Triumphrat

prez1967 · 12-13-2007

Good to hear more tall guys are riding thruxtons. I'm 6'7" also and my next bike will be a thrux. It will replace my first bike (just got my liscence 6 months ago) which is a ninja 250... I look like a clown on it but it was was the best learning tool available. And a blast to ride after I got comfy.... Maybe a little too comfy for its capabilities....

Great choice brother!

FlatFourOne · 12-18-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chawbecker

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!

SWEET! I hope you're buying it from Cascade! Those guys are truly awesome. I bought my '06 Black Thruxton from them and they still remember my name when I go in there! If you don't have the gear, definitely get the Arai helmet and a jacket. Can you just get a store credit? When I bought my bike, I got a store credit gift card that I used for gear, parts and whatnot. Anyway, I'm sure I'll see ya out there! I live in Milwaukie. Cheers!

chawbecker · 12-20-2007

Yeah, I went to Cascade. They are awesome! I first walked in on a Saturday morning while they were having a RAT club meeting, and they encouraged me to hang out and have donuts. I immediately felt like a cherished customer, before I had spent a penny there.

Unlike every other major purchase I've made in my life (a house and two cars), I feel like I've been dealt with in a straightforward and respectful manner.

I'd rate them 10 out of 10!

yonder · 02-25-2008

I just made a related post on another thread here.

On Bonnie vs. Thruxton, I went with the Bonnie (T100) for a couple of reasons:
1) I didn't really want or need the sportier aspects of the Thruxton for the kind of riding that I had in mind.
2) I preferred the riding posture of the T100 which allows me to comfortably sit straight up when I am not on the highway so I can get a really commanding view of the road ahead, and also the cagers all around me get a better view of me!

That said, the two bikes aren't all that different. They have more in common than not. Check out my other post that I linked to above, take into account that I am a beginner too for better or for worse, and make an informed decision. I do not regret one bit making the Bonneville my first bike. I love it! I have been riding it more conservatively but a couple of experimental goosings on the interstate have showed me that if I ever want to engage in hearty acceleration, this bike can do it, and I won't soon outgrow it.

For reference, I'm 6'2" about 280 lbs in my birthday suit, closer to 325+ (guessing) in full riding gear with my backpack and laptop. 30" inseam. Ergonomically this bike fits me well except I would like to have highway pegs for longer rides as the regular pegs are a little too high I guess for longer rides. I don't necessarily want to drop those pegs; I'd just like to have the option to stretch my legs out and relax them on longer stretches.

Jonah · 02-25-2008

I've been riding 25 years and racing the last 3 years. I've heard the debate over beginner bike size and type too many times to remember.

My beginner bike was an 80cc dirtbike when I was 13. I rode it almost every day rain or shine for the better part of 3 years. Aside from teleporting back to that age and getting a dirt bike, my advice is to get the bike you love.

In my humble opinion, you buy the bike that you want to drool over in your garage. That's why most people buy one, for fun.

What gets most people hurt on a bike is not that their bike was too fast for them to control.

Most people crash because

1-They were not skilled enough to avoid an obstacle without losing control of the bike.(Sportier the bike the easier it is to stop and turn to avoid things.)

2-They were not defensive enough while riding, a car came into their path that they were not expecting and they could not slow down in time.

Both of those things are just as likely to happen on a moped as on a ZX-14.

Buy the bike that excites you the most. The Thruxton is a great choice.

chawbecker · 02-25-2008

Hey everyone!

I saw that someone had posted on my old-ish thread. I thought it would be good to update, for any lurking beginners thinking about a Bonneville series bike...

I had no prior riding experience until I took the MSF in January. That class should be required of all people looking to get a Motorcycle endorsement. I learned so much from it, I can't stress it enough. Thanks to my two days riding a Yamaha TW 200 on the course, I had a good idea of how a motorcycle handled.

After the class, I picked up my 07 Thruxton. The dealer drove me to a nearby parking lot with the bike, and I tooled around in the lot for about an hour, just getting the feel of it. It's heavier and faster, but if you are careful, it's fundamentally the same as the small displacement bikes in the MSF.

I've had the Thruxton for about a month now, and put just over 600 miles on it. It's awesome. At first I was skittish, but very quickly became comfortable in traffic. It's all about experience. Every time I do something new, my confidence increases. I'm still very careful in turns and around water, gravel, metal etc... you need to always keep a healthy respect for the potential problems that might arise. Primarily this means cagers. Assume they do not see you. If one is nosing out at a stop sign, assume they don't see you and could pull out suddenly. Same with oncoming traffic turning left.

Basically, I'm agreeing with Jonah. The Bonneville / Scrambler / Thruxton make great first bikes.

bunster · 05-04-2008

Ive been looking for a bike that suits my needs and ive narrowed it down to the thruxton!!! We have 2 dealers in town i went to the one i thought that would be more helpfull but i got the feeling that the guy didnt have the time of day for me. I just asked him if i could hear the bike running he said no!!! i thought *** is with this guy, does he not think anyone who comes in this shop is a potental customer. Anyways i phoned the other dealer he has a older thrux but not used and said that he would sell for 7999 canadian, but its blue i really wanted black but this is a 2000 doller discount. he said it was a 2007 but i been looking around and it is probably a 2006. Does anyone know what year it possibly is??
im probably going to get it.

RGood · 05-07-2008

Check our Triumph's site as well... remember you can always buy used from the dealer as well... There may be some satisfaction that it came from the dealer.

To add to that... I am 6'2 and 230. My thrux is my first street bike (Just turned 400 miles!). There are a number of smaller CC bikes that are quick to go which can get you in trouble. The thrux at 900 makes you feel very safe and does not have the dangerous rocket feel to it. You have the power when you need it, for sure. Beleive me when I say if you want an alternative mode of transportation (Not just a recreational vehical) BTW gas is 3.89 in Indianapolis right now. Then you cannot go wrong with this bike. I think I fit my bike well, other than the unsightly socks

Taken right after we rolled them off the trailer.