Triumph 2009: Thunderbird med 1600-twin

[DaveM]

2009 Triumph range revealed

By Chris Newbigging

New bikes

21 July 2008 09:48

These are the world-first pictures of Triumph’s complete 2009 range unveiled at a dealer conference last night (Sunday).

The major new release is the all-new Thunderbird 1600 cruiser, designed to take on Harley-Davidson head-on. The 1594cc liquid-cooled parallel twin makes upwards of 100bhp, and has a maintenance-free belt final drive just like the American machines.

It has a fat 200/70-18 rear tyre with a tall 120/70-19 front to compliment the fat rear end and raked out front. Styling is similar to the Bonneville America, but has its own unique look.

Also released at the weekend was the revised Daytona 675, which gets a series of performance updates derived from the World Supersport bike, as well as the revised nose cone.

The Street Triple R was also unveiled, with suspension and brakes from the 2008 Daytona as well as a unique matt graphite/orange paint scheme.

For the full story see this Wednesdays MCN, on sale July 23, 2008.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/july/21-27/july2108-2009-triumph-range/?R=EPI-101874

 

[mrt202]

Sweet! Looks just like my next bike! :y115:

 

[CarlS]

Finally! If I were in the market for a cruiser; that would be the one.

 

[fuzzy]

I am not opposed to the look. It reminds me more of a R3 than anything else, so its unique enough. What I do not like are the forward set pegs. That kind of a riding position gets to me but it comes with the cruiser territory. Its also gonna need a cushier pillion pad if my missy is gonna ride.

I would like to see the specs on the motor. (HP, Touque, firing degree interval, etc.) If it lopes like a Hardly, oh well.

I guess I'm doomed to die an old fart that likes a standard. That really ain't so bad.

 

[dazco]

I have studied these pics all day ! It's pretty much the exact same bike as in the spy shots that everyone hated. But when it's clean and new it's a whole other bike. I see a few things that bother me such as the tank mounted speedo and no tach. The rear fender....don't like that straight lower edge at all. The badge blows. Couple other small things. But that said, i'm rather digging it ! Funny thing........they put the same turn signals on it i bought for my speedmaster, clear lenses and all ! i think one of the best things about it is the one thing i always loved about harleys....the finish quality. It looks to have a show bike finish quality to it, which would make sense because they are very obviously trying to compete with HD and if they didn't do that it would pale next to a HD in that regard. And i think HD guys really take pride in that aspect. But it also seems they've ignored us triumph guys and designed it with the sole intention of attracting HD guys with the hopes that enough of us too would like it, even tho they know it has certain very HD features that we don't want.

All in all tho i must say that it has re-opened my mind to the possibility of buying one after having made what i thought was a firm decision against it due to my budget and the gas prices. whats really funny is the engine was my biggest issue with it in those spy photos, but now that i see it dressed up with the blacked out areas in conrast with the chrome and bare fin edges i really like it. Did a 180 on in that respect. So while i haven't decided to buy one, it's now again a possibility. I really do like it a lot. i think a custom paint job would almost be a necessity tho. But i'd be game.

 

[DaveM]

Well like you Daz I also don’t like the tank mountings of the instruments. However looking at the angle I think the view of them will be a lot better than that of the Speedy. I think I would have to really sit on it and ride it to make my final decision on this. So far i am starting to like it more and more as I look at it. Pity for me it is just not a possibility

 

[dazco]

I noticed that too....the angle for better viewing. But still the worse thing is no tach !!! that to me is unfathomable. But like the rumors that have been around for a year or so now, it's possible they may have more than one version of it. Possibly another version that more of a roadster than a HD cruiser with non-tank mounter instrument including a tach. after all, i can't imagine they'd design such a revolutionary bike with what will surely be a killer engine and sell it only as a very close HD rip-off. (i say revolutionary because it's the biggest parallel twin ever produced by a mile) Look at the america and speedy....america=single disc, no tach. Speedy=dual disc and tach. Then the rocket. It took a while, but now the rocket tourer has no tach and it's speedo is mounted like a HD while the regular rocket has a speedo and tach mounted above the headlight shell. so i see no reason this bike shouldn't have more than one version and one having a tach and hopefully a speedo in the "correct" location. In a perfect world there would be 2 versions....one like this one to capture the HD crowd, and one for already dedicated triumph fans that has a pre '08 speedy/america style tank and speedo/tach in the correct location and no tank nacelle at all. Oh, and a rear fender like the rocket just because i love that fender ! if they built that my decision would now be made even tho i would be eating potatoes for the next several years.

