You only have to be a regular reader of these pages to know that Triumph is on a roll right now and there seems to be nothing that can slow the rise and rise of the British brand. And unlike their success in the past, it’s not based on just a few models, at present they have a machine for every occasion and have even entered the Motocross world. But if you really want big sales numbers you simply have to be a success in Asia, and the release of the company’s Speed 400 and Scrambler 400x have set the foundation. Now to take things up a notch, Triumph Thailand has teamed up with the local kings of customs, K-Speed, to produce the show-stopping ‘Diabolus Scrambler’ from a brand new 400x.
In fact, such is the belief in the skills of our friend Eak and his K-Speed team, that Triumph gave them both models and the Speed 400 has been turned into another sweet custom known as ‘Diabolus Tracker’. The two incredible custom creations will be on display at the Bangkok International Motor Show from 27th March to 07th April. So why would Triumph choose K-Speed? It’s an easy question to answer. They have a huge following and with good reason, Eak’s style and execution has seen hundreds of amazing motorcycles brought to life. Then there is the fact they are a homegrown talent, not to mention they will soon offer customisation kits for these bikes.
And that’s a win for both Triumph and their customers. Sure you could tick the options and accessories from the factory, but when you have cool parts and full kits you can buy off the shelf from a proven performer, that’s yet another reason to buy one of these fun 400s. But first, the public has to be won over and this Scrambler 400x sure gets us going. The design is all Eak’s, there was no direction from Triumph on how he should tackle the task. The head office was clear that they wanted to see their product infused with the full K-Speed imagination.
The factory rear grab handles are removed from the tail, and the subframe rails are cleaned up, but chassis modifications are kept to an absolute minimum. What has been done is the rear of the frame has been given the neat hooped treatment, a nerve-wracking thing for owners of a brand new bike, but well worth it when you look at these results. Under that hoop, Eak has decided to give the bike a true scrambler vibe and it’s all rear fender in that old-school MX vibe, with the big number plate mount given the flick. The front fender follows a similar theme, the low-mounted factory item ditched in favour of a larger high rise unit.
The side covers are as theme fitting as you will find, with the obligatory speed holes and the bike’s model name is pressed into the design. Above an all-new seat was needed and this is an area where K-Speed cut their teeth many moons ago. But the design called for something simple and yet elegant, so a two-up style scrambler seat in leather, with a square cross stitch does the job beautifully. The tank is a signature Triumph item and helps to give the 400x a big bike look, so it stays in place, with a neat cover added. So it was not the tank, but more importantly, its colour that had to change!
The bike arrived in the green colour scheme, and as good as it looks with its very British vibe, it’s not what K-Speed is about. So a huge effort was undertaken to turn what was once green and gloss black, into a largely deep grey with a matte black finish across the whole bike. This meant even the forks were stripped down and given the grey finish and it certainly gives the 400x a more premium appearance. The guys didn’t stop there, however, as many of the functional parts come in a silver metal appearance, and again these elements, like the foot pegs were neatly stripped and painted to match the rest of the colour scheme.
The single-cylinder, 4-valve engine might be small for something from Triumph, but quality Bosch fuel injection and 12.1:1 compression deliver a very healthy 40bhp via a six-speed gearbox. The goal for this project was not to chase more power, but to tie the motor in with the rest of the look, and signature K-Speed side covers not only do that but give it a super tough appearance. But hey, who can say no to a few extra ponies and a beautiful sound, so Eak and the boys have created a stunning high-rise exhaust system for the model, complete with heat guards in the right places and one of their stunning in-house mufflers.
To continue with more of that aggressive off-road theme, the headlight is smaller and then framed out with a hand-built grille that will hold up to all kinds of punishment. The fork protectors from the factory remain in place and then the stock wheels have been stripped of their subtle dual sport tyres and kitted out with some big blocks instead.
Finally, to keep the look uber clean, the speedo has been offset by the rider’s knee, tiny indicators are deployed and the tail light is carefully tucked up under the rear of the bike. The finished result is a sensation, a big boy bike on a budget, dripping with K-Speed custom candy and it’s hard to see how Triumph won’t have another sales success when folks lay their eyes on this scrambler prize.
[ K-Speed ]