I, too, love the concept and a big parallel twin interests me. I can remember when the 650 twin was a BIG engine. I am eager to try the 1600 out. I'm not a cruiser type; but I sure want to try it.
Triumph 2009: Thunderbird med 1600-twin
- Thread starter DaveM
- Start date
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[quote author=RoadHawg link=topic=766.msg4853#msg4853 date=1217277657]
I absolutely love the concept. I have been waiting 30 years for Triumph to build a BIG TWIN!! Only changes for me would be slah cut shorties, Custom Paint with Triumph painted on instead of badges, different rear fender, Windshield and Bags. Depending on the price I may own a Brandy NEW Trumpet!!! :y115:
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You and me both pal ! P-twins are the only engine i really like, and no one has ever made one bigger than a 900 till now. I finally get to have a bike with the power i want without having to go to a different engine. I tried the rocket, but a inline 3 feels and sounds nothing even remotely close to what i like.
And thanks for mentioning the tank decal. I hate the badge on it and thats a great idea because i too am thinking i'd want mine painted. (similar to the paint scheme on a pre '07 speedmaster) So a decal may be just the ticket. And i too will be looking for a different rear fender. But i think you may be on your own with the pipe swap, as i will probably leave them stock unless someone comes out with a aftermarket pipe thats just a tad louder then stock, which isn't very likely to say the least. And somehow i came to like them, tho when i first saw the pics i didn't. That bike really grew on me quick.
I absolutely love the concept. I have been waiting 30 years for Triumph to build a BIG TWIN!! Only changes for me would be slah cut shorties, Custom Paint with Triumph painted on instead of badges, different rear fender, Windshield and Bags. Depending on the price I may own a Brandy NEW Trumpet!!! :y115:
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You and me both pal ! P-twins are the only engine i really like, and no one has ever made one bigger than a 900 till now. I finally get to have a bike with the power i want without having to go to a different engine. I tried the rocket, but a inline 3 feels and sounds nothing even remotely close to what i like.
And thanks for mentioning the tank decal. I hate the badge on it and thats a great idea because i too am thinking i'd want mine painted. (similar to the paint scheme on a pre '07 speedmaster) So a decal may be just the ticket. And i too will be looking for a different rear fender. But i think you may be on your own with the pipe swap, as i will probably leave them stock unless someone comes out with a aftermarket pipe thats just a tad louder then stock, which isn't very likely to say the least. And somehow i came to like them, tho when i first saw the pics i didn't. That bike really grew on me quick.
Carl....i'm still surprised by your reaction. I never would have thought you'd be interested in this bike, but i'll sure be interested to see what you think after you test one. If you never rode a bike with a monster engine you're in for a treat i'm sure. I think it will be very close to the R3 in torque and power, and having ridden one of those i can tell you it's a incredible rush. Makes our 900's feel like scooters. But you really have to be careful with that much torque because you hit a bump or pothole thats nasty enough to make your throttle hand jerk the throttle just a hair and the bike will easily pull your hands off the bars. It almost happened to me on my speedy once and after riding the R3 i can easily see how it would be a far worse scenario. It almost did that to me on my test ride without even hitting a bump....just twisting the throttle quickly almost made me lose the bars ! But what a rush that kind of torque is !
I still need to find a Rocket to test ride someplace
You should just for the expierience. Thats is worth it because theres nothing like it, good or bad. I almost went and tested it again this weekend just for kicks because another dealer now has a R3 deom, where as before there was only one dealer in the area who did....the one i tested it at. Never made it down tho, but i will. Gotta mount that beast at least one more time before the bird arrives. 
Well when I tested the Tiger they also had a demo Rocket but it had a flat wheel so I could not ride it 
I am just not a cruiser person. I like that thought of a new, large parallel twin. I like the concept of the Rocket. I just don't care for the forward controls. But I certainly want to try this new one out.
They well may because there is a lot of talk that they will have several models and a ton of accessories.
