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Year: 2005
Color: Black
Mileage: 350 miles
Overall Rating: 9 out of 10, for pure fun factor and quality of product compared to price
Modifications: Staintune canisters, AI removed
Owner Height/Weight: 6' 0" 195lbs. I find it the ergos just fine and comfy, coming from the perspective of a former GSXR owner
Problems / Resolutions: So far no problems at all. Other than getting distracted by the cuties blowing me kisses as I drive by. I haven't found a resolution for that yet (Volvo perhaps?)
Owner Review: I like my Thruxton a lot. I've owned many bikes, all sport-bikes, and this one is most fun bike I’ve owned. Now to a more substantive review:
The fun factor is high, and that is hard to quantify, you’ll just have to trust me. It does what it was intended to do well.
I’ve never owned a Triumph before and I’m pleased with the quality of their product; similar to the quality of the Japanese bikes I’ve owned.
After my first ride, what I noticed most was the strange position it put you in. You’re leaned over more that I thought you would be, similar to sport-bikes. But your feet are much more underneath you. The bike is pretty thin, and it is low because of the suspension. It is a strange feel, but I really like it. At low speed, I find it to be much easier to handle than the taller, with their larger tires, sport-bikes.
The engine is strong and smooth, and has a very cool classic look. However, the power isn’t going to blow you away if you just got off your buddy’s R6. The torque is nice, and it always pulls me where I’d like to go. I’d like more of both, HP and Torque, but if I didn’t get it, I’d still be perfectly happy, as the stock power is still very fun.
Suspension is well… cheap. But this is an 8,000 dollar motorcycle, and I’m sure if they made it 10,000 it would have had nicer suspension bits. It’s not bad, and I have no problem keeping up with people in the twenties. But I’m not going to kid myself and say the suspension is great. However, people have had great success with aftermarket rear shocks and re-valving and new springs for the forks (as well as F3 forks). So with a minimal investment I bet it does pretty well; as I don’t think it’s the frame, but the shocks and forks.
The brakes work, but they’re not great. But this is a classic bike, with dual shocks, wire rims, tiny tires front and back, and a single rotor up front. So I don’t want to give the wrong impression of its performance. You will blow away the cruisers, but you have to work at keeping up with the sport-bikes.
Where’s the toolkit? Really not sure why there isn’t one, as I found room for my home made one. There is no storage on this bike, so if you are use to having an under seat place for your water and hat and such, you’ll be disappointed.
I didn’t notice not having a fairing much, as the wind isn’t too bad. I see no reason to add a fly screen, unless you like the looks.
Lastly, it is ***** pretty. If you say otherwise you are blind, or you drive a Volvo.
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