Triumphrat

chawbecker · 12-04-2007

Hello everyone. I am scheduled to take the MSF next month and I've started looking for my first bike! I'm a big guy, 6'-7" and 235 lbs, so very few bikes fit me comfortably. I wandered into my local Triumph dealer to take a look at the Thruxton. I was immediately drawn to the proportions and the low-slung look of the bike. I sat on one and felt completely comfortable. It's fit me better than any bike I've tried, with the possible exception of those really tall dual-sports, which I find kind of unattractive. The clip on bars don't bother me: I'm very used to bicycles with extremely aggressive body positioning.

So, my dilemma is, I really want to buy it, but everyone in the world is saying "buy used", and "don't go larger than 600 cc".

First, I don't really want to buy a bike that I don't like, drop it once or twice and sell it for a small loss. I'd rather buy the bike of my dreams, drop it once or twice, and have a bike with a bit of character that I'd have forever.

Second, don't you think that Horsepower is more dangerous that larger displacement for beginning riders? Really, the 675cc /107hp Street Triple (which looks hot as hell) has got to be more tricky to ride than the 860cc/69hp Thruxton, right?

Thanks in advance for any advise you can give.

BillTheCat · 12-04-2007

The Thruxton is very easy to ride! It would make a very good first bike in my
humble opinion IF! you are responsible enough to take your time getting to know it. My first street bike was a 73 TR7 Cafe hot rod some guy built for
flat tracking. He put the lights back on it brazed the rear finder back on and sold it to me WOO HOO I was 18yo at the time what a ride to learn on .....
It was Great I kept that bike for 20yrs. and i never should have sold it
Sorry I got carried away there for a moment anyway You can still buy
used I see Thruxtons on ebay all the time sell for 2to3K under list.
I bought mine in Florida had it shipped to the mid west for 6K and some change it had 120mi on it. If you learn on a Brit Bike nothing else will ever
feel quite as good.

Cynr1023 · 12-04-2007

Bought my 07 Bonnie less than a week after completing the MSF. Haven't looked back. It's a bike you can learn on and grow into. If you know that's what you want, go for it. Just remember that learing to ride is a LEARNING process, and that it is not always a smooth journey. Good Luck.

TIGERBLOG · 12-04-2007

Hi Chawbecker!

Have you considered a second hand Tiger? The 05 or 06 are the best and there a few good, low milage ones around now that the new 1050 model is out. I am a big fella too (6' 4" and 16 stone) and I bought my first Tiger a year ago. It has been a fantastic machine, and there is an excellent forum for help and advice. The riding position is quite upright and comfortable for we backache sufferers, and still easy to get two feet down at junctions (as it is quite a heavy bike). Good luck in your search and safe riding!

Mike

Thrux-ton-up · 12-04-2007

Sounds like the Thrux would make an excellent first bike for you. The power delivery is very smooth and predictable, brakes are decent as is the handling. In stock form it's very difficult to get yourself in over your head, especially compared to say a street triple or other 600cc crotch rocket. Picking up a virtually new thrux with only a few thousand miles is very easy to do. They come up for sale frequently, many selling because of the aggressive bar position/riding position.

Riders with 4 decades experience to the first timers all seem drawn to the Bonneville line of bikes. Plus you'll make lots of friends everytime you park it with all the people that love to talk about the bike. It is an experience you won't forget.

TonUp · 12-04-2007

You will be fine on the Bonnie or Thrux! Get some experience under your belt and you will be able to ride anything you want. One step at a time.

Ton Up!

SHILOH · 12-04-2007

I think it would be an excellent choice and especially for a person of your stature. I have riden and raced bicycles for many years and at 5'8" find the clip on's no issue also, but what I expect and am used to. My other bike is an SV650S which also has clip on's.

The Thruxton is an excedllent first or entry bike, as well a bike that experienced riders will enjoy. In your particular case, at 6'7"", some of the traditional "Entry Bikes" would not be a good fit due to limited seat position. The Thruxton has a extended range of positions to accomdate you. Very good perdicitable handling, with linear power delivery. An since you have ridden race bicycles, I think you would enjoy the Thruxtons qualities as to riding position and handling, without any issue relative to the Clip on's.

I have over the years concluded that what constitiutes a "Beginner Bike" is not the power output, the chassis geometry, the weight, etc, but a combination of all the above, plus some characteristics that are not as easily quantified, yielding controlability.

The Suzuki SV650 is consider an excellent entry bike and has power deliver similar to the the Thruxton, 70 at 9750, the torque curve is very smooth with a linear builld from about 2500 to the peak at 7800, (this IMHO is the most important single factor - is the power delivery smooth and linear without
explosive bursts of power at some point in the RPM spectrum), Steering geometry is quicker, 24-25 degrees, to 27-28 degrees; weight is 390-400 lbs versus 450 lbs, etc. However at 6'7", this bike would have you riding with your knees near your chin, (actually near the bottom of your bright colored full face helmet).

The Thruxton has a smooth linear power delivery that is similar, slightly slower steering, (Not actually slow, but not as quick), and is easier to ride in cross wind situations probable because of the increased rake and weight. Plus the seat is long allowing a range of positions.

Plus the Thruxton looks GREAT.

And the MSF is the best way to start.

Enjoy a great bike whcih the Thruxton is.

AxeYrCat · 12-04-2007

I've had scooters and ridden dirt bikes before, but the Thruxton was my first 'real' bike, and I think it was a really fantastic decision.

The nice thing about it is that it's a rewarding bike to ride sanely, and it's also rewarding if you start to throw it into the corners (after you get a bit more comfortable on it, of course).

I think you'll do quite fine.

Oh, and buy used if you can find one used.

JEnfield · 12-04-2007

I am 6'3 and a thruxton felt like putting on a shoe that was to small man you must be like rubber man. If it fits buy it they are great looking bikes and the people that own them love them. Send pics of you riding it that would be cool.

chawbecker · 12-04-2007

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?