Old T100 Or New Speed 400

[Ash telecaster]

Hi all, I am determined to buy a Triumph. I am struggling between buying a 2010 Bonneville with low miles in good condition or a new Speed 400.

I know many of you will say it depends on what I want but I would rather hear what YOU would do so I can understand why you would go one way or the other.

I appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[Qship]

The Bonneville will give you more power for passing and relaxed cruising, but will probably need some wrenching to get it in tip top shape and more in the future, due to it's age. The fuel system may need a good cleaning as you say it's low mileage, but 14 years old.
The Speed 400 will be easier to maintain for a few years and cheaper to run.

I would go for the Bonnie myself. It will be hard to drop down that small after having the torque of a Harley at your right wrist.
Have you considered the T120?

 

[Ash telecaster]

The Bonneville will give you more power for passing and relaxed cruising, but will probably need some wrenching to get it in tip top shape and more in the future, due to it's age. The fuel system may need a good cleaning as you say it's low mileage, but 14 years old.
The Speed 400 will be easier to maintain for a few years and cheaper to run.

I would go for the Bonnie myself. It will be hard to drop down that small after having the torque of a Harley at your right wrist.
Have you considered the T120?

Hi Qship,

My goal is to eventually buy a new T120. For the time being I am in the $5k or less market to get my Triumph fix. I can get the Bonny for 4k and that is what I'm tempted to do but I can't ignore the Speed, it's so affordable for a new bike.

 

[atomsplitter]

Unless you like spending money and wrenching, the Speed 400 would be the cheaper route overall. You have no idea what shape the T100 is actually in, mileage is not a relevant factor to abuse. On a low mileage decade old bike you'll be buying tires, battery, fork seals, fork oil, probably need drive chain, bearings, brake pads, brake fluid change, not to mention electrical sculdugery if the owner swapped out any electrical stuff like turn indictors, headlamps, etc.

You get a known quantity with a known warranty with any new bike, plus modern fuel injection in a light nimble package with all new parts. My dad always said that buying used was buying someone elses headache. Unless you are into restoration projects (like myself), buying new is a cheaper way to go.

For example, that Thruxton in my avatar is a great ride, but when I bought it I saw it needed new fork seals because of oil on the stanchiions. Turned out the stanchions had to be replaced because of pitting and would cut the new seals. That meant buying new stachions at a bit over $1,000 each leg new or finding good used parts. Lucky for me I found a good set on a crashed bike for $400.

 

[Ash telecaster]

Unless you like spending money and wrenching, the Speed 400 would be the cheaper route overall. You have no idea what shape the T100 is actually in, mileage is not a relevant factor to abuse. On a low mileage decade old bike you'll be buying tires, battery, fork seals, fork oil, probably need drive chain, bearings, brake pads, brake fluid change, not to mention electrical sculdugery if the owner swapped out any electrical stuff like turn indictors, headlamps, etc.

You get a known quantity with a known warranty with any new bike, plus modern fuel injection in a light nimble package with all new parts. My dad always said that buying used was buying someone elses headache. Unless you are into restoration projects (like myself), buying new is a cheaper way to go.

For example, that Thruxton in my avatar is a great ride, but when I bought it I saw it needed new fork seals because of oil on the stanchiions. Turned out the stanchions had to be replaced because of pitting and would cut the new seals. That meant buying new stachions at a bit over $1,000 each leg new or finding good used parts. Lucky for me I found a good set on a crashed bike for $400.

That sounds like solid reasoning. I love the idea of owning a classic but in reality I mostly just explore country roads and the Speed would fill that need nicely. As Qship suggested, I am a little concerned with the power, but single rider, no luggage, little traffic, typically at 50mph or less speeds, it's probably fine.

 

[atomsplitter]

I believe you might be surprised with the power band, thumpers (single cylinder bikes) are quite torquey for the size.

 

[Vector]

I purchased a Speed 400 last month. I have a Rocket, for around town it’s a bit brutal. I was concerned the 400 would seem slow and too small. That is not the case. I am 6’ 175 and it fits me well.
The 400 is a fun fun bike.
There is a forum just for the 400 if you need more feedback.

 

[Ash telecaster]

I purchased a Speed 400 last month. I have a Rocket, for around town it’s a bit brutal. I was concerned the 400 would seem slow and too small. That is not the case. I am 6’ 175 and it fits me well.
The 400 is a fun fun bike.
There is a forum just for the 400 if you need more feedback.

Thanks Victor,

I'm going to check out that forum. Triumph always has an eye for style, the speed looks awesome. I have to hit the dealership and sit on one.

 

[Vector]

https://www.triumph400forum.com

 

[Ash telecaster]

I purchased a Speed 400 last month. I have a Rocket, for around town it’s a bit brutal. I was concerned the 400 would seem slow and too small. That is not the case. I am 6’ 175 and it fits me well.
The 400 is a fun fun bike.
There is a forum just for the 400 if you need more feedback.

Btw: sorry, called you Victor instead of Vector!

The Speed 400 looks like a standard sitting position. Is that true or do you lead forward?

Thanks

 

[Vector]

Very slight forward lean.

 

[CarlS]

That sounds like solid reasoning. I love the idea of owning a classic but in reality I mostly just explore country roads and the Speed would fill that need nicely. As Qship suggested, I am a little concerned with the power, but single rider, no luggage, little traffic, typically at 50mph or less speeds, it's probably fine.

In your case, I agree with Q, atomsplitter, and Vector. You are considering classic T120 down the road. I believe the 400 will be the least expensive and will be a fun, spirited bike for the riding you do. As an aside, I love my T120 which I purchased used.

 

[Qship]

The speed 400 has impressive HP figures for a 400cc thumper(39.5hp).
It's a lighter bike than the T100 you're looking at, so as far as power to weight ratio is concerned, I bet it would be pretty close to the older Bonnie in performance.

