpm. And you do feel that, because after 3000rpm, the way the bike builds up speed because of the surge in torque is incredible. On Bajaj’s Chakan test track, our rider saw a speedo-indicated 160kmph, a speed at which the Speed 400 felt incredibly smooth and stable. 

Give it a long enough straight and the bike could pull to as high as 175kmph, which does put it in the territory of the likes of the KTM 390 Duke. While not as frantic, the Speed 400 is definitely very exciting and very very involving to ride, given its flickability and dynamic handling. 

The engine of the X440 has a long-stroke design, which means it delivers a good amount of torque at low and mid-range speeds. This makes the 440 feel lively and responsive, and it's easy to ride. However, it's not a lazy engine. It enjoys being revved and reaches its rev limit of 7,000rpm quickly and repeatedly.

The throttle response is sharp, and the gear ratios are well-balanced, allowing the bike to pick up speed smoothly and powerfully even from as low as 2,000rpm. It also produces a pleasing sound when you open the throttle at low rpms, with the exhaust note sounding strong and pleasant at the same time.

Triumph Speed 400 vs Harley-Davidson X440: Suspension, Tyres & Brakes

All that sportiness that we talked about the Speed 400 doesn’t come at the cost of comfort. The inverted fork and monoshock have been tuned exactly for our roads and they offer a decently comfortable ride quality. The bike’s pliant even on our horrible roads and handles even the biggest of potholes rather well. Riders of all sizes and shapes will find this quite a comfy ride. 

The front suspension of the X440 uses 43mm KYB upside-down forks, which provide better response and reduce the weight on the front. However, the rear suspension doesn't have a monoshock. Instead, it has a conventional twin shock layout with gas-charged dampers.

When it comes to braking, the bikes feature a 320mm single disc with a twin-piston caliper at the front, while the rear uses a smaller 240mm disc with a single-piston caliper. Additionally, the X440 comes with dual-channel ABS as standard for added safety.

Triumph Speed 400 vs Harley-Davidson X440: Dimensions

The standout feature of the X440 is its impressive performance on the road. While we were only able to ride the bike within a controlled environment, we can say that it pleasantly surprised us in terms of handling. The focus on functionality in the chassis design, the presence of USD (upside-down) forks at the front, and the tires create a combination that is both predictable and thrilling when taking on a series of corners.

The X440 glides smoothly into corners, maintains stability when leaning over, and even with its 18-inch front tire, 190kg of wet weight, and long wheelbase, it handles quick changes in direction with ease. There is no wobbling, shaking, slipping, or sliding; it maintains stability and smoothly transitions to the other side until the footpegs start scraping, indicating its impressive agility.

Triumph Speed 400 vs Harley-Davidson X440: Price

The Triumph Speed 400 is available in a single standard variant, which is priced at Rs 2.33 lakh (ex-showroom). It comes in three different color options: Carnival Red, Caspian Blue, and Phantom Black. The initial introductory price for the first 10,000 customers will be Rs 2,23,000. 

The Harley-Davidson X440, on the other hand, is available in three different variants: 'Denim', 'Vivid', and 'S'. Similar to the variant options of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350, the 'Classic' variant of the X440 features a basic yellow color scheme, blacked-out engine fins, and spoke wheels. The mid-spec 'Vivid' variant comes with alloy wheels, blacked-out fins, and dual-tone color options. The top-spec 'S' variant offers more premium color choices, machined engine fins, machined alloy wheels, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Denim variant starts at Rs 2.29 lakh, the Vivid variant at Rs 2.49 lakh, and the top-of-the-line S variant at Rs 2.69 lakh. 

Verdict

Taking into account all the factors and the prices, both bikes have their own advantages, making them good options. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on whether one prefers a budget-friendly bike for relaxed cruising on highways with a touch of sportiness or a slightly more premium option that offers a sporty commuting experience as well as touring capabilities.

The Triumph Speed 400 seems to absolutely nail the ‘neo’ in the neo-retro tag it has. With enough modern elements to keep it relevant, but also giving the rider an authentically old-school experience, it somehow strikes the perfect balance between the two. 

The Harley-Davidson X440, on the other hand, leans a lot more towards the retro side. It’s properly old-school and promises you a vintage yet fairly involving experience. But there’s no escaping the fact that it’s made to a cost and isn’t as modern as the Speed 400.