Triumphrat

kwajazz · 10-02-2005, 01:33 PM

Obviously, if you're on this forum you either like, hate or are curious about the cafe look and in particular, the Thruxton. My question to all is...where should Triumph go with this next? Should they stay safe and keep making the Thruxton just as it is? Or should they get to new ground (see the new 675 which sets a new precedent in the middle weight sport market engine wise) with maybe a more modern classic and offer more HP, bigger torque, more style on the cafe theme, better components, a bigger motor, or what? Maybe even smaller?? Would a Daytona sized cafe bike be cool to some of you?

What do the bikes below say to you? etc etc etc.

Hopefully Triumph is listening...

New Norton

New Vincent (actually just the prototype)

[ This message was edited by: kwajazz on 2005-10-06 17:56 ]

Tarmac · 10-02-2005, 05:05 PM

Ok, thats the mock up Vincent. The one they are "gonna" make uses the liquid cooled Honda RC-51 motor, and is no where near as cool.

Looking at the Norton, those gold forks, brakes and shocks may work well, but they look like *****... especially when up against THAT Vincent.

As far as the Thruxton, I can see some minor upgrades (dbl disk front brakes, more HP, 6 speed tranny) but I say keep it as is.

Whats next? As a smaller guy (5'10" 155lbs) I'd like to see a 500cc single. A modern take on a classic ride. The bike should LOOK like the Thruxton, but be about 3/4ths the size. I'm guessing 330lbs dry wgh, with a 50hp liquid cooled motor.

The advantage to Triumph would be they could take said motor, and get into the 4 stroke MX market too. It's one niche where they are noticably absent (and don't even mention the Scrambler)

jlzmeehan · 10-02-2005, 06:22 PM

I love the new Norton,but you must place it in a slightly different genre or sub-category of a cafe racer. They were definitely not afraid to disembark from what some people think a cafe racer should be. Their website has sound bites...I wet my pants. Little pricey,but they are pretty much handmade with high-end components.

I think Triumph should create a totally different bike along these lines,and leave the Thruxton the way it is.

cafestyle · 10-02-2005, 08:57 PM

This is my baby>>>>>>
Australian made 166HP..............I just gotta save up a bit!

www.irvingvincent.com

Dave67 · 10-02-2005, 09:50 PM

an 855cc triple in a thruxton frame would be nice and not that hard for triumph to do ?

WANG · 10-03-2005, 12:00 AM

I've seen the Norton prototype in person, very nice. The knowledge that the gold suspension bits are some of the best available make them look pretty good to me, but thats just me.

Disclaimer: This is my assessment of the bike that I ride everyday. These are the changes that would have made me enjoy my bike more than I already do. If you are a "fanboy" of the Thrux, don't read my post :wink: .

The Thrux deserves better running gear from the factory, as it is not a budget bike by any means. Certainly not Ohlins, but maybe non-adjustable cartridge forks and a four piston brake caliper like the Triumph-branded Nissins that they have used on the T5 series forever would be comensurate with the task at hand. The stock shocks are garbage, they can certainly do better than them without cutting into the bottom line too much.

It wouldn't kill them to engineer a little top end into the engine, either. Whoever specified this state of tune for the "sporting" variant of the Bonneville family should be kicked in the nuts. The thing has a distinctly agricultural powerband that gives it the character of a roto-tiller. A little lump in the upper end of the rev-range would do wonders to give this bike some semblance of attitude.

Other than that, it's a pretty cool bike and there is nothing else readily available that even comes close to playing the part.

:razz:

kwajazz · 10-03-2005, 08:55 AM

This is the motor on the new "production" Vincent that Tarmac is talking about above. He's right. Boy that just doesn't get it. The whole chassis position looks wrong to me. Cool ideas, but it wants to be a drag bike.

Are any of you guys out there drawing up bikes that you can share here? Photoshop'ing perhaps?

DrEnglish · 10-03-2005, 12:13 PM

The exhaust on the production Vincent reminds me of the Yamaha Warrior a few years ago. It was the bike that asked "Just how big CAN we make the silencer on a bike?"

As for the next Thruxton, I'd say suspension upgrades and a better treatment for the tail-light and turn signals. And a Monza cap as standard. Other than that, well, it's a retro bike with modern reliability, and that's what I wanted.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be to allow customers to order different upgrades from the factory, or to support a bit more in the way of customization through Triumph...

Tarmac · 10-03-2005, 12:34 PM

1 more thing. The Thruxton should have bigger rims so that you can mount up the best rubber. A 120 front, and a 180 rear. These are pretty much the only sizes that you can get the good stuff in

lenswerks · 10-03-2005, 09:20 PM

Photos of the Norton remind me more of a vintage Enduro for some reason. The Ohlins forks look out of place on this bike, just as they would on a Thruxton. The Ohlins are nice, but you'd be hard pressed to notice the difference on the street over a suspension half the price. Don't care for the bikes lines, but have only seen photos.

The 675 looks like another modern day Jap bike. An updated 2004 Daytona 600 body would have looked better IMO.

I would have hoped Vincent would have stayed more with their initial prototype of the New Vincent and found a engine that would fit in the bike. I do like the stance, it's reminiscent of bikes of that era.

For the Thruxton, I'd like to see improved tank shape, seat monoposto only and tail section. Improved 6-speed gear box. HP ~80. Blacked out motor and pipes as an option. Upgraded suspension. Loose some weight. Slightly longer wheelbase.