Triumph is reported to be launching new 350cc models for India
Reports from India suggest that new 350cc models are set to arrive from Triumph and Bajaj, but why?
It’s fair to say that since their launch, Triumph’s range of 400cc bikes have been a big hit since they landed back at the beginning of 2024.
Headed up by the Speed 400, Scrambler 400 X and recently announced Thruxton 400, they have opened the door to Triumph ownership to a huge new swathe of the riding public. Indeed, the response to Triumph’s new range was so positive that in 2024, they helped to push the Hinckley brand to an all-time sales record of 134,635 motorcycles sold.
You may also like to read our Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X review here.
On the back of all this success, the news that Triumph was set to launch a range of smaller, and presumably slightly lower-powered, 350cc models might seem strange, although those are the whispers from the Indian motorcycle press this morning.
So why the change in direction?
The move is reportedly due to a change in India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates. The Indian outlet Rushlane is reporting that a change in GST rules would put the 400s (which in India are classed as a ‘big bike’) at a price disadvantage. With other Indian-market brands already having 350cc bikes in their ranges (Royal Enfield has the J-Series bikes like the Meteor 350, Hunter 350, and Classic 350, and BSA has the new Bantam 350), Triumph’s 400s could seem less appealing in what is the most lucrative small capacity market on the planet. The tax increase Rushlane reports is a chunky 40 per cent.
To counter that potential drop in sales, Rushlane reports that some market-specific 350cc versions of its Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, Thruxton 400 and Scrambler 400 XC could be just the tonic. They could produce almost (if not the same) amount of power and torque, while still offering a more cost-effective route into Triumph ownership. And with their lower-capacity bikes potentially sliding under the radar of the new GST rules, it could put Triumph’s 400s on an equal footing against the competition.
According to Rushlane, Bajaj has already confirmed the move, stating that much of its portfolio will be “realigned to sit below [the] 350cc displacement mark”. While that statement doesn’t mention Triumph’s Bajaj-built 400s specifically, it seems sensible to adjust them for the more challenging Indian market conditions.
Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
