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The new Bonneville T40 and T40 Black pair classic proportions with a dedicated 400cc single, five riding modes, cornering rider aids, cruise control and full-map navigation on a circular TFT.
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Photograph: Triumph Motorcycles / official media kitA Bonneville is recognised in the shape of its tank before anyone reads the name. The line from the headlamp to the seat, the twin shocks, the round lamp and the quiet certainty of a long, horizontal profile all carry a history that does not need to hurry. Triumph’s new T40 and T40 Black keep that silhouette close, then bring it into a smaller-capacity class with a motor and electronics developed for the character of the bike.
Triumph introduced the two models on 6 October as new additions to both its Bonneville and 400cc ranges. The T40 arrives with heritage-inspired paint and hand-finished details, the T40 Black gives the same outline a darker, more contemporary treatment. Under the traditional bodywork sits a liquid-cooled 400cc TR Series single, tuned specifically for the Bonneville rather than borrowed unchanged from another motorcycle.
The T40 wears a teardrop fuel tank, a classic round headlamp, longer mudguards, spoked wheels and twin rear shocks. Its aluminium engine covers take a familiar shape, while a brushed peashooter silencer gives the exhaust a touch of visual warmth. Triumph says each bike is finished by hand, with two-tone paint and coach lining across the T40 colour schemes. These are traditional cues, but the care lives in their proportions: the tank does not overwhelm the engine, the seat stays level, and the rear section remains clean.
The Black changes the mood rather than the architecture. Matt Pewter Grey bodywork, powder-coated engine casings and dark exhaust details give it a more reserved presence, while the round lamp and balanced stance remain unmistakably Bonneville. The two versions look like different readings of one design: one leans into the warmth of a hand-finished classic, the other lets the mechanical surfaces recede into shadow.
The liquid-cooled TR Series single uses a revised cylinder head and a dedicated engine tune. Peak torque is 36 Nm at 5,000 rpm, with 32 PS arriving at 7,000 rpm. Triumph describes the calibration as torque-rich lower in the rev range, an approach that suits a motorcycle designed to feel approachable and responsive without losing the slow, deliberate pleasure of a classic roadster.
The power figures matter, though character is often felt in the first few metres away from a junction. A strong spread of torque at everyday speeds can make a motorcycle feel willing without forcing the rider to chase every last revolution. The single-cylinder layout gives the T40 a distinct pulse, while the dedicated exhaust note and lower idle speed are intended to lend it a gentler rhythm at rest.
Triumph has given the new Bonneville a four-inch circular TFT screen with smartphone connectivity, navigation, phone and music control. A Heritage Mode can bring an analogue-style layout to the display, keeping the technology from overwhelming the traditional instrument shape. Full-map navigation is included, and a rider can plan routes, add waypoints or import GPX files through the Triumph Navigation App.
There are five riding modes: Road, Rain and Eco, plus two customisable settings. Each adjusts throttle response, traction control and ABS. Both models also receive cruise control, lean-sensitive Optimised Cornering ABS and Optimised Cornering Traction Control. That specification puts a substantial layer of rider assistance into a visually simple motorcycle. The electronics are there to support the ride while leaving the round lamp, tank and clean lines to tell the story at a standstill.
Triumph says the T40 is designed for a confidence-inspiring riding position, with an optional low seat that brings seat height down to 770 millimetres. Both models meet A2 licence requirements as standard. Those details widen the invitation: a modern classic can be beautiful to look at and still thoughtful about how a rider reaches the ground, settles into the saddle and manages changing conditions.
| Area | Triumph specification |
|---|---|
| Engine | Liquid-cooled 400cc TR Series single |
| Maximum torque | 36 Nm at 5,000 rpm |
| Peak power | 32 PS at 7,000 rpm |
| Riding modes | Road · Rain · Eco · two customisable modes |
| Rider support | Cornering ABS · cornering traction control · cruise control |
| Display and connectivity | 4-inch circular TFT · full-map navigation · phone and music control |
| Optional low seat | 770 mm seat height |
| Licence compliance | A2 compliant as standard |
A smaller-capacity classic has to do more than borrow a famous shape. It has to carry enough of the original feeling that the styling means something, while making ownership and riding accessible to a new set of people. Triumph’s answer is to preserve the details that give a Bonneville its presence, then build a modern platform underneath them with a dedicated engine, adaptable riding modes and navigation that belongs in a contemporary touring life.
The T40 and T40 Black sit at an interesting crossing of eras. Their headlamps, wheels and exhausts speak in the language of old roads, the TFT, rider aids and connected map look ahead to the next ones. The balance is the point. These motorcycles are not asking a rider to choose between memory and modernity. They are offering a way to carry both in the same journey.
Triumph has not included an India price in its announcement, so local pricing and availability remain to be confirmed. For now, the new pair can be understood through the details the company has made public: a classic outline, accessible 400cc power, richer electronics and the small craft decisions that invite a second look. The Bonneville has always been a motorcycle that rewards looking twice. The T40 gives that familiar invitation a new scale.
