Triumphrat

ocguyocguy

Proposed format: Thruxton owners review
Year: 2006
Color: Caspian Blue to match the header pipes
Mileage: 1090 one month old
My Overall Rating: The Triumph Thruxton: Most fun bike I have to ride and the most classic good looks which is a big part of this bikes appeal to me. Every time I ride the Triumph someone comments on how great it looks. I agree. My other bike is a Honda VTR1000 which wheelies better than anything else I like it but it has no soul...per your request this is what I have done to the Triumph. Pretty stock looking except for these mods which I think are worth the effort since I did it myself in steps and could feel the difference. I won't change it beyond this since I am happy with it this way. Only other mod may be cafe type bar end mirrors, the stock ones work fine. The bar ends look cooler.

Modifications: Staintune mufflers, AI removed, 125 Mains and snorkel removed the rest is all stock. I put 125 mains in before yanking the snorkel and ran OK up to 100 mph then I was on the mains and I could tell it was a bit fat (rich) went home and pulled off the side snorkel and did the same run...just right...not changing it. done.

Please include Carb Setup (by request) use the format below:

Main jet-stock110 is changed to 125 / Pilot jet stock/ shims stock/ Pilot screw stock / Air hole pluged/ Not tested on Dyno/
seat of the pants dyno tests only confirmed increased mid range and top end pull Best rps are 3000+ very best between 3500 and redline...
(optional): Owner Height- 6'2" /Weight 215
ergonomic issues - none, this bike fits me fine

Problems / Resolutions- no problems at all but I tigheted a few spokes which I consider normal for any new spoke wheel.
Owner Review: I really like this bike. I can ride my faster bike but I find myself riding the Thruxton because it is just more fun. The only thing I miss is the power wheelies, this bike does not do wheelies unless you bang the clutch which I don't, well a couple times to see how it wheelied but I do not baby this bike. I ride it fast but not WFO. I consistently get 40 mpg. I would recommend this bike and would buy it again. If you prefer a less aggresive position the Bonnevilles are great too but I happen to like the Thruxton.

kaiko88

Just got a yellow one.... Best ride ever. !!!!!

kaiko88

Just got a 2005 Thruxton... Need a new muffler thats loud but does not want one that turns on alarms. Any ideas? Can I remove the baffles from the stock?? (On a budget)

Spyder94

Factory TOR's (Triumph Off Road) mufflers are the best deal around. Have The dealer install them and re jet, with the AIR (air injection removed) . So much easier if you let the dealer do this before you take control of the new unit. The dealer add on (factory parts) will not void your warranty. I am an advocate of dealer factory add on performance parts. They fit and are quickly dialed in. The cost is nominal compared to doing it your self and all of the trial and tribulations that come with doing it on your own time.


Steve, Gear Head at Large. :-D :yayyy: :chug: :yayyy:

__________________
Uno Para Todos. Todos Para Uno
11B40!!!!

Marilyn, for my husband.

sneth

I gotta ask, because i am really looking hard at my next bike purchase. is there any reason to own this bike, other than your personal ego?

Getting lots of looks is nice....but did you buy the bike for you , or your ego?

I'm not really reading any concise reviews. These are way too subjective about how pretty it is. People are saying they bought the bike without knowing anything about it. If that is the case, lemme show you this steal of a deal on my old suzuki(ridden gently :razz: )

When i cut through the fanboyism, this is what i'm seeing. Am i right or wrong here?

Performance:C
comfort:C
Style:A
Ego:A+
Price:B

davewhoz

You're kind of missing the point on the bike, friend. This bike was never designed to be a performance king, or a comfort ride, or even really for the ego (though I'll admit it does stroke it very nicely.) This bike is about owning heritage without the hassle of vintage.

Frankly, I'm not a sport bike rider who needs the cutting edge performance -- usually I only ride my thrux @ 6/10 anyways. I usually take long trips (to the adirondacks, that kind of thing) in my 4runner. But for the after work 1-2hour release-ride, none of the bikes in my garage do it better than the thrux. It feels like stepping back in time, and paying homage.

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'05 Thruxton, Caspian Blue, Staintune Exhaust, Napoleon Bar Ends, Flyscreen, NB.com FEK, Monza Gas Cap, AI Removed

kaiko88

When I ride the Thruxton, its not about the Speed (even though thruxton could cruise the Hwy perfectly), its really about the beauty of the bike, the design, the feel of owning a piece of history with modern technology.

sneth

i never said it was about speed. I was just looking for some honest opinions. Everyone brushes over the bad, and replaces it with style/nostaliga/ego. Let's get some concrete reviews, rather than play the part of triumph's marketing team. I realize the whole point of the bike is the look...

