Triumphrat

Mecchanica · 12-04-2007

I'm 6'4" and have a Thrux which I bought so that I could pull down my daily ride, a 68 Triumph which I have been flogging around for twelve years as my main transport. So now the Thrux is my main transport.
I can't ride the sit-up-and-beg bikes BECAUSE that seating position is hard on my back. The Thrux replicates the seating position of the most comfy, and to be honest, the BEST (in an objective assessment) bike I ever owned, an 85 BMW K100RS.
I have set about "retrofying" the Thrux to more closely resemble the older Triumph. I will get into it more when I have the old Trumpet back up and running. I will be fitting a 67 headlamp and tail lamp, among other changes.
Minor and inexpensive modifications will net respectable low to midrange torque improvements.
I'd get a clean used bike in your locale, if available, although I bought new (first new bike ever!) as the dealer made me a deal on a bike which had sat on their floor for too long.

BillTheCat · 12-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chawbecker

Thank you to everyone who replied. It's very reassuring to hear your nearly unanimous approval of my desire. I'll be looking for a used one from now until I take the MSF training. If I can't find one, then I think I'll buy new.

The thing I worry about with buying a used bike from distant lands is confirming the bike's condition. It's pretty easy to be misleading over email. Is this a problem that anyone's run into?

If you find one that looks like a good deal contact a local dealer
Honda Yamaha even Harley? ok maybe not Harley

and offer them a fee
say 40to75$ to check it out for you. As a third party they should be somewhat fair in there appraisal . My Bike arrived with a crack in the headlight for the $ I saved not buying new it was no big deal!

mepeck · 12-04-2007

My Thruxton was my first bike. You'll be fine...Phooey on that 600cc nonsense! You'd be buyng a new bike in 3 months!

MP

sroberts152 · 12-04-2007

It depends what the 600 is. I had a 2001 Kawi ZX-6R that would a lot of bigger engined bikes to shame. I actually "downgraded" from a 1997 Yamaha YZF1000 and the Kawi was faster all around.

chawbecker · 12-04-2007

Yes, it seems like it does depend on the 600. Earlier in this thread someone pointed out a Suzuki SV650 is a good beginner bike. I've also heard a Ninja 650R is a good first bike. Both of these put out like 70hp.

Again, I wish that when discussing first bike characteristics, less emphasis was placed on displacement and more on power.

cpallen · 12-04-2007

One just up. Heavily modified, which might be good or bad depending:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/498888060.html

jcline8 · 12-04-2007

The Thrux or the Bonnie make a great starter bike.

I bought a 2005 holdover in 2006 for $6400. I am 6'6" and weight 275 and my Bonnie fits me well. I have lowered/widened the handlebar and I have just added the lowered footrest kit, that everyone is talking about, and my bike is a great fit.

This was the first bike that I had owned in over 10 years. So, essentially, I was a beginning rider again.

Everyone on this site is a little biased, but they are also honest. THESE BIKES ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!

TommyGun · 12-05-2007

I bought my Thrux a couple of months ago and it's my first bike. I'm military so when I took the MSF class I had to use my own bike. I think it's a very user friendly piece of machinery. That, and IT FREAKIN ROCKS!!

chawbecker · 12-13-2007

Hey everybody. I passed on the Street Triple. It finally arrived and it was just too small. Plus, I'm thinking it's a bit much for me.

So, I'm getting an 07 black Thrux! I like the 07 better than the 08 because of the handlebars and anodized gauges. The dealer said that the 08's tank is bigger because the 09 will be FI, and they're going to tuck some stuff up in the tank. Anyone else heard that?

Since it's last year's model, the dealer has offered to take $750 off the sticker price or give me a helmet, jacket and gloves. My choice apparently, as long as they stock it. They've got some pretty sweet Arai helmets and a wide range of Triumph jackets. Anyone have any opinions on which is the better deal? Theoretically, I could get a $500 helmet and $300 jacket and end up a little ahead. Or, I could take the cash off, and get some slightly cheaper gear and end up with a little more cash in my pocket. Plus I wouldn't be financing as much, so I'd save a bit on interest.

Thanks for your advise, it definitely helped me make my decision. Looking forward to firing that beast up!

SHILOH · 12-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chawbecker

So, I'm getting an 07 black Thrux! I like the 07 better than the 08 because of the handlebars and anodized gauges. The dealer said that the 08's tank is bigger because the 09 will be FI, and they're going to tuck some stuff up in the tank. Anyone else heard that?

Looking forward to firing that beast up!

Congradulation, and a truly superb choice in color, but from a person of such refinement as yourself, who would have expected anything else.

I just check my owners manual (06) and the 07 fuel tank spec's on the net, and I think the tank size increase happened in 06, an increase to 16.6 liters. The 04-05 Thruxton had a capacity of 16.0 liters. The 08 UK EFI models show a capacity of 16 liters.

The "stuff they're going to tuck in the tank" is the fuel pump. A loss of .6 liters sounds about right for a pump.

Enjoy, I know you will!!! Oh, I get about 125 miles before I need to go to reserve, so now you don't need to run the experiment like I accdentially did, thinking I could go 135 to 140.

Enjoy.................