Triumph Bonneville T40 (2027-present)

The Triumph Bonneville T40 is the Bonnie with the 398cc single from the 400 family, the same one used by the Speed, Scrambler, Thruxton and Tracker. I saw it in the flesh at EICMA 2026, alongside the T40 Black. It's A2 licence-friendly and will reach dealers in spring 2027. The price should be around €6,500-7,000, but I have no confirmation: for that we'll have to wait for the official price list, which Triumph will announce in early 2027.

The bike looks very good and the colour schemes are intriguing, especially the Black: matt grey and black, a brown seat, engine and exhaust painted black. The standard T40 comes in three period-flavoured two-tones, Meriden Blue with Tangerine Orange, Aegean Blue with Fusion White, New England White with Jet Black, all with a hand-painted coach line.

From a distance it's a Bonneville

From a few metres away you can't tell it from its bigger sisters: teardrop tank, round headlight, spoked wheels, twin shocks. Instead of the twin there's a single cylinder, there's one exhaust rather than two, and a single disc does the work up front. The character of the single is exactly what only a road test can tell me.

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Engine and chassis

The 398cc has a new cylinder head and its own tune, milder than the other 400s: 32 PS at 7,000 rpm and 36 Nm at 5,000. It weighs 191kg ready to ride, the seat is 790mm high and drops to 770mm with the accessory low seat.

The wheels are 18-inch front and 17-inch rear. Up front there's a 310mm disc with a twin-piston caliper and braided lines, at the back a 255mm disc. On paper it's the typical setup for this class, and I expect safe, balanced braking from it. The 43mm fork and the preload-adjustable twin shocks have 130mm of travel. For a real verdict on brakes and suspension I'll wait until I've tried it.

Triumph claims 3.5 litres per 100 km: with 14.5 litres, on paper, the range is over 400 km. Services every 16,000 km.

Instruments, lights and connectivity

The dash is a 4-inch round colour TFT, simple but complete, with a "Heritage" layout that mimics analogue dials. Smartphone connectivity for calls and music is standard, and with the Triumph app full-map navigation appears on the display. The lighting is all LED, with an automatic daytime running light and a brake light that flashes under emergency braking.

Riding modes

There are five riding modes, all standard. Each one sets throttle response, traction control and ABS together, and the last two also work when leant over.

• Road: the everyday mode.
• Rain: for wet or slippery tarmac, with a softer throttle and more cautious aids.
• Eco: designed to save fuel.
• Two custom modes: set them up as you like.

You pick them with the handlebar controls from a quick-access menu on the dash. According to the first tests they can also be changed on the move, with the throttle closed. Cruise control and a centre stand are standard too.

Without a road test I can't give a complete verdict. Seen up close at EICMA, though, the Bonneville T40 left me pleasantly impressed. As soon as I manage a test ride I'll update this page with my riding impressions.

The Bonneville was born in 1959, named after the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where a Triumph-powered machine had set a speed record. Ever since, Bonneville has meant a parallel twin and a clean British line to everyone: teardrop tank, round headlight, flat seat.

The 400 family arrived in 2023 from Triumph's partnership with India's Bajaj, starting with the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, on sale in Italy since 2024. The Scrambler 400 XC, Thruxton 400 and Tracker 400 followed. The T40 is the sixth, unveiled on 6 October 2026 and shown at EICMA in November.

For the first time the Bonneville name goes on an A2-licence bike with a single cylinder. Within the family it stands out for finish and equipment, and in the Bonneville range it sits below the 900cc T100. The idea is clear: bring the Bonneville style to new riders, to those returning to bikes and to anyone who wants something light and easy without giving up that name on the tank.

• Bonneville T40 (from 2027): 398cc, 32 PS at 7,000 rpm and 36 Nm at 5,000, 191kg ready to ride. Chrome mirrors and grab rail, brushed aluminium, brushed stainless exhaust. Three two-tone schemes: Meriden Blue with Tangerine Orange, Aegean Blue with Fusion White, New England White with Jet Black.
• Bonneville T40 Black (from 2027): same mechanicals and equipment. Matt Pewter Grey and matt black tank, brown seat, black rims with steel spokes, powder-coated engine covers, blacked-out cylinder head fins and exhaust.
• Indian version (from 2026): in India the T40 uses the 350cc single, with 29 PS and 31 Nm according to Autocar India. Alongside it sits the simpler Bonneville T4, without cruise control or an inertial platform. Neither is planned for Europe.

The Bonneville name was born in 1959 and has meant a parallel twin ever since: the T40 is the first Bonnie with a single cylinder. Triumph developed it working closely with India's Bajaj, as it did for the whole 400 family.

The colours look back too. Meriden Blue recalls Meriden, the village near Coventry where Triumph built the classic Bonnevilles until 1983, and the tank coach lines are hand-painted as they were back then.

India got the T40 before us, with a 350cc single. There's also a simpler sister there, the Bonneville T4, which isn't planned for Europe. You'll find the story of my visit to the Triumph stand in the article Bonneville T40 at EICMA 2026, in the News & Reviews section of the blog.

The Bonneville T40 isn't on sale yet and the price list will arrive in early 2027. For now, all we can do is think about what to look at once it can be tested.

• The engine: the Bonneville has always been a twin. The single's 32 PS needs a calm test ride, in town and out of it, to see whether it pulls enough and how much it vibrates at a steady speed.
• Long-term durability: the 398cc has been on sale in Italy since February 2024 in the Speed and Scrambler 400. Before signing, ask the dealer how those bikes are holding up and what the 16,000 km services involve.
• The weight: 191kg is a lot for a 400. Try it in slow manoeuvres.
• The brakes: a single disc with a twin-piston caliper, worth trying two-up too.
• The seat: 790mm, 770mm with the low seat. Shorter riders should try it first.

If you want a good balance between Bonneville style, quality of finish and an easy, A2-friendly bike, it's a serious candidate. If you want the character and pull of a twin, the right choice is still the T100.