[ This message was edited by: sneth on 2006-11-07 11:35 ]

davewhoz

I guess it's really about personal perogative when it comes to reviewing. If I were to take a quantifiable look at various aspects of the bike, I would probably break it out similarly to what you have listed, but owning a motorcycle is MUCH more about the overall experience of ownership. In those terms, I'd be hard pressed to find a bike I find more satisfying.

So to put it bluntly, I'm a big fanboi.

Even though the engine produces diminuitive HP for being 865 cc's, and it doesn't ride like a bimmer touring bike, I never had those things as what I was ultimately judging my ownership experience on. I was looking for:

a barnstorming, badass mutha, will never get tiresome looking, piece of machinery to get my hands all over, in, around, etc.

These items are as much art as they are machinery. It's kind of like shopping for a guitar. There are guitar's that play easier, look prettier, and have "superior" electronics, but I'll never trade my '69 telecaster for anything, even though the paint is all faded, worn away where my right arm rests on the body, and how I'm always having to adjust the neck, etc.

Overall, I give the thruxton an A+. I think that this bike will be a classic ride for years and years to come.

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'05 Thruxton, Caspian Blue, Staintune Exhaust, Napoleon Bar Ends, Flyscreen, NB.com FEK, Monza Gas Cap, AI Removed

ericherrin

Year: 2006
Color: Racing Yellow
Mileage: ~1000
Overall Rating: Extremely satisfied, A+
Modifications: AI removed, TORS, turn signal canceller,
taillight modulator, knee pads, yellow fly screen, monza
gas cap, gaiters with metal clips, and other cosmetic bits
and pieces.

Main jets are 115 and came with the TORS; everything else
is stock.

Owner Height/Weight: 5' 11", ~200+ lb.

Problems / Resolutions: Some sore wrists and numb hands
in the beginning, but I was gripping too hard and needed to
do some sit-ups :-) I learned to grip more with my knees
and use my back for support. Worked well, no problems
now.

The bike at the end of 500 miles idled pretty high, near
1800 RPM, but after the first service (and TORS installed),
it is more in the 1k range.

Owner Review: I love the bike, it is fun to ride, has good
handling/brakes and plenty of acceleration for me. It's my
first bike since I was younger (about 20 years), so the brakes
seem really good (I had drum brakes before). I realize newer
sport bikes will turn up on their nose, but the Thruxton's brakes
seem quite adequate.

Stock mufflers were much too tame; when my wife said "wow,
your motorcycle sure is quiet!" I knew for a fact cars couldn't hear
me around them. TORS fixed that nicely without waking up the
neighorhood in the morning.

I bought this bike partly because it doesn't have a lot of the
electronic gizmos of most newer bikes. It looks and feels much
like the bikes I used to ride. Maintenance is also similar. I am a
big fan of simple, and this bike is just that. Not sure I would have
even thought about riding again if not for the Bonnies/Thruxton.
I started off wanting a Bonnie, but after I saw a Thruxton in person
(and noted the differences in spec/looks), I changed my mind.
I even liked the yellow; I don't like the color yellow, but I liked it on this
bike and it just looks 'right'. Pictures didn't do the bike justice at
all.

Performance: B+
If I get on the gas, I have to hunker down and hang on.
Not 140HP sport bike, but it's more than enough for my
pleasure (which is all that really matters, isn't it?)
comfort: B
With the right riding position and keeping my hands loose
on the grips, I have no issues. If I rode 3-4 hours straight,
it might cramp my back a bit, but it only goes about 2 hours
before I have to stop and gas up anyway. It keeps me doing
regular sit-ups, which I probably should have been doing all
along :-)
Style/ego: A++
I have yet to have a gas stop without someone wanting to
talk about my bike. From folks who remember Triumph &
BSA and want to know what year mine is, to folks who just think
it is a special looking bike. The last stop, some guy wanted to take
a picture for his brother to prove he actually saw one. This
is just something you have to deal with I suppose. If you are the
impatient sort, you might not appreciate the additional attention.
To me, it just confirms that I'm not alone in thinking it's a neat bike.
Price: A
The bike is a decent deal I think, I was happy with the final price
and my dealer.