Triumph finally pulled the sheet off its cheapest Bonneville ever on October 6, and it’s not called the Bonneville 400 like everyone — me included — had spent six months guessing. It’s the Bonneville T40, with a blacked-out T40 Black and a stripped-back little brother called the T4, and all three share a new 398cc single that Triumph built specifically to undercut its own Speed 400 on badge prestige while matching it on just about everything that matters.

I’ve been refreshing this launch page since April, mostly because a sub-€3,000 “real” Bonneville is the kind of thing that makes me start pricing ferry crossings I have no actual holiday time booked for.

What Triumph actually revealed

The Bonneville T40 and T40 Black get a 4-inch circular TFT dash, five riding modes (Road, Rain, Eco, plus two customizable rider profiles), lean-sensitive cornering ABS and traction control, cruise control, self-cancelling indicators and full smartphone navigation through the Triumph app. The T4 strips that back to a colour LCD with turn-by-turn directions, dual-channel (non-cornering) ABS, three riding modes, and no self-cancelling indicators or USB-C charging — Triumph’s way of selling the same engine and frame at a lower entry point rather than building a cheaper bike from scratch.

Spec T40 / T40 Black T4
Engine 398cc liquid-cooled single, DOHC, 4-valve same
Power 30 bhp (22.8 kW) @ 7,000 rpm (32 hp A2-spec in Europe) same
Torque 36 Nm @ 5,000 rpm same
Gearbox 6-speed, slip-assist clutch same
Front suspension Telescopic forks, 130 mm travel same
Rear suspension Twin shocks, preload adjustable, 130 mm travel same
Brakes Single disc front/rear, cornering ABS Single disc front/rear, standard ABS
Dash 4in colour TFT, full navigation Colour LCD, turn-by-turn only
Riding modes 5 (3 preset + 2 custom) 3
Wet weight 191 kg (421 lb) —
Fuel capacity 14.4 L (3.8 gal) —
India price ₹2.79 lakh (~€3,000) ₹2.54 lakh (~€2,730)

It’s chasing the Royal Enfield Classic 350, on purpose

Triumph has said this outright: the T40 is built to go after the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Honda CB350, both bikes that outsell every retro Triumph combined in India, which is also where the T40 is actually built, under the ongoing Triumph–Bajaj partnership. Steve Sargent, Triumph’s Chief Product Officer, put it this way: “The result is a motorcycle that stays true to the values that have defined the Bonneville for generations while opening the experience to even more riders.”

That’s a very different fight from the Speed 400, which Triumph built to beat the Harley-Davidson X440 on attitude. The T40 is built to beat the Classic 350 on spec sheet — and a cornering-ABS, 5-mode, TFT-dash retro single undercutting the Classic 350’s feature list while sitting close to it on price is a genuinely good deal, if you can live with 398cc.

When Europe actually gets one

India gets the T40 and T40 Black first, with deliveries from the second week of November 2026 at ₹2.79 lakh (roughly €3,000 at current rates), and the T4 following in January 2027 at ₹2.54 lakh (~€2,730). Europe is further out: Triumph says EU pricing lands in early 2027, with bikes reaching dealers from spring 2027. The European-spec engine is tuned slightly higher, to 32 hp, specifically to land exactly on the A2 licence ceiling — the same trick Triumph already uses on the Speed 400, so new riders here can own it the day they pass their test rather than waiting out a power restriction.

What we know / What’s still unclear

What we know: - Three distinct variants (T40, T40 Black, T4) share a 398cc single at 30 bhp / 36 Nm (32 hp in Europe) - India pricing and November 2026 / January 2027 delivery dates are confirmed - The T4 trades cornering ABS, the TFT dash and two riding modes for a lower price, not a smaller engine

What’s still unclear: - Exact EUR pricing for Europe, which Triumph says it won’t announce until early 2027 - Whether the T4 name will carry over to European markets, or get folded into a single T40 range there - Full colourway list for the standard T40 (Triumph confirmed the T40 Black’s two shades and the T4’s three, but not the base T40’s)

A KTM-adjacent Honda Transalp comparison isn’t the right one here — this is a single-cylinder retro fight, not a middleweight ADV one — but the same question applies: does the badge premium hold up once the spec sheets are this close? I covered that exact tension back when Triumph first confirmed this reveal was coming, and it’s the same question BMW just answered differently with the R20 — go upmarket on finish instead of racing a rival on price.

I’ve already decided this is the bike for a slow, pointless loop through the Dolomites next September. I decided that about four other bikes this year too, so take it for what it’s worth.

FAQ

What’s the difference between the Triumph Bonneville T40 and the T4?

Both use the same 398cc single-cylinder engine and frame. The T40 and T40 Black get a 4-inch TFT dash, five riding modes and lean-sensitive cornering ABS; the T4 gets a simpler colour LCD, three riding modes and standard (non-cornering) dual-channel ABS, at a lower price.

How much does the Triumph Bonneville T40 cost?

In India, the T40 and T40 Black are priced at ₹2.79 lakh (around €3,000) ex-showroom, with the T4 at ₹2.54 lakh (around €2,730). Triumph hasn’t announced European pricing yet — that’s expected in early 2027.

When will the Bonneville T40 reach Europe?

Triumph says European pricing will be announced in early 2027, with the first bikes reaching dealers from spring 2027.

Yes. The European-spec engine is tuned to 32 hp specifically to sit at the A2 licence power ceiling, the same approach Triumph uses on the Speed 400.

Official source: https://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/motorcycles/classic/bonneville/bonneville-t40

Reporting via: thebikejunction.com