Magical old Thunderbird... spotted in Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia last week.

[Pooksta]

Hi guys,

I don't manage to get on here as much as I would like. My job takes most of my time now. However, I just HAD to post these pics.. Susie and me went up to country Victoria last weekend for a friends son's wedding. It was the ANZAC long weekend here then and the sun turned it on for the returned Armed Forces personnel. Did my thing and marched in uniform behind the old Diggers. As I was doing so, I couldn't help but notice this beautiful old Thunderbird parked in the main street. I just had to go back and investigate once the parade was over.

It is an original 1958 model Police issue from South Australia. The owner told me he knew about it sitting in a shed in Yackandandah doing nothing. He kept on at it's then owner to sell it to him but no go! Anyway, the old owner passed on and the bike was offered to the new owner but for a price... He paid it (AUD$10,000) and took it home for a service and polish. No major work required, just plugs etc... and an oil change. Some may notice it has two sidestands!!! one each side... weird. Can't explain why. May have been a Police requirement then?

Anyway, enjoy the pics and just to let you guys know, YES, I'm still here...

Lee :y115:

[/img]

[/img]

[/img]

[/img]

[/img]

 

[Pooksta]

Bugger,

Pics didn't load. tryin again...

Lee

Edited by CarlS to create image links.

 

[Merlin]

Great pics Lee :y18:

 

[CarlS]

Great pics of a beautiful classic. Thanks, Lee.

I edited your links so that the images show in your post.

 

[The Seeker]

Magnificent bike!!!!

Thanks for posting those Lee. Nice to hear from ya too!

 

[Rocky]

Lovely old 'bird :y115: :y115:

 

[Pooksta]

I edited your links so that the images show in your post.

Thanks Heaps Carl...

Lee :y18:

 

[CarlS]

You are welcome. Thank YOU for the pics!! :y115:

 

[grandpaul]

Cool!

That's what I'm hoping to transform my '56 into, with the headlight nacelle. Classisc!

 

[otherwise]

Thanks for posting the photos, top bike.
Australia Post's Honda CT110 also have two side stands.

 

[dazco]

Wow, i had no idea the logo on my Tbird was the same as the original bird ! very cool. By the way, i was born the year that original bird debuted, and mine is triumph's 3rd bike to wear that name....third time's a charm ! So i'm even more sure it was the bike for me ! :ya2:

 

[CarlS]

Dale, that is awesome. I did not realize the logs were the same. :y115:

 

[dazco]

Yep. But the log is an add-on. The bike comes with a blank cover. this is how they sell the birs for such a good price. They have a number of little accessories that are must haves like that and are fairly inexpensive so you can't help but buy them. they also have a "98 ci" one and the Bb kit comes with a "104 ci" cover. personally i would never opt for either of those over the Tbird cover. In any case, that was very obviously triumph's game plan when they planned out the accessories for the bike. Seems to me they left some things off that should have been included with the stock bike and purposely did so in order to sell a lot of accessories. the tbird cover is a very good example of that. Not anywhere on the entire bike does it show it's a Thunderbird except in tiny letter in the speedo face. So they make a nice looking cover for it and sell it as a accessory knowing everyone will want that, and it's only $50 so all can afford it. Quite a clever little way of selling the bike as cheap as possible ! the cover is also 100% purely cosmetic too. that is to say, theres nothing under it...no opening...it's just a decorative plate, not a sealed cover with engine parts behind it. So it's obviously planned as a bolt on accessory seller.

but hey, i'm not complaining. i still payed way less than any harley in it's category even after a couple grand of accessories, and it's a much superior ride. I had a harley (the guy was going pretty darn good for a HD !) AND a sportbike pull over and let me pass in the twisties saturday, both of whom were going for it and couldn't get me off thier tails ! Like to see that happen with a harley ! 3rd gen of tbird and the first appearing in the year i was born....i love that ! If i had Jay Leno money i'd have a '53 like he has too and park em side by side. Grandpa and grandson. :ya2:

 

[CarlS]

I like that cover. It looks really sharp. You are right; Triumph did some savvy marketing.

BTW in 1953, I was in the 4th grade!

 

[grandpaul]

[quote author=dazco link=topic=9386.msg46394#msg46394 date=1273525001]
Yep. But the log is an add-on. The bike comes with a blank cover. this is how they sell the birs for such a good price. They have a number of little accessories that are must haves like that and are fairly inexpensive so you can't help but buy them... In any case, that was very obviously triumph's game plan when they planned out the accessories for the bike. Seems to me they left some things off that should have been included with the stock bike and purposely did so in order to sell a lot of accessories. [/quote]

No joke, that's EXACTLY what they did, ON PURPOSE.

It was the same with the new Bonnie. Tach, grab rail, and centerstand are three clear examples. Rubber tank pads are not as "essential, but so relatively inexpensive that pretty much everyone bought them. OF COURSE the "off road" pipes made it sound like it was SUPPOSED to sound in the first place, so 95% of NTB owners bought the TORs.

They are learning pretty well from HD about how to sell accessories.

 

[CarlS]

You nailed it, Paul. I bought a centerstand right of the bat for my T100.

 

[The Seeker]

In regards to the pipes......in fairness to Triumph, they are only following what all the motorcycle manufacturers have to do in order to sell bikes in the USA. Out of the crate, they have to meet federal decibel levels.

But I agree with the rest as being just marketing.....no tach, no centrestand, etc.

It must have been a learning curve for them though since in the 90's, the Triumphs did come with both a centrestand and sidestand. At least my Trophy did.