 

[DaveM]

Ok let me see here is my list
1. Short Slash pipes
2. Change the tank mounted stuff to the front
3. Change the back fender( just to square for me)
4. Badge on the tank (looks cheap)

 

[dazco]

Your list is basically the same as mine. I'm very curious as to whether a rocket rear fender could be altered to fit. Thats my favorite detail about the rocket. love that fender ! by the way, i photoshopped the pillion seat off of the pic and the bike looks awesome like that. removing it would be my very first mod.

 

[DaveM]

Yeah for you that would be ok but I ride two up 99% of the time. The pillion seat looks like it is a lot friendlier than what the original Speedy had on it

 

[dazco]

You could do it too....just remove it, then get the little lady a pair of pants with a pillion sewn into the rear.

 

[CarlS]

Fuzzy, I agree with you about the forward controls. But those are more along the line of the Speedy and not as far forward as those on the America. I would have to ride it to know if I could take the position.

 

[Dilligaf]

Suzuki tank, Honda VTX fender, Victory headlight, no originality but I like it.

 

[dazco]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=766.msg4110#msg4110 date=1216761839]
Fuzzy, I agree with you about the forward controls. But those are more along the line of the Speedy and not as far forward as those on the America. I would have to ride it to know if I could take the position.
[/quote]

Actually Carl, the speedy and america have the exact same peg positions. In fact, the bikes are the exact same bike in all core respects. The differences are mostly cosmetic with dual vs single disc, different bars, and the america not having a tach being the functional differences. now if you are referring to the difference in position due to the bars, then i understand. But both bikes have the same frame and peg position and all that. the seat difference is really only different to the passenger. But Carl, if you never really owned one you might be suprised. Riding one won't do because i bought mine w/o a test ride and it was my first cruiser. so i fully understand the position issue some people have. When i rode it out of the dealers lot i was worried i didn't like it and would never get used to it. It took a while, but before too long i not only came to like it, i now have no desire to ever own a mid peg bike again. In fact i'd be afraid to buy one for fear i'd miss the forward pegs !

that said, some truly never get used to them, and you could be one. But i'm just suggesting that unless you've owned one or at least spent a few hundred or thousand miles on one you may never really know. I never owned a bike as comfortable, honestly. And there are 2 guys from RAT i've ridden with several times. these guys are crazy and wind thru the twisties like pros. In short they were both amazed at how i stayed right with thier bonnies at stupid speeds. In fact thats why i don't ride with them anymore ! Too crazy for me. h: Anyways, the point there being they handle just fine to say the least. I honestly believe that in the sweepers the speedy handles better at high speeds and that it's only in the tight areas where the bonnie has the advantage. But i stuck with them there too and they weren't giving anything away to me.

 

[CarlS]

It has been years since I have owned a forward pegged bike. I have ridden several in the last couple of years; but not far enough to really get the feel of it. I guess with all the miles I have put on mid pegged bikes over the last 50 years (good gosh, have I been riding that long?), I am just kind of set in my ways.

 

[dazco]

here ya go dave...in your color and with the seat set for that 1% when your better 1/2 stays home here you really see the ugliness of the rear fender, which i now feel is the one thing that is a absolute must to change.

http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?image=redyv5.jpg

Carl....I hea ya...

 

[fuzzy]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=766.msg4127#msg4127 date=1216777163]
It has been years since I have owned a forward pegged bike. I have ridden several in the last couple of years; but not far enough to really get the feel of it. I guess with all the miles I have put on mid pegged bikes over the last 50 years (good gosh, have I been riding that long?), I am just kind of set in my ways.
[/quote]

It might not be so bad. After all, it is a Triumph. I have sat on the Speedy and the America and it just puts by lower-middle back in a strain. Might get used to it, though.

Which one of yours would you trade for this new one?

Do you see the radiator on that thing? Its bigger than Dallas!! Imagine that baby full of love bugs!!

 

[jmv2006]

I hope that next they will come with a new “Thunderbird Sport†in the Modern Classic range. Kind of a 1600 Bonnie! :y115:

 

[Dilligaf]

[quote author=fuzzy link=topic=766.msg4130#msg4130 date=1216778897]
It might not be so bad. After all, it is a Triumph.
[/quote]

I can't stop seeing a Kawi Vulcan 750.

 

[jmv2006]

Speedmaster? :silent:
Who wouldn't like that engine on something more like this? :y115: