Mini Thruxton ready to roll: Triumph/Bajaj tie-up looks set to gain faired 400 retro café racer derivative

These spy shots recently snapped in southern Europe appear to show a new Triumph Thruxton 400 in the works, based on the firm’s latest small-capacity singles built in partnership with Bajaj Auto. 

It’s been little over a month since the Hinckley factory confirmed production of their 1200cc parallel twin Thruxton café racer will end in 2024 – with the name now looking likely to live on in the 398cc single-cylinder range. 

Immediately given away as a Triumph by the distinctive styling and triangular logos on the engine cases, a closer inspection reveals the mystery model is heavily based on the Speed 400 naked – revealed in June alongside a more rugged Scrambler 400 X.

This means you can likely expect the same 398cc liquid-cooled motor with finned cylinder head, stuffed into a tubular steel chassis. 

Designed to appeal to a global mass market, both current model variants produce a claimed 39.5bhp at 8000rpm and it’s unlikely this new retro will stray far from that.

Also appearing to be shared with the Speed model is the subframe, seating arrangement and non-adjustable 43mm big-piston upside-down front forks. Whether it will keep the same 140mm of travel remains to be seen. 

Being road biased, it wears the same 17in rims and wheel design but is seen here in a set of Pirelli Rosso tyres as opposed to the Speed’s Metzeler Sportec M9RRs.

Elsewhere, the partial analogue display looks to be taken from the existing production bikes but shrouded by a new half fairing reminiscent of the departing Thruxton 1200 café racer. In the middle of that, you’ll find the rounded LED headlight already used, with the discreet bracket above that likely in place to house a number plate for the Indian market. 

Behind the fairing looks to be a set of clip-on bars to give the bike more of a focused stance but given the placement of the footpegs it’s unlikely to be too extreme of a riding position. Like the Speed 400, these clip-ons are paired with a set of bar end mirrors to avoid unsightly stalks protruding from the narrow front bodywork. 

As before, braking power is provided by a single front disc and caliper complete with ABS, with the seat height likely to be similar to the Speed’s manageable 790mm. 

MCN approached Triumph about the new machine, but they weren’t prepared to comment. Despite still being in development, the homologation-ready number plate hanger, reflectors, and lack of data logging equipment onboard suggest that the machine is very near market-ready completion.