Triumph’s New Accessible Small Motorcycle Might Be One Of The Most Beautiful Retro Bikes Of The Year

A handful of years ago, motorcycle manufacturers discovered a hot little corner of the market that was ripe for growth. An increasing number of motorcyclists are deciding against spending piles of cash on large, expensive bikes, and are instead getting their kicks on small-scale steeds. A flurry of motorcycle companies have shifted to cater to this end of the market, producing frankly amazing machines. Triumph is one of these companies, and it just unveiled its latest treat for the lovers of affordable, accessible motorcycles. The 2027 Triumph Bonneville T40 is the most accessible Bonneville yet, and it might be one of the most beautiful retro motorcycles of the year.

The success of the smaller, affordable motorcycle has been amazing to watch. The perfect example is Royal Enfield, a brand whose bread and butter is in smaller, affordable motorcycles. Royal Enfield is seemingly a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. As our friends at RideApart wrote in July, Royal Enfield’s dominance in this space is so huge that, in just three months, it sold more than the yearly global output of Harley-Davidson and Indian combined. Put into pure numbers, Enfield moved 330,427 motorcycles in just a single quarter.

It’s not a fluke, either, as Royal Enfield has been breaking sales records throughout the 2020s, even while some other companies struggle to move stock. Royal Enfield even does well in the United States, the land of mammoth cruisers. Thus, it’s not at all surprising to see other brands wanting a slice of the pie by making their own smaller, more affordable machines.

Triumph has also seen success with smaller bikes. Between July 2024 and June 2025, the brand sold 141,683 motorcycles worldwide, an all-time record for the brand. Many of these sales were of its smaller and cheaper 400cc-class machines. The Triumph Bonneville T40 is the latest in Triumph’s initiative to serve the accessible side of the market, and this might be the British brand’s best-looking smaller bike yet.

Years In The Making

Triumph’s effort in the more affordable space has been going on for nearly a decade now. Here’s what I wrote in 2023 when Triumph launched the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X (below):

These two bikes, while new, are an expected development. Back in 2017, Triumph and Bajaj Auto of India announced a partnership to develop middleweight motorcycles. The pair noted that this relationship is a “non-equity partnership,” or a deal where the firms work together, but don’t form a joint venture and don’t invest in each other. Both Triumph and Bajaj remain their own companies, but they teamed up to make new products. As Motorcycle.com notes, this is exactly how the BMW G 310 GS and G 310 R came into life with help from TVS Motor, another Indian firm.

Triumph and Bajaj spent more than five years ironing out the TR Series single-cylinder platform that underpins Triumph’s new middleweights. Named after Triumph’s race-winning singles that ran in the Six Day Trial off-road competition, Triumph’s TR engines look like they’ve come from the 1960s, but they’re thoroughly modern under the skin. Here’s what I said in 2023:

The TR-Series engines are fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 398.2cc singles claimed to produce 39.5 HP at 8,000 rpm and 27.7 lb-ft torque at 6,500 rpm. Power reaches the rear wheel through a six-speed transmission with a slipper clutch and chain drive. These engines have a dual overhead cam design, four valves, and counterrotating balancer shaft designed to allow higher revs. The TR-Series engines also have a lightweight finger-follower valve train and a crankshaft that’s weighted and balanced for low-speed rideability.

The Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X were the launch motorcycles for the platform, and since then, Triumph has added the Scrambler 400 XC, Tracker 400, and Thruxton 400 to the TR Series lineup. Reportedly, since launch, Triumph has sold over 60,000 of these things, so expansion only makes sense.

Triumph Doubles Down On Small

The Bonneville T40 takes the glorious retro design of the big 900cc and 120cc Bonnevilles and distills it down to a smaller size. The characteristic Bonneville silhouette is proudly on display here, and classic touches like the teardrop tank, peashooter exhaust, round headlight, and teardrop tank hit the right notes.

But it’s the level of detail that impresses me here. Despite being a smaller, more affordable bike, Triumph says that the Bonneville T40 and its dark sibling, the Bonneville T40 Black, sport hand-painted lines on the tank and are finished by hand. The mirrors have a splash of chrome while the heel guards are brushed aluminum and the exhaust pipes are brushed steel. Even the engine has fins and header roses meant to be a nod to the past.

Something I appreciate, and it’s something I’ve been seeing with other smaller bikes lately, is the effort put into hiding wiring and hoses to keep the look uncluttered. In the past, a cheaper, more accessible bike might have a few corners cut here and there.

Going back to that engine, Triumph states that the Bonneville T40’s powerplant has a revised cylinder head and its own tune to give it a different character than Triumph’s other TR Series 400s. Output is 30 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 27 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 RPM. That engine is complemented by a twin-shock rear suspension, a 31-inch seat height, and a wet weight of 421 pounds. Optional is a lower seat, a comfort seat, and storage. Braking is handled through a two-piston caliper acting on a disc up front, and another disc in the rear.

The tech is modern without being too much of a burden. Like many new bikes, the Triumph Bonneville T40 has a TFT screen, riding modes, and LED lights. Useful additions include a navigation app, phone connectivity, cornering-optimized ABS, and a system that warns cars behind the bike when the rider is applying heavy braking.

All of these bits should make the Bonneville T40 a nice and easy ride for any motorcyclist of any skill level. I could see an experienced rider using this as their urban steed, or just a fun way to get around town. A rider with less experience could buy one of these and not wrap themselves around a telephone pole. I bet it even has just enough power to get near 100 mph.

I have said this before with other low-powered bikes, but motorcycles like this feel like a purer kind of riding. You don’t feel like you’re reining in a beast, and you’re not riding a laptop with some wheels on it. Slow motorcycles let you just enjoy the ride without all the noise or fuss. Of course, I have not ridden this one, but I would not expect that feeling to be any different than other retro-style smaller motorcycles.

Sweetening the deal is that these motorcycles are simply stunning. I’m a sucker for vintage style, and it’s hard to beat Royal Enfield and Triumph at the retro game right now. Forget motorcycles that look like they’re Decepticons in disguise; these machines look friendly and like they just want to have some fun. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite, so I’ll just say that the Bonneville T40 and the T40 Black are among the best-looking retro motorcycles of the year to me.

We Have To Wait For The Price

I could see myself putting down a chair and just staring at it. Thankfully, if you, like me, are thinking about buying one, you have some time to get the money. The 2027 Triumph Bonneville T40 and the 2027 Triumph Bonneville T40 Black aren’t expected to hit dealerships until spring 2027. Triumph says that pricing will be revealed closer to that time.

These bikes will cost the equivalent of about $3,000 in India. Seeing how much a vehicle costs in another country doesn’t really tell us much. Here in America, Triumph’s other 400s range from $5,495 for the Speed 400 to $6,895 for the Scrambler 400 XC. I would expect the Bonnies to fall somewhere in the middle of that range. So, not as cheap as a Royal Enfield, but also not bank-busting cash, either.

Assuming Triumph does nothing funny with the price, I love what I see here. Not every motorcycle needs to have a million horsepower or cost five figures. Sometimes, you just want a fun bike to scoot around on, and these Bonnevilles should do just that. Of course, these won’t be for everyone, and that’s fine. To me, what matters most is that the choice is even there in the first place.

All images: Triumph