Triumph Speed T4 Price Drops To INR 1.99 Lakh: Is The Hunter 350 Hunted?

Ever since its introduction to the Indian motorcycle market in 2022, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has been a sensational hit. Deriving its mechanicals from the Classic 350, the small and comparatively lightweight Hunter 350 offers a wholesome riding experience at a much palatable price point. As a proposition, it worked for the Indian audiences to such an extent that the Hunter continues to secure the second spot in the sub-400 cc class of motorcycles, next to the Classic 350. 

Triumph, however, wanted a piece of the action and hence, released the Speed T4 in 2024. Built to take on the lower variants of the Classic 350, it borrowed the exotic design of the Speed 400 and its energetic engine in a different state of tune meant to appease old-school riders – a lot more low-end torque and a meaty mid-range. On paper, this should have obliterated Royal Enfield’s sales charts and made its way to the top. 

Sadly, that didn’t happen. The Speed T4 struggled from the beginning and even if it drew customers to the showroom, the minimal price difference to the Speed 400 made people consider the latter. Triumph was unable to move enough units of the Speed T4 and that led the brand to consider a price reduction.

Triumph Speed T4 price drops!

Ahead of the motorcycling season, Triumph has reduced the price of the Speed T4 by a considerable margin. The ex-showroom price of the motorcycle has been dropped by INR 18,000, which may seem marginal on paper but the real-life implications are bigger. The Speed T4 with its price of INR 1,99,900 is almost an alternative to the high-spec variants of the Hunter 350. With taxes and registration charges combined, the Speed T4 can be had for less than INR 2.3 lakh. 

For anyone considering a new motorcycle at this price range, the Speed T4 suddenly becomes a lot more tempting. But is it a better deal than the more popular Hunter 350?

Triumph Speed T4: Worth choosing over Royal Enfield Hunter 350?

While it would be easy for me to refer you to an earlier story on Hardwire doing a detailed analysis of the Triumph Speed T4 vs Hunter 350, I decided to bring up some relevant points after the price revision. 

Engine

The Speed T4’s 398 cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine makes 30.6 bhp of peak power and 36 Nm of peak torque, which is superior to Royal Enfield’s 349 cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine making 20 bhp of peak power and 27 Nm of peak torque. 

In layman’s English, it means that the Speed T4 is way faster than the Hunter 350 in the real world. The higher horsepower rating allows the Speed T4 to achieve higher top speed and an overall superior top-end performance. Liquid cooling allows the Speed T4’s engine to manage its heat better in India’s usually hot and humid climate. 

The Hunter 350, on the other hand, is a motorcycle for relaxed riders seeking a meaty mid-range for speeds under 90 kph. This kind of tuning allows this motorcycle to extract fuel efficiency figures of up to 36 kmpl, which is notably better than the Speed T4’s 30 kmpl indicated figure. 

Ride quality

The extra pennies you pay for the Triumph gives you a more comfortable ride with superior agile handling, which is highly uncharacteristic of a modern classic. This means that the Speed T4 will go in a leisurely manner while offering modern handling characteristics. Whether you take it to the city streets or the highways, the Speed T4 should be comfortable (not necessarily relaxing though). A seat height of 806 mm doesn’t make it as accessible as the Hunter 350’s 790 mm high seat though. 

The Hunter 350, on the other hand, offers impressive handling for a motorcycle tipping the scales at 181 kg. The front telescopic suspension soaks up the worst of potholes and undulations. Sadly, the stiff rear springs make it uncomfortable for long rides for solo riders. 

Design, build and features

The Speed T4’s minimalist and compact design doesn’t impart the kind of presence you’d expect from a neo-retro British roadster – it’d be easy to mistake it for a Bajaj motorcycle. The Hunter 350, on the other hand, flaunts its unapologetic British curves and retro cues well. Despite the Hunter’s sheer popularity, the motorcycle commands an unmistakable road presence (part of which has to do with the youth-centric paint schemes). The design cues from Triumph’s Speed 900 Twin, especially for the tank and rear sections, make the Hunter seem more exotic than Triumph’s T4!

Safe to say, Royal Enfield’s Hunter 350 is a more gorgeous Triumph than Triumph’s own baby motorcycle!

The build quality and attention to detail on both of these motorcycles are impeccable, especially considering that these are two entry-level retro motorcycles from the two brands. Dual-channel ABS is standard on the Hunter 350 Metro and the Speed T4, along with tubeless tyres and alloy wheels. While the Hunter 350 gets an LED stop lamp, the Speed T4 gets LED treatment for its headlamps, tailamps and indicators. Both motorcycles get a semi-digital analogue instrument cluster but the Hunter 350 gets an optional digital navigation unit. 

So, the Triumph Speed T4 or Hunter 350?

The Hunter 350 is still the more affordable motorcycle of the two, which coupled with Royal Enfield’s widespread dealer and service network makes it an easy choice for all kinds of motorcyclists. The superior road presence coupled with a relaxed torquey engine, agile handling and a customisation-friendly design makes the Hunter a superb motorcycle. For INR 2 lakhs on-road, the Hunter 350 is an unbeatable package for retro motorcycle lovers.

That said, if your wallet allows you to spend a little more, the Triumph Speed T4 will keep you happier. You get to exploit more performance, have a comfortable ride and a superior overall motorcycling experience here. This is a motorcycle designed to keep enthusiasts happy.