So ive been having this motorbike fever the last year or so and decided to give it a go beginning Spring next year and i eventually landed in a Triumph dealership. I was looking for a A2 Bike and was interested in the Speed 400 but i got the advice of starting with something like the Speed twin 900 and so avoiding the whole upgrading a couple of years later. so i was interested in hearing some opinions, is starting with something like the twin speed 900 (with the A2 option ofcourse) and thus avoid the inevitable upgrade in the near future or just take it slow and try the speed 400 and decide later if and what to take on. ive driven a 125 scooter about 15 years ago, so im a beginner when it comes to bigger bikes and the 400s weight is power is comforting but it feels like im settling on something in between.
Greetings from Lincolnshire. My guess is that @ajc400 might be able to shed his thoughts on this bike. Hope it won't be too long before you get back on the roads AJ
Hi and welcome. I would suggest you test ride both and get a feel for the bikes before making any decision. For me I would go for the bigger bike as it is very likely that in no time at all you will want something bigger than the 400.
Hello Micha808! I wonder how old you are..... is this a mid-life crisis, or are you just a young 'un? I only ask because one thing I'd note between the two bikes is the difference in their weight. The 170kg 400 has the advantage of being very light and easily manoeuvrable, it's the reason I downsized from a heavier 'adventure' bike, plus it has that modern retro styling. The 900 is a hefty bike at 216kg, and much heavier than I want at my advancing years! 71 since you ask. Having said that, you get what you pay for, the speed twins are beautiful, the 400's are fine for the price, but only 40bhp and have had a few teething problems, with a very sensitive throttle which, in my opinion, might catch out a new rider. I'd go to a dealership and try them, either as a test ride or even just sitting on one and lift it off the stand to see how it feels. Alternatively..... and this doesn't help Triumph unless the 660 is of interest..... look at some of the 500's and 650's out there which will be in between those weights but have enough power to keep you happier longer. Tell us what you think!
Thats what the guy at the dealership recommended and im almost convinced. Im hesitant because i have no experience at all so i dont know if a test ride will help me choose correctly. When i sat on the 900 i wasn’t intimidated by the weight or size (in contrary to other big bikes). The cost is another con because dropping the bike hurts twice as much when the cost is double . And ofcourse i dont have the A license so wont be able to use its full potential for the next 2 years.
The bike is in the workshop, repairs approved, parts ordered.... should have it back early December. Yes, ready for mid-winter in Scotland, perfect!!
Im 36 and i dont think its a mid life crisis because i always liked bikes. I had a couple of 125 until i started studying and by then i couldn’t afford such a hobby. I do commuting with a bicycle or public transportation and have a car sharing subscription. So a bike is pure for hobby and fun.. witch adds up to the reasons im hesitant going for the 900. Inexperience (weight, size and power) and price. i went to a dealership and sat on the 400 and 900. felt very comfortable, a feeling i didnt get sitting on other bikes with 350cc and 500cc. So my dilema is down to, will the 900 be more of an obstacle than an asset for me as a beginner? And is the added price worth it? (The 900 seems to be a fully flushed bike as apposed to the 400 who some review as a „cheap“ small bike.
@Micha808 Welcome to the family. Well my two pence worth is buy the speed 400 its plenty fast enough. It handles well and is low maintenance as in insuring and things like tires and consumables. This is mine and I love it. Had all the others models and this is up there with the best. Do let us all know how you proceed with a picture if you don't mind. But in the end its up to you. As said here test ride the bikes and get the feel for them.
Hi Micha, welcome to the forum and your biking journey. I'd wanted to ride bikes for many years before I finally took the plunge in 2018 at the ripe old age of 67. I struggled to even pass my CBT, then after lots of practice I surprised even myself by getting my full licence at the first attempt. My first big bike was a Honda CBR500R, 47bhp and about 200kg. As I'd been riding a Kawasaki ER6N for my conversion from 125cc to big bike, the Honda soon felt a bit "tame" so I soon P/X it for a Street Twin 900 (now called the Speed Twin 900). A bit heavier than the Honda, but with 64bhp and lots more torque I found the Street Twin much more satisfying. Although my situation was not the same as your current one, I think it demonstrates that we can quickly adapt to something a bit heavier and more powerful, and I was nearly twice your current age! I'm now 74 and have bought, ridden and sold over a dozen bikes (including the Street Twin) since 2018 and have only now settled on what seem to be my ideal bikes. In my garage I've now got a Speed Twin 1200, a Striple 675, a T100 (a 2011 865 cc), a Honda CBR650R and a Honda VTR1000 Firestorm. I've also got a Tiger 660 Sport but I'm trying to sell that one to make room in my garage for something else, perhaps a Daytona 660. So beware, biking becomes addictive, even when, like me, you don't start until your late 60's!! Enjoy your biking, and ride safe, whatever you choose to buy.
I'd definitely test ride both and see what you like. I last rode a bike in the late 1970s (honda 400/4) before I bought my t100 in April. Although the t100 felt heavy at first I soon got used to it and love it's feel. Admittedly I've no other bikes to compare it with but feel that for me it was the right choice. May I also suggest joining ROSPA would be a great idea.
Ey up.. I bought a brand new speed 400 in spring . .. after 300 miles i traded it in for a speed twin 1200.. i absolutely love the twin . Get straight in at the deep end ..
I agree, the Speed 400 is a nice bike but compared to a Speed Twin 1200, or even the 900, it feels a little anaemic. I had a Speed 400 on loan a few months ago while one of my bikes was in for warranty work, it did the job required of it but I was glad to get back on one of my other bikes. Don't get me wrong, the Speed 400 is not a bad bike and will be just the thing for some folk, particularly if they're new to biking or looking to downsize. Horses for courses, I prefer a Clydesdale or a thoroughbred to a Shetland pony!
I've had many bikes during my 44 years of riding and currently have 4, one of which is the Street (Speed) Twin 900. It is one of the easiest bikes to ride I have ever owned. You're not new to two wheels and it will initially be restricted anyway. I'm 68 and at your age you will easily cope with the weight. I don't think you are more likely to drop it than the 400. So it probably comes down to cost and style, which is up to you.
One further thought: where do you plan to ride? Is this to be a city commuter or a countryside rider? Around a busy city, the smaller bike provides greater maneuverability, but will struggle on faster country roads. It will feel like you are doing your "River Dance" on the shifter to maintain speed! I bought my first bike at 56: a Speed Triple 955 (460 pounds 120 hp). It was easy to ride in my rural/suburbs and heavily trafficked ride to work. When my son bought that, I upgraded to a 590-pound/ 130 hp Sprint GT, that I put about 18k miles on. At 62, I bought a Trophy SE at 662 pounds (132 hp- 89ft-pounds torque, in my profile photo). I think that you will grow accustomed to the weight quickly, as I did. Invest in crash bars if you think that you might have a topple or two, as I did in the first two bikes. "Horses for courses", as one wise gent mentioned earlier!
It really, really depends on what type of riding you do now, and maybe more importantly, what type of riding you think you might do in the future. City, urban, suburban, solo riding, I would think the 400 would be a good choice. If you anticipate stretching your legs a bit more, the 400 might not be right for you. Also, ergonomics can play a role. While I really like the Speed 900, the current model is too cramped for me legroom-wise. The 400 is a bit more relaxed and the Scrambler 400 is even more relaxed. Try to be realistic about how you think you'll use the bike and make your choice based on that. Good luck.