Tbird news

[dazco]

Seems they are going to offer a limited run of Tbirds with the 1700 kit installed for the factory. This will happen in 2010 and as i said will be limited, so anyone who wants a Tbird, thats the time to get one if the 1700 kit is important to you !

second, two new colors will be offered. Cant say i'm too keen on them, as they look rather like those velvet paintings from mexico if you catch my drift. (read: cheezy) i believe they are those paint jobs that turn colors depending on the angle you see them at. Phantom Blue Haze and Phantom Red Haze are the names. i think they will make the bike look sorta cheap instead of classy as it looks now, but then i haven't seen one in person and you know how that goes ! but I think i'd probably prefer my cobra blue scheme even if it's not my number 1 choice. (that would be a more brit look like the speedy scheme or such)

 

[CarlS]

Any word from Triumph on how the T-Bird is selling?

 

[dazco]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=7626.msg41443#msg41443 date=1258033898]
Any word from Triumph on how the T-Bird is selling?
[/quote]

Quite well actually. I've gotten the impression it's becoming one of thier best sellers. Just a few months after release there are already something like 5 aftermarket pipes available for it. In 4 years of speedmaster ownership i saw exactly 2 others. I already have a Tbird 2 blocks from where i work. I've not seen as much written about any new triumph model so far, and supposedly they sold out of the initial run and i don't think there are going to be any more shipments till 2010, tho i'm not 100% sure of that. In any case, everything i've seen or read has shown that it's doing better than the usual for a new model. And i have read both bonnie and R3 owners who have gotten them saying the Tbird handles better than those bikes. Just the other day one of the members who has a bonnie too had a little debate with me. i told him i thought the bonnie would probably have the advantage in the real slow turns like switchbacks and other real tight stuff. he wouldn't hear of it. So i think the handling is a huge part of why it's so successful. To a man every owner has in so many words suggested how amazed they were by the handling. every time a new member joins it's like clockwork...."you guys were right ! this thing handle incredibly!". (paraphrasing of course) In the city it cuts lanes like you're on a 750. All this combined in a cruiser style bike that for it's engine size is ridiculously small and has big bike power is a combination thats rarely if ever seen. I think thats why it's doing well. It may be heavy, but honestly Carl, you would never know it, even tho it's almost as heavy as the R3. How they did that is so far beyond me, and looking at the pic below i think you can see what a feat that was by the triumph design team !

So in short, it's like having a 900 but with big time power and the ability to cruise at 100 all day easily. (100 at only 3.7-8k RPM's) this is a irresistible combination of features to a lot of people and thats why it's doing very well.

 

[CarlS]

I am glad it is doing well. If I had extra $$$$, I would get one for Mae Lyne and hang the side car on it. I think it would make great rig.

 

[dazco]

There was a guy at the brit bike rally i went to a couple weeks ago that was talking to me about the Tbird and he had considered getting one for that. But he said theres no way to do it because like the R3, the engine is used as the lower frame. So theres no frame to attach it to. There could be a way i suppose. But according to him it would not be easy and would take some ingenuity at least.

 

[CarlS]

Ah, I will have to take a look at that. Thanks.

 

[dazco]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=7626.msg41464#msg41464 date=1258047263]
Ah, I will have to take a look at that. Thanks.
[/quote]

Might see if anyone has done it with a R3 and see how they did it.

 

[CarlS]

I have never seen or heard of one on an RIII. I am sure someone can custom make a mount; but that would be pricey.

 

[dazco]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=7626.msg41466#msg41466 date=1258048250]
I have never seen or heard of one on an RIII. I am sure someone can custom make a mount; but that would be pricey.
[/quote]

No doubt.

 

[Simmer]

I for one am very happy they are looking at different colors. I like my Speedy's colors and the gold coach lines are special to me. If I had the money to get a TB, I would have to have it painted right away. The R3 Touring has a red and black but not gold coach lines.

Dave

 

[CarlS]

I, too, like the red pin striping on my Bonnie.

 

[Lake]

I'm pretty sure Jim at Charnwood Classics in England has fitted a rig to an R3. In fact, it might have been a motorcycle hearse - worth an email perhaps.

 

[CarlS]

I would like to see that. Thanks.