If it has an option for mid controls, I will certainly be tempted.
another cool thing about it is that the pegs look like the same type of chrome with rubber inserts as the kuryakyn pegs i bought for my speedy, and the turn signals are the exact ones i bought for my speedy. This thing is already customized for me ! :y114: Seriously, that saves me 200 bones right there. And the signals which are deuce rip-offs are no doubt much better quality chrome that what i have. (the chrome on mine went bad in 6 months)
It’s calling your name that is for sure
Dazco, now all you have to do is wait!
And wait 
First pics: 2009 Triumph Thunderbird 1600
Source - http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2008/07/first-pics-2009-triumph-thunderbird.html
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird. For those who've always wanted a British-built Harley-Davidson cruiser, with a parallel-twin engine...
Triumph have released the first pics of their new cruiser, the Thunderbird 1600. The bike is fitted with Triumph’s 1594cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin that makes about 100bhp. And like the Harley-Davidson machines it’s supposed to take on, the Thunderbird gets belt final drive, which is supposed to not require any maintenance.
The Thunderbird 1600 rides on 18-inch (rear) and 19-inch (front) wheels, shod with 200/70 and 120/70 rubber. Suspension is a conventional fork and twin shock setup.
A British-built Harley-clone with a parallel twin engine? Er…, we’d much rather have a Speed Triple or a Daytona 675, really, but still…
Source - http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2008/07/first-pics-2009-triumph-thunderbird.html
The 2009 Triumph Thunderbird. For those who've always wanted a British-built Harley-Davidson cruiser, with a parallel-twin engine...
Triumph have released the first pics of their new cruiser, the Thunderbird 1600. The bike is fitted with Triumph’s 1594cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin that makes about 100bhp. And like the Harley-Davidson machines it’s supposed to take on, the Thunderbird gets belt final drive, which is supposed to not require any maintenance.
The Thunderbird 1600 rides on 18-inch (rear) and 19-inch (front) wheels, shod with 200/70 and 120/70 rubber. Suspension is a conventional fork and twin shock setup.
A British-built Harley-clone with a parallel twin engine? Er…, we’d much rather have a Speed Triple or a Daytona 675, really, but still…
2009 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 depressingly mediocre
Source - http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/07/2009-triumph-thunderbird-1600.html
Triumph revealed its new Thunderbird 1600 cruiser at a dealer conference yesterday. Details remain scarce, but we do know it has a 1594cc engine making something in excess of 100bhp, belt drive and an unnecessarily large 200/70-18 rear tire. Aside from competent handling that’ll be spoiled by that big tire, the looks indicate a depressingly boring Harley clone. Yes, we know it has an ugly parallel twin, but honestly, cover it up with your thumb and you can’t tell the difference between the Thunderbird and every other generic cruiser made in the last 20 years. Come on Triumph, you can do better. More details will be announced in the new year and more pictures, if you really care, after the jump
Source - http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/07/2009-triumph-thunderbird-1600.html
Triumph revealed its new Thunderbird 1600 cruiser at a dealer conference yesterday. Details remain scarce, but we do know it has a 1594cc engine making something in excess of 100bhp, belt drive and an unnecessarily large 200/70-18 rear tire. Aside from competent handling that’ll be spoiled by that big tire, the looks indicate a depressingly boring Harley clone. Yes, we know it has an ugly parallel twin, but honestly, cover it up with your thumb and you can’t tell the difference between the Thunderbird and every other generic cruiser made in the last 20 years. Come on Triumph, you can do better. More details will be announced in the new year and more pictures, if you really care, after the jump
Screw em ! They can call it what they want. But once i get mine they better say it quick because by the time they part their lips to say the first word i'll be in the next area code. Then lets see them compare it to a harley.
Now I want to see a report from the same sources once it has been launched and is in the dealers. Maybe even after they have had a test ride on it. Now that is soothing I am looking forward to are the test reviews on this bike.
I agree that it could have more a British flavor and be less HDish. Like lose the tank mounted instruments and put them on the handle bars.
