Triumphrat

cafetbird · 12-18-2004, 11:02 PM

Howdy folks:

In case you haven't noticed, cafe racers are the latest HOT thing in motorcycling. We've got people chopping and bobbing 'Birds and Bonnies right and left, the Thruxtons are flying out the dealer's doors, and now there is a new AHRMA "vintage" race series, the Thruxton Cup!

So, this forum is a place for you to discuss your passion for the cafe ride and scene. Feel free to discuss ideas to bike mods, great places to ride, cool cafe hangouts, the rocker scene, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

Come on in and enjoy yourself. All I ask is that you treat everyone and their ideas with a little respect. The mods each person makes to their rides are a matter of personal expression.

Rock On!

[ This message was edited by: cafetbird on 2004-12-18 22:04 ]

MarkRam · 02-03-2005, 10:07 PM

I just bought my Thruxton last Sat after 8 months of waiting patiently. It is so much fun. I have put on the T.O.R. pipes and a centerstand. (Centerstand should have come stock) I also removed the air-injection system. Next mods are remofing the rear fender and sending the headers to get ceramic coated at Performance Coatings in Auburn WA.
Make it yours. Individual.

cafetbird · 03-06-2005, 09:17 AM

FYI - Centerstands do not come standard for many reasons:

1. They are heavy
2. They reduce ground clearance and cornering
3. You don't need one.
4. The add unneccessary cost to the bike
5. For the reasons above, not everyone wants one.

Clifford · 07-13-2005, 07:07 PM

I had a centerstand on my '72 Norton Commando, I rode it that way for a year. It was a pain in the butt and didn't do anything I couldn't do with a motocycle lift, so I tossed it and installed a sidestand. Still some metal to carry around, but at least I wasn't dragging it around corners.

docmike · 07-15-2005, 03:41 PM

Getting ready to buy a blue Thruxton. I have an 04 Bonnie...love her. But, I just love the classic style/look of the new Thruxton.

So...before I take the plunge, any negatives? Like how long into the ride before your wrists ache? Bar risers???

tx.
doc

Clifford · 07-18-2005, 08:08 PM

My experience with cafe racers is that I don't notice I'm working harder when I'm riding. I think it's because I'm having so much fun and it's such an adrenaline rush. I notice it later, a couple of hours after the ride it over. But seriously, I think it's subjective, you should take one for a test ride and see what you think. Better yet, if you can switch with a buddy for a day ride, you'll get a much better feel for it.

customcafe · 07-20-2005, 08:54 PM

Your neck will hurt, and your wrists will feel terrible, but you will get off the bike smiling everytime. And if your like me, everytime you see a Harley, you will snicker, cause you have the superior machine.

50yrDream · 10-20-2005, 11:13 PM

On my Bonnie Black, the original owner had Black Triumph flyscreen installed before he picked up the bike then he installed Corbin Gunfighter seat. To me it seems to give it a kind of Thruxton -----Flavor! Maybe flavor isn't right phrase so don't be upset with me, I just know I like it this way better than with stock seat!

evedave · 12-08-2005, 02:20 PM

Try putting a set of lower bars on your Bonnie if you want to lean (pun intended) toward the Thruxton/Cafe look. I just put a set of superbars from Bellacorse on my Bonnie and it lowered the look of the bike and still feels comfortable. The stock bars look so ... cruiserish compared to the superbars and the new bars went on in 15 minutes. Thanks to a post here I removed the left side grip without damaging it and was able to use it again. Lower bars will give you more wind protection in concert with your flyscreen too. While I still like the look of the Bonnies with the stock bars, the leaned forward riding style is what I have always ridden and I find that it is more comfortable on longer trips.

fivehundo · 12-22-2005, 02:29 AM

I wanted to pick some of the cafe racer brains out there because (I have to admit) I'm a little ignorant to this "genre" of bikes. My buddy has been looking into getting a cafe racer style bike. He's really been looking at some of the two-stroke bikes from the 70s (like the RD 400 and H1 & H2 kawasaki's).

I figured that triumph could totally out class those bikes and wanted to see what was available out there as an option. Here's the tricky part: he only wants to spend like $2000 - $3000.

Any suggestions???