Triumphrat

479Thrux · 08-01-2007

I know it's heresy on any board for someone with a few posts to start a new topic, but I had to do this:

I was in the same town as the dealership today, and it was on my way home, so I stopped in to see my Thruxton that I'm picking up Friday. After walking into a BMW/Triumph dealership and seeing a Tiger put in prime display mode against the 1200s, I was happy that attention was being given to some British iron/steel/plastic. Then I found my little hellion off to the side, with a sign saying "My new owner 479Thrux asks that you admire but not mar."

Finally got to sit down on my Tornado Red Thruxton, and I am DYING to get this sweetheart out and about. I'm not as amped about modding her up as y'all (I have a cage that goes PLENTY fast), but I can't help how beautiful this bike is. It just looks right; I can respect sportbike owners with their fairings and cowls, and the cruisers with their oversized radiators and La-Z-Boy seats, but this is how I always thought a bike should look.

Mods, trash this if you want, but I thought it might be nice to remind everyone (again) of what it was like when you sat down and felt at home.

mjsmilford · 08-01-2007

that feeling is awesome, i actually asked the dealer for the "please don't touch i am sold " paper when i went to get my bike. i framed it and hung it up on the wall to look at every day

bnugent · 08-01-2007

479 - you're preaching to the choir brother. Not to get all soft, but everyday I see my thruxe I grow to love it a little more. It really conjures up such nostalgia and commands such a presence. I feel like modern day designers and engineers have lost sight of the beauty in a piece of machinery's lines. The Thruxton stands apart from anything else. It's a gorgeous machine. We wouldn't all be here gushing over it if we didn't all agree.

Despite all of our respective mods to individualize them a bit, the fundamental beauty of the Thruxton is something we can all agree upon.

Cheers,

Brad

Mancha · 08-02-2007

We appreciate Triumph enthusiasm around here. Welcome to the spirit. Don't expect o withstand the modding bug for long though.

Mecchanica · 08-02-2007

I found that for not much money and no major replacements, I was able to get both better performance and better looks.
Drilled six 3/8" holes in the end of the mufflers, down through the inner baffle plate. Nice resonant sound, but civilized.....much more midrange. Cost....zip. Change in appearance, minimal, except from the stern.
Installed the Dynojet carb kit. Cost 85 bucks. Also fitted stainless clamps to the inlet hoses and stainless allen screws. Another 20 bucks or so. Not much change in looks, just a little cleaner.
Blocked off the AI system to keep the pipes from glowing red and then bluing out. Less popping on the overrun, too. Cost, zip. Virtually no change in appearance.
Lowered the front end an inch, inch shorter cheapo vintage looking shocks on the rear. Better flickability, but poor ground clearance. Looks nice. Cost, 90 bucks. Change in appearance. Hmmmm, moderate.
Pulled the forks off and installed Norton Commando Euro-gaiters, removed stone guards. Flipped the chrome headlight covers upside down to raise the headlight an inch and a half, or so. Washers under the instrument mounts to raise them enough to clear the light. Flipped the turnsignal bracket and cut off some tabs, raising the turnsignals about an inch and a half, too. Raised the voltage regulator up higher and moves the horn down to the left side of the engine. Old style. Cost, about 20 bucks. Appearance, not much change, but for the gaiters. Nicer flow to the line from light to seat.
Painted the starter bulge on the front of the primary black to disguise it, giving the primary an older, smoother look. Cost, negligible.
I sculpted the bottom two fins on the head to look more like cylinder fins, painted them all black. Makes the engine more like an older Triumph, with the long cylinder and short head. Cost, negligible. Appearance....much nicer.
Only major change I plan is to replace the rear fender with a shorter smooth one, and fit a taillight from a 67 Bonneville. I HAVE considered fitting an nice old Lucas 7" light, complete with ammeter. I like the shape better than the one on the Thrux. Not a lot different, but noticeable to me. Cost, who knows, maybe a few hundred dollars for all of the lights. Appearance..a bit different, but not a HUGE change.
WUPS........forgot the Pingel petcock. Kinda cosmetic, kinda necessary, as the stock one was getting notchy. Cost 85 bucks. Appearance, minimal change, but nice.

peluke · 08-03-2007

I too resited modding my thruxton for two years.. then one day this nifty paper showed up with the title to the bike enclosed.
it suddenly was alot harder.. ;-)

three years and quite a few mods and I still grin like an idiot when I get on the bike and ride to work.

Enjoy the new toy!

479Thrux · 08-04-2007

She came home last night.

Beautiful weather for 90% of the trip; then it rained the last 10 miles. My boy who was riding it shouldered through the sprinkles, though, even while a couple of HD owners hid in a car wash bay (what, leather bandanas can't get wet?).

There is apparently ANOTHER red Thruxton coming to Fayetteville, from the same dealer. Dealer called me this a.m. to make sure that we got home safe (BMW of Little Rock, you **** RULE) and inform me that the guy buying the Thrux saw it out last night and even checked the mileage.

So, mystery Fayetteville, Arkansas Thruxton buyer: You are about to have some fun, son.

Got her washed and waxed (two coats so far) today. ****. Why do people buy Sportsters?

Oh, and mod update: Silly reflectors removed. Sticker on the tank gone (before it left the dealer... road grime on the sticker remainders made it look angrier).

On order: K&N, Preds, A/I removal (though I like the blue-ing of the pipes to an extent... makes her look like she's not a driveway model).

Pondering: Trip to Home Depot as I despise how long the choke knob is (always looks like it's out, ****it!).

Question:

During break in, did anybody else's tach or speedo just act wonky? The speedo is 2-3 MPH off up to 40, and about 5 miles off at 80. Tach seems to be responding slowly to opening the throttle.

Neither of these are a huge deal to me (esp. the tach, as I'm a fan of the ass tachometer myself), but just curious as to everyone's experience.

Tabletop · 08-05-2007

Congrats 479. And you've made a good choice of mods.

The speedo on most everyone's bikes is "optomistic" and reads as much as 10% over the actual speed. The speedo error is normal, but I've not heard anyone mention the tach problem you're reporting.