 

[SparkyMan]

Ash Tele, what are you riding now and, if nothing, what in the past? I’ve owned my ’09 Bonnie since new, recently bought a used ’11 T-Bird Storm and, yet am so very interested in at least riding the new 400, if not buying one. From what I -and likely you- have read it’s a fun, torquey lightweight bike, and it’s a Triumph! I was thinking of suggesting a Royal Enfield, as they’ve a great price point, but so does the Triumph.
While my ‘09 is in perfect working order with plenty of mods, it has over 120K miles on it, so these bikes can and do last. But 4K on a 14 year-old bike says it’s done a lot of sitting around; that’s an average of under 300 miles a year. But if the seller has both maintained and stored it well, it might not be as difficult to get up to snuff as Atomsplitter has described. On the other hand, as my old man told me more than once, buying a used vehicle is often buying someone else’s problems. So you need a detailed history on the used one, which oft times is hard to come by.
Bottom line: New, warrantied, and expected to be no lots of fun, I’d go for the 400. Now you’re left with only one V last decision; Scram or Street?
-Sparky

 

[proturn1]

The speed 400 has impressive HP figures for a 400cc thumper(39.5hp).
It's a lighter bike than the T100 you're looking at, so as far as power to weight ratio is concerned, I bet it would be pretty close to the older Bonnie in performance.

Hi
I have just done a accident repair Ins paid out repair on a Triumph Speed 400 and taken it out on a few runs with mates on new machines and older Nortons and Yamaha 500 and had no problems keeping up with them I also have a 2017 Thruxton and a 2023 Speed Twin both were accident write offs and turned out to have great motors but the Speed 400 would be my choice for twisting slower back country roads after recently doing a 450 km in a day on the Thruxton on mainly tight slow narrow roads.

At 75 years young my shoulders and wrists were killing me when I returned home and headed for the Spa on the back patio to soak away the pain.
As others have said the newer bikes now are so smoothe but the weight of the new T120s in and around town and in slow traffic can be a real pain!.
Pitty you are not in NZ as I am wanting to sell the 2024 Speed 400 with 925Km as my garage is getting too full of toys.

BTW if anyone has a L/H Front Fork Slider that will fit the Nissin Caliper on a 2017 Triumph Bobber 120HT Single Sided Disc on the front.
I am after one Has a spare one! Please check out the back shed as I need one for a restoration project

 

[brooke]

The speed 400 has impressive HP figures for a 400cc thumper(39.5hp).
It's a lighter bike than the T100 you're looking at, so as far as power to weight ratio is concerned, I bet it would be pretty close to the older Bonnie in performance.

IMO I suspect the 400 would be faster than the 650 .

 

[CarlS]

IMO I suspect the 400 would be faster than the 650 .

And a whole lot less maintenance!

 

[Ash telecaster]

Ash Tele, what are you riding now and, if nothing, what in the past? I’ve owned my ’09 Bonnie since new, recently bought a used ’11 T-Bird Storm and, yet am so very interested in at least riding the new 400, if not buying one. From what I -and likely you- have read it’s a fun, torquey lightweight bike, and it’s a Triumph! I was thinking of suggesting a Royal Enfield, as they’ve a great price point, but so does the Triumph.
While my ‘09 is in perfect working order with plenty of mods, it has over 120K miles on it, so these bikes can and do last. But 4K on a 14 year-old bike says it’s done a lot of sitting around; that’s an average of under 300 miles a year. But if the seller has both maintained and stored it well, it might not be as difficult to get up to snuff as Atomsplitter has described. On the other hand, as my old man told me more than once, buying a used vehicle is often buying someone else’s problems. So you need a detailed history on the used one, which oft times is hard to come by.
Bottom line: New, warrantied, and expected to be no lots of fun, I’d go for the 400. Now you’re left with only one V last decision; Scram or Street?
-Sparky

Hey Sparky,

I'm riding a Harley Heritage Classic. My motivation is two fold. I had a lifting injury last year that has mostly healed and doesn't bother me...unless I'm sitting on a cruiser motorcycle where the seat puts pressure on my tail bone and that causes me enough aggravation to limit my rides to very short trips. I've found that sitting on an adventure bike in an upright position doesn't bother me. The second reason is I mostly just explore the back roads and have been gassing for a lighter more flickable ride. Plus, I've always had an appreciation for Triumph and its a brand that's always been on my radar. I'm just not in a position to finance a 10,000$+ bike at the moment. Looking for a reasonably priced substitute and came across this used Bonny. However, my enthusiasm for the Speed 400 is growing thanks to all the generous responses on this forum. I just need to sit on it and see if my bum likes it!

 

[CarlS]

Hey Sparky,

I'm riding a Harley Heritage Classic. My motivation is two fold. I had a lifting injury last year that has mostly healed and doesn't bother me...unless I'm sitting on a cruiser motorcycle where the seat puts pressure on my tail bone and that causes me enough aggravation to limit my rides to very short trips. I've found that sitting on an adventure bike in an upright position doesn't bother me. The second reason is I mostly just explore the back roads and have been gassing for a lighter more flickable ride. Plus, I've always had an appreciation for Triumph and its a brand that's always been on my radar. I'm just not in a position to finance a 10,000$+ bike at the moment. Looking for a reasonably priced substitute and came across this used Bonny. However, my enthusiasm for the Speed 400 is growing thanks to all the generous responses on this forum. I just need to sit on it and see if my bum likes it!

Please let us know what you decide.

 

[Ash telecaster]

I have another question, the Scrambler 400x.

I noticed the Scrambler has lower foot pegs and the seat looks more comfortable. That might be a reason for me to consider that bike even though I don't plan on riding off road.

Is the gearing the same?