A Promise Kept

This story begins with a kid who couldn’t stop drawing bikes. It was never about impressing people with my drawing skills, in fact only a handful people have eve seen my drawings. It was just something that made me happy. Drawing those machines became a way to stay connected to that passion and relive that excitement every single time.

I still remember the day Bajaj launched the Pulsar. I didn’t care about CC or performance numbers back then. I just looked at it and thought, “This just looks surreal”. I was awestruck by its built and how thoughtfully it was engineered. It looked and felt different from everything else on the road. It felt like it was something special, and that feeling stayed with me for a long time.

As years passed, life moved on, but that dream of owning a bike never really went away. About a year ago, I made a simple promise to myself that one day I would ride a bike of my own. A year and a half later, that promise was fulfilled and I was finally standing there with my own bike.

I HAD FULFILLED MY DREAM!!

I always knew that if I got a bike, it had to feel different. I didn’t want something very common. I wanted something that was aggressive, had a character and stands out in its own way. So I spent a lot of time reading, watching videos, and trying to figure out what would suit me.

One day I came across a small article, “Triumph might launch a smaller Thruxton”. That one line was enough to bring a smile to my face and convince me that this was the one. When the teaser came out, I rushed to the showroom with my dad, to see it in person. My conviction to the Thruxton only grew stronger. I took a test ride and by the time I came back, the smile on my face said it all. I had made up my mind. I discussed it with my dad, and booked it the same day. After that, it was just about waiting for delivery. The wait though, was excriciatingly long.

On 1st October 2025, I finally got the bike home.

It has been six months since then and I have ridden around 6500 kilometers. The experience so far has been exactly what I was hoping for.

The first thing people notice is the way the bike looks. It stands out easily and gets attention without trying too hard. Every other day someone stops me asking about the bike and compliments it. The “Metallic yellow” is bright and instantly pops out, cutting through a sea of ordinary colored vehicles, making its presence felt even from a distance. The bike also looks longer than most in the 400 segment. A tank that’s more stretched and sleeker than its siblings, adds to the overall perfora of the bike. At the same time, the tank design makes it slightly difficult to grip properly, especially during aggressive riding. The Build is solid. You expect the best and you get the best from triumph. The welding, bolts, switches everything feels great. Small things like having lightable switches, like the ones Bajaj provides, would have been better, but they are most definitely not a deal breaker.

The engine is easy to live with. The power delivery is smooth and linear, which has helped a lot as this is my first bike. In city traffic, it feels manageable and does not become stressful. But, don’t let the linear powerband mislead you, it can still push super hard and catch you off guard if you’re not careful. The torque band comes a little later but the way it pulls is fun. Cruising on highways at 120 kmph is super easy and comfortable in 6th gear.

There is some heat from the engine, but it has never been uncomfortable. The main issue I noticed are the vibrations after 7000 RPM. It is noticeable and does affect the experience slightly. Being a single cylinder engine, some level of vibrations is inevitable , but I believe that this is one area which could be improved.

Thruxton comes with The MRF Steelbrace tyres which are soft compounds tyres, and the good part is that they are great. They have been quite reliable so far. I have not faced any grip issues either in dry or wet conditions. I never felt like the tyres are loosing grip. They warm up quickly and feel stable. Even after all these months and kilometers of riding, they still have decent life left.

The riding posture is something I have a love-hate relationship with. In traffic, if I am being honest, my wrist absorbs most of the pressure and it is super tiring, even painful at times. But I was ready for this. It is after all a cafe racer.

On open roads, it feels much better and more enjoyable. Its character and the backward placing foot pegs however make it a little tiring to ride continuously.

The real highlight though, is when you take it through corners. My first ride on the roads of Aravali hills made me fall in love with the machine. It flicked so easily and I felt super confident while taking the corner. It was as if the bike was literally made for this.

Braking was something I really started to understand once I spent more time on the bike. Early on, I noticed how strong the front brake felt. There’s a certain confidence it gives you the moment you start relying on it. The bite is sharp, and the stopping power is more than enough for most situations. It’s a four-piston BYBRE setup, and honestly, it does its job really well. Over time, I found myself naturally depending on the front brake for most of my stopping.

The rear brake, on the other hand, feels more like support. It works, but it doesn’t give the same level of confidence. I rarely use it on its own and mostly pair it with the front to keep things balanced.

The electronics are simple and to the point. You get ABS and traction control. I usually keep traction control off because it feels a bit intrusive, especially when you can sense the power being cut. But there have been moments, especially on wet roads, where it genuinely makes a difference and adds that extra layer of safety.

After everything I’ve experienced with this bike, I think this is as honest as I can be about it.

I genuinely love this bike. It has easily been one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself.

And if there’s one thing I’ve taken from this whole journey, it’s this. If there’s something you’ve been holding onto for a long time, don’t let it fade away. Give it time, work towards it, and trust that you’ll get there.

Happy Riding.