GaadiWaadi –
The new entry-level range from Triumph will boast 350 cc motorcycles upon launch in a couple of months to take advantage of GST 2.0 regulations
The month of April 2026 is when Triumph’s next big plans in India will unravel. Bajaj Auto Managing Director and CEO Rajiv Bajaj has confirmed that new sub-350 cc Triumph motorcycles are on the way and the timing is not accidental. It is apparently linked to India’s taxation framework rather introduced late last year.
To understand why this matters, you have to look at the numbers first. Motorcycles above 350 cc currently attract 40 per cent GST while those at or below that mark fall into the significantly lower 18 per cent bracket. The percentage gap has a direct impact on pricing – often creating a noticeable jump in ex-showroom cost. In a segment where buyers are extremely price-sensitive, that difference can determine success or struggle.
Triumph’s existing India-focused portfolio – including the Speed 400, Scrambler 400 X and Thruxton 400 – sits around 399 cc. It places them just above the favourable tax threshold. In response, Bajaj and Triumph are preparing to reposition the lineup by bringing displacement down. Instead of engineering an all-new powerplant, the companies will rework the current 399 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine.
Through modifications to internal dimensions, likely reducing bore size, the engine capacity will dip just under 350 cc to keeps development costs under control while achieving the regulatory objective. Performance will inevitably see a drop. The present motor produces around 40 hp maximum power and 37.5 Nm of peak torque, coupled with a six-speed transmission.
The revised version is expected to shed a few horsepower – possibly down to around 34-35 hp range but the overall riding character should remain broadly similar for everyday use. The pricing advantage, however, could be substantial. Lower taxation gives Triumph room to recalibrate sticker prices – allowing the brand to compete more aggressively in the middleweight capacity category against Royal Enfield and the likes.
The displacement recalibration may not stop with Triumph and it will be interesting to see what will happen to the Speed T4 range. KTM’s 390 lineup and Bajaj’s own Dominar 400 and NS 400Z are also expected to undergo similar alterations to benefit from the same tax advantage but official timelines for those remain unannounced. We already know that the Pulsar range is due a big update by the middle of this CY as well.
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