Rode the Rocket 3 into Triumph Newcastle this morning for a service. They'd promised me a loan bike to get me home. I was hoping for a 1200 Speed Triple or maybe a Thruxton but they gave me this object:
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What to make of it?
Well, jumping on it straight from the Rocket I did notice a few differences. For a start it's red and my Rocket is black. I noticed that immediately. The 400X is also appreciably smaller in size and it hasn't got any heated grips. That's noticeable too in Newcastle in the middle of October. And it seems to be somewhat down on power. The Rocket has 167 ft/lb of torque and I don't think this does.
I live the other side of Consett which is a good 25 miles away. I'd dropped the Rocket off just after 9:00 and they said it should be ready by 2 pm. That's five hours to make a round trip of over fifty miles. Four hours in fact, as what with doing the paperwork, grabbing a coffee and having a chin wag with a chap on a 900 Tiger, I didn't leave until 10 am. I did wonder whether it wouldn't be quicker to walk. Or take some sort of bus.
Anyway, hoping for the best, I sat on it and it managed to take my weight. I turned the key (a proper one, which was nice), prodded a button and a small mechanical device somewhere beneath the tank shuddered a little and began to make a noise like a pond pump. I set off, hoping there wouldn't be any strong cross winds over Redheugh bridge or I might end up in the Tyne drifting towards South Shields, which is not the best way to get to Consett from central Newcastle.
I've never put a saddle on a housefly and taken one for a ride, but I now have a fair idea of what it might be like. Nimble doesn't really describe it. Especially after the Rocket which has the turning circle of an oil tanker and only marginally less weight. The 440X is a sweet little thing, lithe to the point of weightlessness, yet still manages to possess a decent amount of road presence. I didn't feel vulnerable or in everyone's way, which you can do on small bikes. The pond pump cleared its bilges and began to make a very pleasing burble and the bike took off with unexpected eagerness.
Through town traffic it had plenty of bottom end and out of town it picked up to 70 mph with alacrity and more than kept up with the pace of the traffic. It also did it with remarkably little vibration. There's a faint tingle through the seat at around 6000 rpm but it's barely noticeable and nothing at all through the bars and pegs. It sounds like a proper single but feels as smooth as a twin.
Brakes are excellent. Admittedly they don't have much to do but they do it very well. And there's plenty of room. I'm six foot tall but didn't feel at all cramped in the saddle or lacking in leg room.
It nipped around the back roads, changing direction like a water boatman, with a power delivery best described as willing. It's a bit like a Jack Russel terrier. It isn't fast and with the best will in the world it's never going to keep up with next door's greyhound, but no one's told the Jack Russel and it's going to give it a damn good go. The suspension is basic but very well set up. I didn't feel anything needed changing, it wasn't lacking in damping and gave the bike a poise you'd expect from a bigger and more expensive machine. I reckon you could give it a good ragging round the back lanes and have some proper fun on it.
It has six gears but feels like it could easily cope with another. Sixth comes up very quickly, even in town, and it pulls in top without bogging or getting breathless.
When I got home and took off my lid to open the lock-up, I was surprised by how pleasing the exhaust note was as it sat there ticking over. It's got a proper boff-boff-boff of a trad single and the stock can doesn't muffle it out of existence. With an aftermarket pipe it would sound proper nice.
I also noticed how well finished and screwed together it is. Some bits better, in fact, than the Rocket which costs £19,000 more - such as the sleek and solid shiny chrome fuel fitter cover, against the Rocket's drab and cheap looking aluminium afterthought. How they manage to produce this bike for under six grand I've no idea. The chap with the 900 Tiger I was talking to at the dealership had said he'd thought about buying one for his daughter as she's taken a shine to them and had just passed her test. If I see him when I take it back I will tell him to pull his wallet out and get one bought. She'll love it and it would make a cracking first bike.
Would I buy one? No. I haven't really got a use for it and though full of character and sprightly to ride it is a bit small for my tastes. But, if they made a 650 version with 50+ bhp I very well might. It would make a grand little thudder for bimbling around country lanes on a Sunday afternoon.
One thing I do know is Enfield will have to up their game. I can't see why anyone would buy a 350 Bullet when they could have one of these for another £1500.
@WAYNE weigh that Bangalore banger in for scrap and get yourself a wee Trumpet.
I'm actually quite looking forward to the ride back into toon. Good job done Triumph.
. It seems there’s good reason why the little Triumph 400 & 400X are currently the UK’s top selling bike month after month after month.
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