The 2012 Triumph Thunderbird - Big Cruiser

[Aussie Al]

Mmmmm... I hear you.... My primary reason for getting a new bike (in this case, the T-Bird) was my old 650 was struggling with a pillion. The GF loves the Thunderbird, even so she still gets a sore butt (but thats my where I come in hehehehehehheehe)

Take her for a test ride with you..... YOu know you cant get a new one without her say so heheheheheheheheh


Al'

 

[devo]

The down side of the Street Triple is they are rubbish to carry a pillion, my wife refuses to get on.

For pillion comfort ya cant beat the old classic with the straight seat tho Kev
Even the modern cruisers aren't the best with the raised pillion squab.

 

[DaveM]

Well I must admit the Speedmaster standard seat was also rubbish for a pillion, that was the first thing I had to change out

 

[Ksquared]

The Thunderbird's a great ride - second only to the R3, which is second to nothing!

 

[otherwise]

Mmmmm... I hear you.... My primary reason for getting a new bike (in this case, the T-Bird) was my old 650 was struggling with a pillion. The GF loves the Thunderbird, even so she still gets a sore butt (but thats my where I come in hehehehehehheehe)

Take her for a test ride with you..... YOu know you cant get a new one without her say so heheheheheheheheh


Al'

Al, what kind of 650 are you talking about and do you still have it?
I've got a 1969 Tiger 650 now on full rego for coffee runs with the wife.

 

[CarlS]

For pillion comfort ya cant beat the old classic with the straight seat tho Kev
Even the modern cruisers aren't the best with the raised pillion squab.

Right on target.

 

[Aussie Al]

No, nothing as exotic as that, It was a Yammy XVS650A Classic........

 

[DaveM]

No, nothing as exotic as that, It was a Yammy XVS650A Classic........

I would have never thought that pillion seat would be all that bad

 

[otherwise]

No, nothing as exotic as that, It was a Yammy XVS650A Classic........

Was not familiar with that so had to look it up. I'm sure it's got a bit more punch than my 1969.

 

[miller7346]

Have you read the estimated top speed?

 

[Aussie Al]

Ummmm... no....

 

[dazco]

Have you read the estimated top speed?

I have. The THEORETICAL top speed is 180. That is, IF the motor could pull redline in 6th which of course it cannot, not even close. I did 120 as a stock 1600 and i felt it would have done 10 MPH more but my glasses were shaking off my face so i backed off. Had i kept going i felt it would have pulled almost 130 indicated, which would have been probably 120 actual. Now with the pipes and as a 1700 like the storm, i imagine it would pull a real 135-140 under ideal conditions. It hits an indicated 120 real easy now. But if you could get a lot more power and pull redline in 6th you'd be flying at 180 ! It's geared quite high. Had triumph chosen to they could have geared it to theoretically top out at say 140 and acceleration would have been killing. But i'd rather have the lazy high speed cruising any day because as time goes by and i approach 60 years old, i'm quickly losing my desire to ride like a mad man. It's nice cruising at 90 and the bike isn't breathing hard at all. It's drinking hard at 90 tho, VERY hard ! Probably low 30's at that point.

 

[devo]

Dale the geriatric hooligan

 

[DaveM]

 

[miller7346]

Thanks Dale. I guess it the "young hooligan" in me at 67 yrs. who would wants to know about top speed. I guess it goes back to those 60' and 70's when you wanted to talk about how bad your ride was. Like you, if I got a bike past a ton today, I probably would have another heart attack. It is good to know that the references I still hear when people see me on my Bonnevllle such as "A Triumph, those are fast motorcycles" is still true. Let the Japenese bikes have all those top end records, but they can't match the legend and magic of Triumph!
Ronnie M

 

[dazco]

Well, i'm not there yet but i'm still old enough to have calmed down a bit. That doesn't mean i'm dead tho ! I still ride like an idiot now and then, but mostly then. When i first got the bike in '09 tho i was so excited about the handling i couldn't seem to go to the twisties w/o hitting them hard. Then a year later i got the 1700 kit and it took a while for that to wear off too. So i'm just now settled in to where i take it easy 98% of the time. But 2% of the time im 25 again.

 

[steve59]

All it takes is those cages on the hwy trying to box me in or use my lane like I'm on a motorcycle I don't need the whole road and I'm off. Thats the sweetest thing about this ride. 70 mph in 6th gear no downshift needed, just roll on the throttle & bye bye

 

[CarlS]

All it takes is those cages on the hwy trying to box me in or use my lane like I'm on a motorcycle I don't need the whole road and I'm off. Thats the sweetest thing about this ride. 70 mph in 6th gear no downshift needed, just roll on the throttle & bye bye

And that is the beauty of having power to spare.