Shopping the Triumph Thruxton 400 and want to know how it really compares to the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, KTM RC 390 and Kawasaki Ninja 500? Here’s an honest, sourced side-by-side — specs, horsepower, price and the places the competition wins — from Empire Cycle & Powersports in Spokane Valley, WA. Triumph’s quickest 400 — a retuned 398cc single making 41.4 hp in a genuine café-racer package with clip-ons and premium finish, for $6,295. Here’s the honest look against the retro and small-sport field.
2026 Triumph Thruxton 400 vs. the retro & small-sport class
Triumph’s quickest 400 — a retuned 398cc single making 41.4 hp in a genuine café-racer package with clip-ons and premium finish, for $6,295. Here’s the honest look against the retro and small-sport field.
TriumphThruxton 400 Our pick | Royal EnfieldContinental GT 650 | KTMRC 390 | KawasakiNinja 500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 398cc single | 648cc twin | 399cc single | 451cc twin |
| Horsepower | 41 hp | 47 hp | 44 hp | 45 hp |
| Style | café racer | café twin | sportbike | sportbike |
| Finish + brand | Triumph build | retro | sporty | sporty |
| Price starting MSRP | $6,295 | ~$6,349 | ~$5,799 | ~$5,299 |
Why buy the Thruxton 400 from Empire
A genuine café racer with real Triumph finish — the quickest, most characterful 400 in the range.
- ✓The quickest Triumph 400. A revised camshaft and higher rev limit lift the 398cc single to 41.4 hp — about 5% more than the Speed 400 — with clip-ons and a sportier stance.
- ✓Authentic café-racer style. The Thruxton look is the real thing — bar-end mirrors, clip-ons, premium paint and detailing that punches well above the price.
- ✓Easy to own and enjoy. Light, torque-rich and friendly, with a slip-assist clutch and ride-by-wire — plus Empire for service and accessories.
- ●Straight talk. The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a bigger-engined café twin (47 hp) for about the same money; the KTM RC 390 and Kawasaki Ninja 500 are faster, more focused sportbikes for less. The Thruxton 400’s edge is genuine café-racer style and Triumph finish — it’s about character, not outright pace.
And the price is the price. Our advertised number already includes freight, setup and our documentation fee — only sales tax and title/registration are added.
Watch before you buy — top Thruxton 400 videos
▶Thruxton 400 First Ride — Smooth & FunIndependent YouTube review
▶Triumph Thruxton 400 — First Ride ReviewIndependent YouTube review
▶Gracefully Powerful — First RideIndependent YouTube review
▶I Misjudged This Bike — Thruxton 400 ReviewIndependent YouTube review
Frequently asked questions
Is the Triumph Thruxton 400 a good choice?
A genuine café racer with real Triumph finish — the quickest, most characterful 400 in the range. A revised camshaft and higher rev limit lift the 398cc single to 41.4 hp — about 5% more than the Speed 400 — with clip-ons and a sportier stance.
How does the Triumph Thruxton 400 compare to the competition?
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a bigger-engined café twin (47 hp) for about the same money; the KTM RC 390 and Kawasaki Ninja 500 are faster, more focused sportbikes for less. The Thruxton 400’s edge is genuine café-racer style and Triumph finish — it’s about character, not outright pace.
Where can I see the Triumph Thruxton 400 near Spokane?
Empire Cycle & Powersports in Spokane Valley, WA stocks the Triumph Thruxton 400 with Up Front Pricing — freight, setup and our documentation fee are already in the advertised price. Text us at 509-498-3541 or browse the inventory online.
Figures are 2026 model-year from manufacturer and published sources; competitor specs and prices are approximate, vary by trim and market, and should be verified before purchase. MSRPs exclude tax and title/registration. Video links are independent third-party YouTube reviews for research; Empire Cycle & Powersports is not affiliated with the creators. Comparison by Empire Cycle & Powersports, Spokane Valley, WA.
Keep exploring
New to the category? Read our buying guides, see how Up Front Research works, or browse the inventory. Prefer to talk it through? Text us at 509-498-3541.
Reviewed & updated by the team at Empire Cycle & Powersports, Spokane Valley.